Consulting the Sages - a Poll by Edition

[Hussar]

I've seen a number of people claim that "go consult a sage" should be basic SOP for any adventuring party. Seems fair - learn about a dungeon, go talk to someone who knows about it. But, where things break down for me, is that in almost thirty years of gaming, across four editions now, (five if you count Basic/Expert in there as well), I've never seen it done. Never done it as a player, and never seen any other player suggest it.

So, how often to you consult the sage?

 

[Stormonu]

In my 1E/2E group, the adventurers would consult the Klinnian Mapster's Guild to buy/sell maps and collect information. The KMG was run by a sage, and they even employed the sage's help in locating the Slavelords of Suderham.

In another campaign, I had an adventuring group that based their operation out of a Sage's home. It was how they got most of their quests.

 

[wedgeski]

I've seen it done as part of an adventure series, but no, my guys never seem to do that on their own. Actually that's just given me an idea for a Ritual that taps into the combined knowledge of a scholarly university somewhere else in the campaign... hmm....

Anyway, another problem is that when it *has* happened, which is a few times over the many years we've been playing together, the quality of information has been, shall we say, agonisingly vague. A prophecy or divination that makes no sense at the time, provides no clues as to where to go or what to do, and only becomes relevant *after the fact*, might make for good mythology, but it sucks at the table.

 

[darjr]

I always seem to get put under a geis everytime I did.

 

[Kzach]

So, how often to you consult the sage?

Yeah, I'm the same, I've never, ever seen it done or done it in any of the, quite literally, hundreds of groups I've DM'd for and played in.

I wish it was a SOP though as it would make many things much easier from a DM's stand-point.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Whole lotta 'sometimes'. I'd add 'not often', but I couldn't vote for that.

It's even cropped up in a few other games. Again, not exactly a common occurrence, however.

 

[Dice4Hire]

well, it is really hard to consult the sage, as it is hard to know which one is the one. .

Consulting a sage is pretty much not done in my games. Knowledge skills are just too good in the editions I play.

 

[Sammael]

Sages exist IMC, but PCs rarely think about consulting them. I don't think this has much to do with the edition being played, it's a question of play style habits.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Sages exist IMC, but PCs rarely think about consulting them. I don't think this has much to do with the edition being played, it's a question of play style habits.

Yeah I agree, I don't think it's an edition thing, more do with a group's tastes and habits. The last time my PC consulted 'sages', another player complained that it was going on too long - he wanted to get to the action. I'm fine with that, actually, I respected his preferences. They're actually pretty close to mine as I like a fast paced game too.

 

[Bullgrit]

The only time I remember consulting a sage was in our Temple of Elemental Evil campaign in AD&D1. We found runes on a trap door in the floor of an abandoned guard tower. The sage translated the runes, and the translation lead us to believe there was a demon in the basement. We didn't open the door to confirm.

Bullgrit