Monday, December 26, 2022

Well, shit.

I've just picked up another little title from Michael Brown (compatible with CE, DC, and Trav'), simply called Hygiene, and as the title suggests it presents a few rules for centred around the title. I've so often watched films and even when reading book, and remembered the words "even the queen poops", and wondered how it applies to heroes on screen that are in action for 24 hours.

The rules he presents will need some careful application to your game session. The idea being that "personal grooming and visiting a fresher" is required in order to prevent your character entering the throne room smelling like a beavers bottom. 

A possible problem with applying these rules is players getting annoyed with having to actually say that their character is doing something so mundane as freshening up. I've come across this sort of thing  in D&D games where players want me as the referee to assume Dwarves are checking for slopes all the time, and elves are always looking for secret doors. Yet, as I've said to these players, if you can't be bothered to mention it, I can't either, and your character definitely wont.

It doesn't take much to apply these rules quickly and easily. Not visiting a fresher only matters...when it matters. Who cares about freshening up when nipping to the corner shop, but who cares when meeting the King? Huge difference. So if players talk about polishing their armour before meeting the King but DONT mention that visit to the most important room, that's when you can bring the rules into action.



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