Passing down Cultural Rewards to other Cultures?

[Yusei]

I think the important part here is "urgently needed". Of course, if you're in danger and the best weapon around belonged to your dead friend, you're not going to leave it behind. But then, are you going to keep it when danger is over?

[Andrew]

I think it's generally accepted that people are buried with their weapons and armour.

If the cultural reward is a hound or other beast then that might not work out so well.

For the animal, perhaps, but the Anglo Saxons were buried with their horses and the Egyptians with all manner of beasts

[Glorelendil]

Thinking more about this....

If a hero really wanted to use his fallen comrade's weapon, I think that makes sense. (For that matter, the LM could rule that the "dead" hero is really "dying" and beyond saving, giving him/her a chance to bequeath his ancient sword to a trusted friend. Or to somebody else entirely...)

Of course, it would probably have to be the same sort of weapon the recipient already uses, because weapon skill points are precious. Shields are easier, as long as it's backed up by story. Given that shields are often personalized, that could be either easy or hard, depending on circumstances.

In the case of armor, if the LM doesn't like it he can just rule, "Sorry, doesn't fit you. You could lug it home (with fatigue penalty) and spend a Fellowship phase having it modified, but it might lose its special nature if you do that."

And I agree with the previous poster: it's one thing to take up a fallen comrade's weapon to avenge him. It's another thing to keep it afterward. Or hawk it.

[Glorelendil]

If the cultural reward is a hound or other beast then that might not work out so well..

But the animal has no bond with the new character. Earning it's loyalty might be an adventure in itself (and it would become a normal virtue/reward).

I imagine a dog would mourn for its previous owner, and maybe stay close to his grave. Until, for some reason, the need would arise and it would decide to help the new character. It could be a sad and beautiful moment.

"Where the Red Athelas Grows"

[Rocmistro]

The other thing that is great about this system, is that the ambiguity gives you some room to adjudicate this problem without really needing to go overboard with the exposition.

Specifically, I think there are 2 elements to the gameplay that come about here:

1. The Placebo effect. The weapon or armor is good because the wearer thinks it's benefitting him. A new user does not get the bonus that comes with the placebo effect until he himself invests into it (ie, XP).

2. The perfect fit. Just because a piece of armor is perfect for you, or a weapon is perfectly sized for you, doesn't mean it is for others. In the military, guys used to labor for hours and agonize over the perfect settings and adjustments for web gear (782 gear), backpack positioning and tightness, and wear a canteen lay on your hip. 150,000 Marines in the Corps and all of us had a slightly different perfect position/setting for all our gear.

In game terms, what this gives you is a plausible excuse why Jim Bob's keen, grievous, fell axe won't work for you.

[Stormcrow]

In the case of armor, if the LM doesn't like it he can just rule, "Sorry, doesn't fit you. You could lug it home (with fatigue penalty) and spend a Fellowship phase having it modified, but it might lose its special nature if you do that."

The player's going to know that you're saying that just to confound his attempt to upgrade his armor.

I think the fairest way to handle the whole issue is to "let" them use whatever they get their greedy mitts on, then count it against future rewards. I put let in scare-quotes because it's not really the referee's place to tell players what they can and cannot do, even indirectly.

If any of these extra rewards do not belong to their own culture, they will never have any plot immunity. If they belong to the same culture, they will only gain plot immunity when the character has a reward due them, and the player has no choice about what reward to take. Rewards from a different culture DO take up a "reward slot" when one becomes available, and if lost this slot can only be refilled from the character's own culture.

[Celebril]

For my group I wouldn't allow them to trade off cultural rewards. It is also extremely unlikely to arise anyhow. The players get to choose their rewards and that makes it kind of personal to them. If you really want to prevent players from doing this then give each reward a back story. That makes it even more personal. Plus, the cultural rewards always find their way back to the original owner any how. If say one of my players gave their King's Blade, for instance, to another player. I would tell the player they woke the next morning clutching the blade. I think they would get the hint.

[Glorelendil]

In the case of armor, if the LM doesn't like it he can just rule, "Sorry, doesn't fit you. You could lug it home (with fatigue penalty) and spend a Fellowship phase having it modified, but it might lose its special nature if you do that."

The player's going to know that you're saying that just to confound his attempt to upgrade his armor.

Really? You don't think that's realistic? That "close fitting" armor (for example) is no longer "close fitting" when worn by another hero?

On the contrary, I think, "Sure you can take his armor" suggests you're going out of your way to let him upgrade his armor without spending xp on it.

If any of these extra rewards do not belong to their own culture, they will never have any plot immunity. If they belong to the same culture, they will only gain plot immunity when the character has a reward due them, and the player has no choice about what reward to take. Rewards from a different culture DO take up a "reward slot" when one becomes available, and if lost this slot can only be refilled from the character's own culture.

Given that there are no rules for broken/lost items (other than shattered shields) then when you make them lose this plot-vulnerable item, won't they know you're doing it just to confound his attempt to upgrade his gear?

[Stormcrow]

I wouldn't try to confound him. Losing equipment may not be codified in the rules, but it may happen anyway. And if it doesn't, so be it.

The referee can certainly make rulings based on the nature of the reward. Close-fitting armor may be specific to an individual, but Cunning Make or Keen Weapon, for instance, won't be. Most cultural rewards could be argued to require cultural training or a certain stature, but qualities are fairly generic.

[Glorelendil]

Not arguing with Keen weapon at all (except for the aforementioned probability that it's not a keen weapon of the sort that the inheritor is already expert).

I still think it unlikely that exceptional quality armor would fit somebody else in the group. Maybe in D&D and WoW it does.