Just another blah question

[Grey Goblin]

How would a 'Sense of Duty' be valued for an adventurer's modest hometown (i.e. hamlet-sized)? I assume a small settlement counts as a Large group (-10) but since an adventurer is usually...well...adventuring, and thus not at home, would the value reduced? What are your thoughts?

BTW, thanks for the replies. This is THE best gaming forum for responsive and intelligent members, IMHO.

[whswhs]

Usually being away, and not having the people your Sense of Duty refers to, isn't an extra limitation or restriction on Sense of Duty; it's part of the definition. If the people were with you, they'd be Dependents instead. So you use the standard cost.

On one hand, the people toward whom you have Sense of Duty are somewhere (relatively) safe, and not out facing peril with you. That makes the disadvantage less. On the other, if they are in desperate need, you MUST go to their aid, or send help, even if they're far away. That makes the disadvantage greater.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by whswhs

Usually being away, and not having the people your Sense of Duty refers to, isn't an extra limitation or restriction on Sense of Duty; it's part of the definition. If the people were with you, they'd be Dependents instead. So you use the standard cost.

On one hand, the people toward whom you have Sense of Duty are somewhere (relatively) safe, and not out facing peril with you. That makes the disadvantage less. On the other, if they are in desperate need, you MUST go to their aid, or send help, even if they're far away. That makes the disadvantage greater.

What if your SoD includes not embarrassing your hometown? That is probably closer to CoH but still.

Or you could have left your hometown for a specific reason that benefits your hometown. For instance you are an emmisary, or engaged in some collective economic enterprise. Or something.

Suppose for instance, you are a Komarran lawyer representing the rights of a given dome at Vorbarra Sultana?

[Mailanka]

I personally would price it at -5. -10 tends to show up more as "To one's nation," and a small hamlet might have 50 or so people, and that's verging more on "extended family."

Edge case, though. I can see the argument for -10.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

I personally would price it at -5. -10 tends to show up more as "To one's nation," and a small hamlet might have 50 or so people, and that's verging more on "extended family."

Edge case, though. I can see the argument for -10.

I hadn't thought about the "hamlet" part. There has to be some boundary between "small" and "large," but any boundary is going to seem arbitrary. Surely, though, if you know the face and name of essentially everyone in your hometown, that's "small."

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Grey Goblin

How would a 'Sense of Duty' be valued for an adventurer's modest hometown (i.e. hamlet-sized)? I assume a small settlement counts as a Large group (-10) but since an adventurer is usually...well...adventuring, and thus not at home, would the value reduced? What are your thoughts?

If your GM allows this Sense of Duty at a -10 cost, expect to spend time and resources in the active pursuit of your hometown's welfare commensurate with a -10 disadvantage. If ensuring the town's welfare won't require much effort from you, your GM should adjust the cost or forbid it entirely (e.g. if that town won't be a meaningful part of the campaign).

[Purple Haze]

If you have a sense of duty to something you should be constantly aware of its welfare, "away adventuring" can not be very far or for very long.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Purple Haze

If you have a sense of duty to something you should be constantly aware of its welfare, "away adventuring" can not be very far or for very long.

You could be, as long as the reason you were far away adventuring is because of something the town needed done.

If you haven't done anything for whatever you have a Sense of Duty toward recently, you should be actively looking for opportunities to be of service, which in the case of your home village probably should force you to go home to check. But if you are engaged in a quest the town sent you on, and really are putting most of your effort into it, you don't really need to check in every couple days too.

Mind you if you do hear the Evil Overlord(TM) has razed the town and enslaved the few survivors, you should still feel horribly guilty and drop what you are doing and rescue any of them you can, but you weren't violating the terms of you disadvantage to the point the GM needs to dock you xp too.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Grey Goblin

How would a 'Sense of Duty' be valued for an adventurer's modest hometown (i.e. hamlet-sized)? I assume a small settlement counts as a Large group (-10) but since an adventurer is usually...well...adventuring, and thus not at home, would the value reduced? What are your thoughts?

BTW, thanks for the replies. This is THE best gaming forum for responsive and intelligent members, IMHO.

Having a sense of duty to your home town means not leaving it except in pursuit of something that will help it.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Having a sense of duty to your home town means not leaving it except in pursuit of something that will help it.

Sometimes it's you being gone that helps it, like leaving to prevent suspicion for a crime from falling on other townsfolk, or to help fulfill a troop levy, or so you wont infect them with your lycanthropy.