NemesisPress
First Post
Ok, since the topic has been broached in the other Epic threads, what do you consider the hallmarks of an epic (not necessarily epic-level) campaign? And how would you use the rules (epic or not) to run such a campaign?
Epic STYLE Campaigns
- Thread starter NemesisPress
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SemperJase
First Post
In my group's campaign, epic is one that lasts more than 5 sessions.
From Dictionary.com:
ep·ic Pronunciation Key (pk)
n.
An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.
adj.
Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: “A vast musical panorama... it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice” (Tim Page).
Heroic and impressive in quality: “Here in the courtroom... there was more of that epic atmosphere, the extra amperage of a special moment” (Scott Turow).
\Ep"ic\, a. [L. epicus, Gr. ?, from ? a word, speech, tale, song; akin to L. vox voice: cf. F. ['e]pique. See Voice.] Narrated in a grand style; pertaining to or designating a kind of narrative poem, usually called an heroic poem, in which real or fictitious events, usually the achievements of some hero, are narrated in an elevated style.
The epic poem treats of one great, complex action, in a grand style and with fullness of detail. --T. Arnold.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
epic
adj 1: surpassing the ordinary especially in size or scale; "an epic voyage"; "of heroic proportions"; "heroic sculpture" [syn: heroic, larger-than-life] 2: constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic; "epic tradition" [syn: epical] n : a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds [syn: epic poem, epos]
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University
HYPOTHESIS: An epic campaign is like the stories involving Beowulf, Cuchulainn, Hercules etc.
OBSERVATION: These legends strike me to an extent as being just hero worship of the form "He was so strong and tough and indomitable that he could do X. What a hero."
ASSUMPTION: The tales of Beowulf, Cuchulainn and Hercules are effectively an early example of the guy who accosts you at the convention and tells you all about how elite his 30th level fighter is and what he did and won't shut up about it.
CONCLUSION: If you think your epic level campaign is all about how powerful and invincible your characters are and the neato things they can do, you're historically correct in the terms of portraying "epic".
ep·ic Pronunciation Key (pk)
n.
An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.
adj.
Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: “A vast musical panorama... it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice” (Tim Page).
Heroic and impressive in quality: “Here in the courtroom... there was more of that epic atmosphere, the extra amperage of a special moment” (Scott Turow).
\Ep"ic\, a. [L. epicus, Gr. ?, from ? a word, speech, tale, song; akin to L. vox voice: cf. F. ['e]pique. See Voice.] Narrated in a grand style; pertaining to or designating a kind of narrative poem, usually called an heroic poem, in which real or fictitious events, usually the achievements of some hero, are narrated in an elevated style.
The epic poem treats of one great, complex action, in a grand style and with fullness of detail. --T. Arnold.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
epic
adj 1: surpassing the ordinary especially in size or scale; "an epic voyage"; "of heroic proportions"; "heroic sculpture" [syn: heroic, larger-than-life] 2: constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic; "epic tradition" [syn: epical] n : a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds [syn: epic poem, epos]
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University
HYPOTHESIS: An epic campaign is like the stories involving Beowulf, Cuchulainn, Hercules etc.
OBSERVATION: These legends strike me to an extent as being just hero worship of the form "He was so strong and tough and indomitable that he could do X. What a hero."
ASSUMPTION: The tales of Beowulf, Cuchulainn and Hercules are effectively an early example of the guy who accosts you at the convention and tells you all about how elite his 30th level fighter is and what he did and won't shut up about it.
CONCLUSION: If you think your epic level campaign is all about how powerful and invincible your characters are and the neato things they can do, you're historically correct in the terms of portraying "epic".
Crothian
First Post
Epic is what you make of it. For me it envolves doing things that effect large parts of the world and changes the flow of how things are. It ussually involves and event that will be remembered for all time (like WW2). Not every camapign I've run that reached high level was epic. And not every game that was Epic was high level.
NemesisPress
First Post
"CONCLUSION: If you think your epic level campaign is all about how powerful and invincible your characters are and the neato things they can do, you're historically correct in the terms of portraying 'epic'."
A rather simplistic view of epics. Take Ulysses or King Arthur or even Beowulf. Recreating their exploits in D&D wouldn't necessarily take them above 5th level, if that. And Arthur had a single magic sword and scabbard - not a trunk full of magic items.
What made epic heroes legendary was neither invincibility (since none - not even the gods - were), nor their larger-than-life powers (though that was the "cool part" of the stories) - what made their stories compelling was the conflicts within and between them and the other characters of the epics themselves.
A rather simplistic view of epics. Take Ulysses or King Arthur or even Beowulf. Recreating their exploits in D&D wouldn't necessarily take them above 5th level, if that. And Arthur had a single magic sword and scabbard - not a trunk full of magic items.
What made epic heroes legendary was neither invincibility (since none - not even the gods - were), nor their larger-than-life powers (though that was the "cool part" of the stories) - what made their stories compelling was the conflicts within and between them and the other characters of the epics themselves.
dreamthief
First Post
Nightfall said:
Three here.
Four hours with no one getting stoned drunk.
NemesisPress
First Post
alsih2o said:
I think that's a particularly good point - but is it only altruism or generic evil? Or are there other motives you like to see played out? (Epic love stories, for example.)
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NemesisPress
First Post
And how do you go about encouraging those kinds of story lines - whether using the ELH or something else?
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