What should legendary characters be able to do?

[DMH]

I picked up Dawnforge a couple weeks ago and while its probably not what you are looking for, Dawnforge was perfect for how I would envision legendary under the D20 system.

He doesn't need to buy Dawnforge since he wrote it.

To Wil:

I have to say that Immak has what I envision as Legendary- people who ignore their lessers on the field and only deal with their equals (or those more powerful). That doesn't mean they look down on the people, just that they are simply much better (or worse) and they know it. I don't think there is an easy way to create a template or classes for them without warping the system beyond recognition. It is also difficult to find the dividing line between them and their lessers.

 

[Arkham]

That all depends... What do the legends about the characters say they are capable of?

Then that is what they should be able to do.

 

[DragonLancer]

He doesn't need to buy Dawnforge since he wrote it.

Then I feel a bit like an idiot.

 

[d20Dwarf]

That all depends... What do the legends about the characters say they are capable of?

Then that is what they should be able to do.

Oooh, I like this. Now we're getting really far out. You don't play a character, you play the character's legend, and your job is to build yourself up so that the actual person of legend can perform the amazing feats necessary to save the world.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Oooh, I like this. Now we're getting really far out. You don't play a character, you play the character's legend, and your job is to build yourself up so that the actual person of legend can perform the amazing feats necessary to save the world.

Which seems like the skill/ability accumulation you see in RPGs already.

 

[d20Dwarf]

Which seems like the skill/ability accumulation you see in RPGs already.

I mean you play the legend on a theoretical level.

 

[Delemental]

I mean you play the legend on a theoretical level.

I once had an idea for a campaign which touches on this concept. It'd probably be too hard to pull off with a real gaming group, but it was an interesting idea. It revolved around the idea of a good nation being beset by an overwhelming evil. The good guys, in desperation, use a ritual to summon up heroes from the past, legendary heroes who are the only ones known to have ever defeated the evil forces. But instead of the mighty, epic-level adventurers they were expecting, they get ordinary low-level folk who don't even know each other. The theme of the campaign would be that these heroes needed to proceed in the present, figure out a way to defeat the BBEG, and then return back to the past, where they use the power they gained and their knowledge of the BBEG to defeat them the 'first' time, thus becoming the legends that the people of the future know them as...

So, there's one way to do the 'becoming the legend everyone knows you as' theme.

 

[Corsair]

I once had an idea for a campaign which touches on this concept. It'd probably be too hard to pull off with a real gaming group, but it was an interesting idea. It revolved around the idea of a good nation being beset by an overwhelming evil. The good guys, in desperation, use a ritual to summon up heroes from the past, legendary heroes who are the only ones known to have ever defeated the evil forces. But instead of the mighty, epic-level adventurers they were expecting, they get ordinary low-level folk who don't even know each other. The theme of the campaign would be that these heroes needed to proceed in the present, figure out a way to defeat the BBEG, and then return back to the past, where they use the power they gained and their knowledge of the BBEG to defeat them the 'first' time, thus becoming the legends that the people of the future know them as...

So, there's one way to do the 'becoming the legend everyone knows you as' theme.

And Zathras looked upon Sinclair and said with a gasp, "The One!" his voice trailing off. But then he paused, and shook his head vigorously.

"No. Not the One. Not the One. Tsk tsk..."

 

[DragonLancer]

I once had an idea for a campaign which touches on this concept. It'd probably be too hard to pull off with a real gaming group, but it was an interesting idea. It revolved around the idea of a good nation being beset by an overwhelming evil. The good guys, in desperation, use a ritual to summon up heroes from the past, legendary heroes who are the only ones known to have ever defeated the evil forces. But instead of the mighty, epic-level adventurers they were expecting, they get ordinary low-level folk who don't even know each other. The theme of the campaign would be that these heroes needed to proceed in the present, figure out a way to defeat the BBEG, and then return back to the past, where they use the power they gained and their knowledge of the BBEG to defeat them the 'first' time, thus becoming the legends that the people of the future know them as...

So, there's one way to do the 'becoming the legend everyone knows you as' theme.

Thats giving me some great vibes. Mind if I borrow it?

 

[diaglo]

Template, you mean.

Legendary is deeds, not game mechanics. The character who saved the captured farmers from the horde of rampaging goblins, single-handed while wounded, can be legendary -- even if he's only a 1st level fighter.

ditto.

but again most legends are about dead guys.

achilles... legendary warrior... dead
heracles... legendary tasker... dead
king arthur ... legendary king... dead


these guys don't tend to die of old age.