Given how one-sided the TBC mechanics is now, I'd like to suggest following changes to it:
1. Create a new arena in providence. The properties of the new arena have to be different from the existing Dock Club so it seems better to create a separate place.
- it should be well marked but not walled in. The number of open tiles should be high enough to discourage attempts to block it. (otherwise it would be possible to abuse it by denying access to the character under TBC)
- using stockbins, beds, and similar things to block access to the arena or parts of it should be bannable. The surface of the arena should not allow dropping structures on it, like deep water.
- blocking with high affluence chars is ok as long as one can muster 90+ alts/friends in endgame aff gear
- it should be impossible to lasso anyone in or out, shot with guns from inside out or from outside in, etc, some sparse barriers might be placed to protect watchers from being accidentally shot or pulled into the fight
- a player leaving the arena while in combat will be immediately stocked (optionally, it might be restricted to the criminal being under TBC)
- there is an automatic system message when a player under TBC enters the arena, when he is killed and when TBC ends.
- revenge scents do not drop in the arena, all other scents drop normally
- it is possible to attack people like in the Dock Club but there is no murder protection.
- it is possible that different criminals will be tried on the arena at the same time. It's OK.
2. Remove current way of putting people to stocks, while preserving all other mechanics, like whipping, throwing food, pardons, etc.
Increase cost of pardons, and minimum time in stock. Being stocked and pardonned still should mean narrowly escaping death. Being stocked and not pardonned should mean almost sure death. Minimum stock time for murder should be 4 hours at least. Being stocked once should be a better alternative than fight, but being stocked multiple times should be much worse option.
Remove ability to avoid being stocked by staying logged in. If one wants to avoid being stocked the only way is to win a TBC.
3. Repurpose TBC. make it way cheaper, in the range of 300-500 silver.
Remove ability to summon a character under TBC. Instead the character is required to show up within 24 hours for combat in the arena mentioned in (1) and to stay there for 2 hours. If the character survives these 2 hours the particular scent used to create the TBC is removed and all evidence is destroyed. Note, the character still might need to drop the combat before he leaves.
If the accused criminal does not show up or escapes the arena before TBC ends he is immediately stocked. In that case the scent is not destroyed and TBC may be placed again as soon as the player is removed from stocks. The current stocks cooldown timer will be replaced by TBC timer.
The character under TBC should receive messages about the time left to enter the arena once per hour, at the moment of login and half an hour before the timer expires.
The TBC itself is not destructible but it dissolves after 24 hours with the criminal being stocked, when accused criminal is dead, or when he manages to survive 2 hours in the arena.