you know I wrote a high school paper comparing DKR to Beowulf…

Lord Vreeg hit it on the head- it’s the interaction of the party with the populace- the secret identity aspect that is left out of any campaign that I know of, at least as an integral element beyond ‘populace has problem’ fix it. problem solved, get reward.

what will be the eqivelent..? ‘magic is a tool for the weak. we do not use them.’ and the vigilantes-cum-heroes, as a side group….

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I also find it to be a black vs. white, simplistic one, as well, and that normally needs to be avoided. One of the reason “Watchmen” works so well is the ambiguous morality that they explore, whereas most Paladin-enriched settings and systems aren’t built for ambiguity.

Further, to take your opening quote, “We must not remind them that Giants walk the earth”, a little further, most FRP’s won’t work with this, as the situation you describe and ISH deconstructs is a byproduct of gaming systems that promote too many giants and too much of a community of superheroes and too many high-level adventurers. Don’t forget one of the things that makes the books you mentioned work is the paucity of those ‘Giants’.

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The medieval world is a world of brutality and death. Peasants were conscripted to fight in their lords’ wars. Any lord with enough resources had a retinue of professional soldiers and knights. Powerful warlords led bands of mercenaries and fought for anyone with the gold to pay them. Serfs were the property of a lord, and therefore fair game for raiding armies. “Psychotic serial killers” just doesn’t apply in a society where death is a way of life.

Also you would have a backlash of those who try to go out and be adventurers themselves. Most likely 99% (maybe a bit less) would die and family’s would be destroyed. Most of those dead would have been farmers, or others who had important jobs in the world and are now no longer there so you would get both a group of people who hate adventures for the lost of their loved ones, and a government trying to keep a world together with trade and comer’s saying they will have no part in it.

Over all though I quite like it, glad someone else thought of this as well.

I also think exploring the idea that it was a genocide is a great one. I even envisioned (but did not write down) various monster preservation leagues, and orcs who campaign for non-discrimination.

And I think taking the Watchman’s Keene Act is precisely what I’m going for.

John: Thanks! If you do give it a spin, let me know!

This is completely stolen, what a fantastic idea! I love oddball twists for campaign hooks, and this completely fits the bill. On top of which, I have a new group of friends that are pondering playing some D&D, so I have a perfect opportunity to try it on for size.

Thanks for sharing!

~ John

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Additionally, the promise of wealth would drive more and more people to take up the life of an adventurer. Yes, the risk is high, but the rewards would make even a few jaunts enough to support a poor family for a long time…

It has always been my thoughts that adventurers stand out not because of the willpower to go out and adventure, but because of the ability to do so. I mean, me personally, I think I would have the willpower to take on the crime in my city, but I certainly don’t have the resources, 12-year ninja training, or personal revenge-style motivations of Batman to accomplish the goals. The commoners in standard RPGs are those people who have not the means – either physical, spiritual, arcane, or whatever – to go out, hunt down the orks and goblins, and bring back the loot. You can look at it a bit like in Plato’s “Republic,” with the Philosopher King, and the inspired monarchy of it – every person has a purpose, and that purpose drives them to fulfill themselves. At least, that’s the way I look at adventurers – not as commoners who got lucky in the dungeon, but people whose will, motivation, power, and mastery of a craft have led them to a specific point.

…and entire species of monsters have been wiped out…

In some settings/worlds, this is considered genocide! The way I play in my campaign, if the “monsters” have a language, a society (even a tyrannical one), and a culture, then it is never considered acceptable for adventurers just to wander into their homes (dungeons) and start slaying them, no matter the ideological differences.

Time passes, and the history becomes murkier, with people forgetting what the old days were like. But then of course… the creatures begin to return. Danger starts to creep its way back in. Perhaps mentored by a hero long thought gone, a group of adventurers take up arms to protect what they care about, and adventure into a world that forgets their kind, and those in power have an interest in making sure that the age of heroes doesn’t come back.

I think this paragraph is the crux of the issue. It seems to represent very well the very typical RPG campaign – a dark evil is arising, and it is up to heroes to save the day, because they are the only ones equipped and qualified to do so. However, perhaps because of the heroes’ “genocidal” tendencies in the past – 100 years ago, 1000 years ago, or just 10 years ago – the people are worried that to allow the heroes to come back would upset the balance of the world. Perhaps they would put restrictions on the heroes, ala “the Initiative” in the current Marvel comics universe, or perhaps, like “The Incredibles” and “Watchmen,” heroics are outright banned, and it is against all laws for people to participate in such activities. I think it could definitely lead to an extremely fascinating campaign. Great post!!

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