An active Fellowship phase

[Majestic]

My players haven't fully embraced taking the initiative during Fellowship phases, and it's something I am going to try to emphasize more as we continue.

Ironically, the player who has been the most active (he's selected three different Patrons, was made a Thain by Beorn, etc.) is a Woodman Wanderer, so is the one in the party least likely to actually put down roots anywhere and settle down.

[Amargen]

there's an excellent way of engaging characters that doesn't occur to many people: children.

how old is the character? married/children/etc? are they being raised right/rebellious/want to follow the footprints of their parents?

at one point one of my players retired their barding char and took up playing his son. so the son got some hand-me-down gear and was already developed.

works pretty well and the continuity instills a feeling of lineage.

[Majestic]

That generational passing down of items and experience (of which we get a small bit in the rules, but I think is going to be expanded on in the Adventurer's Companion) is something I'm very much looking forward to.

[Falenthal]

there's an excellent way of engaging characters that doesn't occur to many people: children.

Yes, but they have to marry first

Right now I'm introducing to some of the heroes possible girlfriends or nephews that could inherit their heritage. In fact the heroes are around 16-18 years old at the start of the campaign. Even if they marry at 21-23, their adventuring age that tops at 30 would mean their sons and daughters are just 7-9 years old by the time they retire. Not to talk about elves and dwarves. And also, I think it's more interesting if players change cultures with characters, so that the beorning's nephew could be mentored by the dwarf and so on. Or they can rescue an elven orphan that the woodman adopts as his own child, etc.

[Amargen]

Yes, but they have to marry first


says who??

Bastard children can be even more fun... there may/may not be a stigmata attached.

i let players generally decide starting age and we work out the domestic details together.