tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post7704715276237415097..comments2023-05-27T11:14:02.426-04:00Comments on Some Space to Think: The Reluctant HeroAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-14761479716888715772010-01-27T23:12:53.356-05:002010-01-27T23:12:53.356-05:00Not really about the "reluctant hero"
...Not really about the "reluctant hero" <br /><br />But in order to make the 'adventurer' idea make more sence, A DM friend of mine likened 'adventures at the tavern' to 'day-laborers at the gas-station' (at least thats where we get them here in Texas)<br /><br />So when you need some monster's killed, you roll up to the tavern and yell out, " I need four! You speak Elven? Can you disarm traps?!"Trevorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02151805120054704986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-7210919693051729192010-01-26T14:41:15.739-05:002010-01-26T14:41:15.739-05:00I really enjoy the reluctant hero archetype and th...I really enjoy the reluctant hero archetype and think it doesn't have to frustrate the GM if both sides are willing to work with it. Right now Brad and I are running a team of circus performers through Scales of War in D&D 4e. They all have different reasons for joining the circus initially, and different reasons for getting involved in the adventures, and it's really interesting to see them gel as a team and how their take is different from the more action-oriented adventurers. I think they'll start wanting to be more proactive as they build up enemies and unravel more of the plot, but right now each adventure ends with "yay, we get to go home to our nice life." Showing some of the circus life has also been a nice contrast: it really IS a lot more fun to be a circus performer than an adventurer! But there are pressing reasons to go after monsters, so. (Brad has been modifying the modules nicely to give us plenty of hooks: attacking the circus rather than a tavern, say, and having kidnap victims include some circus people.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-10887226051765481822010-01-26T13:15:05.155-05:002010-01-26T13:15:05.155-05:00@rev I am absolutely enamored of the power of endi...@rev I am absolutely enamored of the power of endings, whether they b the end of a character's arc or the conclusion of a campaign. Things which are left to dangle or which stay perpetually open ended feel frightened and watered down to me.<br /><br />And with that in mind, you're totally right to call out that reluctance also provides and end point, and that's one more reason I'm very much on board with the idea.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-28046316460580057092010-01-26T12:50:38.814-05:002010-01-26T12:50:38.814-05:00I like to think of most "adventurers" as...I like to think of most "adventurers" as being reluctant. A major part of this is that I usually use Campbell's "Hero's Journey" as a passing template. And so there is often a "Call to Adventure" (something is wrong, or something impacts on the character's life to throw them out of their humdrum daily existence). Of course, a character can bump other characters creating a cascade of adventurers.<br /><br />But the thing that most gamers who use this template (and many do) is that they forget about the last stage of the Hero's Journey: "The Return." This is where the Hero returns from his or her journey with the Treasure stolen from the Dragon at the Heart Of The Dungeon. <br /><br />Most games have the precept that once the Dragon is defeated and the Treasure gained, then the character should go look (or be provided with) another Dragon to defeat and Treasure to gain, ad infinitum.<br /><br />What I find more interesting, and this is where it ties heavily into the idea of the Reluctant Hero is what the character considers to be his or her ultimate goal. What does it require for a character to retire and say that they have finally achieved what they sought, or are they trapped on an eternal treadmill.<br /><br />Of course, they may not have any idea of what this will be as they set out. Especially since the first stages of the Hero's Journey generally represents a metaphysical childhood. In many cases their actions will be reactive. But as the journey continues, they gain in maturity until they reach adulthood, where they become active participants in the adventure. The Return then means they resume their place in society, but as adults. But without this element many campaigns seem rather hollow and unfinished.<br /><br />At least, that's my opinion. <i><grin></i><br /><br />This will of course vary by genre and game system. In a Superhero™ game, for example, there is always another villain (and most game systems offer very little in the way of actual development of superhero characters anyway). But the mere fact that you are a superhero is generally enough to break you from your humdrum world.Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-53458855880176973772010-01-26T12:05:47.380-05:002010-01-26T12:05:47.380-05:00I admit I'm mostly thinking adventure fiction....I admit I'm mostly thinking adventure fiction. which is not so much CLERKS.<br /><br />That said, Dante's an interesting example of the power of this idea. His reason for answering the call of adventure (that is to say, working here today) really sucks, and on some level he's aware of that, but he's unable to man up and address it, so he makes himself the victim rather than the hero (something more strongly punctuated by the original ending).<br /><br />-Rob D.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-41253394469710657472010-01-26T11:35:16.661-05:002010-01-26T11:35:16.661-05:00Hmmm. Dante from CLERKS as reluctant hero (or, at ...Hmmm. Dante from CLERKS as reluctant hero (or, at least, protagonist)?Chad Underkofflerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490777597321061502noreply@blogger.com