Adventurers, what drives them, how do they live?
Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:16 am
I was getting some of these ideas while writing an other post.
What are Adventurers, and what do they do in their lives?
Suvivors
I guess that self preservation is one thing that drives them all.
Most of these characters live in places where danger is very common, and you need to be prepared for it, and find an approach that works for you.
I feel better keeping disinterested, unless actively attacked is one way of putting it. There are times when being aggressive/offensive is the goal, but most of the time, you don't want to just go fighting people 'just because'.
How:
Make contacts
The only way to survive in very dangerous areas is to have a wide network of friends and contacts.
-Your army general father who lives a few weeks's horse ride away.
-Your buddies at the Rogue's guild you're a dues paying member of; so, you never 'left', and you've always been a member. So's they're always keeping an eye on your interests in town.
-Members of a local merchant's guild for whom you do escort missions (across the county, or across the Great Wheel) for, who give you discounts on stuff you buy from them.
Be useful
The guy who never fights, but is willing to spend time stitching people back together is always going to have friends. Even ones who think that being good at fighting is more important than most things.
Someone who fulfills a role that has a low population, and is able to be very effective at that role is also going to be appreciated. The really good blacksmith in a town with no, or low level smiths, and the archer in a group of non-archers that usually only face melee enemies.
Certain roles can have many members. If your group is a small army or the size of a military platoon, you don't lose if you have more than one person able to heal well.
Help everyone you can
The smallest peasant can supply your team with potatoes. Seriously, that's food that you don't have to worry about getting come winter. Helping an actually big and powerful character means that they'll probably help you more than they wouldn't.
Assholes Die
Seriously, assholes die. If you attack an other person in your group, be it 5 or 500; you're an asshole.
People don't like assholes, and will often develop ways to keep them from killing people that they should have left alone.
Pissing other people off. Being useless, being a nuisance, being annoying; those don't help either. Seriously, the bard is the most powerful person in a group. If he's a good bard. A bad bard is seriously... Cacofonix.
Other Concerns
Shelter
Food
Everyone's gotta eat. Except for them. They don't eat
Food is important
If you're a band of travelling adventurers; then there's probably a mule, or hireling with a backpack full of food. Perhaps even bags of holding are filled with stuff like rice, or preserved foods, so your bag of holding, is now a leather-pickle-bag.
Warmth
Combat
Other people
Members of their group
New members
Old members
What are Adventurers, and what do they do in their lives?
Suvivors
I guess that self preservation is one thing that drives them all.
Most of these characters live in places where danger is very common, and you need to be prepared for it, and find an approach that works for you.
I feel better keeping disinterested, unless actively attacked is one way of putting it. There are times when being aggressive/offensive is the goal, but most of the time, you don't want to just go fighting people 'just because'.
How:
Make contacts
The only way to survive in very dangerous areas is to have a wide network of friends and contacts.
-Your army general father who lives a few weeks's horse ride away.
-Your buddies at the Rogue's guild you're a dues paying member of; so, you never 'left', and you've always been a member. So's they're always keeping an eye on your interests in town.
-Members of a local merchant's guild for whom you do escort missions (across the county, or across the Great Wheel) for, who give you discounts on stuff you buy from them.
Be useful
The guy who never fights, but is willing to spend time stitching people back together is always going to have friends. Even ones who think that being good at fighting is more important than most things.
Someone who fulfills a role that has a low population, and is able to be very effective at that role is also going to be appreciated. The really good blacksmith in a town with no, or low level smiths, and the archer in a group of non-archers that usually only face melee enemies.
Certain roles can have many members. If your group is a small army or the size of a military platoon, you don't lose if you have more than one person able to heal well.
Help everyone you can
The smallest peasant can supply your team with potatoes. Seriously, that's food that you don't have to worry about getting come winter. Helping an actually big and powerful character means that they'll probably help you more than they wouldn't.
Assholes Die
Seriously, assholes die. If you attack an other person in your group, be it 5 or 500; you're an asshole.
People don't like assholes, and will often develop ways to keep them from killing people that they should have left alone.
Pissing other people off. Being useless, being a nuisance, being annoying; those don't help either. Seriously, the bard is the most powerful person in a group. If he's a good bard. A bad bard is seriously... Cacofonix.
Other Concerns
Shelter
Food
Everyone's gotta eat. Except for them. They don't eat
Food is important
If you're a band of travelling adventurers; then there's probably a mule, or hireling with a backpack full of food. Perhaps even bags of holding are filled with stuff like rice, or preserved foods, so your bag of holding, is now a leather-pickle-bag.
Warmth
Combat
Other people
Members of their group
New members
Old members