GDShore

I once created a character that used sonar to find and target opponents. I based it on enhanced sense package, and the character was called the "Dolphin".

You probably need a comptroller/treasurer and possibly a city manager.

Actually Henry iv Holy Roman Emperor, was not even "Frenchish" he was a German, being in fact King of Germany. His father, Henry iii had ended the period of the three popes, forced a synod and elected a German bishop pope, Clement ii. Calling him French is insulting, and although borders have shifted somewhat since then calling one the other (French<>German) will get you into a world of trouble.

In fact, religion was so powerful a social force during the medieval period the pope could excommunicate a king, which had dire consequences for the country he ruled. Likewise a powerful mullah could do the same in the Islamic world. I do not know enough about the orient to say but suspect the same. In a world where "evil" is physically manifested (demons, undead, monsters of every stripe) religion would hold an extreme amount of power. With divine interventions possible, to be agnostic let alone atheist.

Venice is nominally a republic, like ancient Greek republics only a portion of the public acts as the electors. The "Doge" once elected functions as a dictator. The oldest functioning democracy is Switzerland, which in the Medieval period was a loose federation of democratically controlled cantons, the electors were male property owners. Iceland was a stateless society and outside of the law courts (and there it was based on personal prestige) there was no established central power. Finally there is the possibility of "Amazons", a matriarchy.

The only way that this happens, is if the "Dragon" had for seen his/her own death and prepared for same. Setting up a replacement government to handle things until they should return. As Doc and Assault suggest, anarchy will reign and fracturing will occur. The bigger the kingdom/empire is the more fractures as every two-bit bureaucrat makes a grab for power. You would likely see decades of anarchy as one after another warlord made a power grab only to be replaced by some one even more ruthless than they were. Maybe a hundred years or more.

Early in my "Hero" experience a young lady joined our group (introduced by one of the other ladies), who was profoundly deaf. She had not been born that way, going deaf over a period of time and by her mid teens was completely deaf. While she could speak a little and lip read her primary communication was sign language. We all tried to varying degrees to learn same, one of our number putting a lot of effort into it. (he became her interpreter in game) She was a musician, playing the violin and had a decent singing voice. One thing, you, could, not, sneak up on her. We were all practical jokers and after noting this fact all tried to sneak up on her none of us succeeded! She went barefoot in the house, which had wooden floors throughout. She claimed that she could feel the vibrations of us moving on the - thru the floor. Those who were trying to be sneaky were the easiest to spot. A few points -- 1 - LL is right to be protected severe to profound hearing loss would be needed. 2 - the other 4 senses would likely be enhanced to some degree, particularly after some generations. 3 - likely they would develop some form of danger sense.

You are right, that is a digression and I apologize.

I went a different direction, I completely rebuilt my other races plus added some. Your right D&D does lousy Tolkien, I do not claim I did better just different.

Absolutely correct, the era of modern medicine begins with the second world war, the introduction of major vaccination begins in the 50's millions (probably billions) have had their lives improved, or saved because of same. I lost 5 childhood friends to polio and 3 others permanently crippled by it, yet here we are in the 21 st. century and imbecilles are railing against the use of vaccines. What do they suggest in its place, To go back to what killed Washington?

Agreed, after '85 so were mine. Dungeons however have a much simpler template to plan on and in truth to play in.

I think archer just nailed it, when Champions came out a friend and I had begun working on a replacement for D&D, (we called it Advanced D&D his name is Dale and I go by Doug [I know hubris]) We played Champions for a while then began adapting it for "fantasy adventures", then Hero games came out with "Fantasy Hero" we took some of our work added played for 15 years.

Yes life expectancy is an average, but that means that most will die closer to or below that average. Archeological digs on medieval cemeteries shows that those on the lower economic scale suffered a lot more from "osteo" type diseases that will shorten life expectancy. While most peasants avoided "townie" diseases if they reached a pesant community that community died entire. (no built up immunity) If you are going to be born during the middle ages you. do. not. want to be born at the bottom of the economic pyramid. (of course you don't want to be born on the bottom in any era, but at least we,, have a chance to move up, a serf was a serf as were his children).

As Mr. Ruggels says length does matter, in weapon to weapon combat. Probably though not as much as you might think. I watched more than twenty years of combat in the S.C.A. and witnessed many spearmen (21) and of those only 1 was really successful. Most of them fought spear and shield and only one of those was semi successful, (he used a roman legion style shield). The successful spearman used a long spear two handed, bladed at one end with a mace head at the other. The sword and board guys never stood a chance against him, the other spearmen fell like autumn leaves. Weapon length though is important, a lot of adventures occur underground in dungeons and maze's or in buildings, the RPG template D&D has its corridors at 10x10, 10 foot by 10 foot. The hero template has its "HERO" at 2 meters tall, with an arm that is 1/2 to 3/4 meter long, into which a sword is placed into the hand at the end of that arm, a sword that will be at least a meter of steel beyond that hand. Now try a chop with that sword, in a corridor that is 3.25 meter high you are trying to slice a .25 meter hole in the roof. Chops and slashes disappear from the dungeon repertoire and only one fighter is engaged at a time. Unless you shield wall, then you are reduced to Roman tactics, the ginzu with the Gladius. I posit therefore that in the dungeon that the best weapon is the "spear", most likely the Asagai. As early as '83 I made all my dungeon corridors 4 meter x 4 meters, and all rooms with 4 meter ceilings. That means however that pikes, halberds and long spears are completely out as dungeon weapons. By '85 dungeons were a once in 20 to 25 sessions adventure. (bows are nearly as useful in a standard corridor and only slightly more so in my 4x4's)

LoneWolf has a point, My father was 5'13/4" tall and massed somewhere between 65 and 75 kilo's, I am 6" taller than he is and he was way stronger than I have ever been. The only area I surpassed him was in running, I could always outrun him, of course that did not mean I escaped the punishment just delayed it. Overall though as he suggests we are healthier, and longer lived. The Russian peasant of the late 16th. and early 17th. centuries had a life expectancy between 32 and 36 years, the French around 42 and the English peasant closing on 50. An ancient man was someone who managed to reach 65 to 70 years old.

Try to describe yourself, what makes you you. Then do that for friends and other family members. Then decide what males a good guy good and a bad guy bad. when you are able to do that you are more than half way to reaching your goal.

BB is probably an adult now with adult responsibilities, you know a jog/career, relationship maybe kids. A universe of possibilities right there.

I don't give XP's to the NPC's, like most I build what I need for the moment however I do give prior to game, experience. Up to 18 nothing, beyond 18, 3 points per year which have to be spent on skills and abilities not powers. I don't like the idea of everyone being 18, or how suddenly someone at 45 suddenly becoming a crime fighter out of the blue with no life skills.

Another source might be David Weber's Hellsgate series, postulating two societies on alternate Earths that each discover "gates" that allow them to move to other earths and explore them. One society is technological (with talents, telepathy, telekinesis, ect.), one is magical, spells, illusions, alchemy and magic items. In both societies only about 1/3 of the population is gifted. The tech society seems to be in the late 19 th. or early 20 th. century, the magic in about the same period, with the difference that steam does not power their world, magic does.

Actually Mr. Taylor, there may be a real world analogy to how much that factor might be. The average height of the Japanese male born between 1910 - 1920 was 159 to 160 cm. at the start of the second world war, those born in 1980 it was 171.7 cm. an increase of +12 cm. The average height of the American/Canadian born between 1910 - 1920 at the start of WWII was 172 to 173 cm. for those born in 1980 it is 179 cm. an increase of +6 cm. The reason for this leap upwards in Japan is massively improved nutrition in particular animal protein. If we extrapolate from this it would appear that improved nutrition and health care lead to stronger, taller, heathier persons. The average medieval peasant was probably taller, stronger and healthier than we have previously believed. There is one known exception, the Russian peasant who was only allowed to eat meat on rare occasions, the meat they raised was reserved for the "Boyars" table.

Its more likely that the glaive acts like a war scythe, the military fork derives from the pitch fork, the war hammer from the blacksmith's, ect. ect. ect.

Mr. R has nailed it on the head. Although the stats are more important in Hero than in D & D it is in the skillsets that the player chooses for their character that the differences occur. Two wizards (D&D) of the same stats and experience points, created 20 years and 4000 km. apart will play almost identical. Two Hero wizards of the same stats created by the same person but with different skillsets will play completely different. That is Hero's biggest strength.

Yes the Royal Cubit was a kingdoms standard for a reign, the next king up however could well change it to his specification. A specific cubit might last 2 or 3 reigns but like royal law it depended on the royal whim. The English standardized measurements, mostly for trade (also currency) though why they chose the rather arcane system they chose is still ,,, beyond me.

The problem with cubit is that no two are actually the same, I am 1.7 meter tall, my cubit is very different than that of a man who is 1.98 meter tall. It can vary between 2.5 cm. and 10 cm. in length. In a feudal society taking the weapons from a Baron, a Count or a Duke is likely to have unpleasant and serious consequences for who is trying to do the taking. Far more likely is peace bonding, the tying of the weapon into its sheath. (besides throwing knives and axe's are a lot shorter than a cubit)

When I was younger, much younger, high school younger I found a friend who was an escapee from Aparthied with his family. They were Zulu, and his father had 3 - 4 shields and 3 Asagai, all beautiful weapons. I am not large. At 17, I was 1.7 meters tall and a strapping 39 kg. and the weapons were beautifully balanced, they flowed in ones hand but the real surprise were the shields. Varying in length from 1.2 meter to 2 meter and up to 1 in width. A cruciform substructure with an oval of withy overlaid with bull hide (apparently the best are made from Cape Buffalo Bull hide) the vertical portion of the cruciform is sharpened top and bottom, to allow the holder to stab an errant foot or a misplaced jaw. It's almost as dangerous a weapon as the bloody Asagai. Finally the Asagai can be used as a brace weapon form. My friends father would dance with the Asagai's on occasion and it was awe inspiring a true thing of beauty!