Renown: Talk to me

[pawsplay]

So tell me what the deal is with Renown. I was looking at adapting the Reputation system for another game, and it got me thinking about the components. Renown is unusual for a trait in FC in that it has little mechanical effect. You get a title, which gives some kind of qualitative idea of a character's reputation, although it may or may not sync up with events in the campaign. The limit on Prizes and the type of Favors you can request are the main mechanical effects. There are relatively few Favors specific to any one track; that is, most are general or apply to two tracks. I'm trying to discern how it would make a huge difference if you simply used character level instead of Renown Rank.

Comments?

[Sletchman]

By changing it to character level you will be effectively giving the players 30 bonus Rep per level, and remove the utility of abilities like the Noble specialities Noble Blood.  I use a number of different tracks, representing standing within subgroups as well as general recognition for players actions.  I've also been known to hand out Renown directly for player actions.

[Gentry]

The Wyrmstone campaign is in process of creating a vast array of renown tracks representing organization membership. We'll also be cherry-picking through the favor charts, such that some groups simply cannot grant certain favors.

[Deral]

The Wyrmstone campaign is in process of creating a vast array of renown tracks representing organization membership. We'll also be cherry-picking through the favor charts, such that some groups simply cannot grant certain favors.

This is basically what I've done, too, a few dozen renown tracks (and as of recently, Infamy tracks), and I try to make the benefits a bit more clear- but that's easier when you have a distinct world to work from rather than the toolkit on it's own.

[Typhon]

"Infamy tracks"
LOL! Great idea. Be Assassins would love those.
This would make for interesting interactions between good/bad factions too.

[Sletchman]

This is basically what I've done, too, a few dozen renown tracks (and as of recently, Infamy tracks), and I try to make the benefits a bit more clear- but that's easier when you have a distinct world to work from rather than the toolkit on it's own.

That's sorta the vibe I'm going for - the players work with The Legion of Baby Eaters^TM for a while, gaining some social standing with them, and find next time that they go to Teddybear Island that they aren't as welcome as they would otherwise be.

[pawsplay]

By changing it to character level you will be effectively giving the players 30 bonus Rep per level, and remove the utility of abilities like the Noble specialities Noble Blood.  I use a number of different tracks, representing standing within subgroups as well as general recognition for players actions.  I've also been known to hand out Renown directly for player actions.

I have considered the "free Reputation" angle, and I would certainly take that into account when tweaking the system. I am more interested in what effects Renown has actually had in folks' campaigns.

[Doublebond]

By changing it to character level you will be effectively giving the players 30 bonus Rep per level, and remove the utility of abilities like the Noble specialities Noble Blood.  I use a number of different tracks, representing standing within subgroups as well as general recognition for players actions.  I've also been known to hand out Renown directly for player actions.

I have considered the "free Reputation" angle, and I would certainly take that into account when tweaking the system. I am more interested in what effects Renown has actually had in folks' campaigns.

The way I plan to use it is as the actual representation of the character's reputation in the world. If they don't have any renown, no one knows them. Simple as that. People might know of the characters exploits, but not the characters themselves (i.e. "The dragon has been slain!" vs. "[PC Name] slayed the dragon!").

I also have it that the characters won't be able to purchase certain types of renown unless it makes sense. Noble renown won't be available for purchase until they've at least actually talked to someone of recognized nobility (otherwise you have titles coming out of nowhere) and likely until they've actually been given a title as a reward.

But anyway, renown means actual recognition. If they don't get any, they'll never be seen as more than a bunch of nobodies by society at large.

[Crafty_Alex]

I have considered the "free Reputation" angle, and I would certainly take that into account when tweaking the system. I am more interested in what effects Renown has actually had in folks' campaigns.

Renown will be playing a bigger role in future books. For example, in the Adventure Companion it plays directly into the function of some class abilities, and there are feats that require some levels of Renown as prerequisites. Renown will also be important when it comes to participating in Organizations.

[Black_Irish]

Renown will be playing a bigger role in future books. For example, in the Adventure Companion it plays directly into the function of some class abilities, and there are feats that require some levels of Renown as prerequisites. Renown will also be important when it comes to participating in Organizations.

... When does that book come out again?

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

... When does that book come out again?

They say October, so hopefully this month.

[Grimace]

Having a single reputation score doesn't make that much sense to me.

If you perform some task for the military, you would think any reputation gotten from that task would only go towards buying military renown or favors.  Though I could see some of the reputation being able to go towards heroic renown/favors.

But for the sake of simplicity the current mechanics work well.

[Crafty_Alex]

Having a single reputation score doesn't make that much sense to me.

If you perform some task for the military, you would think any reputation gotten from that task would only go towards buying military renown or favors.  Though I could see some of the reputation being able to go towards heroic renown/favors.

But for the sake of simplicity the current mechanics work well.

For favors, I can see that. But what about magic items? Contacts? It gets tricky, but this is exactly why we broke favors into subgroups that tie Renown (closer to what most people think of when they think "reputation") to the types of favors you can buy.

[Grimace]

Having a single reputation score doesn't make that much sense to me.

If you perform some task for the military, you would think any reputation gotten from that task would only go towards buying military renown or favors.  Though I could see some of the reputation being able to go towards heroic renown/favors.

But for the sake of simplicity the current mechanics work well.

For favors, I can see that. But what about magic items? Contacts? It gets tricky, but this is exactly why we broke favors into subgroups that tie Renown (closer to what most people think of when they think "reputation") to the types of favors you can buy.

Yup that's what I meant buy the last part of my statement.  It gets tricky splitting it up.

[Grimace]

Plus after thinking about it.  It may not be reputation for doing a job for the military, but reputation for that dragon you killed.  Which could go towards any faction.

"Hey aren't you the guy that killed that Dragon?"