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Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer


Ragitsu

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During times past, it was much easier to be a wandering adventurer: there was less (or no) electronic record keeping, borders were not quite as secure, and the climate in general was more flexible for those with no real home.

 

Nowadays? Well, there are certainly more obstacles to contend with. What skills/traits in general would a "modern day" (mid 1980s onwards) character need to make it during their journey?

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

"I've learned all the rules of a modern day drifter, don'tcha hold on to nuthin' to long."-Waylon Jennings

 

I spent almost a decade essentially persona non grata, living off radar and mostly supporting myself through the grey market (and busking), and from that perspective I'd suggest it's still quite doable, but, yeah, it does beg certain skills.

 

off the top of my head,

Streetwise is pretty much required... living like this will school you quickly if you start out without it.

Survival (Urban) likewise. Probably some wilderness Survival as well, but that's less an issue. You won't always land work or a crash space.

Some easy-hire money earning skills. Possibly even Jack of All Trades. Freelance work, anything creative, skilled labor (carpenter, construction, plumber, electrician, stagehand), bouncer, bartender, event security.... any of these are decent examples

People skills come in darn handy. Conversation is probably the most important, but Persuasion is a close second

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

I actually have spoken with a self-proclaimed hobo. To add to Amadan's suggestions, PS: Hitchhiking, PS: Dumpster Diving, Persuasion, additional survival skills, any camping skills, KS: Homeless Shelters, AK: Highway System, other AKs, and PS: Cooking (homeless shelters are always looking for people with construction and cooking skills). They would remain as clean and presentable and speak politely.

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

On the other side of the coin, maybe the wandering adventurer is wealthy enough to not have to work and spend all his time jet-setting and thrill-seeking. That character should have several area knowledges of different cities, expecially the finest hotels, restaurants, and casinos. And he would have a lot of contacts. A vehicle like a private jet or yacht would be useful. And an international driver's license would be a must.

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

What sort of adventures would the modern adventurer go on? Your typical fantasy game usually involved gathering gold or magic items while questing. While I can see getting paid by a patron in a modern setting, it's not like you typically beat down the security guards, steal any money they have on them before proceeding or go looking for a dungeon because it was told it holds riches.

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

Depends entirely on the tone of the campaign. If by "Modern" you mean "Totally Realistic", then there are no "adventures" for such a person to go on -- there is simply surviving in a cold uncaring world with no reliable source of income. Misadventure is more likely than adventure, basically. This is not a very popular format for mainstream film / tv, but you see it from time to time.

 

If you mean "Action Adventure", you just handwave all the unwanted realism away with the rule of cool and / or campy-ness and ignore the logic holes. There are numerous movies and tv shows that take this approach. The adventure(s) are often criminal or semi-criminal in nature (using illegal levels of violence or even vigilantism to solve their problems), focus on overcoming the man or a corrupt organization, or other anti-hero type scenarios. The lack of responsibilities and extended possessions is an asset for the (anti-)hero as it allows them to concentrate on kicking ass without worrying about protecting their stuff, dependents, position, or lifestyle.

 

If you mean "Uplifting Tales Of Overcoming Adversity", the ugly realism is overplayed for pathos but the scrappy protagonist manages to overcome their situation and find a home or success by the climax. The adventure(s) is the overcoming of obstacles to achieve the happy outcome.

 

If you mean "Wandering Angel", the protagonist not only manages to live off the grid and basically not exist officially, it is a BENEFIT for them, and they leverage their anonymity rather than suffer from it. They often are enigmatic and seem to have vast or even unlimited resources. They may take on various personas or aliases in the pursuit of their "adventures", which take the form of helping normal people solve their problems. This is a popular format, especially for television shows.

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

What sort of adventures would the modern adventurer go on?

 

Bodyguard, bounty-hunter, thief, assassin if morality isn't an issue. If you have a reputation, contacts, and/or a patron, work will come to you. Or you may just help people you encounter who are victims of crime or corruption. Perhaps you're a natural "wierdness magnet" to whom odd events keep happening.

 

Television series are actually a good source for concepts in this genre. The premise of The A-Team was of modern wandering adventurers, helping people in need, many of whom had heard of them, while being pursued by the military. The original The Fugitive TV series was in this vein, and spawned many imitators, like the Bixby/ Ferrigno Incredible Hulk.

 

On the jet-setting adventurer front, Roger Moore gave us a version of "the Saint," reformed master thief. Robert Wagner's It Takes a Thief was forcibly recruited by the government for special missions.

 

Speaking of the government, elite covert operatives like James Bond or the Mission: Impossible team were/ are routinely sent on missions around the world.

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

The latest version on tv would be person of interest it's intresting a two man team both living off grid one a former CIA operative the other a paranoid hacker with a mysterios past and many fake identities together they save people who are going to be murdered (they get social security numbers from a secret government computer)

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

During times past, it was much easier to be a wandering adventurer: there was less (or no) electronic record keeping, borders were not quite as secure, and the climate in general was more flexible for those with no real home.

 

Nowadays? Well, there are certainly more obstacles to contend with. What skills/traits in general would a "modern day" (mid 1980s onwards) character need to make it during their journey?

 

Where do you see your adventurer wandering? Both war correspondents and soldier of fortune travel and have adventures all over the world. The war correspondent is of course so on the grid that they are part of it. The soldier of fortune is on the grid except when they choose to be off of it. He would probably want to have a bank account in the Cayman Islands or some other slightly dodgy location. Multiple passports and a network of contacts are also useful perks. Helpful skills might include KS:Customs Laws and Enforcement, PS: Soldier of Fortune, PS: Smuggler, and an assortment of area knowledges and languages.

 

If you are thinking about someone who travels from town to town in the US, you might want to consider the unglamorous skill PS: dishwasher along with Spanish so that you can speak to your coworkers . Restaurants always need dishwasher and many are willing to pay under the table at the end of shift. Your character will make sub-minimum wage this way, but it is off the grid.

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

If you mean "Wandering Angel", the protagonist not only manages to live off the grid and basically not exist officially, it is a BENEFIT for them, and they leverage their anonymity rather than suffer from it. They often are enigmatic and seem to have vast or even unlimited resources. They may take on various personas or aliases in the pursuit of their "adventures", which take the form of helping normal people solve their problems. This is a popular format, especially for television shows.

This was the archtype I was aiming for, although it wound up more "Wandering Agent of Chaos" most of the time

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

The Reacher series by Lee Child is about an ex-MP hitchhiking across America and basically helping people. Sometimes he robs people for money to keep going.

 

Repairman Jack is almost in this but doesn't wander far from New York.

 

Both have excellent weapons skills, tactics, stealth, deduction, hand to hand combat skills.

CES

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

The Reacher series by Lee Child is about an ex-MP hitchhiking across America and basically helping people....

CES

 

"This question is to the honourable antagonist, Mr. Speaker. Why is he hitting himself? Why? Is it because I've jumped out of this improvised armour vehicle firing my M-16 in all directions and grabbed him in a karate headlock? Is it? Will the antagonist answer this simple question, Mr. Speaker, or will he continue to mislead the Canadian people?"

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"This question is to the honourable antagonist' date=' Mr. Speaker. Why is he hitting himself? Why? Is it because I've jumped out of this improvised armour vehicle firing my M-16 in all directions and grabbed him in a karate headlock? Is it? Will the antagonist answer this simple question, Mr. Speaker, or will he continue to mislead the Canadian people?"[/quote']

 

More like:

"I totally missed that one clue that pointed to you way back on page ten. Now that I have remembered it, and put the rest of the thing together, there's only one way this can end."

BLAM

CES

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Re: Let's Discuss: The Modern Wandering Adventurer

 

More like:

"I totally missed that one clue that pointed to you way back on page ten. Now that I have remembered it, and put the rest of the thing together, there's only one way this can end."

BLAM

CES

 

I'm sure that it's only amusing to me, but "MP" in Great White North parlance is "Member of Parliament."

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