Are Tournaments Appropriate?

[jrmorgan56]

I was thinking over some adventure ideas/hooks and began wondering if a swordplay tournament is appropriate in the Hyborian Age. I'm not talking about gladiator duels in Argos...but actual even-handed sword lists between renowned fighters from different areas (perhaps from all over the map) who enter a prestigious tournament for a chance at a large sack of coins, a fine blade, and the honor of being hailed a champion swordsman.

Though death is always a risk, there are healers available to try and stabilize those that are defeated. Perhaps all fighters who fight pay a fee to get in, or perhaps they are invited based on their reputation or deeds. Money is made for the organizers by the crowd that comes to watch the duels. Gambling would be rampant. Perhaps the tournament is new with only limited participation from those that are local, or maybe the tournament is 200 years old with a tradition of excellence and excitement that draws hopefuls from Argos to Khitai.

Is this just too hokey and contrived for the grim, dismal, and hard Hyborian Age?

 

[librarycharlie]

This sounds like exactly the kind of entertainment that people in a grim and dismal age would contrive.

People of all cultures have routinely created physical contests. From Greco-roman wrestling to jousts to paintball or American Gladiators, it's hard to find a culture that doesn't have some kind of battle-games.

I say go for it.

Things to keep in mind:
1) Not all cultures are friendly (meaning your games can't be in Hyperborea and have been widely advertised among the Aesir)

2) Travel times are a bear (getting people from Khitai and Argos into the same tournament requires years of planning)

3) Every such game in history has had its share of cheaters!

 

[jrmorgan56]

3) Every such game in history has had its share of cheaters!

Exactly! Like that Stygian Soldier who was bested by the Nemedian Noble a year ago....now this year, that loss not forgotten, that Stygian may have acquired some Black Lotus Juice to cover the edge of his blade.... :twisted:

 

[Jeffreywns]

Vincents Aquilonia book describes some contests and games ( Archery Contest, Grand Melee and Jousting) enjoyed there. As the last two seemed to be more for the Noble/Knight characters it would make sense that the " less privileged" would stage their own versions of this entertainment- not to mention the standard " underground death-match" in the seedier border towns, etc.
And almost every adventure group has a bruiser willing to engage in a "take on the local champion" challenge. Just have the rest of the party keep an eye out for the city watch.

 

[flatscan]

The Shadizar boxed set makes mention that knife duels are illegal in the city. I made use of this in the "Dark Denizens of Iniquity" adventure when the PCs had lost their weapons, armor, and equipment. A passing Nemedian merchant had had a good day in sales and was looking for some sport. So he had one of the PCs engage in a knife duel with one of his bodyguards. If the PC won he would let him choose a few items from what was left of his wares. Take that as you will. :wink:

 

[Giavonn]

I was thinking over some adventure ideas/hooks and began wondering if a swordplay tournament is appropriate in the Hyborian Age.

There are a few ways to go at this. As a sometime DM for a Trojan War campaign, the easiest institution to adapt is the Funeral Games. Most of these would not include swordplay, though a duel to the death could well serve as the climax to the games (and legend, true or not, has it that this is exactly where gladiatorial combat came from). Races, Boxing, Wrestling and hybrid events like the Pancration might work well here, as much of the damage is non-lethal (though watch out for those competitors with Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple).

In other contexts, you might see large hordes engaging in contests of arms upon the death of a mighty chieftain with no heirs for the right to take control of the horde, or even contests to choose a champion before single combat to avert a large scale war (which nevertheless devolves into full-on mass combat anyway when someone cheats or the loser refuses to accept the results as binding).

If you want to adapt medieval fairy tale/ romance motifs, you might even have such a contest for the hand of a princess (and even have her enter if she doesn't much cotton to the idea of marrying just yet).

The caveats regarding the low state of relatons between nationalities in the Hyborian Age are worth keeping in mind, but don't let them get in the way of a good story-- just ramp up the tensions, add a riot or two, and go at it!