More on Evil (Murder-Hobos)
Well I played my first full session and when it came to XP my 2 evil player characters were delighted to read they needed to “Inflict physical or emotional harm on others for personal gain.” since the entire expedition was a D&D style delve into the Caverns of Thracia – they argued successfully that this kill + plunder mission was inherently evil. Is this a problem? I don’t know. I do know that many OSR games are setup this way (with ostensibly non-evil PCs) and if Freebooters is to emulate them… anyway I thought it was worth mentioning.
This is a weird area. This whole approach of invade, take stuff, it’s great, is a colonial attitude – rescuing valuables from “uncivilized” people that have no moral worth (at least, according to the invaders).
If you want to argue that the players deliberately only killed “inherently evil” beings (in some fantasy, absolute sense), and somehow created a moral good on purpose, then deny them the XP. If, on the other hand, they didn’t much care who they came across, and entered the Caverns with murderous intent to get some gold, that sounds pretty evil.
This is a weird area. This whole approach of invade, take stuff, it’s great, is a colonial attitude – rescuing valuables from “uncivilized” people that have no moral worth (at least, according to the invaders).
If you want to argue that the players deliberately only killed “inherently evil” beings (in some fantasy, absolute sense), and somehow created a moral good on purpose, then deny them the XP. If, on the other hand, they didn’t much care who they came across, and entered the Caverns with murderous intent to get some gold, that sounds pretty evil.
Wait, there’s a simpler answer. Did they inflict physical or emotional harm on others for personal gain?
Wait, there’s a simpler answer. Did they inflict physical or emotional harm on others for personal gain?
I agree! I am just pointing out that the game highlights something that chooses not to be highlighted in other games.
I agree! I am just pointing out that the game highlights something that chooses not to be highlighted in other games.
I’m playing an Evil Freebooter. I read “others” as “other sapient, well-meaning/innocent beings”.
I’m playing an Evil Freebooter. I read “others” as “other sapient, well-meaning/innocent beings”.
David Perry that is one way of reading it, I guess I prefer the quagmire.
David Perry that is one way of reading it, I guess I prefer the quagmire.
Rob Brennan, this is by design, and an intentional comment on the murderhobo way of life. Anyone can get a max of 1 xp per session for defeating a worthy foe, but Evil characters have the inflict harm option, and fighters can get xp for fighting as well. The emphasis in FotF overall is on getting the booty, not fighting monsters. Some of our best sessions have involved non-Evil PCs trying to negotiate dungeons without killing anything, while the one Evil party member looks for ways to do so.
Rob Brennan, this is by design, and an intentional comment on the murderhobo way of life. Anyone can get a max of 1 xp per session for defeating a worthy foe, but Evil characters have the inflict harm option, and fighters can get xp for fighting as well. The emphasis in FotF overall is on getting the booty, not fighting monsters. Some of our best sessions have involved non-Evil PCs trying to negotiate dungeons without killing anything, while the one Evil party member looks for ways to do so.