Re: Heroquest Challenges

From: Ian Cooper <ian_hammond_cooper_at_...>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 13:22:01 -0000


Michael Schwartz wrote:
> One important thing to keep in mind about heroquesting (as evinced
>in "King of Dragon Pass" especially) is that the true challenges are
>often derived from those parts of the quest not revealed by the
>myths the heroes know.

Bruce Ferrie, Roger Barnes and I were discussing something similar last night - one aspect of the challenge in any heroquest is 'how much of the myth do you know'. The Making of The Storm Tribe myth on the web site, drawn from KoDP has different levels of knowledge for initiates and devotees. In KoDP (and I think HW) accurate knowledge of myths is a valuable commodity.

A lack of knowledge about what happens on the HQ can make the stations more challenging. Obtaining more accurate knowledge of the myth makes a good scenario McGuffin. Different groups may have different myths, some may be right, some wrong. You might find someone has a myth of how to do a quest you have already done differently, and gain different benefits. If you successfully perform a heroquest, other people may want to know your experience so that they can repeat it - another scenario hook.

Giving characters less info than they need and then parcelling it out to them is a time honored classic. Some information may be wrong, and the heroes may have to use their judgement to eliminate the spurious. If they don't get all the info they still get to try the HQ as the finale; it is just a more difficult.

Puts me in mind a bit of CoC where the heroes do a lot of research before going up against the big bad guy.

The other aspect of HQing is that you are trying to behave as your god. Bruce, Roger & I were of the opinion that a good HQ should test those personality traits expressed by the gods. Orlanthi should have good opportunity to test abilities that correspond to Orlanth's virtues (though violence is always an option). Test their bravery, their generosity and not just their kill something abilities, to show how like their god they are. Heroes who don't spend hero points on their brave, boastful etc. might find quests more difficult.

Ian

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