The Shadow
Hero
Also, let's face it, adventurers tend to be restless folks anyway, even if the occasional one does take an arrow to the knee.
That reminds me of the board game Gloomhaven (and not only because my copy of the sequel Frosthaven is languishing in some warehouse in Germany, awaiting a final add-on before it can be shipped). In Gloomhaven, retirement is a very important mechanic. When you create a character, you draw a "Personal Quest" which tells you when you get to retire. It can be something like "Play two scenarios in the Swamp" or "Get 200 gold" or "Kill 20 different types of elite monsters". Once you're done with that, some personal quests let you retire immediately and others send you on a final quest or two before retirement.Why oh why aren't retirement goals part of character creation?
The RPG Neon City Overdrive has a similar mechanic, although the goals are less individualized. In effect, it's not unlike a level cap. Gloomhaven works well for what it is, but part of that is that you tend not to immerse yourself in your token as much as a PC, and as such a randomly determined, pre-emptive goal works okay. For an RPG, the issue is that your goal for your character can easily shift over the course of gameplay. Also, there's a fine line between getting to retire your character and having to retire your character in RPGs.That reminds me of the board game Gloomhaven (and not only because my copy of the sequel Frosthaven is languishing in some warehouse in Germany, awaiting a final add-on before it can be shipped). In Gloomhaven, retirement is a very important mechanic. When you create a character, you draw a "Personal Quest" which tells you when you get to retire. It can be something like "Play two scenarios in the Swamp" or "Get 200 gold" or "Kill 20 different types of elite monsters". Once you're done with that, some personal quests let you retire immediately and others send you on a final quest or two before retirement.
If you do retire, your next character starts with a little bit of a boost, but more importantly you also unlock a new cool character you or someone else can play. That's a major motivation for wanting to push your character toward retirement. In Frosthaven, my understanding is that new characters come from story developments, and retirement instead unlocks new buildings, which is also pretty cool.
I have no idea how to translate that into D&D though.
But once you've achieved that, you find goals that rely on those skills. The Doctor might have a goal like "I'm going to cure [disease]", or "I'm going to develop [surgical process]" or "I'm going to bring adequate healthcare to [region]". The Lawyer could have a goal like "I'm going to argue before the Supreme Court and win my case", or "I'm going to run for public office."Plus, let's be honest. How many real people do you know have a specific goal in life? Even if someone says "well, I'm going to be a Doctor or a Lawyer" that's just earning their character class!
Maybe? But not necessarily; a young person conscripted into the army who becomes a Fighter might not have had any particular motives beyond "survive being in a war", and after the war found themselves with dangerous skills and no ability to return to their own life, so they become a mercenary to make ends meet.But once you've achieved that, you find goals that rely on those skills. The Doctor might have a goal like "I'm going to cure [disease]", or "I'm going to develop [surgical process]" or "I'm going to bring adequate healthcare to [region]". The Lawyer could have a goal like "I'm going to argue before the Supreme Court and win my case", or "I'm going to run for public office."
By declaring a retirement goal like this, you are telling the GM what you want to feature in the campaign. Events may or may not allow that, but it gives the GM help in deciding what to add, just like a GM having an endgame gives them something to aim for even if that goal is never reached.
who says they aren’t? Traveller is basically a game about spacers living out their retirement.Why oh why aren't retirement goals part of character creation?
I would say ALL they had was affect.Because the developers wanted to include every afterlife trope possible and put so much worldbuilding into it that there was no room left for the PCs to have any affect
What are you, my editor or a comedian?I would say ALL they had was affect.![]()
"Yes."What are you, my editor or a comedian?
Sadly the medium makes it difficult for a Harpo analog to come in and finish the routine with a sight gag."Yes."
On that point there are least two RPGs now about about little old retired ladies solving crimes - I think the newer one has them doing it in space!who says they aren’t? Traveller is basically a game about spacers living out their retirement.![]()
"Ms. Starple"On that point there are least two RPGs now about about little old retired ladies solving crimes - I think the newer one has them doing it in space!
HuhBut that doesn't really answer the question, though. Plenty of humanoids lack protective shells, scales, etc., too...but oh heavens no, they aren't allowed to cover up with metal for protection. But if they're lacking claws and fangs, metal is acceptable?
It's just so weird and arbitrary; I feel like it should be all-or-nothing. For my part, I'd prefer druids who won't use metal of any kind, not even coins for currency...they fight with spears and bows, their armor is made from chitin and hides, they trade in pearls and pelts, etc. Much more evocative. If you're going to put in a restriction "for flavor," commit to it.![]()
Oh great. One more thing I'll have to "fix" later, if I decide to switch to the new system.Huh
I don't see the metal restriction mentioned anywhere in the latest UA Druid playtest packet
Your druid PC goes on a journey of self-exploration and spends 100 days in the deepest forest reading ancient Druidic scripts, and then comes out of the forest and tells the other PCs, "I've been reading it wrong the whole time! It says 'no medals', not 'no metals'"?Oh great. One more thing I'll have to "fix" later, if I decide to switch to the new system.![]()
I'd prefer that druids didn't use either.Your druid PC goes on a journey of self-exploration and spends 100 days in the deepest forest reading ancient Druidic scripts, and then comes out of the forest and tells the other PCs, "I've been reading it wrong the whole time! It says 'no medals', not 'no metals'"?
OK, your druid PC goes on a journey of self-exploration and spends 100 days in the deepest... blah blah blah ...comes out of the forest and tells the other PCs, "That new druid sect is saying it's fine to use metals, pfffff, with those modern ways, out of touch with nature, they'll never get past the Initiate rank'"?I'd prefer that druids didn't use either.![]()
OK, your druid PC goes on a journey of self-exploration