I’ve been thinking about introducing reincarnation to the campaigns I run for my 10yo. We’re already following the pattern of the Zelda games where he plays practically the same character, but in different “skins”. Sometimes a thousand years after, sometimes in a completely different universe, and sometimes he’s a direct descendant of the previous hero.
He hasn’t warmed up to the idea of his characters dying yet so this, in addition to a Grim World style death move might be a good way to ease him into it.
Here are some of my initial thoughts:
* A simple procedure or roll says something about how the world has changed based on the state he left it in and how much time has passed.
* Maybe he can choose a power that will be passed on in some way.
* Instead of recalling prophecies and legends, he can commune with his ancestors and gain insight or even access their powers.
* He rolls on a table to get a background and some unique traits for his next character. I’d still give him a lot of freedom, but it’s more fun for me if he mixes things up. Handing the responsibility over to a table might also make it easier for him to buy in to change.
This might not go anywhere, but it’s fun to ponder.
The table sounds like the best solution to me. You know your son better than anyone and how to approach him with changes that might upset him. A table seems like a normal aspect of any game and still allows him to choose between a few results rather than forcing him to accept any single outcome.
The table sounds like the best solution to me. You know your son better than anyone and how to approach him with changes that might upset him. A table seems like a normal aspect of any game and still allows him to choose between a few results rather than forcing him to accept any single outcome.
Rocky Perez One of my secret ambitions (along with killing his character) is to one day have him roll up a female hero. He has played aliens and monsters, but he will not play females except for when I hand him an NPC to play in scenes when the hero is away. It just frustrates me to see him trapped by stereotypes and expectations. He would of course have to consent to that as an option when we introduce the table.
Rocky Perez One of my secret ambitions (along with killing his character) is to one day have him roll up a female hero. He has played aliens and monsters, but he will not play females except for when I hand him an NPC to play in scenes when the hero is away. It just frustrates me to see him trapped by stereotypes and expectations. He would of course have to consent to that as an option when we introduce the table.
Would it help to introduce a new game in which he learns over the course of play that the PC is a reincarnation of an earlier character? This might might help you work around some of the tension of character death.
Would it help to introduce a new game in which he learns over the course of play that the PC is a reincarnation of an earlier character? This might might help you work around some of the tension of character death.
Shae Davidson good idea.
Shae Davidson good idea.
Hmm… just a quick thought: a recurring character Move might be an interesting thread that ties all these lives together. Especially as you show a picture from Avatar, where a the avatar made a move such as “When calling on your past lives…”
Or in the case of Avatar there was that strange super-power state he got into. In the case of the series it was always when he was backed into a corner or about to get squashed, however prior avatars may have been more able to use that power. Maybe it has a consequence? “When ready to unleash the power of past lives, but at great cost to your environment…”
Anyways, just a thought. And obviously those are Avatar-centric examples.
Hmm… just a quick thought: a recurring character Move might be an interesting thread that ties all these lives together. Especially as you show a picture from Avatar, where a the avatar made a move such as “When calling on your past lives…”
Or in the case of Avatar there was that strange super-power state he got into. In the case of the series it was always when he was backed into a corner or about to get squashed, however prior avatars may have been more able to use that power. Maybe it has a consequence? “When ready to unleash the power of past lives, but at great cost to your environment…”
Anyways, just a thought. And obviously those are Avatar-centric examples.