Would you leave your life behind?
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Serpenteye
First Post
Why not?
The average life expectancy for people in the richer parts of earth is 70-85 years. The oldest living person is in her 120s (i think).
In the typical DnD world the average life expectancy is far lower than on earth but on the other hand there is no upper limit for a person's lifespan, immortality is attainable if you are willing and able to pay the price.
There is no widely acknowledged evidence of the existance of Gods in our universe. Some people believe in them and others don't (I don't btw.). There might or might not be an afterlife.
In the typical DnD world there can be no doubt about the existance of Gods, they are actively meddling and interfering with monsters and mortals. After death people are punished or rewarded for the way they have lived their lives. Even the poorest and most ignorant peasant can live an endless life of boundless pleasure in heaven, even if his brain was eaten by an Illithid.
The real world offers an uneventful, predictable life for most of us. A life of small pleasures and pains, boredom, contentment and death.
The DnD world gives greater variation. While most people live far more pathetic lives than we in the wealthier parts of earth the small elite we would be allowed to join in the fantasy world could attain greatness far above anything we could achieve here. With a little bit of effort and a tiny bit of intelligence we could rise to any station, even to become gods ourselves! Most villains and heroes in most works of fantasy are rather limited intellectually. Most of them could easily be outwitted and crushed by most of us.
I, a man of 24 years of age, would accept the offer and become a 15 year old human wizards apprentice, ST10, Dex12, Con,12, Wis14, Int18, Cha16 (far greater than my real life stats btw.)
I would gradually gain levels by studying and overcoming roleplaying challenges (no combat) until I reached 3rd level. Then I would start harassing Goblins. By cautious strategy and cowardly tactics I would attack outlaw elements weaker than myself on the terrain of my choice. Slowly I would gain more levels. I'd make sure I had friends who would raise or resurrect me.
As early in my carreer as possible I would become an Incanatrix, or whatever other prestigeclass or combination thereof is most unbalanced. Always would I choose overpowered spells and broken combinations of spells and items. I'd make sure I had friends who would resurrect me.
When I'd pass 10th level I would start saving money for a phylactery and researching the rituals of lichdom. I would grow increasingly ruthless in increasing my wealth but still try to stay below the radar for anyone of true power. Where it was safe I would lie, cheat and kill wherever it would benefit me the most. Even so, I would remain mostly on the side of the good guys since that's typically safer. I'd make sure I had friends who would resurrect me.
Once I reached my goal of becoming a lich I would once again grow cautious, I'd have all the time in the world to gain more power and even though I'd be virtually unkillable I would take no unneccesary risks. Preserving my good looks and concealing my undead nature with magic I would still remain a part of society and as my power increased I would turn my attention to politics.
Eventually I would rule the world.
Become a God.
And remake the Multiverse in my own image.
The average life expectancy for people in the richer parts of earth is 70-85 years. The oldest living person is in her 120s (i think).
In the typical DnD world the average life expectancy is far lower than on earth but on the other hand there is no upper limit for a person's lifespan, immortality is attainable if you are willing and able to pay the price.
There is no widely acknowledged evidence of the existance of Gods in our universe. Some people believe in them and others don't (I don't btw.). There might or might not be an afterlife.
In the typical DnD world there can be no doubt about the existance of Gods, they are actively meddling and interfering with monsters and mortals. After death people are punished or rewarded for the way they have lived their lives. Even the poorest and most ignorant peasant can live an endless life of boundless pleasure in heaven, even if his brain was eaten by an Illithid.
The real world offers an uneventful, predictable life for most of us. A life of small pleasures and pains, boredom, contentment and death.
The DnD world gives greater variation. While most people live far more pathetic lives than we in the wealthier parts of earth the small elite we would be allowed to join in the fantasy world could attain greatness far above anything we could achieve here. With a little bit of effort and a tiny bit of intelligence we could rise to any station, even to become gods ourselves! Most villains and heroes in most works of fantasy are rather limited intellectually. Most of them could easily be outwitted and crushed by most of us.
I, a man of 24 years of age, would accept the offer and become a 15 year old human wizards apprentice, ST10, Dex12, Con,12, Wis14, Int18, Cha16 (far greater than my real life stats btw.)
I would gradually gain levels by studying and overcoming roleplaying challenges (no combat) until I reached 3rd level. Then I would start harassing Goblins. By cautious strategy and cowardly tactics I would attack outlaw elements weaker than myself on the terrain of my choice. Slowly I would gain more levels. I'd make sure I had friends who would raise or resurrect me.
As early in my carreer as possible I would become an Incanatrix, or whatever other prestigeclass or combination thereof is most unbalanced. Always would I choose overpowered spells and broken combinations of spells and items. I'd make sure I had friends who would resurrect me.
When I'd pass 10th level I would start saving money for a phylactery and researching the rituals of lichdom. I would grow increasingly ruthless in increasing my wealth but still try to stay below the radar for anyone of true power. Where it was safe I would lie, cheat and kill wherever it would benefit me the most. Even so, I would remain mostly on the side of the good guys since that's typically safer. I'd make sure I had friends who would resurrect me.
Once I reached my goal of becoming a lich I would once again grow cautious, I'd have all the time in the world to gain more power and even though I'd be virtually unkillable I would take no unneccesary risks. Preserving my good looks and concealing my undead nature with magic I would still remain a part of society and as my power increased I would turn my attention to politics.
Eventually I would rule the world.
Become a God.
And remake the Multiverse in my own image.
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Bob Aberton
First Post
Gee, I don't know..
Guess it depends on who the DM is
jk though. This life is too good to leave behind...
I guess I don't have a real thirst for adventure. My idea of adventure is building and sailing sailboats. Not very adventurous?
Wait 'til you're in the middle of the ocean, the radio's broken, and anyway, even if it wasn't there's no way anyone could help you.
The wind is sixty knots and building. Seas the height of sky scrapers bear down on you. You can't even tell where the sea ends and the sky begins because there's so much spray.
You haven't slept in two days because the sailboat's self'-steerer is broken. You haven't eaten anything in two days because its too dangerous in the weather to light up the stove.
You don't even know where you are because the sky's been too foggy to take a sight with your sextant, and the GPS is on the fritz because the saltwater isn't good for it.
That's when you feel the water leaking into the bilge...
Now, I'm not quite doing that yet, being that I'm only in High School, but I do sail small boats whenever I can, in whatever weather I can. And I am building a small sailboat myself.
Eventually, that could be me in the above described situation. Now why would I need to kill hordes of orcs for adventure?
Guess it depends on who the DM is
jk though. This life is too good to leave behind...
I guess I don't have a real thirst for adventure. My idea of adventure is building and sailing sailboats. Not very adventurous?
Wait 'til you're in the middle of the ocean, the radio's broken, and anyway, even if it wasn't there's no way anyone could help you.
The wind is sixty knots and building. Seas the height of sky scrapers bear down on you. You can't even tell where the sea ends and the sky begins because there's so much spray.
You haven't slept in two days because the sailboat's self'-steerer is broken. You haven't eaten anything in two days because its too dangerous in the weather to light up the stove.
You don't even know where you are because the sky's been too foggy to take a sight with your sextant, and the GPS is on the fritz because the saltwater isn't good for it.
That's when you feel the water leaking into the bilge...
Now, I'm not quite doing that yet, being that I'm only in High School, but I do sail small boats whenever I can, in whatever weather I can. And I am building a small sailboat myself.
Eventually, that could be me in the above described situation. Now why would I need to kill hordes of orcs for adventure?
Re
To me, D and D is like a good book. I get to enjoy a nice adventure in my imagination with none of the real hardship of adventuring.
In a "real" medieval fantasy world, I don't have the advantage of of having a DM direct my activities and make the adventure fun. I don't have the advantage of even playing with a lazy DM who is soft on wandering encounters.
This means that every hazard that would and does exist in dungeons and life in general is going to be a threat. For example, I could well go into a dungeon with some party only to be massacred by some rival adventuring group whose idea of an adventure is to rob and murder other successful adventuring groups.
One of the biggest threats in the modern world is that I might possibly be robbed and murdered by another human being. Heck, I might even be tortured and killed by a serial killer. Either of these fates pales in comparison to being taken captive by a tribe of orcs or having some leucrotta ambush me while I am hunting in the forest. Or how about an ankheg coming up out of the ground and grabbing me with those big mandibles to take me below ground for a meal.
Let's also talk about being energy drained. Do you think being energy drained would be fun? I think it would be excrciatingly painful to have your soul drained. Or how would you like to end up on the altar of a god like Bane?
I'll stick to the pen and paper adventuring. I would rather take an imaginary trip where I am the hero rather than a real trip to a D and D world where I am fighting for my life daily against enemies I wouldn't ever want to really see. If I saw a gibbering mouther or a real demon, I don't think I could keep my sanity.
P.S. The majority of people in a D and D world probably are fearful of adventuring. They probably live just as boring and mundane a life as we live nowadays. Only a comparatively few people will be successful adventures who lead long, profitable, heroic lives that make good bard tales. The others, well, they are forgotten memories who ended up as food or worse.
To me, D and D is like a good book. I get to enjoy a nice adventure in my imagination with none of the real hardship of adventuring.
In a "real" medieval fantasy world, I don't have the advantage of of having a DM direct my activities and make the adventure fun. I don't have the advantage of even playing with a lazy DM who is soft on wandering encounters.
This means that every hazard that would and does exist in dungeons and life in general is going to be a threat. For example, I could well go into a dungeon with some party only to be massacred by some rival adventuring group whose idea of an adventure is to rob and murder other successful adventuring groups.
One of the biggest threats in the modern world is that I might possibly be robbed and murdered by another human being. Heck, I might even be tortured and killed by a serial killer. Either of these fates pales in comparison to being taken captive by a tribe of orcs or having some leucrotta ambush me while I am hunting in the forest. Or how about an ankheg coming up out of the ground and grabbing me with those big mandibles to take me below ground for a meal.
Let's also talk about being energy drained. Do you think being energy drained would be fun? I think it would be excrciatingly painful to have your soul drained. Or how would you like to end up on the altar of a god like Bane?
I'll stick to the pen and paper adventuring. I would rather take an imaginary trip where I am the hero rather than a real trip to a D and D world where I am fighting for my life daily against enemies I wouldn't ever want to really see. If I saw a gibbering mouther or a real demon, I don't think I could keep my sanity.
P.S. The majority of people in a D and D world probably are fearful of adventuring. They probably live just as boring and mundane a life as we live nowadays. Only a comparatively few people will be successful adventures who lead long, profitable, heroic lives that make good bard tales. The others, well, they are forgotten memories who ended up as food or worse.
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Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
I agree with those who have focused on age as a key factor. I'd bet the average age of those saying NO is higher than those saying YES, by a significant difference. I'm 33, and I'd probably say no.
And for those of you who think adventure would be fun - no matter what world you create, it will still operate under some laws that you just won't be altering. One of those mentioned is that you no longer have a the benefit of being a PC in a game. Challeneges will not come nicely grouped by Encounter Levels appropriate to your power (your first level self might in fact run in to, and be eaten by, the ancient red dragon). Good and Evil will not be as clear cut as they are on paper and in your imagination. Monsters will be scary. Killing people (and monsters who think as well as humans will be people) will not be pleasant. Loss of modern day convience will be a pain in the butt after a relatively short period of time (just ask someone in the Peace Crop). Your very mind, your deepest private thoughts, may be exposed to others, (through various read mind spells).
You fantasize now that it will be all fun and glory. But it will become your real life, and it will have disappointments, and hard work, and sadness, just like your life now. And after the newness wears off, it will be either just as boring (or exciting) as your life right now, (but with a higher likelyhood of your early, violent death if you adventure). If you are an underachiever now, you would still be an underachiever there. If you are afraid of challeneges in this world, you will be afraid of challeneges in that world as well. If you are not hip on killing people now, you will not be hip on killing people there. If you are unwilling to steal from people here, you will not want to steal from people there. If you are not big on grave-robbing here, what makes you think you will suddenly be okay with it there?
For those who say they would go, but wouldn't adventure, that I can understand better. Being an elf and living a very long life, studying the laws of magic and they mystery of a new world without having to kill people to do it, that is a fantasy I can identify with.
And for those of you who think adventure would be fun - no matter what world you create, it will still operate under some laws that you just won't be altering. One of those mentioned is that you no longer have a the benefit of being a PC in a game. Challeneges will not come nicely grouped by Encounter Levels appropriate to your power (your first level self might in fact run in to, and be eaten by, the ancient red dragon). Good and Evil will not be as clear cut as they are on paper and in your imagination. Monsters will be scary. Killing people (and monsters who think as well as humans will be people) will not be pleasant. Loss of modern day convience will be a pain in the butt after a relatively short period of time (just ask someone in the Peace Crop). Your very mind, your deepest private thoughts, may be exposed to others, (through various read mind spells).
You fantasize now that it will be all fun and glory. But it will become your real life, and it will have disappointments, and hard work, and sadness, just like your life now. And after the newness wears off, it will be either just as boring (or exciting) as your life right now, (but with a higher likelyhood of your early, violent death if you adventure). If you are an underachiever now, you would still be an underachiever there. If you are afraid of challeneges in this world, you will be afraid of challeneges in that world as well. If you are not hip on killing people now, you will not be hip on killing people there. If you are unwilling to steal from people here, you will not want to steal from people there. If you are not big on grave-robbing here, what makes you think you will suddenly be okay with it there?
For those who say they would go, but wouldn't adventure, that I can understand better. Being an elf and living a very long life, studying the laws of magic and they mystery of a new world without having to kill people to do it, that is a fantasy I can identify with.
Humanophile
First Post
I'm 23, and while the occasional adventure would be fun, D&D world would be a nice place to vacation to, not a place I'd want to live in.
I just like this world too much. I'm attached to the people, to the stream of new things, to there always being something more to be found out. And I'm too soft to be an adventurer; I'm always upset that I try to play a seeker in a group full of sociopaths. I'd rather go exploring, spelunking, or going on a dig than go raiding, killing, and looting. And while having those opportunities in another world would be fun, I wouldn't want to give up the more exciting, less painful ones in this one.
Besides, there's adventure aplenty in this world, even if it isn't as grand as it could be in D&D. If you say you'd go, and at the same time you volunteer, travel, take risks, and otherwise seek out adrenaline rushes, I can see that and respect you. I'll think you're crazy, but I'll respect you. But if you just want an out because you think this world sucks, most other worlds will too. Go join some massive multiplayer game, Everquest or a LARP as suits your tastes, and see how well the fantasy world works when you're not specially protected as a protagonist. "Real fantasy" would be about that rough on you.
I just like this world too much. I'm attached to the people, to the stream of new things, to there always being something more to be found out. And I'm too soft to be an adventurer; I'm always upset that I try to play a seeker in a group full of sociopaths. I'd rather go exploring, spelunking, or going on a dig than go raiding, killing, and looting. And while having those opportunities in another world would be fun, I wouldn't want to give up the more exciting, less painful ones in this one.
Besides, there's adventure aplenty in this world, even if it isn't as grand as it could be in D&D. If you say you'd go, and at the same time you volunteer, travel, take risks, and otherwise seek out adrenaline rushes, I can see that and respect you. I'll think you're crazy, but I'll respect you. But if you just want an out because you think this world sucks, most other worlds will too. Go join some massive multiplayer game, Everquest or a LARP as suits your tastes, and see how well the fantasy world works when you're not specially protected as a protagonist. "Real fantasy" would be about that rough on you.
Not in this life. Too many bad things. I'd want a clean slate to start off with. So it would have to be my next life.
Tell the wiz that he needs to talk with the God Guy about where I go after this life ends. Mr. G. agrees, around 2035 AD (maybe later, maybe sooner) I'm off to a world I'm currently working on, Dragon Earth.
But, I get to remember all my past lives. (It would be nice to know what put me on my back for the last couple years of my life around 1620.)
The great advantage of doing it this way? I'd be able to grow up in my new world. Besides, according to the history I've developed, it's only been 22 years since the world suffered a population drop from 3 billion to 2 billion. (Evil overlord kind of thing. Chap known as the Lich King.) I should hope that after another 33 or so years the world will have made some kind of recovery.
Career path? Mage/Priest most likely. Assuming I had the talent to be a Mage. If neither was open, go into science. Biology to be specific. My Mom (this life) died before she could get her PHD in biology. I'd like to do it in her honor, but it's something that would have to wait for a clean start. Besides, being able to do a PHD thesis on the domestic basilisk would be neat.
By now you probably have a question, am I serious? That I'll leave open. But if one of you has a bonafide near death experience, be sure to ask about it. When you're back with the living, call my best friend (you'll know his phone number) and leave a message for me.
(Yes, I do love playing with people's heads
) (Sometimes the best way to play with their heads is by being totally honest.)
Tell the wiz that he needs to talk with the God Guy about where I go after this life ends. Mr. G. agrees, around 2035 AD (maybe later, maybe sooner) I'm off to a world I'm currently working on, Dragon Earth.
But, I get to remember all my past lives. (It would be nice to know what put me on my back for the last couple years of my life around 1620.)
The great advantage of doing it this way? I'd be able to grow up in my new world. Besides, according to the history I've developed, it's only been 22 years since the world suffered a population drop from 3 billion to 2 billion. (Evil overlord kind of thing. Chap known as the Lich King.) I should hope that after another 33 or so years the world will have made some kind of recovery.
Career path? Mage/Priest most likely. Assuming I had the talent to be a Mage. If neither was open, go into science. Biology to be specific. My Mom (this life) died before she could get her PHD in biology. I'd like to do it in her honor, but it's something that would have to wait for a clean start. Besides, being able to do a PHD thesis on the domestic basilisk would be neat.
By now you probably have a question, am I serious?
That I'll leave open. But if one of you has a bonafide near death experience, be sure to ask about it. When you're back with the living, call my best friend (you'll know his phone number) and leave a message for me.(Yes, I do love playing with people's heads
) (Sometimes the best way to play with their heads is by being totally honest.)pseudo_hero said:jeez a lot of contempt on this post. I was just asking a simple question that I thought would stir a lot of creative thinking. I was expecting people to start talking about what they class they would pursue and what goals they would go after. And some haveBut jeez "anti-adventure" people, chill. Just gave me yet ANOTHER reason not to settle down and have kids. Its seems to cause massive damage to the adventuring spirit. I can totaly understand some one not going because they love their wife and kids. But why the contempt for those who aren't tied down? When my friends are going to concert and I have to stay home with my woman cause I promised her, I don't tell my friends "And your stupid for going!" Sheesh. Touching some nerves in here.
And Wicht, yes fear of death by something known and something unknown is gonna be different. Think about it.
Age 26.
Be careful of the contempt for the ones who have something here they don't want to leave behind, then. Which I've seen a hell of a lot of.
Also, you could have set the situation up better. Setting up as a once in a lifetime opportunity that you could not have a chance to THINK about first, you could not say goodbye, and you could not take anything with you... that's really harsh.
Try this on for size.
Late one night, a portal opens. A wizard comes through, demonstrates magic, and says, "We need heroes. Please, gather your friends, those you would believe who could stand up to the tests ahead. Two days hence, at midnight, I will come again."
My answer then? Hell yes.
I'm 24, by the way.
-----------------------
One of the women in my gaming group, after I discussed this topic with her, gave me an answer to post here for her. She's 31 and married, for those who care. She's a biologist, which helps understand her opinion, IMO. This is a paraphrase of her answer:
Yes.
I'd go through the portal. If I could take anyone, I'd drag my husband along.
I want to be a druid. Eventually, a high level druid. I love the earth here in this world, and it's dying. We're burying it in garbarge, polluting the air, and overrunning the surface of the planet with uncontrolled breeding. If I were in a world with druidic magic, I might be able to make a difference. Here, companies control power, money, and governmental authority, making any kind of actual change nearly impossible. Changes DO occur, but rarely. I fear the world will be destroyed before we learn to live with it.
In a fantasy world, with the ability to live in harmony with nature, I could make a significant difference. Even the most rabidly natural druid can live in peace with the races around her, teaching them that they can get what they need without destroying the world around them. (Long listing of environmentally friendly life-techniques snipped.)
Plus, I'd get to live with the animals in peace. I can talk to them, help them, understand them. At moderate levels, I can even become them, to better understand their lives.
I'd miss this world, but the possibility of living in peace with the nature on an entire new world is... something I would never want to miss.
-----------------------
One of the women in my gaming group, after I discussed this topic with her, gave me an answer to post here for her. She's 31 and married, for those who care. She's a biologist, which helps understand her opinion, IMO. This is a paraphrase of her answer:
Yes.
I'd go through the portal. If I could take anyone, I'd drag my husband along.
I want to be a druid. Eventually, a high level druid. I love the earth here in this world, and it's dying. We're burying it in garbarge, polluting the air, and overrunning the surface of the planet with uncontrolled breeding. If I were in a world with druidic magic, I might be able to make a difference. Here, companies control power, money, and governmental authority, making any kind of actual change nearly impossible. Changes DO occur, but rarely. I fear the world will be destroyed before we learn to live with it.
In a fantasy world, with the ability to live in harmony with nature, I could make a significant difference. Even the most rabidly natural druid can live in peace with the races around her, teaching them that they can get what they need without destroying the world around them. (Long listing of environmentally friendly life-techniques snipped.)
Plus, I'd get to live with the animals in peace. I can talk to them, help them, understand them. At moderate levels, I can even become them, to better understand their lives.
I'd miss this world, but the possibility of living in peace with the nature on an entire new world is... something I would never want to miss.
