Alternative to sleep in Pendragon

Balbinus · January 10, 2007, 07:01:10 AM

Hi all,

I'm running a Pendragon Vikings game and have one player who wants a character with magic, which is fine. Thing is, the whole sleep debt thing doesn't really fit at all with Viking myths, plus it's not terribly playable IMO, so what might work instead?

All suggestions welcome.

droog · January 10, 2007, 07:49:53 AM

I believe the rules state that an equal amount of preparation can be substituted beforehand.

Balbinus · January 10, 2007, 08:07:23 AM

Quote from: droogI believe the rules state that an equal amount of preparation can be substituted beforehand.

It does, but it still takes the character out for weeks at a time which isn't much fun in a party based game.

droog · January 10, 2007, 08:30:06 AM

I've found that at the time scale PD runs on it hardly matters. Which is a problem of itself, of course.

I've always found the magic system in 4th ed. to be problematic, and my impulse would be to nix the character.

Balbinus · January 10, 2007, 08:42:49 AM

If it was just a character with magic I might, but there are lots of other details that make it interesting and I think worth my putting a bit of work in to have in the game.

I note your point about the timeframe actually, I hadn't borne that in mind. Perhaps I can use the magic more as written.

One Horse Town · January 10, 2007, 08:52:06 AM

You could continue recording the sleep owed for using magic as suggested in the book, but give the character the option of not preparing properly. Work out the sleep owed as you would normally for the magic used and then force one check on Energetic, Proud, Reckless and Indulgent for each sleep owed box.

This then very much shapes the magic wielder but keeps him in the game and also acts as a check (or maybe not) on his use of magic.

Something along those lines anyway. I can't totally recall the inns & outs of Pendragon magic.

droog · January 10, 2007, 09:13:14 AM

Again, there actually is something like this in the game, and it could be really cool or it could be a bitch. If you don't prepare or sleep you have to make aging rolls.

B, you're on your own, because I reverted to 1st ed. magic after experimenting with the magic system. I just mined 4th ed. for ideas for special effects. I gave out bonuses for stuff the players came up with (like blood sacrifice!), and I assigned magical effects on things like critical Passion rolls.

My experience with the actual system is that weak magicians aren't worth it and powerful magicians take over everything. But go ahead and prove me wrong, by all means.

Balbinus · January 10, 2007, 09:34:03 AM

Ah, thanks for the feedback droog, I'll keep a close watch on it. If it proves a problem at least now I'm forewarned and will hopefully spot it before it becomes too gamebreaking.

Hey, the worst that can happen is that it wrecks my game, leads to a flaming argument with my group which then breaks up tipping me into depression leading ultimately to my dying a miserable and lonely death abandoned on a roadside somewhere.

You know, I really should stop considering what the worst that could happen is.

droog · January 10, 2007, 09:36:50 AM

Sounds like an excellent mood for running a Viking game!

Imperator · January 10, 2007, 12:35:02 PM

Quote from: BalbinusAh, thanks for the feedback droog, I'll keep a close watch on it. If it proves a problem at least now I'm forewarned and will hopefully spot it before it becomes too gamebreaking.

Hey, the worst that can happen is that it wrecks my game, leads to a flaming argument with my group which then breaks up tipping me into depression leading ultimately to my dying a miserable and lonely death abandoned on a roadside somewhere.

You know, I really should stop considering what the worst that could happen is.

That's a really good mood... for Vampire.

If you are in a REAL Viking mood, the worst that can happen is that the magician PC breaks your game, leads to a flaming argument with your group, which starts a motherfucking swordfight (you against them), which you manage to win though getting terrible wounds. The deaths of your players start a blood feud between your clan and theirs that lasts until the last member of each clan is wiped out in bloodshed.

Pansy

Ian Absentia · January 10, 2007, 04:34:13 PM

The first thought that popped into my head was sacrifice, though I'm none too certain how that would fit into Norse magic. I know the Norse performed ritual sacrifices for ceremonies, but for working magic? Come up with a scale that substitutes items, creatures, or people with a commensurate amount of sleep.

!i!

droog · January 11, 2007, 04:35:50 AM

By the way, B, is it actual Vikings or the proto-Vikings of Land of Giants?

Balbinus · January 11, 2007, 04:44:53 AM

Actual vikings, much as I love Pendragon I never really use the published setting for it.

Anthrobot · January 11, 2007, 05:16:49 AM

Quote from: BalbinusHi all,

I'm running a Pendragon Vikings game and have one player who wants a character with magic, which is fine. Thing is, the whole sleep debt thing doesn't really fit at all with Viking myths, plus it's not terribly playable IMO, so what might work instead?

All suggestions welcome.

You might want to check out Seidr magic, which was practiced by norse shamans, and also the practice of utiseta.Whereby a mage goes off into the woods(away from the settlement) for a while to gain power.The problem being that it takes the player away from the group for a while. Maybe something in these will be more Norse in atmosphere than sleep debt.:confused:

Balbinus · January 11, 2007, 05:41:34 AM

Quote from: AnthrobotYou might want to check out Seidr magic, which was practiced by norse shamans, and also the practice of utiseta.Whereby a mage goes off into the woods(away from the settlement) for a while to gain power.The problem being that it takes the player away from the group for a while. Maybe something in these will be more Norse in atmosphere than sleep debt.:confused:

Actually, I rather like that, instead of sleep perhaps the witch goes into the woods to commune with the spirits for a number of weeks.

Nice idea, thanks.