[CONAN] Old Age and the Game

[Supplement Four]

I'm just thinking out loud, here. Speculating. Chime in if you have a thought on this.

I sometimes consider how the game would handle older characters. The way the level progression system is designed, the character keeps improving the more experience he gets. Well, we all know that, at some point, we humans start slowing down a bit. As we get older, things don't work as well as they used to. (I'm talking from experience, here!)

So, how would we put that in the game?

An 80 year old fighter, for example, should not be able to kick the tar out of his 25 year old former self. Experience, Age, and Wisdom is one thing, but ability counts for a lot.

So....just how does a 12 level warrior deteriorate?

Thoughts?

 

[Nyarlathotep5150]

I personally, would work up a completely separate system for aging effects. Or just steal the one from D&D, where each "Age Category" gives a cumulative penalty to STR DEX and CON and a similar bonus to INT and WIS.
In my opinion, the level system is a different animal than aging. As its set up to assume that you can reach level 20 before noticeable age factors start to set in (case in point, Conan himself hit level 20 around his early to mid30's). So, in most cases, an adventurer would end up retiring, or (more likely) dying before the age factor set in.
But there will be times where an adventurer is less active and thus levels slower, in this instance an aging system is required, but I dont think it should be tied to level.

 

[Spectator]

I agree it's pretty complex.
A factor of strenght loss, endurance, agility, the ability to perceive and to react, could easily make your 20th level geezer be flat-footed, non-hitting (" I think I see the bad guy!" ; No gramps, that's a tree!!!"), and klutzy ("damn arthritis! dropped my sword again, and I can't see it where it fell!).

Yeah if you are useless and still 20th level, you just take a round or two more to kill.

I would not waste too much time on the mechanics of it, though.