The Six Tasks to Wisdom

[Jd Smith1]

Anyway, I'm looking at starting my next campaign, 50-ish weekly sessions in a low-magic fantasy in Kenzer's Garwheeze Wurld, using Hackmaster rules.

Basically a standard old-school fantasy world, low-magic, with the traditional 'entire race is evil, no exceptions' standard.

The PCs will start out by proving themselves by completing the Six Tasks of Wisdom (or similar title), an age-old creed for proving oneself worthy. That's just to give the opening sessions some shape.

So: what would the six tasks be? They would need to be generic, to fit a timeless creed handed down for generations, and within the reach of 1st-3rd PCs in a very tough system.

I had thought something like 'gather a goblin shaman's scalp', but that doesn't really convey the feel of a path to wisdom or honor. Its hard to render flowery text to that sort of thing.

Any ideas?

 

[aco175]

Gather the sweat from an honest day's work.

Overcome a demon (or a Sicilian) in a match of wits.

 

[Theory of Games]

How big a factor is Honor playing? That would definitely affect agency, IMO.

 

[FrogReaver]

Or honor perhaps.

Anyway, I'm looking at starting my next campaign, 50-ish weekly sessions in a low-magic fantasy in Kenzer's Garwheeze Wurld, using Hackmaster rules.

Basically a standard old-school fantasy world, low-magic, with the traditional 'entire race is evil, no exceptions' standard.

The PCs will start out by proving themselves by completing the Six Tasks of Wisdom (or similar title).

So: what would the six tasks be? They would need to be generic, to fit a timeless creed handed down for generations, and within the reach of 1st-3rd PCs in a very tough system.

I had thought something like 'gather a goblin shaman's scalp', but that doesn't really convey the feel of a path to wisdom or honor. Its hard to render flowery text to that sort of thing.

Any ideas?

Does it have to be 6?

My first brainstorms are
Self Reliance, Preparation, improvisation, Cunning, live to fight another day.

Could be a level 1 out into the wilderness scenario where you cannot return until all tasks are fulfilled. If you are doing 6 then every 3 tasks might be how they level from 1-3.

 

[FrogReaver]

How big a factor is Honor playing? That would definitely affect agency, IMO.

IMO if they’ve chosen to play a game where honor matters then not making it matter or running a different game is what would affect their agency.

 

[Wolfram stout]

Obtain a treasure with no lose of (PC) blood.

That also plays into old school style right?

 

[Blue]

I would play up the antiquity of these, and make them a sort of rough fit.

Like one could be "Receive the favor of a maiden fair". (Which usually consists of a physical scarf or the like to show their favor.) But this has been going on forever, and all of the legit maidens each want some quest done, of various levels of difficulty and nobility, plus that one now-landless noble family where they are just willing to sell them for 50gp. The quests could be everything from "deliver this letter to the bedroom of my (forbidden) lover without being noticed" to "kill the goblins who are messing with daddy's serfs".

"Win at least one joust in a tournament" - again old school for the current age. Renting horses and armor becomes a thing, and there are those who could compete more than willing to take a fall to trade a fall for their friend, or whatever.

Have them all be old school methods to show nobility and honor. That actually will introduce them to a bunch of the movers and shakers of the area.

 

[Blue]

How big a factor is Honor playing? That would definitely affect agency, IMO.

Not in the slightest. Like, zero.

If the players are willingly entering a game where they know honor is a great deal, then it is absolutely their agency to do so.

 

[Theory of Games]

I only ask because Honor is a thing in Hackmaster. A long-term factor even. Which could make for interesting dilemmas.

 

[Jd Smith1]

I only ask because Honor is a thing in Hackmaster. A long-term factor even. Which could make for interesting dilemmas.

Yeah, I forgot that. Not Honor in the game mechanic sense.