Grief

[Kane]

It seems to me that Grief hits a glass ceiling at around Level 6. Once you get to this level, it becomes extremely difficult to get those Challenging level tests up at higher levels. I mean, how often do you see something that merits a level 8 or higher Grief test?

I think it should be a little bit easier to hit 10 Grief. It puts a bit more of a edge on the nature of Grief, and makes it a more dangerous force for elf players to think about. As it is, I really can't see how any character would hit 10 Grief unless he witnesses the end of the world or some equivalent.

[rafial]

Hmmm... Interesting post. I do agree with the main point, as it seems to me that the grief accumulated by very old elves is simply the accumulation of many many small moments of despair, rather than any single huge incident. One hundred thousand routine tests of Grief may well eventually add up to an Ob10 overall test of Grief.

On the other hand, how many of us will run a campaign that covers a thousand years? So I guess one way to interpret the sample Obstacles are as significant events that would actually impact Grief in play, rather than simply the inexorable march of sadness until the long years of your life are utterly spent.

[luke]

It's funny, I noticed this phenomena when I retooled Grief into Despair and Need for the Under a Serpent Sun setting. What I did there was have Routines always count for advancement. Haven't play tested it too much, but in theory it should do exactly as Rafial describes.

One of the reasons I did leave Grief as it is, though, is because in my conception of a fantasy campaign characters should be involved in that level of madness. I know my players are! Still, you speak the truth, Kane.

-Luke

[mike_ravenwood]

While I know the mechanic is important, I always insured that my elf players understood that their actions could have a profound effect on their psychology. That they should be warry of actions that will way heavily on thier souls. Of course if they are running around slaughtering people and with out a thought to the other pc's feel free to hit with Grief. GM fiat is your friend.

[Lxndr]

You know, if you apply wounding-penalty dice to Grief along with everything else... suddenly, those difficult and challenging tests can be much easier to get.

And I think an argument could be made for magical Taxing to tax Grief, as well (for the purposes of tests). But... elves don't use Sorcery, so nevermind.

[luke]

so this weekend, during the new demo game called The Gift, there was some serious Grief.

the elven sword-singer, who's Grief is at B8, took two Grief tests -- a Difficult and a Challenging. One for having to kill his friend who's mind had been twisted to darkness, and one for watching his friend and charge -- the hope for all that was good -- cut down.

The player absolutely loved it. Oh the tragedy!

-Luke

[Ozark Tim]

Yeah, at Ubercon in The Gift, the elf prince I was playing managed to shoot up an entire grief point in just a few minutes. Betrayal coming and going, worlds of slaughter, standing by as innocents are cut down. Rock on!