| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 02:49:41
|
Well, I just asked Ed this question, but I'm curious about your ideas as well. Swords of Eveningstar got me thinking about new bands of adventurers, ones who don't have a DM looking out for them and making sure they stay away from the dragons and the archmages until they've gained a few levels.
I'm curious what you all think, are the chances of your average new adventurer surviving his/her first month of adventuring? Their first year?
To make things somewhat simpler, I'll limit the question only to good and neutral adventuring bands (internal manuevering in evil groups I'm sure ups body count), and also to groups that didn't have much formal training before starting adventuring (no former mercenaries, or experienced cat burglars, or whatever). However, ill luck and rampant stupidity are fair game, after all, anyone dumb enough to attack Elminster three months after learning to swing a sword deserves to be a toad.
|
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
|
|
GothicDan
Master of Realmslore
USA
1103 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 02:52:58
|
| .... Pretty low. *laughs* |
Planescape Fanatic
"Fiends and Undead are the peanut butter and jelly of evil." - Me
"That attitude should be stomped on, whenever and wherever it's encountered, because it makes people holding such views bad citizens, not just bad roleplayers (considering D&D was structured as a 'forced cooperation' game, and although successive editions are pointing it more and more towards a me-first, min-max game, the drift away from 'we all need each other to succeed' will at some point make it 'no longer' D&D)." - ED GREENWOOD |
 |
|
|
Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 03:06:01
|
Depends on what there going to come across which really depends on where they adventure
Up until recently being an adventurer in Cormyr was probably a pretty safe bet. the goverment was at worst indifferent to adventurers, there where plenty of good aligned churches who could heal the wounds and there wasnt any serious threat, and if you did come across something nasty you could always run to the Purple Dragons or the War Wizards.
Now take the pre Last Mythal Dalelands. Most of the goverments are friendly to adventurers (Several rulers are fromer adventurers), most settlements are small compared to cormyr and thus there are few healers. The biggest adventuring site in the region is Myth Drannor where novice adventurers could come across anything from Devils, Beholders, Dracolichs, Phaeriun etc. Few if any of the Dales have a standing army so if you do get into trouble there isnt going to be anyone to bail you out (At least in the short term ie until the local lord can raise the Dales Militia) |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
|
|
|
Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 04:25:57
|
| Yeah it would all depend on where you are. An adventuring company in Thay might have difficulties staying alive, or ones going to the Great Glacier who aren't natives would have difficulty. Undermountain is a definite death spot (which is why it's called the largest grave of adventurers in Faerun, or something to that extent)....not too sure where the safest place would be to adventure...maybe Luiren?? |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
|
|
|
Aes Tryl
Learned Scribe
181 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 04:44:15
|
| Hmm Halruaa should be pretty safe unless u're a mage, but one spot where novice adventurers ca n get killed easily i think would be the Bloodstone Lands( the overconfident ones anyways, just cos they're goblins doesnt mean they can't hurt u) almost the entire Unapproachable East setting (sounds pretty dangerous to me, especially with the uber group the Red Wizards, not even mentioning the rotting man and those nasty remnants of narfell). What about the areas around Waterdeep? |
|
|
|
Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 07:55:47
|
If we are talking in gaming I would say generally pretty low. In "real" realms it would depend on the luck and wits of those involved. What chances do they take, how much faith in their own abilities do they have? How much prior knowledge do they have about the troubles they encounter.
As with soldiers, thieves and such the mortality rate will be high, but I cant say anything to exact. |
|
|
|
Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 09:27:15
|
| In a way a writer is also a DM, but with we cancel out any narrative element and just look at a bumbling band of bold adventurers, natural selection strikes pretty quickly, the fastest will survive. Be it the fastest runner, the fastest thinker or the fastest killer, depending on the situation. |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
|
|
|
Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 14:54:46
|
Well, my guess is that quite a few "adventuring band" set out tryig their luck. But there are so many little things that can discourage the inexperienced. To name a few very common threats that can have great impact on the greenhorns: road thieves robbing your belongings, including all your money and your one sword; a single Owlbear picking apart one of your adventuring band members; crossing pass with the wrong jealous husband in the next bigger town; bragging too loudly about the fortunes you made on your first (and last) adventure!
Can you think of any more?
However, my guess is way more adventurers retire after a rather short career before they get slain. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
|
|
|
Jon Grey
Acolyte
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 05:14:52
|
To be quite honest, even with a DM "looking out" for our parties, some of our adventurers didn't live... long.
But I'd have to agree that most get slaughtered fairly early on; to me, that's why the monsters always have the neat treasure and large amounts of bones and what not.
Even taking into account location, it's often a reckless demeanor that gets beginning adventurers killed, so I'd say that in a 'safer' place, being reckless is still dangerous anywhere in the realms.
|
Of all the people that have lied to me/
Bards tend to do it most beautifully. -Rehthan Cotheras, Harper |
|
|
|
Forgotten Ghost
Acolyte
Australia
36 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 13:20:29
|
It depends on whether those composing the party have angered the dice gods...on a serious note probably not long particularly without formal training, though luck certainly can play a big role. Also if they get bailed out by an experienced adventurer or guardian they may learn get better or just give up. Consider also that many get into adventure because of all the glory stuff they hear they have a high degree of naieveness about them which can get them into more trouble (just think of all those 16-17 years olds who went of to the "glory" of war in WWI and WWII).Another factor is the ability of those individuals ie if one person is very smart or strong etc then their chances will be affected.
But as I said for the most part they will likely get killed but their deaths create our treasure right! |
|
|
|
Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 15:19:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
In a way a writer is also a DM, but with we cancel out any narrative element and just look at a bumbling band of bold adventurers, natural selection strikes pretty quickly, the fastest will survive. Be it the fastest runner, the fastest thinker or the fastest killer, depending on the situation.
Come now Mace, you don't have to be the fastest runner, just faster than one other guy...
I never get tired of that line, as a matter of fact it came up last night as my poor PCs were running from a Redpawn Birther from the new Dragons of Faerun tome. Using last night's game as an example, combined with my DM style (I don't coddle them, if they die, they die) life expectancy is short indeed. If we're talking about "in-game" then it depends solely on the DM's style and the luck of the dice. In Faerun, I agree that it would depend largely on the region in which they adventurers start their careers, how much attention they draw to themselves, who takes notice of them, how much of a hindrance they are to the local evil organization, how lucky, savvy, tough, and talented they are, etc, etc, etc. |
War to slay, not to fight long and glorious.
Aermhar of the Tangletrees
Year of the Hooded Falcon
Xysma's Gallery
Guide to the Tomes and Tales of the Realms download from Candlekeep
Anthologies and Tales Overviews
Check out my custom action figures, hand-painted miniatures, gaming products, and other stuff on eBay.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
New adventurer life expectancy
