It's nice to hear how players give such a personality to their characters, even when both are Scholar Elves. The moment you described had to be really funny.
Majestic wrote:I'd never thought of it that way before, Falanthal. I figure a person who's been around for a couple of hundred years, even if they're young (for their kind), it still means they've got a couple of hundred years of experience.
My idea is that "years" means something different for a human than for an elf. A human passes from being a child to being a nearly grown man in probably a year or two. My view is that an elf can spent the same amount of time just learning a song and how to pronounce right every word.
On the other hand, I wouldn't look bad at an optional rule that allowed starting characters to begin with one Shadow Point (not more than one, probably) in exchange for some benefit. Of course, it should be tied to the background history of the character: a hunter that discovers some cruel group of orcs gathering near his village and, full of fear of what might become of his comrades and family, becomes a Warden; a student who reads about ancient powers and, tempted by it, becomes an outdoors Scholar; a guard that wants vengeance because his family was killed and becomes an angry Slayer; and so on...
Such a rule reminds me of the Star Wars RPG, where characters could begin with one Dark Side Point at the exchange for one extra Force Point.
In TOR, I don't know if getting one or more extra Hope Points would really be the best option.
Maybe getting one Permanent Shadow Point in exchange for some extra Experience at character creation (maybe 4, allowing to raise Valour or Wisdom from rank 1 to rank 2, or a Weapon Skill from rank 1 to 2)?
After all, you've seen/read/experienced things others your age haven't.