Heroic/Paragon/Epic - How Famous?
- Thread starter Snoweel
- Start date
That One Guy
First Post
How I see things going in a PoL setting...
Early heroic tier will have small towns and villages that need help.
Midheroic, remnants of the fallen empire (lesser lords/ladies) begin to contact the heroes for jobs.
High heroic, the heroes are known in a small region or area. Their success attracts the attention of a 'king' or more prominent lord whose lands are larger - but in greater danger.
Paragon tier would focus on problems of national scale (as much of a nation there is under the ruler). By the end of paragon, leaders may seek out or attempt to contract the heroes for long term service. However, at this point the heroes will begin to notice how many things are wrong with the world...
They may choose to right these wrongs themselves, or supernatural patrons may recruit the protagonists for great objectives. Ancient riddles and prophecies may come into play. Global wars may be fought. Visiting planes should become common practice. Everyone on their home planet (plane/world/whatever) knows who these mythical figures are.
(I would expect heroic tier would take less than three years of game time, and then the other two tiers would take in total less than two decades... I'm a fan of the "Three weeks/months/years" later narrative process)
Early heroic tier will have small towns and villages that need help.
Midheroic, remnants of the fallen empire (lesser lords/ladies) begin to contact the heroes for jobs.
High heroic, the heroes are known in a small region or area. Their success attracts the attention of a 'king' or more prominent lord whose lands are larger - but in greater danger.
Paragon tier would focus on problems of national scale (as much of a nation there is under the ruler). By the end of paragon, leaders may seek out or attempt to contract the heroes for long term service. However, at this point the heroes will begin to notice how many things are wrong with the world...
They may choose to right these wrongs themselves, or supernatural patrons may recruit the protagonists for great objectives. Ancient riddles and prophecies may come into play. Global wars may be fought. Visiting planes should become common practice. Everyone on their home planet (plane/world/whatever) knows who these mythical figures are.
(I would expect heroic tier would take less than three years of game time, and then the other two tiers would take in total less than two decades... I'm a fan of the "Three weeks/months/years" later narrative process)
I actually agree with these point of view.
To me your likely most famous at Paragon tier. You are a celebrity across the world, and people know you whereever you go. At epic, you've become detached from society. You are so beyond other people they wouldn't believe you even if you told them who you were.
Its like if the president walked in the door and said he was the president, I would be like "Whoa, its the President". If Hercules walked in the door and said he was Hercules, I would say "Yeah right".
Holy Bovine
First Post
This is one of the best examples I have read about this topic. I love it and am going to strive for something like this in my games.
I'm gong to be contrarian, and suggest that fame has little to do with level, and has more to do with visibility.
What has the character done, where, and who talked about it? Has the character stood on the town walls and led the local militia in battle against the local bandit raiders, or has all the action been down in a dungeon against horrors unseen by anyone topside? Did the character do a small favor for the local baron, who had his bard write a ditty about the adventure, or has it all be secret action against a shadowy menace the locals haven't actually heard of?
Fame does not equate to level, or vice-versa.
What has the character done, where, and who talked about it? Has the character stood on the town walls and led the local militia in battle against the local bandit raiders, or has all the action been down in a dungeon against horrors unseen by anyone topside? Did the character do a small favor for the local baron, who had his bard write a ditty about the adventure, or has it all be secret action against a shadowy menace the locals haven't actually heard of?
Fame does not equate to level, or vice-versa.
Part of the disbelief could be due to exaggeration in tales of the character's adventures. Everyone expects Hulgar the Destroyer to be a massive giant of a man with fire for a beard who eats puppies for breakfast and then smashes kingdoms just for fun. In reality, he's a strong and well trained, but fairly ordinary guy in a suit of battered plate armor sitting at the tavern drinking a cool ale.
True, but I think eventually the PCs will go and rescue someone important or save the town from impending doom and thus gain fame. However, this isn't necessarily dependent on level.
My players reached epic level and while their actions did have drastic effects on the lives of thousands of people, those people had no idea the PCs were involved. It had something to do with awaking a primal red dragon that was slumbering beneath the city, which then resulted in over a square mile of town going up in flames. But my point is just that I agree with you.
Exactly. It may have been that the "town" was a small set of huts, and the "impending doom" was a bunch of anemic Kobolds, but it got blown up in the telling, as it always does...
If you are going to have fame matter, I'd track it separately from level. You don't necessarily need a system or mechanic, but a running tally of what became public, and what didn't, can be useful to the GM for purposes of building on the past.
That was one thing that bothered me about the Star Wars d20 system where each class gets a Reputation score, which increases as they level. However, the Reputation score improves quicker for Jedi characters, or Nobles, than for Soldiers or Fringers. I found it a little arbitrary, but I do like the idea of Reputation scores that can influence social interactions (Bluff, Intimidate, Diplomacy, etc.). If a character wants to become famous his/her class levels shouldn't determine how much that happens. Any thoughts on some sort of Reputation mechanic?
