*NOT* articulating a general priciple (just to be clear ;-) )
> > A sidekick *should* be growing along with his Hero. However,
> > there should not be a rule to use HP to "buy up" keywords. Let the
Sidekick
> > get "keyword" bumps along with the Hero during Advanced Experience. The
> > question each group then needs to ask is: "Does he get his own keyword
> > raises, or does the player have to split them between his main hero and
his
> > sidekick?"
>
> I'm not sure I get this: are you applying Adv. Exp. per game year, or
> something like that? I hadn't considered using it in that way. Very
> sensitive to how game time is being managed, clearly.
No I'm not. Adv. Exp. is better for "Long downtime" than a "End of year bonus" in my eyes.
However, it also depends on how you're running your game - if every season is a new adventure, and there is no "long downtime" to apply Adv. Exp. to, then *for a Sidekick* it might make sense to have a year-end keyword bonus attached, since otherwise the poor dear will never advance.
> I rather feel we've gone from one extreme in HW (follower feeding
> frenzy) to the other in HQ (it's as expensive to increase a follower
> ability as one of your own, and less useful). I feel there must be an
> Obvious Compromise here. Or at least, a feasible one. Perhaps
> something like 1HP to increase a follower keyword, or two ability by
> one/one by two? (Subject to sanity constraints relating them to level
> of the 'base' character.)
The problem is in regulating the keyword advances for the sidekick: "Why should I bother to put any HP into my own hero's magic? I'll just buy up Joe Sidekick's Devotee of Humakt keyword". Pretty soon you have the sidekick that outshines the hero! I'm sure we can all agree that this is probably *not* what we want.
it is a complicated area, and easily subject to abuse no matter what you do. In such cases, I prefer to say "this is a guideline, but work out what works best for you" than "this is a rule". Otherwise, you end up writing a convoluted, "airtight" rules (ie, full of holes that players gloam on to and use to their full advantage even when it makes no damn sense) (I should know, I've done enough of it).
So, I AM SUGGESTING GUIDELINES, NOT RULES!!!!!!!
RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has
done what he has done.
- Richelieu
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