The Dragon King's most elite soldiers are the Princess Guard, hand-picked from lives of luxury and trained to become the world's powerful fighting force.
A reaction to this has been to want "story," by which is meant an enactment of the imperialist fantasy where misguided / ignorant / helpless / oppressed locals are informed / liberated / rescued by an outsider who possesses superior intelligence, technology, courage, and moral character.
Having not played your game, but just going on what you've mentioned here, it sounds like maybe the issue is a lack of purpose for the characters?
"Story" in a travel-to-exotic lands genre, doesn't necessarily mean a save-the-ignorant-locals-from-themselves scenario, does it? But if the characters don't have a purpose for their travel, and don't have anything to contribute to their new environment, then travel becomes kind of self-indulgent, right? I don't think a hero narrative is necessarily imperialist fantasy, though it certainly can be, so, just on the basis of what you've written, it sounds a little like you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I'm not totally clear on how hte game mechanic works, so maybe this is impossible, but finding a way for people to have heroic purpose in their journeys while also realizing that travel is not just about teaching, but also learning?
So, despite some quibbles, you've hit my present design puzzle on the head: finding a way for people to have heroic purpose in their journeys while also realizing that travel is not just about teaching, but also learning?
Right. Yes. That. Just trying to figure out how to do that.
Bleh. Long post was looong: this is more manageable.
What if the people invited the newcomers to participate in their customs rituals? When the players ask why, the response is along the lines of: "Well, if a Princess of the Guard slays a dragon, then they grow so beautiful that their love cannot help but notice. Sarah, I know you have your eye on Keenan..."
(They don't bother to mention that the given meaning of "beautiful" is "You have a magical aura of confidence" until Sarah complains that she's still fairly plain. Cue Keenan stage right to go "...whoa. Hot chick.")
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Having not played your game, but just going on what you've mentioned here, it sounds like maybe the issue is a lack of purpose for the characters?
"Story" in a travel-to-exotic lands genre, doesn't necessarily mean a save-the-ignorant-locals-from-themselves scenario, does it? But if the characters don't have a purpose for their travel, and don't have anything to contribute to their new environment, then travel becomes kind of self-indulgent, right? I don't think a hero narrative is necessarily imperialist fantasy, though it certainly can be, so, just on the basis of what you've written, it sounds a little like you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I'm not totally clear on how hte game mechanic works, so maybe this is impossible, but finding a way for people to have heroic purpose in their journeys while also realizing that travel is not just about teaching, but also learning?
Or perhaps I'm missing your point entirely
no subject
So, despite some quibbles, you've hit my present design puzzle on the head: finding a way for people to have heroic purpose in their journeys while also realizing that travel is not just about teaching, but also learning?
Right. Yes. That. Just trying to figure out how to do that.
yrs--
--Ben
no subject
What if the people invited the newcomers to participate in their customs rituals? When the players ask why, the response is along the lines of: "Well, if a Princess of the Guard slays a dragon, then they grow so beautiful that their love cannot help but notice. Sarah, I know you have your eye on Keenan..."
(They don't bother to mention that the given meaning of "beautiful" is "You have a magical aura of confidence" until Sarah complains that she's still fairly plain. Cue Keenan stage right to go "...whoa. Hot chick.")
What do you think of this tack?
--Elliott (l_the_fangirl)