1 of 1- Gundar
- Warrior
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Prolonging campaign play
The most common criticism I see for BoL Mythic is that it might not be good for long campaign play because it is so quick and easy to max out character stats.
What are some ways to address this and make the game viable for an epic and long campaign?
- roryb
- Champion
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- Registered: 2/27/2014
- Posts: 160
Re: Prolonging campaign play
Actually, if you measure up advancement options, it gets very costly to max out characters. Ability point increases are very expensive. Somewhere I read a blog post where some drew out the advancement options for a character and it spanned a tremendously long career.
Keep in mind that advancement points are supposed to be awarded only at the end of a saga...although how long a saga should be is left somewhat vague, 2-5 sessions is probably a good benchmark. For sure once every session is not what was intended.
Naturally, adjusting the rate of advancement is one of the easiest things for a GM to do. Some even eliminate advancement altogether. Personally, I think dropping AP’s into followers is one of the more underused and less discussed options that helps assert the genre.
More henchmen! More sidekicks!
- gnombient
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- Posts: 109
Re: Prolonging campaign play
roryb wrote:
Actually, if you measure up advancement options, it gets very costly to max out characters. Ability point increases are very expensive. Somewhere I read a blog post where some drew out the advancement options for a character and it spanned a tremendously long career.
Sounds like a fascinating post, any chance you could dig it up and post a link?
Personally, I think dropping AP’s into followers is one of the more underused and less discussed options that helps assert the genre.
More henchmen! More sidekicks!
Great point!
- roryb
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Re: Prolonging campaign play
Sounds like a fascinating post, any chance you could dig it up and post a link?
I think I found it over on Stack Exchange.
- Lankohring
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- Registered: 9/23/2021
- Posts: 22
Re: Prolonging campaign play
The most common criticism I see for BoL Mythic is that it might not be good for long campaign play because it is so quick and easy to max out character stats.
This is indeed a very common criticism, but there is no need to address it specifically. Those people who make it haven't done the math & do not realize that the RAW are just fine the way they are.
For Argol Arran (BoL:ME p. 168), say, to max out any of his attributes going from 1 to 5 takes 24 (3+5+7+9) advancement points (XPs). That's huge: it represents an average of 12 "sagas" (adventures) which means even more sessions of play (24? 36? More?). To max out all of his 4 attributes (strength, agility, mind & appeal at 5) takes 96 XPs!
To max out any of his combat abilities going from 1 to 5 takes 18 (3+4+5+6) advancement points (XPs). All four takes 72 XPs... To max out any of his careers going from 1 to 5 takes 14 (2+3+4+5) advancement points (XPs). Four careers at 5 means 56 XPs...
But of course, you can also improve your character by spending XPs to get a new career, buy off flaws, get new boons (without flaws) as well as to get followers (BoL:ME p. 126)! The possibilities are not endless, there is a definite ceiling to a character's career... but for all practical purposes it doesn't matter as it will realistically never be reached!?!
Last edited by Lankohring (5/27/2024 1:02 am)
- Lankohring
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- Registered: 9/23/2021
- Posts: 22
Re: Prolonging campaign play
Sounds like a fascinating post, any chance you could dig it up and post a link?
I think I found it over on Stack Exchange.
Thank you very much!
Here is another one I did:
Konghor (sic) the Barbarian, Konghor the Valgardian, Konghor the Quiet, Konghor the Swift, Konghor the Cursed, Konghor the Weak, Konghor the... you get the drift!?!
Strength: 0 - 1 + 1 = 0 (Max: 6)
Agility: 3 + 1 = 4 (Max: 6)
Mind: 1 + 1 = 2
Appeal: 0
Initiative: 1 + 1 = 2
Melee: 3
Ranged: 0 - 1 = -1
Defense: 0
Barbarian: 3
Laborer: 0
Thief: 1
Pirate: 0
Lifeblood: 10
Hero Points: 5 - 1 = 4
Arcane Power: -
Fate Points: -
Advance Points: -
Languages: Satarlan, Valgardish, Axian, Khanian
Boon: Trademark Weapon (Valgardian Blade) (Valgard)
Boon: Blue Giant Strength (Str +1) (Laborer)
Flaw: Taciturn (Valgard)
Boon: Winged-Man Agility (Agi +1) (Any)
Flaw: Cursed (HP -1) (Any)
Career plan:
Advancement: 1st ♡, 2nd ♧, 3rd ♤, 4th ◇ & 5th ☆
1XP (Advance Point... )
♡ Strength: 0 + 1 = 1
- Appeal: 0 + 1 = 1
♧ Ranged: -1 + 1 = 0
- Laborer: 0 + 1 = 1
- Pirate: 0 + 1 = 1
- Another career: 0
2XPs
- Ranged: 0 + 1 = 1
♡ Def: 0 + 1 = 1
- Laborer: 1 + 1 = 2
- Thief: 1 + 1 = 2
- Pirate: 1 + 1 = 2
♤ Flaw: Cursed... suppressed! (HP + 1)
- Flaw: Taciturn... no more!?!
♧ Boon: Hard-to-Kill (LB + 2) + Flaw: Mistrust Sorcery
- Boon: Any + Flaw: Any
- Flaw: Any... suppressed!
3XPs
♡ Strength: 1 + 1 = 2
- Appeal: 1 + 1 = 2
- Ranged: 1 + 1 = 2
♧ Def: 1 + 1 = 2
- Laborer: 2 + 1 = 3
- Thief: 2 + 1 = 3
- Pirate: 2 + 1 = 3
4XPs
- Initiative: 2 + 1 = 3
- Ranged: 2 + 1 = 3
♡ Def: 2 + 1 = 3
- Barbarian: 3 + 1 = 4
- Laborer: 3 + 1 = 4
- Thief: 3 + 1 = 4
- Pirate: 3 + 1 = 4
- Boon: Any + Flaw: None!
5XPs
- Strength: 2 + 1 = 3
- Mind: 2 + 1 = 3
- Appeal: 2 + 1 = 3
- Initiative: 3 + 1 = 4
♡ Melee: 3 + 1 = 4
- Ranged: 3 + 1 = 4
♧ Def: 3 + 1 = 4
- Barbarian: 4 + 1 = 5
- Laborer: 4 + 1 = 5
- Thief: 4 + 1 = 5
- Pirate: 4 + 1 = 5
6XPs
- Initiative: 4 + 1 = 5
♡ Melee: 4 + 1 = 5 (Max)
- Ranged: 4 + 1 = 5
♧ Def: 4 + 1 = 5 (Max)
7XPs
- Strength: 3 + 1 = 4
- Mind: 3 + 1 = 4
- Appeal: 3 + 1 = 4
8XPs
...
9XPs
- Strength: 4 + 1 = 5
♡ Agility: 4 + 1 = 5
- Mind: 4 + 1 = 5
- Appeal: 4 + 1 = 5
10XPs
...
11XPs
- Strength: 5 + 1 = 6
♡ Agility: 5 + 1 = 6 (Max)
60 XPs later (How many sagas? 30+... How many sessions? 60-90+... ):
Strength: 0 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 2
Agility: 3 + 1 + 2= 6 (Max)
Mind: 1 + 1 = 2
Appeal: 0 = 0
Initiative: 1 + 1 = 2
Melee: 3 + 2 = 5 (Max)
Ranged: 0 - 1 + 1 = 0
Defense: 0 + 5 = 5 (Max)
Barbarian: 3
Laborer: 0
Thief: 1
Pirate: 0
Lifeblood: 10 + 2 + 2 = 14
Hero Points: 5 - 1 + 1 = 5
Arcane Power: -
Fate Points: -
Advance Points: -
Languages: Satarlan, Valgardish, Axian, Khanian
Boon: Trademark Weapon (Valgardian Blade) (Valgard)
Boon: Blue Giant Strength (Str +1) (Laborer)
Flaw: Taciturn (Valgard)
Boon: Winged-Man Agility (Agi +1) (Any)
Flaw: Cursed (HP -1) (Any) (Suppressed: HP +1)
Boon: Hard-to-Kill (LB + 2) (Advancement)
Flaw: Mistrust Sorcery (Advancement)
**************************************
Is such a "career path" realistic & could it happen during play? I dunno, but somehow I doubt it. It doesn't make a lot of sense to doggedly use 11 XPs to finally reach the off-the-chart (BoL:ME p. 13) maximum value in one ability when for the same "price" it is possible to increase, say, appeal from 0 to 1 (1 XP), strength from 2 to 3 (5 XPs) & mind from 2 to 3 (5 XPs). But it was a fun exercise anyway!
Last edited by Lankohring (4/12/2022 7:56 am)