Would you leave your life behind?

[Mistwell]

I see no difference. If I set the circumstance whereby I begin my adventuring life, then I've guaranteed my success.

You guarantee your sucess merely by picking the character class and location you begin? You want to explain that one to me?

 

[mythusmage]

I didn't suggest that anyone who would go was a fool. I just know what I like and don't like. I don't like camping. My husband says that my idea of roughing it is a hotel with no concierge.

This the lady who faced R.O.U.S.es in the depths of the Fire Swamp. Maybe Westly should've kept his job as the Dread Pirate Roberts.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

This the lady who faced R.O.U.S.es in the depths of the Fire Swamp. Maybe Westly should've kept his job as the Dread Pirate Roberts.

I never understood why he liked her in the first place. I blame his parents for naming him Wesley.

FD

 

[Zappo]

Re: Its Harsh

Oh last thing, I sneer and giggle at those who say "I'm not afraid to die" unless they've looked death in the face at least once. I spent some time in the ER of a hospital and I saw people praying to gods I doubt they even considered in life. Gods that they hoped and hoped would realy be there when the lights went out.

I am afraid to die. A lot. That's exactly why I would go. There are soooo many ways to immortality in an average fantasy world, that a skilled wizard should be able to find one. OTOH, death here still looks pretty certain.

 

[Chrysoula]

I never understood why he liked her in the first place. I blame his parents for naming him Wesley.

FD

She's the most beautiful woman in the world. And she liked him. That about covers it, I think.

 

[Storm Raven]

Re: Its Harsh

Oh last thing, I sneer and giggle at those who say "I'm not afraid to die" unless they've looked death in the face at least once. I spent some time in the ER of a hospital and I saw people praying to gods I doubt they even considered in life. Gods that they hoped and hoped would realy be there when the lights went out.

I'm afraid to die. I'm just more afraid of living my remaining time without my son, daughter, wife, and siblings.

 

[Wolfen Priest]

Yes, I would go in a heartbeat.

However, have you ever been to rotten.com? Be prepared if you do, because there are several pictures of a mid-level decaying human being there (I forget the name of the link). Don't say I didn't warn you!

My point is that after having seen those pictures (especially the facial closeup in which the eyes are still open and rotting), I know I would be deathly afraid of undead. Having said that, I'm quite sure I would want to be a cleric. If I could be another race, I would be an elf in a heartbeat.

I mean, whatever risk you might be taking, you only live once, so you might as well do something like this, if for no other reason that to see what is out there, right?

 

[Corinth]

You guarantee your sucess merely by picking the character class and location you begin? You want to explain that one to me?

I am the prophesied heir of a legendary hero, raised in hiding by one who knew him so long ago. When I come of age, I receive his weapons and armor-both items of great, but subtle, power-and begin my career in a region where the challenges are just enough to push my limits without putting me in real danger. This allows me to distinguish myself early, and thus position myself for service in the household of a noble king. From there, I gain the love of several other young heroes as we adventure together in the next few years. The first encounters with the Evil Overlord occur at this time, and so the first hints of my heritage come to light.

Insert Campbellian Hero Myth scheme from here. If you know the rules of the game--and in this case, it's how mythology works--then you can't go wrong.

 

[Mistwell]

Insert Campbellian Hero Myth scheme from here. If you know the rules of the game--and in this case, it's how mythology works--then you can't go wrong.

Campbell is pretty clear on the concept that, were the myths real, it would never work out so perfectly. You want to be put in a place with no real danger? You will be stuck in a padded room. No circumstances present no danger, and if there is bigger danger somewhere else, then that bigger danger may, and probably will, come your way. See, your myth-making stops the moment you walk into that world. From there on out, chaos will disrupt your best laid plans.

 

[Zappo]

The wizard said that I get to go to my fantasy world. In my fantasy world, and I think it's the same with many other fantasy worlds out there, PCs never get challenged by something they can't defeat or run away from.

If the wizard gets me to my fantasy world, as a 1st level hero, and then a dragon appears and eats me - well, I can't ask my money back, but he did cheat me, 'cause that's not my heroic, high-fantasy world, but is instead a realistic and grim'n'gritty world.

I think most everyone will agree that there is a lot of difference.

The deal was for my fantasy world. No buts, no ifs, no excepts.

That's one of the things I would ask the wizard before going. If he tells me, "Well... actually, it would be a place looking the same as what you're thinking, save that the presence of danger and the lethality of combat is a lot more realistic" - then I'd have to think about it for a while. I'd probably go anyway, but I would be very careful to place me in a situation where I can grow very powerful while being sufficiently sheltered.