Different Shadow Weakness for Leader Calling?

[Glorelendil]

I like the "Burden of Responsibility" as a name for this as well.

I'm totally ok with not opting for my suggestion, "Curse of Foresight" . . . but "Burden of Responsibility" feels too mundane to me.

We have one curse ("of Vengeance") and two lures ("of Power" and "of Secrets"), and two compound nouns, a "-sickness" and a "-madness".

It's gotta be more gloomy ("gloam-y"?), surely?! For a SHADOW weakness.

"Descent into Doubt"

[Blubbo Baggins]

"Descent into Despair"

Seeing that Doubt is step 2, and Despair is step 4... (well, at least that's in my mind, consensus might be different)

[Falenthal]

"Descent 2nd Edition: Journeys in the Dark"

Might already have a copyright, though.

[cuthalion]

"Descent into Despair"

Seeing that Doubt is step 2, and Despair is step 4... (well, at least that's in my mind, consensus might be different)

Mmmm . . . I'm in 2 minds. I think "despairing" describes the overall weakness better, but I think "tormented" sounds worse than "despairing", and better describes the end game of Denethor/Theoden. Maybe "tormented" ISN'T the right word?

[Blubbo Baggins]

Despair: dəˈsper/noun
1. the complete loss or absence of hope.

Since Hope is big in this game, to me the loss of hope is the worst thing a PC can experience.

Tormented seems to indicate a kind of internal conflict. It means you can't get away from this awful feeling that you screwed up . . . but you wouldn't be tormented if you had no hope about the future. If you felt there was no hope about the future, then I feel you would no longer be tormented.

One case: I think Denethor is tormented. He has come under Sauron's influence and regrets his failings and the failings of men, but it isn't until he sees the black sails that he completely despairs.

[cuthalion]

I like those reasonings and explanations--that helps, thanks!

[Blubbo Baggins]

Sure thing!
We are kind of splitting hairs

[cuthalion]

Yes, well, if I had a shadow weakness, it would be the Curse of Worrying-Relentlessly-Over-Shit-That-Has-No-Real-Significance, and the shadow would overcome me with it every time. I would still be in Rivendell, debating how to set the straps to my backpack when the legions of Sauron poured over the mountain tops.

Your help with bearing this curse is appreciated!

[Rich H]

Makes me also wonder that with the new Leader Calling whether there's room for a Companion one as well?