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Is D&D combat meant to be heroic?
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<blockquote data-quote="HeavenShallBurn" data-source="post: 3390972" data-attributes="member: 39593"><p>See that's why the question is so important.</p><p></p><p>Based on your description you're clearly using the more common modern definition of the word heroism. Nothing wrong with that, it's a game and everybody's is different, but the key is recognizing that there have been and <strong>are</strong> multiple possible definitions of the word. A classical hero acts <strong>NOTHING</strong> like a modern hero. So the answer will vary based on what definition is being used. I wrote a paper back when I was a freshman in college that dealt with precisely this, the change in the definition of the word heroism between Homer and Stan Lee. It was a damned good paper, wish I could find it, but I think it's gone for good.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This is the crucial part, because Corwin and Elric are both extremely good examples of the <em>classical</em> hero. The best example of the classical hero is Achilles who literally <strong>is</strong> the archetypal classical hero. The Illiad and particularly his role and actions within specifically illustrate the ideal of the perfect classical hero. In all of real history Alexander the Great came so close to living the life of the archetypal classical hero that it's truly amazing. And this is precisely what D&D emulates, the hero elevated above other mundane nobodies by his <em>arete</em>, who does that which is impossible and triumphs through his own greatness bringing honor and glory upon himself while destroying his enemies.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HeavenShallBurn, post: 3390972, member: 39593"] See that's why the question is so important. Based on your description you're clearly using the more common modern definition of the word heroism. Nothing wrong with that, it's a game and everybody's is different, but the key is recognizing that there have been and [b]are[/b] multiple possible definitions of the word. A classical hero acts [b]NOTHING[/b] like a modern hero. So the answer will vary based on what definition is being used. I wrote a paper back when I was a freshman in college that dealt with precisely this, the change in the definition of the word heroism between Homer and Stan Lee. It was a damned good paper, wish I could find it, but I think it's gone for good. This is the crucial part, because Corwin and Elric are both extremely good examples of the [i]classical[/i] hero. The best example of the classical hero is Achilles who literally [b]is[/b] the archetypal classical hero. The Illiad and particularly his role and actions within specifically illustrate the ideal of the perfect classical hero. In all of real history Alexander the Great came so close to living the life of the archetypal classical hero that it's truly amazing. And this is precisely what D&D emulates, the hero elevated above other mundane nobodies by his [i]arete[/i], who does that which is impossible and triumphs through his own greatness bringing honor and glory upon himself while destroying his enemies. [/QUOTE]
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