New Callings

[Glorelendil]

Seeker is an interesting concept, but I see it as distinct from Exile. In some ways they're opposites: the Exile is pushed from home, the Seeker is drawn from home. The Exile left because his love was betrothed to another. The Seeker left because his love disappeared.

The only problem I have with Everyman (as a name) is that it isn't itself a motivation. "Why did you go Adventuring?" "Oh, you know, because I just want to be guy-next-door." So it's descriptive and evocative, but not a Calling.

[Deadmanwalking]

Seeker is an interesting concept, but I see it as distinct from Exile. In some ways they're opposites: the Exile is pushed from home, the Seeker is drawn from home. The Exile left because his love was betrothed to another. The Seeker left because his love disappeared.

I dunno, I think the one leads to the other. An exile, as a motivation, is definitionally looking for something too, either a way to be accepted again back home, or a new home, a new love. If he's not,then he'd need a different Calling.

The only problem I have with Everyman (as a name) is that it isn't itself a motivation. "Why did you go Adventuring?" "Oh, you know, because I just want to be guy-next-door." So it's descriptive and evocative, but not a Calling.

Well, the name may not be a motivation, but the concept certainly is: It's the guy who didn't want to go adventuring but was forced to by circumstances. That's a worthwhile archetype, and the name seems as good as any.

[Glorelendil]

An exile, as a motivation, is definitionally looking for something too, either a way to be accepted again back home, or a new home, a new love.

Hmm. On the one hand an Exile is simply somebody who can't go home, but I believe you mean that for it to be a motivation for adventuring (as opposed to simply living in Paris waiting for the counterrevolution) is that the Exile must be seeking something. Ok, I buy that.

On the other hand, I think Seeker is too general. Treasure-hunters are seeking treasure. Scholars are seeking knowledge. Slayers are seeking enemies.

Plus I like the word 'Exile' more than 'Seeker'.

[Deadmanwalking]

Hmm. On the one hand an Exile is simply somebody who can't go home, but I believe you mean that for it to be a motivation for adventuring (as opposed to simply living in Paris waiting for the counterrevolution) is that the Exile must be seeking something. Ok, I buy that.

Right. Someone who's been exiled but doesn't care and is enjoying the trip is a Wanderer, someone who's been exiled and is seeking revenge on all orcs because they're who he holds responsible rather than looking for a way back is a Slayer. To be a Calling, it has to be the search for a new place or a way back home that drives an Exile.

On the other hand, I think Seeker is too general. Treasure-hunters are seeking treasure. Scholars are seeking knowledge. Slayers are seeking enemies.

Plus I like the word 'Exile' more than 'Seeker'.

I can definitely get behind going with Exile.

[Robin Smallburrow]

From my Fan Supplement (see link in my sig):

FOLLOWER by Issachar "We are coming with you; or following you like hounds." --Merry Brandybuck
You have pledged your service to another, and will fulfil your duty until its completion. Whether you are a soldier, or a kinsman, or only a servant, it is the province of your leader to decide a course; your task is to see the errand through.
Favoured Skill Groups: Custom, Vocation
Trait: Provisioner
Shadow Weakness: Forsworn Pledge

EMISSARY by Issachar "We alone here represent our kindred. We also will come." --Gimli
For the safety and weal of your people you journey abroad, bearing messages, making alliances, and winning renown for your homeland.
Favoured Skill Groups: Custom, Personality
Trait: Diplomacy
Shadow Weakness: Curse of Discord

SEA-CALLED by Beleg
Living near the sea your entire life has influenced you in more ways than most. You may feel at home on land as well as on a boat, but for you the sea will always be important. You draw strength from the rocking of a deck beneath your feet, or the cry of gulls in the distance, and no matter how far from the coast you travel, your heart will turn ever seaward
Favoured Skill Groups: Personality, Custom
Trait: Sea-lore
Shadow Weakness: Lure of the Ocean

Provisioner
"Better to have and not want, than to want and not have," is your motto. Your fellow travelers can usually rely on you to produce a useful item at need, or small tokens of comfort to keep spirits lifted. (Inspired by this: "I keep a treasure or two near my skin, as precious as Rings to me. Here's one: my old wooden pipe. And here's another: an unused one. I have carried it a long way, though I don't know why. I never really expected to find any pipe-weed on the journey, when my own ran out. But now it comes in useful after all." -- Peregrin Took)

Diplomacy
You are experienced in the arts of debate and bargaining, and can also invoke the might and influence of those you represent to strengthen your position.

FORSWORN PLEDGE "Let him not vow to walk in the dark who has not seen the nightfall." --Elrond
Sullen
A sullen hero follows the lead of others grudgingly and with many complaints.
Wayward
A wayward hero chafes under his duty. He may be prone to pick and choose the commands he obeys, or to fulfil them in ways other than as instructed.
Unruly
An unruly hero is openly resentful of his bonds of service. He rarely submits to authority, choosing instead the ways that seem best to him.
Faithless
A faithless hero has forsaken the pledge he once took or the duty that was laid on him. Others revile him as an oath-breaker. Breaking his oath/pledge may have other consequences as well (Loremaster to determine).

CURSE OF DISCORD
"In nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him." --Haldir
Parochial
A parochial hero is concerned only with matters that affect his home or his kin.
Quarrelsome
A quarrelsome hero is callous toward the plights of other folk, and tends to view them rather as rivals to confront than as potential allies to befriend.
Belligerent
A belligerent hero is not content unless the interests of his people are paramount. He is ready to fight before yielding an inch on his demands.
Hateful
A hateful hero has come to view others among the Free Peoples as the Enemy, even to the point of considering the Shadow as a possible ally against them.

Beleg did not provide Flaws for Lure of the Ocean, and I haven't yet needed to design them, so maybe someone else can.

You might notice the Emissary is similar to what has been suggested above. I think this is a better reason for a Calling than just Merchant - merchant in Middle-earth is already covered by Wanderer.

Robin S.

[Glorelendil]

I do like Emissary. I disagree that Wanderer covers Merchant, but Merchant was a weak suggestion anyway. I retract it.

"Follower" seems like the best terminology suggestion yet for the Everyman/Servant/"Loyal" Calling, although I'm convinced there is still something better.

[Dunheved]

The idea of Emissary is really good. I could easily imagine a character with great pride in their own culture, wanting to represent all that is good about it and wanting to promote that way of living. What is impressive to me is that the flaws suggested seem to be almost inevitable and natural weaknesses that might come from such an attitude or calling.
Brilliant work with this, Robin S, I would like to thank you for this post: it suits a dwarf character I have 'staying' with Radagast and fleshes out why he might be tasked to stay at Rhosogobel. (He is now going to be under commission to King Dain.)

[Glorelendil]

Maybe the idea Emissary could be expanded beyond official capacities for a specific culture, to include self-anointment as messenger of any strong beliefs...it could be preaching a religion, or a political philosophy, environmentalism, or free trade. Admittedly, those specific terms don't invoke Tolkien-esque images, but I could see each of them working if carefully crafted. So an Emissary could be a Preacher, an Evangelist, a Salesman...anybody who believes passionately in something and wants the rest of the world to benefit.

Examples:

A Woodman who instinctively senses the presence of Yavanna, and travels the world planting seeds and encouraging people to respect forests.

A Hobbit who extolls the curative and cognitive virtues of pipeweed, and believes a love of smoking will bring cultures together. If he happens to get a cut of profits that doesn't alter the message.

A Ranger who senses the return of the Shadow and thinks One More Great Alliance is the only thing that will save Free Folk.

[robert_pat]

I've been mulling over a calling similar to Exile or Everyman. It's decidedly less ambiguous, though.

Refugee

[Insert Appropriate Quote Here]

Most people on the road are there of their own volition. They travel for personal gain, or for the good of all. You have been denied the luxury of making that choice. Driven out of your home by violent attacks or imminent threats, you are forced to journey far. While you used to be a normal, working person, you now seek but one thing: safety.

Favored Skill Groups: Survival, Vocation
Trait: Accepting
Shadow Weakness: Curse of Fear

Accepting

You've had ill luck in your life lately, to say the least. You've learned to make the best of bad situations.

Curse of Fear

[Insert Another Quote. I'm Bad At The Quotes Part Of This]

Disasters can shake one to their core. If fate has been so cruel as to steal everything from an honest man, might it be cruel enough to do it again? As misfortune piles on misfortune, an individual's natural caution and uncertainty can grow into an all-consuming fear.

Worrying

A worrying hero is loathe to let anything they care about go without their personal protection, believing that some ill luck is sure to befall it.

Nervous

A nervous hero is hard to motivate to do anything involving a risk, real or perceived.

Anxious

An anxious hero finds it difficult to let their guard down, even if there is no danger, or if others perceive their guarded nature as being rude.

Fearful

A fearful hero has a constant dread of fate's next cruel stroke; their instinct for self-preservation borders on primal.

[poosticks7]

I like the concept of Refugee Rob.

Here are a few suggestions for you to mull over.

I think Accepting might be either too good or too bad a trait (I'm really struggling to make up my mind on which) I had similar feeling about my Sensible Trait. Perhaps Others could give their opinions.

I would consider changing it to perhaps: Adaptable (again though this might be too good for a trait - ah this is hard)

As to the Shadow Weakness I like it, but I think I would switch out Worried for Mistrustful (I feel that the ones you have are too similar to each other) and change the name of Fearful to Terrified (so as not to step on Fear Tests and confuse folk) Then make the order: Nervous, Mistrustful, Anxious and Terrified.

All in all though I like it.