Is it more likely for the people to rally behind a charismatic leader or an official authority?
"Come on boys, grab your pitchforks! We're gonna put a stop to this beast once and for all!"
"I have been authorized to deal with this beast. All men ages 16 to 30 bring your weapons and form ranks."
In other words, can a barbarian be expected to rise to prominence through shear personality and action?
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But that's exactly what happened to the Glorious General, isn't it?Originally Posted by Greentongue
Shemek
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain
If we only play for experience points, why would we bother with social interaction instead of simply planning heists in well-guarded places to gain maximum gold?
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward." - Rocky
Wasn't that the original idea of D&D? KILL THINGS AND TAKE THEIR STUFF or did I miss something?If we only play for experience points, why would we bother with social interaction instead of simply planning heists in well-guarded places to gain maximum gold
I recall there was a transition from battles to looting.
That "social interaction" stuff was just while you looked for new places to loot.
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Sorry to barge in like that, in the middle of this excellent discussion on how strict inter-clan relations are on a day-to-day basis (hint: not very), but I stumbled upon this up-coming game: The Chronicles of Future Earth, by the brilliant Sarah Newton.
Check out the cover:
the-chronicles-of-future-earth_press_release_cover_mockup_medium.jpg
Imagine Tekumel illustrated like that, along with a book containing some of the demystifying wisdom found on this thread, like the current discussion on how flexible so-called "strict inter-clan relations" actually are.
Newton wrote a thoughtful note on Tekumel on the occasion of Professor Barker's passing. Some of you may already have read it. You can find it here.
She too agrees that publishing a series of good adventures or a even a large campaign set on Tekumel would go a long way in helping the world get more traction with the public. That and the sort of illustration she managed to get for her science-fantasy setting, I guess.
Grr! This whole "there was no role playing in OD&D gives me uncontrollable flatulence!Wasn't that the original idea of D&D? KILL THINGS AND TAKE THEIR STUFF or did I miss something?
I recall there was a transition from battles to looting.
That "social interaction" stuff was just while you looked for new places to loot.
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PRAAAAAAFBLLFFFTTT!!
See what you did now? That's ALL YOUR FAULT!
I don't care if you respect me, just buy my fucking book.
Formerly known as Old Geezer
I don't need an Ignore List, I need a Tongue My Pee Hole list.
The rules can't cure stupid, and the rules can't cure asshole.
No, I went and joined the Army. At that point I had a role in the society.
I don't care if you respect me, just buy my fucking book.
Formerly known as Old Geezer
I don't need an Ignore List, I need a Tongue My Pee Hole list.
The rules can't cure stupid, and the rules can't cure asshole.
The former, in my experience both in-game and out-. 'Official Authority', unless present in the form of a charismatic leader, usually isn't able to inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things. (I freely grant that there are some exceptions to this generalization, but they have a lot more to do with discipline and training then would be found in the usual course of society - in-game or out-.) Eselne or Mirusiya was a lot more inspiring then Mridobu or Rereshqala, to cite one example from Tekumel.
Yes. Ahim Basrim / Kadarsha comes to mind, from Phil's campaign.
Agreed, on all counts. I'm sort of hoping to do something like this with my book, but we'll see...
I was not trying to imply that there was no ROLE playing in OD&D.
I was saying that the Rules As Written encouraged a certain type of play that focused on the things that gave experience over things that didn't.
I suppose it could be lumped under what is called Min-Maxing but "abusing the rules" and "playing by the rules" are not exactly the same.
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