Now It's Not a Game

[Ferret]

Being 15 I'd agree that most could die. Loud annoying people are usually 15.

I'm unsure that I would. I might blurt the ocassional non-sensical phrase but nothing that could get me killed. Set me in with a bunch of gnomes an I'll be fine.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

I find it interesting Mythusmage about how you think that all fantasy worlds are Pseudo Medieval. In a certain fantasy world things such as beating your child or in general treating them like crap is considered illegal, and your chances of dieing of a disease are nil thanks to a kind priesthood. And there may even be those who will take an interest in you and the books you have brought with you full of valuable knowledge.

 

[CarlZog]

I'm kind of surpised that the hypothetical proposed has generated such extensive conversation.

I suppose everybody plays rpg's for different reasons, so perhaps for some folks, the thought of permanantly slipping into a medieval fantasy world -- however midguided -- is appealing.

Me? I'll pass. My reasons have nothing to do with the nuances of age, culture or survivability, but you're right that it wouldn't be a game anymore.

I play rpg's as an outlet for creativity, and the fun of being someone else as much as being somewhere else. Although I enjoy that bit of escapism, I'm pretty happy with who I am in the real world and wouldn't swap my life for anybody's anywhere. Seriously.

As for being somewhere else... I haven't begun to tap into all the adventures there are to be had in this world. And I seriously doubt that anybody who said 'yes' to this hypothetical invite did so because they've exhausted all of earth's excitement.

Perhaps I might feel differently if my life was subject to different circumstances (age, disease, etc), but I can only base my decision on what I've got.

RPGs are fun, but, for me, so is having real-life adventures, and I'm pretty happy with the campaign setting I'm in.

Thus endeth my Dr. Phil self-esteem sermon for the day....

zog

PS: Besides, in the Forgotten Realms, nobody plays Spycraft or Alternity or Skull & Bones or Shadowrun or .....

 

[Tom Cashel]

I'm so glad no one takes my obnoxious comments seriously anymore. Really. Thanks, guys.

I am Dr. Phil Cashel!!!1!

 

[DragonLancer]

Actually, most probably wouldn't die from disease because even low level clerics have access to Cure Disease.

You would most likely die when the next barbarian horde / dragon / bandits / orcs / whatever attacked your new home village.

 

[bodhi]

You look like a kid, you must be a kid.

In the Realms? Sure, you're probably a kid, but you might be a doppelganger, an outsider, polymorphed, Elminster, who knows? Granted, once you got smacked around and didn't zot anyone in return, your kidness would pretty well established.

But I think a lot depends on just where you dropped in, and who you hooked up with. Waterdeep, Silverymoon, the Dales, Cormyr, you'd probably have a shot (at least at not immediately starting a new life as an indentured servant). In Thay, or among the Zhents? Good luck, unless you happened to be a serious martial artist (or street fighter) at 15. On the top of the Spine of the World, or the middle of Anauroch? Thanks for playing, shoulda stuck with door number one.

 

[D+1]

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.

I don't see that. It says "you are de-aged." If it DOES mean that you still have knowledge and skills you had before then it CLEARLY does not affect your mental maturity - only your physical maturity. If it affects your mental maturity, reducing it to that of a 15-year old then it's a bit wonky to assume that you nonetheless remember and understand everything you've ever learned about... maturity.

I think your entire argument falls apart on the age thing.

Those who survive will still have a lot to learn, and un-learn.

THAT, however, is true. Even assuming you do retain knowledge and mental maturity you need to come to grips with the fact that you are physically 15 years old and even if you're in good condition you are UTTERLY unexperienced at dealing with the lethality of the world you now find yourself in. You don't have to go far before you can run afoul of people or beasts that will turn you into used food in short order. You likely have no weapons training that will do you a whit of good. If you're lucky you have some martial arts skills or you've swished a sword a little in SCA. You certainly are not a spellcaster.

The only things you have going for you are, A) hopefully superior knowledge of real-world physicality than the average dolt on the street in Waterdeep (assumedly that will not have changed - though your DM may not let you make gunpowder in his campaign, who but the gods will stop you once you are PHYSICALLY there in FR), and B) a broad, practical knowledge of the peoples, places, and monsters and even individuals that DO inhabit this new world - which you can therefore avoid and/or put to your advantage.

 

[Eosin the Red]

Why do we have to be 15? Many of us would prefer not to be crippled by the loss of age and knowledge? Unlike Wolf, I was a gangly growing monster just entering puberty and more volitile than nitroglycern in a spagetti western.

2nd - from a public health stand point....Herd immunuity has changed since the good ole days. Nearly all the mystical 15 year olds would be dying within hours of eating or getting within 10 feet of an indigenous person. Taken to the extreme this becomes an exersize in calculating bacterial reproduction cycles. For the sake of "making it real" - you should assume that the portal grants you the "typical" herd immunity and it transforms you into a young adult (mind & thoughts intact).

 

[Tinker Gnome]

As of now I would only be de-aged by a a little more than a month. I wish I was fifteen again though.

 

[Krieg]

I don't see that. It says "you are de-aged." If it DOES mean that you still have knowledge and skills you had before then it CLEARLY does not affect your mental maturity - only your physical maturity. If it affects your mental maturity, reducing it to that of a 15-year old then it's a bit wonky to assume that you nonetheless remember and understand everything you've ever learned about... maturity.

You would be surprised what massive changes in hormone levels are capable of.