[3.5] Earning a Reputation...

[TheCountAlucard]

So, last night's D&D game, I mentioned to the players that their seventh-level characters have earned a bit of a reputation for their deeds. While not nationally-famous yet, it's not a stretch of the imagination to say that others have heard of them by now.

I doubt I'll be giving any mechanical benefit to them for their fame, but there could probably be a song or poem about them, right? A limerick probably wouldn't suit their adventures (especially considering the tendency of limericks to be dirty), so I'm thinking maybe troubadours have written a song about their exploits. Any thoughts, suggestions, whatever?

[Heliomance]

Beyond about 5th level, PCs are well above the human norm, and bards could easily be singing songs about them, especially if they've done anything particularly heroic.

[TheCountAlucard]

...particularly heroic.

Let's see...

• Helped foil an assassination attempt on the king
• Stopped an evil necromancer and his gnoll minions
• Closed a portal to the Abyss
• Tracked down the Angelwing Razor before it could fall into the wrong hands

Those are the more noteworthy ones. They also traveled to the Seelie Court for a blessing, rode around in a flying hunting lodge, and looted a secret temple of Demogorgon.

[Yora]

That sounds like deserving a reputation of legendary proportions.
We have famous heroes in our mythologies, who have done significantly less.

[snoopy13a]

Let's see...

• Helped foil an assassination attempt on the king
• Stopped an evil necromancer and his gnoll minions
• Closed a portal to the Abyss
• Tracked down the Angelwing Razor before it could fall into the wrong hands

Those are the more noteworthy ones. They also traveled to the Seelie Court for a blessing, rode around in a flying hunting lodge, and looted a secret temple of Demogorgon.

How much reputation depends on well-known their deeds are, not just the deeds themselves. For example, foiling the assassination attempt could make the players national heroes if the public hears of actions. However, if their deeds were behind the scenes and they didn't get any credit, no reputation would be earned.

[Dixieboy]

There once were these heroes of lore...

oh yea, no limericks...

Have you played fable II?
You could do tales of their exploits the way that bard does it.

[Glimbur]

Haikus. Hundreds of them.

[TheCountAlucard]

For example, foiling the assassination attempt could make the players national heroes if the public hears of actions. However, if their deeds were behind the scenes and they didn't get any credit, no reputation would be earned.

Well, the public did hear of the actions, but the PCs weren't credited for it, so I guess no fame for them on that part.

Have you played fable II?

Nope, not at all.

[Physics_Rook]

If you're worried that it might go to their heads, or you might end up overdoing it for them, then I recommend starting small.

In particular, it sounds like their party needs a name. Something for the common folk to identify them.

Of course, in the spirit of any good nickname, it shouldn't be picked by any of the party members. You should probably tell us a little more of their exploits, and see what names the community here can come up with.

[Paulus]

Let's see...

• Helped foil an assassination attempt on the king
• Stopped an evil necromancer and his gnoll minions
• Closed a portal to the Abyss
• Tracked down the Angelwing Razor before it could fall into the wrong hands

Those are the more noteworthy ones. They also traveled to the Seelie Court for a blessing, rode around in a flying hunting lodge, and looted a secret temple of Demogorgon.

Look! it's [Your party name here]!
The King savior,
Evil Necromancer annoyer,
Abyssal portal destroyer,
and Guardians of the Angelwing Razor!

[Johel]

...rode around in a flying hunting lodge

...needs a name

I'm sure bards will talk about that and make a name out of it.
It's a bird ? It's a plane ? It's a rocket ?
No, it's the Flying Poachers !!
Necromancers and demon worshippers, hide your hellishspawn.

[TheCountAlucard]

In particular, it sounds like their party needs a name.

I actually like that idea.

Of course, in the spirit of any good nickname, it shouldn't be picked by any of the party members.

Also a fair thought.

Perhaps I should describe the party members first...

Warlock

Spoiler

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The mildly-overweight human Warlock actually already has a nickname; he earned it after a stunt he pulled in a gladiatorial arena. "Lightning-blood." His first two powers were spider-climbing and the ability to see in darkness. He later picked up an obscene bonus to his Knowledge checks and the ability to comprehend any written language, and then traded his spider-climbing for the ability to fly. Accidental contact with a magic pool gave him bony spikes jutting from his shoulders; he keeps them decorated with a flame pattern. He's an associate of the Mages Academy; they see him as a useful asset to their operations.

Scout

Spoiler

Show

Small and lithe, the elven Scout has a bit of a drinking habit, but she never lets it get in the way of helping her friends on an adventure. She would typically use a bow in combat, but when the party recovered the Angelwing Razor, an artifact longsword, she started using it as well.

Healer

Spoiler

Show

The social, spontaneous, and inventive human Healer is a bit of a packrat, particularly with herbs. When the party traveled to the Seelie Court, his blessing was a pair of butterfly wings that grant him flight. He's also got a celestial squirrel that follows him around.

Fighter

Spoiler

Show

There's also a dwarven Fighter, specializing in dual-wielding oversized dwarven waraxes, but he's only been with the party for a single session.

[Sinfire Titan]

Helped foil an assassination attempt on the king
Stopped an evil necromancer and his gnoll minions
Closed a portal to the Abyss
Tracked down the Angelwing Razor before it could fall into the wrong hands

The first one would get instant recognition from everyone within that kingdom, and possibly its allies (and most notably it's enemies, especially the ones responsible). The second is less likely to be noticed by the commoners, but other mages and religious orders would be likely to praise them for the deed. The third is nigh obscure to the common public. Unless it was a situation like Oblivion, where the portal was right next to a town, odds are only Extraplanar beings and disciples of the Demons/people responsible would even know. Mage orders and Divine Churches that have mid-to-high level Clerics may be alerted to the event through Extraplanar beings. The last would only matter to those who knew the legends behind the item. Dragons may recognize it, but that's pretty much it.


Some high-level deeds can go entirely unnoticed by the commonwealth. Even people in the Outlands would have a hard time giving praise to someone who deposed Bel (seeing as Baator would do its best to contain the information until he was replaced, at which point they would make it seem entirely political as a front). You'd have to have fought Bel in the middle of an open field on the Prime Material, something that isn't going to happen very often due to his status (Lord of the 1st doesn't really leave the 1st for any reason other than if the top brass said to take the fight to the enemy).

[TheCountAlucard]

The first one would get instant recognition from everyone within that kingdom, and possibly its allies (and most notably its enemies, especially the ones responsible).

Actually, they were only given partial credit for it.

The second is less likely to be noticed by the commoners, but other mages and religious orders would be likely to praise them for the deed.

The gnolls had been raiding the village, so I gave them a tiny bit of notice for it.

The third is nigh obscure to the common public. Unless it was a situation like Oblivion...

It was a situation like Oblivion. The demons were trying to find the key piece to obtaining the Angelwing Razor, so they invaded a town.

The last would only matter to those who knew the legends behind the item. Dragons may recognize it, but that's pretty much it.

Agreed.

[Dixieboy]

Nope, not at all.

Basically he just makes really bad rhymes and "sings" them while plunking on his lute.

[herrhauptmann]

When bards (the profession, not class) and minstrels are singing of the party's exploits, don't let the songs sound like a plot summary.
Let details change from town to town.

In a place were gnolls are nonexistent or have a weak tribe, but the town is regularly menaced by orcs and ogres, the song will say they stopped an orc invasion.

"stopped the angelwing razor from falling into the wrong hands" becomes "Retrieved the fabled Axe or sword or shield of Bob the Righteous, returned it to his descendents/church"

Closed the portal to the abyss stays correct. But the descriptions of the party members changes, maybe extra people are listed, or some are omitted. Perhaps one of the fictional members is listed as having died in the arms of the beautiful princess (giving some tragedy to their story).

Have some of the stories be presented in a foreboding manner. "Where next brave heroes tread. Beware the Castle of Dread"
And The Castle of Dread could be a red herring to keep them anxious, or a plothook.

[Thurbane]

A little OT, but there actually is a mechanic for reputation, if you wanted to use it.

[theMycon]

Go all out.

Have an elephant procession enter a town ahead of them, lead by a half-dozen servants per elephant, each ridden by a slave clad in golden robes, pronouncing their deeds on an unending loop at the top of their lungs, preceeded by "who have a treasury comparable to that of the twenty richest kings in the land" and capping the list with "heroes of the age, each of whom the gods themselves hold in highest esteem as saviours of our land and enforcers of divine mandate, together considered the lords of this plane."

If that doesn't go to their heads, nothing will. Also, it helps maintain WBL no matter what treasure you actually throw at them. Paying for an ever-more-elegant elephant procession allows them to keep whatever they like, sell the rest, and forces them to spend down to appropriate cash reserves.

If they're not willing to pay for an elephant procession, they obviously don't care about fame.