Neither of those figures in real history were particularly "honorable." I'm not sure how it benefits play to perpetuate those myths, but, obviously, YMMV.
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- Thread starter Whizbang Dustyboots
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Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
I don't play RPGs to simulate history, myself. If I were trying to, I'd do something like Civilization.
Okay, I'll ask it another way: what is the benefit of a mechanical "honor" subsystem in a historical RPG setting?
MGibster
Legend
Very often, more often thant not really, we're playing to the myths rather than to reality. In truth, a cowboy was just a common laborer. Fun fact, Marlboro didn't use the cowboy for the Chinese market because they viewed him as a common laborer rather than a symbol of masculinity and rugged individualism like we did in the United States. And of course what's honorable is variable. When Marcus Junius Brutus was governor of Cisalpine Gaul he bled the territory dry to line his own pockets and to the Romans he was quite honorable.
Anyone, whether honor or reputation, it'd be nice if more games included that. But then having to worry about your reputation isn't always fun I guess.
What is the benefit?
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
I'm the weirdo who loves building reputation with NPC groups in WoW, but that's also apparently one of the most hated activities in the game among the larger player base.
It takes all kinds.
MGibster
Legend
A stronger connection to the setting and more opportunities for role playing. Probably not something anyone wants for adolescent power fantasies, but maybe for other games.
You don't think that's a little bit charged of a description?
The problem I see with gamifying something like "honor" is that it actually inhibits role playing in favor of metagaming.
MGibster
Legend
That's because reputation building typically involved a grind where you complete daily missions that got real old, real fast. I started grinding for some faction in Shadowlands and decided I'd finally had enough. I haven't played Wow since January of 2020.
MGibster
Legend
I don't. I consider D&D to be an adolescent power fantasy and it's one of the reasons I love it so much.
And it could also enhance role playing. Imagine doing something in character even though you personally think it's a bad idea.
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