Fellowship Phase undertaking - Raise Standing

[Blubbo Baggins]

Your argument definitely makes sense. I think fan-made rules could still be fleshed out (though at higher levels of Standing the benefits could be more narrative and less mechanical) and of course, in any given game, unless a player finds a few Wonderous items each worth over a hundred treasure or more, they probably won't reach a Standing higher than 4 before wanting/needing to retire. But I do think it possible for a PC to get lucky with some hordes, and to suddenly have enough Treasure to buy a high Standing, even though they only have somewhere between 20 - 30 XP, hardly time to retire... meaning that high Standing could come into use a lot while they still feel they have "a lot left to do" before settling down.

It could be argued that Bilbo had a Standing of 4 when he left to become an adventurer, so all kinds of things are possible.

[Otaku-sempai]

Bilbo's Standing at home would have actually dropped after his adventures. Hobbits just don't go in for that sort of thing.

[Stormcrow]

I agree. He lost his neighbors' respect, but gained... well, I'll let you decide if he gained anything in the end. Bilbo was also never anything but a rich bachelor; he had no official position in the Shire, and no special influence in its affairs beyond being rich.

I don't see any reason to say that high-standing heroes can't go on adventures. High standing doesn't mean you're locked into a bureaucratic position you can't leave. The player gets to decide, during the fellowship phase, what high standing represents.

I'll also point out once again that the game does not assume the player-heroes are professional adventurers. They're heroes who get caught up in adventures. As such, they can occasionally leave on an adventure. This is why it's recommended that there is one adventure per year. And anyway, your standing drops unless you send treasure back home at year's end, so the idea of ties back home is maintained.

[Blubbo Baggins]

Bilbo's Standing at home would have actually dropped after his adventures. Hobbits just don't go in for that sort of thing.

Agreed.

well, I'll let you decide if he gained anything in the end

+1 Well done!

[aramis]

Bilbo's Standing at home would have actually dropped after his adventures. Hobbits just don't go in for that sort of thing.

More than made up for by his acclaimed largesse.

[Rich H]

I just cant see why a character above 5 would ever go adventuring anymore.

I can see where readers would draw that conclusion but remember that the Standing table on page 135 says "Standing comparable to that of..." not that someone with a Standing of, say, 5 has to be one of those particular positions. Depending on the traditions of a culture, Standing may translate to admiration, acclaim or simple respectability; it doesn't have to come with title and daily responsibilities although it can if it suits your campaign.

[Stormcrow]

Standing may translate to admiration, acclaim or simple respectability; it doesn't have to come with title and daily responsibilities

Quite right. The main function it serves is to determine how likely you are to be able to intervene in greater events during a fellowship phase. Bilbo, as a rich squire, had no official duties before or after his adventure, yet he surely could have become involved in serious goings-on in the Shire, had any occurred.

[Otaku-sempai]

Bilbo's Standing at home would have actually dropped after his adventures. Hobbits just don't go in for that sort of thing.

More than made up for by his acclaimed largesse.

That's a fair point!