Starting age rant...

[Bredalbane]

..'cause 20 YOA is unrealistic in a medieval environment. Here is a usual timeline for a medieval human(and perhaps half-elf) male. This is assuming your family is above the rank of dirt peasant(who were actually serfs tied to the land, in most cases).
1.WARRIOR TYPE:At approximately 7-8 years you are "squired" out, usually to another family, and start as a page. You learn the low grunt work of knighthood, maintaining armor and weapons and grooming horses, etc. You start to practice with weapons that are within your strength. At 13-14 years you actually become a squire to one warrior. Your weapon abilities are polished and you actually become a competent fighter. At 16 years, while you may never become a knight, you are now of age to work as a warrior in the hire of some lord or lady. You probably can't read and will never learn. You will be able to write just enough to make your "sign".
2.CLERIC/MAGE TYPE: These are usually second or later sons, and they will probably start out as page. When/if they show aptitude for learning they will be offered the opportunity to advance in the church/coven(or whatever). This is tempting to later sons because they will probably NOT inherit(male primogeniture was the rage in this period). You WILL become at LEAST bilingual, your vernacular and at least Latin, but probably Greek too. The process of higher education will usually add 2-3 years to your development, but you will be "in the world" by 18-19 YOA.
3.BARD/THIEF TYPE: These type people are the "edge" of society, and develop via apprenticeships to an adult of the type. Putting bards in with thieves is appropriate because(if you don't know by now, you should!) musicians and the music industry in general, is very shady.
OK, that's my rant and I'm stikin' to it! How the other intelligent races develop into adulthood I don't know, but human(and perhaps half-elf) would most CERTAINLY have been in the world before 20 YOA.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Gorion's Ward led a sheltered life, and for good reason. Have you played Baldur's Gate 1?

[ 12-07-2003, 03:22 PM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

[Pirengle]

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern: Gorion's Ward led a sheltered life, and for good reason. Have you played Baldur's Gate 1?

Yeah, but I can't quite figure out why you can start out as a paladin or monk or other highly specialized class in BG1. I'm playing Planescape: Torment at the moment (while dodging exams and term papers) and it does a better job of explaining things. Getting trained in such things as thievery and magecraft before gaining ranks in them--imagine that! (Unless you'd care to explain to me how people like Hull can train the PC to be a paladin. [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

[Dundee Slaytern]

Originally posted by Pirengle: Yeah, but I can't quite figure out why you can start out as a paladin or monk or other highly specialized class in BG1. I'm playing Planescape: Torment at the moment (while dodging exams and term papers) and it does a better job of explaining things. Getting trained in such things as thievery and magecraft before gaining ranks in them--imagine that! (Unless you'd care to explain to me how people like Hull can train the PC to be a paladin. [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

You want to talk about realism? Chew on this. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Blades clashed, spells roared. The battle was truly an epic one as foes pitted against foes mercilessly. The Nameless One slithered out of the shadows and backstabbed an enemy target in the face. As his opponent winced from the pain, the Nameless One raised his hands in the air to make a T sign and bellowed out loud, Nameless One: "Okay, TIMEOUT! Dak'kon, I wish to learn the way of the blade again." Everybody else groaned, but there was no choice but to lay down their weapons as they waited patiently. Dak'kon tried not to look sheepish as he hastily tried to speed things along. Dak'kon: "You... learn fast. Now you are once again one with the blade." The Nameless One grinned and took out his favourite Two-Handed Axe. Nameless One: "Alright! Back to the action!" Muted grumbles and sarcastic mutters rippled the air, but the Nameless One failed to hear them as he proceeded to pulp the screaming wretched in front of him. When another timeout was called out so that he put on his Mage bracelet, cries of "Why! Ao, Why!" and "This is bloody moronic!" could be heard.

Remember... the game gives you choices so that it will cater to most of the crowd, but the decision to maximise roleplay is totally up to the player.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Originally posted by Bredalbane: ..'cause 20 YOA is unrealistic in a medieval environment. Here is a usual timeline for a medieval human(and perhaps half-elf) male. OK, that's my rant and I'm stikin' to it! How the other intelligent races develop into adulthood I don't know, but human(and perhaps half-elf) would most CERTAINLY have been in the world before 20 YOA.

Thats not the most unrealistic thing about it [img]tongue.gif[/img] Elves; BG1 says that they start off at the age of 20... anyone care to explain to me just how an elf could start off at 20?! [img]tongue.gif[/img] Half elf... possibly start off at the age of 20... possibly... tsk. Personally, I think they screwed up all the race's ages [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Bredalbane]

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern: Gorion's Ward led a sheltered life, and for good reason. Have you played Baldur's Gate 1?

Oh yes. I played BG1. I wondered why I start out at level 1 when I'm the ward of a respected and, apparently, powerfull mage.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Originally posted by Bredalbane: Oh yes. I played BG1. I wondered why I start out at level 1 when I'm the ward of a respected and, apparently, powerfull mage.

Better than being a librarian. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[DragonMage Draco of the stars]

If you just start out in BG2: SOA your starting age is about 13.


just FYI.

[Dace De'Briago]

lol

I think not

[Pirengle]

Originally posted by DragonMage Draco of the stars: If you just start out in BG2: SOA your starting age is about 13.

Draco, there's a difference between starting age and starting level. I suggest you check out this site before proceeding further.

Heading back to the original topic.

I wish the game had done more explaining why the demihuman races start out the way they do. Even going so far as saying Bhaal walked the earth before the Time of Troubles to scatter his seed. This might even explain certain ToB situations too.

EDIT: Looking at it from a different angle, from events explained by ToB and the Journal of Elmonster, in order for all the historical timelines to match up, the PC would have to be 13. But since the PC is 20ish in-game (or the demihuman equivalent of 20), the historical timeline theory is bunk. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Still, we should all go read Volo's Comeuppance anyway.

[ 12-11-2003, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Pirengle ]