NWN2: Passing of time/aging

[Blackwill]

This is really something I'd like a ruling on by Admin, as this does concern character evolvement. It's more than likely something which should be tied to the actual ingame time ruling, if that's been revisited. Eventually if a ruling is made, the wiki should have some part explaining the passing of time to players.

[Orcpaladin]

Good grief, leave it ambiguous. I will be royally pissed if someone's elses desire to grow old, or raise children directly affects my PC becoming old and senile.

[Swift]

Good grief, leave it ambiguous. I will be royally pissed if someone's elses desire to grow old, or raise children directly affects my PC becoming old and senile.

+1

[Fionn]

Good grief, leave it ambiguous. I will be royally pissed if someone's elses desire to grow old, or raise children directly affects my PC becoming old and senile.

+1

In most cases, it really doesn't matter, so ambiguity serves us well. In a few rare instances, it matters. We can let every particular DM/PC choice be up to the DM & PC involved (why, yes, your uber Sorc that started at the height of CHA can of course start at Middle Aged (40) and then age 2 catagories (30 years) to get that CHA 30 you want). We can also set down a *standard* and allow DMs to deviate from it with reason.

From the SRD:

Code: Select all

Table: Aging Effects

                                                            Maximum

Race           Middle Age*    Old**          Venerable***   Age

----           -- ---------    -----          ------------   -------

Dwarf          125 years      188 years      250 years      +2d% years

Elf            175 years      263 years      350 years      +4d% years

Gnome          100 years      150 years      200 years      +3d% years

Half-elf       62 years       93 years       125 years      +3d20 years

Half-orc       30 years       45 years       60 years       +2d10 years

Halfling       50 years       75 years       100 years      +5d20 years

Human          35 years       53 years       70 years       +2d20 years

*-1 to Str, Con, and Dex; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

**-2 to Str, Con, and Dex; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

***-3 to Str, Con, and Dex, +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

Aging effects are cumulative. 

While I hope no DM would allow the hypothetical, we've seen plenty of times where players try to hit the edge of allowable, and DMs let them. Without a standard in place, this is far more likely. Next comes the HOrc Fighter Lord that has lived (by his count 1 year) and the DM says 'well, yer middle aged now, I'd best nuke your cores stats' - hilarity ensues.

[Gelcur]

I've also always played long term time as 1:1 since that is the rate that we pass change the years. Most DMs I've played with have done long term time in the same manner. The real reason for this it seems is DMs can't get all the events they hope to get done in a year done in a real year.

Even though this is the case most of the time short time is done in comic book time. I figure it balances out, if you RP a few days in game those balance off with the real life days that you aren't in game.

If I encounter someone who insists that time passes 9:1 like all those people with kids I just account it to either fast aging of the species or a "year" actually having a lot more days in it than it actually does.

On a side note I'd prefer a set time passage rate no matter what it was. We are creative people would should come up with a creative way for our PCs to be able to be any age we went them but have time pass at a consitent pace. Example, a mass spell acroos Faerun that allows people to age at an accelerated rate, but not a slower rate. So min rate is 1:1 and one can will themselves to age faster whatever reason they please. Just a crazy example.

[Mikayla]

Sheesh - we do not need any hard and fast rule here - if we adopt one, then either the Half-Orcs who want 1:1 so they don't age-out are going to cry, or us soap-opera players who want to have relationships, get pregnant, give birth, see our kids grow and then put them on the altar for Lolth are going to cry.

So - "comic book" time. Be respectful of other people's choices and do not refer to specific dates much. I have been playing the 9:1 passage of time (thus, 20+ years since my character started) for my entire 2+ years in ALFA and I have never, ever, had an in-game problem. The only time it ever comes up is in forum discussions like this.

[Mulu]

Well, I guess it doesn't matter massively - but it would be noce, at least, if everyone were in agreement.

About time passage, or anything?

[psycho_leo]

The only time it ever comes up is in forum discussions like this.

This is so very true.

[Dorn]

The only time it ever comes up is in forum discussions like this.

Well sooooooryyy! j/k Mik

Seriously though I think it's good that things like this are raised. This forum thread being especially established for 'rules propsals'. A designated place for floating new ideas and discussion. Some which will be supported, some which wont.

It would be a shame for people not to suggest their ideas here just becasue it didn't gel with the status quo. I'd encourage people to whack up whatever they want (within reason).

As for the general response. *shrugs* As i indicated there are a range of options and doing nothing was one of them. I'm more than happy to just work with my DMs to introduce aging to my characters.....that being said there is a 99% chance of not surviving the 2 years required for any real effects

[ballonger]

I disagree with you there, Mik. I've had several in-game clashes because of the variable time rate. They ruined my immersion. I am interested in hearing a discussion about this and what the result will be. But eventually when something is decided I will abide by it, and not whine, no matter if I agree with the decision or not. I am just interested in following the discussion.

EDIT: Wouldn't a ratio of, say, 6:1 help keeping down the problems with a vague timekeeping a bit?

[Fionn]

I think it was settled that for *most* issues, IG time is compressed, but game date is not. Thus, unless you work it out otherwise with your DM, an 8 RL hour session lasts 56 IG hours, but the 3 RL days you're logged out is 3 IG days.

In any case, it's clear there's no consensus for a single right answer. I'd check with your DM if it matters.

[ballonger]

I liked this:

The 1:1 matching of the FR calendar to the real life calendar is only really used (that ive seen) for the purposes of celebrations and events that are held on specific days in the year. The rest is 'comic book time' IE whatever the timescale the DM of a plot decides to use, and outside of that, 9:1 if you can keep track.

I think that if the 9:1 was lowered a bit the "leap" between the two wouldn't become as much of an issue.

[fluffmonster]

I think time is best left ambiguous in the macro sense. The actual IG ratio is best considered purely in terms of game mechanics. I am however quite positive that a 1:1 ratio is a bad idea.

[ballonger]

In what way best with regards to game mechanics? And what mechanics?

[Lusipher]

It seems rather moot to me to add aging, etc if we will mostly be stuck in the year 1373-74. Now, if ALFA ever decides to advance its timeline a signifigant amount then maybe..