Now It's Not a Game

[mythusmage]

In this thread and this one Hida Bukkorosu asks a couple of questions. A number of people have given their answers. Some of whom didn't really give much thought to those replies. In this thread I will be presenting some harsh facts about your new existence.

For the sake of argument we'll start this off with...

You made the choice to go through. You are now a fifteen year old in the Forgotten Realms. You are physically, intellectually, and emotionally fifteen. You still have the knowledge and skills you had before you went through the portal, but now your understanding of and ability to use that knowledge and those skills is that of a 15 year old.

The good news is, as a fifteen year old you exhibit an intellectual flexbility you will not a mere decade later. But, while you pick up the rudiments quickly, full understanding will take time. To paraphrase the lyricist Tim Rice, you pretty darn keen on where and how, but not so hot on why.

The bad news is, most of you will be dead within a year.

Your own assumptions, and your emotional reaction to being contradicted by those who know better will get some of you killed. I dare say a number of you will get yourselves killed because you don't 'get' the wisdom of "An armed society is a polite society." (Bob Heinlein). The rest of the deceased will fall to accident, predation, or disease.

Those who survive will still have a lot to learn, and un-learn. What will life be like for all you newly arrived, newly re-minted fifteen year olds? That's for my next posting in this thread.

 

[Sado]

I agree with everything you said, but it's so hard to take advice seriously from a cute little kitten.

 

[mythusmage]

I agree with everything you said, but it's so hard to take advice seriously from a cute little kitten.

Somebody doesn't know kittens that well

 

[Prince of Happiness]

Somebody doesn't know kittens that well

You know how some people don't understand why some D&D monsters don't look as powerful or as evil as they should? They probably haven't had much dealings with cats. Cute little fuzzy things, a tendency towards obesity after getting fixed. They fuzzy ears, round paws, big eyes, whiskers, perma-grins. But then...THEY HAVE SHARP POINTY TEETH AND CLAWS!!!! WTF?!?!?! Definitely the creation of an insane wizard.

At any rate, when I was 15 I learned to shut up pretty quick, so I wouldn't have that problem. I was into working out and swinging sharpened metal objects about, so I probably would have died quickly in some war or uprising. That or joined a mercenary band and become some grizzled veteran's "bit**."

"HUH! Dat boah's got a purty mouth! An' he's a li'l 'un!"

Me: "Sword don' fail me now!"

 

[Enkhidu]

That's diabolical, mythus. Makes the whole experience less attractive for sure.

I wouldn't go through year 15 again if you paid me...

 

[Tom Cashel]

You are [...] intellectually, and emotionally fifteen.

...And how's that working out for you, MM?

 

[Hida Bukkorosu]

remember, 15 in that world is the equivalent of 18 in the modern world intellectualy and emotionally. the impulsive teen mindset isn't a biological thing as it is a reaction to being physically an adult but treated as a child by society, and thus shielded from most consequnces of actions...

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

remember, 15 in that world is the equivalent of 18 in the modern world intellectualy and emotionally.

Not true. They were merely expected to behave as adults at 15-- most pointless duels were fought at such ages, and young adults had a similar penchant for impulsive, reckless behavior.

Of course, there were exceptions-- and quite possibly more exceptions than now, due to necessity-- but there are always exceptions to any rules given in psychology or sociology.

the impulsive teen mindset isn't a biological thing as it is a reaction to being physically an adult but treated as a child by society, and thus shielded from most consequnces of actions...

There is a biological component to it, as during that era, puberty was often delayed to fourteen or fifteen years of age, and massive hormonal changes do cause erratic behavior. And, despite there being less information required to function as an adult, lack of experience is still lack of experience.

 

[herald]

In this thread and this one Hida Bukkorosu asks a couple of questions. A number of people have given their answers. Some of whom didn't really give much thought to those replies. In this thread I will be presenting some harsh facts about your new existence.

For the sake of argument we'll start this off with...

You made the choice to go through. You are now a fifteen year old in the Forgotten Realms. You are physically, intellectually, and emotionally fifteen. You still have the knowledge and skills you had before you went through the portal, but now your understanding of and ability to use that knowledge and those skills is that of a 15 year old.

The good news is, as a fifteen year old you exhibit an intellectual flexbility you will not a mere decade later. But, while you pick up the rudiments quickly, full understanding will take time. To paraphrase the lyricist Tim Rice, you pretty darn keen on where and how, but not so hot on why.

The bad news is, most of you will be dead within a year.

Your own assumptions, and your emotional reaction to being contradicted by those who know better will get some of you killed. I dare say a number of you will get yourselves killed because you don't 'get' the wisdom of "An armed society is a polite society." (Bob Heinlein). The rest of the deceased will fall to accident, predation, or disease.

Those who survive will still have a lot to learn, and un-learn. What will life be like for all you newly arrived, newly re-minted fifteen year olds? That's for my next posting in this thread.

Actually I would lay odds that all of them will be dead in six months. I don't think that they would have a chance at all with the change of worlds, most dead of disentary <sp> in 2 months if not 1 month.

 

[Felix]

What with all the magic going around the Realms, I bet teenagers feel much better about themself thanks to spells like Remove Pimples, and Destroy Blemishes.

Maybe even wonderous items like Clearis-Ill's Beautifying Hand-towel...