Perhaps a bad mystic makes for a good story. What I am saying is: yes, certain characters with certain motivations are not going to be very rewarding to play for most people. However, I wouldn't exclude any character on the basis of comparison with a perfect example.
Now, having read Kevin's post and your reply, I can see we are on the same page. Nice one.
M
-----Original Message-----
From: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Larsen
Sent: 09 December 2009 15:37
To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Three-world model
On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 10:05 AM, Matthew Cole <matthew.cole_at_nSsX0dJs_XdLpI5aQgaFfiwBBYSra0Tm8vt1ns-fMS1noxjF5iscbJH6p1BtLFeiyog45Nw0QmNUDfv5pprotdkq0Q4Q.yahoo.invalid
> wrote:
> I'm sure most here have read, heard or watched stories where the mystic is
> a
>
> protagonist. One obvious example is Kung Fu (http://tinyurl.com/yu6zo9 -
> Wikipedia link).
>
Well, he's a pretty bad mystic. One problem with mystics in HQ is the models
that we have are mostly like Ingolf (I may have the name wrong) -- mystic
studies give you fantastic powers that can't be used outside of very
specific ritual situations -- something that would be deeply frustrating to
most players, I think. Also, since mysticism in Glorantha has been defined
as a pulling away from the world, but most players want to be more enmeshed
in the world they are exploring, another source of frustration.
Which doesn't mean that you can't have a character with that feel -- you could easily have a swordsman like Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- someone who has a mystic outlook but follows a god or sorcerous school that gives powers that the player can use and feel good about. So the character is mystic culturally without being mystic mechanically.
Or that is my thoughts, having spent the better part of a year trying to come up with mysticism rules that would actually work in play and that Greg felt matched the feel of Glorantha.
Peter Larsen
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