Now It's Not a Game

[Nisarg]

So, our newly arrived selves will almost immediately be caught up in some kind of "adventure." Its the nature of the universe. Its a world full of demigods and greater beings that like to mess with mortals. It isn't a logically consistant constructed reality, its a world created to facilitate one thing only: adventuring.

I strongly disagree.. despite its "adventuring" charm, 90% of FR's population are peasants or city-dwellers, with no adventure prevalent.

A lot of people who said "yes" to this probably said it with the very goal of having "adventure" in mind; as if somehow by being in this different place they'd automatically be living a life of wonder, adventure and access to great power. But the reality is I'm betting you the ones who would become adventurers in this scenario are only those who have already proven themselves not to be failures at finding adventure on earth.

Take a look at your life; are you working at a McJob, or pushing paper? Then odds are you will be a peasant or a scribe with a boring life in FR. Wherever you went, you'd be the same, because its not the world you live in, its you.

I didn't have to go to the FR to find adventure, I'm doing it on this planet. IF I ended up there, I'm sure I'd find just as much adventure as I'm finding on Earth.

"But wait"; you say, "Its not MY fault, its this stupid society and its stupid rules, if I was in Faerun it'd all be different..." My answer to that is that I very much doubt it. Whatever excuses you're finding not to live the life you'd really want to here, you'd find other excuses just as prevalent there. If you're a Joe Schmoe here, and you can't break free of it here, you'll be the same no matter what "setting" you're in.

Nisarg

 

[Cranus]

And again, I know my limitations, I would not change Toril. I would not risk my life to gain power. I did not risk anything on this world to become world-shaker why would I do so on Toril? Like anyone else who works a dead-end, middle-class job I'm too much of a coward to be a world-shaker. It's too bad I'm not coward enough to not admit it. Few people will back me up but deep down I'm sure many people know I'm right. What is it about diving through this portal that makes you special if you weren't special here on Earth?

Agreed. The only changes this thought experiment causes would be in terms physiological development. It doesn't dramatically change one's personality so those who aren't prone to adventuring now won't in Faerun. If one won't join the armed forces now (provided you live in the US) to fight in Iraq, its doubtable one would take up arms in Toril.

"But wait"; you say, "Its not MY fault, its this stupid society and its stupid rules, if I was in Faerun it'd all be different..." My answer to that is that I very much doubt it. Whatever excuses you're finding not to live the life you'd really want to here, you'd find other excuses just as prevalent there. If you're a Joe Schmoe here, and you can't break free of it here, you'll be the same no matter what "setting" you're in.

Much like the above quoted post, I am in agreement with this. To be brutally honest, most gamers don't have the willpower to really change the direction of their lives. Furthermore, of those gamers, some are personality-wise prone to go in the opposite direction of the "world-shaker".

As for me, there's no way I'd go through with this now. When I was fifteen, it would be a different story; but I know too much to put myself in that situation.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Agreed. The only changes this thought experiment causes would be in terms physiological development. It doesn't dramatically change one's personality so those who aren't prone to adventuring now won't in Faerun. If one won't join the armed forces now (provided you live in the US) to fight in Iraq, its doubtable one would take up arms in Toril.

Except for the fact that apparently the entire structure of your brain has been... erm... broken so you can't understand relatively simple concepts, can't analyse the effect that hormones are having on your emotions and the like. You know, stuff that's supposedly been preserved in the 'de-aging' process.

IOW - you're not the same person at all.

 

[smetzger]

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.

Those were the nobles, which are the exception. The peasants had no time for such reckless behavior, they were too busy fighting off starvation and disease.

 

[WayneLigon]

The maturation process I was talking about is mental; the 15 year olds of the fantasy world are going to be somewhat more mature than the typical modern Earth 15-yo. More than likely, they've seen someone close to them die, probably either from an accident or from a lingering illness. Or maybe they just wake up one day and the brother next to them is dead, for no reason anyone would be able to discern. By 15, they might have lost a parent as well. They've probably experienced a level of hardship that is alien to many of us (yes, even to you).

As far as the physical maturation process, it depends on the person. The modern 15-year-old is probably going to be able to pass as a young man, far older than he actually is. He'll be taller, more muscular than most if he's athletic, better bones, great teeth, mostly excellent health. The booster shots he got as a child (unless his parent were idiots and didn't have him vaccinated to hell and gone when he was a baby) will protect him against most of the dieases still virulent in that era. He'll know enough basic hygeine to avoid a large part of the rest. An interesting thing is that he'll have been sexually mature for perhaps much longer than his peers; he'll probably have at least some hair on his face and limbs, depending on the person, whereas some of his fantasy-world peers might just be starting their growth spurts or other maturation processes. Some will not start or comeplete that process until even 17 or 18; nutrition has a great deal to do with that. Our hypothetic kid from our world will have that all over his peers.

The 'adventuing life' might come a great deal easier to the kid from our world. The local mage will almost certainly be taking him as an apprentice. Why? Because the boy has, if he's been paying attention, a great deal more information at hand than any 1000 of the people around. He knows about moons and planets. He knows about stars. He has some basics of science, geography, literature, etc; he's a veritable storehouse of amazing things. If he's been a book geek, then he can relate stories and tales no-one has ever heard of before. He probably plays an instrument in school band. All in all, he'll be the most intellectually stimulating person the local mage has met since he left the academy! The other people around him aren't stupid, by a long shot, but neither are they educated. At last, someone to talk to!

 

[Hida Bukkorosu]

ok, a 15 year old in a d&d world is an ADULT. that's what it says in the ADULTHOOD column of the PHB. so he wouldn't have a foster family or some such. he might have to do chores as an apprentice in whatever profession for a few years while he learns a trade, be it blacksmith, soldier, farmer, or mage.

"adolescence" is a modern concept. it didn't exist before the 20th century. people became adults when their bodies were ready to procreate, as nature intended.

anyway, on the question of how those not inclined to adventure in the real world wouldn't be in the other, there's one big difference between the real world and faerun: magic.

magic is the great equalizer. magic allows the person who has nothing going for him but book smarts to gain great power. magic would give someone like me a way to achieve the power i so sorely lack in my real life. even simple first level spells like "charm person". my low charisma sorely hinders me in my real life. i know that despite my intelligence, the good opportunities will go to the people with the maxed out diplomacy and cha bonuses, because they can "network". they're good at the "interview" process. they have "references". but with "charm person", i can make up for my social deficiencies and get the all important allies i need.

also, another difference is the fact that the possibility of transcending one's mortality exists. one can conceivably, if they put forth the right effort and have the right luck, literally become a god, something that is quite impossible to do here.

 

[Nisarg]

anyway, on the question of how those not inclined to adventure in the real world wouldn't be in the other, there's one big difference between the real world and faerun: magic.

magic is the great equalizer. magic allows the person who has nothing going for him but book smarts to gain great power. magic would give someone like me a way to achieve the power i so sorely lack in my real life. even simple first level spells like "charm person". my low charisma sorely hinders me in my real life. i know that despite my intelligence, the good opportunities will go to the people with the maxed out diplomacy and cha bonuses, because they can "network". they're good at the "interview" process. they have "references". but with "charm person", i can make up for my social deficiencies and get the all important allies i need.

With all due respect, that's wish fulfillment.
You could say the same thing in our world about the "great equalizer" being the ability to hack computer codes, or other tech related skills, or the power of positive thinking.

If someone's a loser in this world, they'll be a loser on Faerun too.

Magic isn't what makes the difference: INITIATIVE, COURAGE and the WILL TO POWER are what make the difference, and those are no difference here or anywhere else. ANYONE can find either adventure (if that's what they want) or power (if that's what they want) in THIS PLANET, but it only requires a commitment to take risks and think outside the box. And if you can't, you wouldn't be able to on Faerun either. The same personality flaws that stopped you here would stop you there, and you'd be stuck in a dead end farmer or scribe job. if you're an unpopular geek here, you'd be an unpopular geek there. If you're likely to be picked on here, you'll probably be eaten there. And if you can't get a date here, odds are you can't get a wench there.

Nisarg

 

[LostSoul]

You are now a child of 15 with a ton of stuff you thought would be important, in the middle of a village, town, or city.

What will the locals see? A child. Certainly lost, possibly abandoned.

That depends. When I was 15, I was pretty big. The locals would probably see a strong back that they can use to work for them. But if you're not strong, you'll probably get kicked out. Or robbed for your shoes.

In addition, you have no experience with the world you now find yourself in.

So you can't speak the language? That's not good. Unless you're strong, they'll rob you for your shoes.