Mute Background Event

[Jarec]

OK I know all things are optional and so can be ignored but for the sake of clarity I have a question.

On page 24 of the RQII rulebook result 64 on the Background Event table is "Mute. Character either born mute or struck mute later....." but on page 106 the casting modifiers for Common Magic list "Spellcaster is gagged or silenced" as an Automatic Failure. Isn't that a bit harsh, allowing someone the chance to generate a character from the get go that can't cast magic.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

OK I know all things are optional and so can be ignored but for the sake of clarity I have a question.

On page 24 of the RQII rulebook result 64 on the Background Event table is "Mute. Character either born mute or struck mute later....." but on page 106 the casting modifiers for Common Magic list "Spellcaster is gagged or silenced" as an Automatic Failure. Isn't that a bit harsh, allowing someone the chance to generate a character from the get go that can't cast magic.

Wow, its amazing what people pick up on!

Yes, being mute is a very nasty background event for Glorantha, but remember that these rules are also partially designed for other settings too.

For a magic using campaign you should probably re-roll it, or start the adventurers off on a quest for a healer capable of curing their friend's problem.

 

[Loz]

But it can happen... There's a 1 in a 100 chance of it in RQII, but people are born mute or with speech defects.

How its handled is up to the GM and players. The second paragraph on page 23 specifically states: 'If an event is thought to be restrictive or inappropriate for either the Adventurer or the campaign, it can either be ignored or re-rolled'

So no, I don't think its a bit harsh. But playing a mute character in a magically-rich world could become a very rewarding challenge. How about a quest to find the character's lost voice? How about becoming a shaman rather than a common magic practitioner? All sorts of opportunities can be had from a seemingly disadvantageous background event....

 

[Jarec]

Well I found it only because I rolled "64" whilst generating a sample character to test out the new CGen rules. It would probably be the sort of character I would enjoy playing for all the reasons you have mentioned.