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In Hero Wars, player characters are called heroes. This is not a coincidence. Glorantha is a mythic world, and heroes are an integral part of almost all mythologies. Here I'll examine what it means to be a hero, in a broader meaning of the term (i.e. hero not necessarily meaning player character).
The glossary in Deluxe Hero Wars defines a hero as "a famous and powerful actor in Gloranthan history or myth. More specifically, a character in Hero Wars who has attained an ability rating of 1w3 or greater in at least one ability." Although this definition is clear and simple, it smacks of the old "Wow! Now I'm a third level fighter. That means that I am a ... eh ... let me see ... swashbuckler!"-mentality.
I don't believe for a second that herodom can be measured in terms of game statistics. Being a hero is about something else, something more, transcending numbers and ability ratings.
So, here are my opinions about what constitues a hero.
Unusual Qualities
A hero has some unusual qualities that separates her from the average person. In Greek mythology, a hero was often of divine origin, being the progeny of a deity.
Acting For the Greater Good
A hero can be defined as a person who acts in a way that benefits the greater good of her society.
Interacting With Mythology
A hero interacts not only with society, but with mythology as well. (Though the line between myth and society is far from clear-cut.) There is a mythological significance to her actions. I am not just talking about going on heroquests. A myth is a symbolic story. Myth has meaning.
I.e. Achilles is not just a guy who died because he was wounded in the foot. Among other things, the myth of Achilles tells us that everyone has their weak spots.
Embodiment of Change
In Glorantha it is not enough to just participate in a minor heroquest or two to become a hero. The actions of a hero have social, political and mythological impact. In the wake of the hero follows change. And this is really what the Hero Wars are all about, I believe.
"The world is ending. What will you do about it?"
An individual's answer to that question, tells us weather she is a potential hero or not.
Action
A nonsensical definition of a hero would be that she is someone who has done something heroic. This is a circular definition, of course, but the keywords here are 'has done'. Nobody is a hero because she has Walktapus Cooking 16w5. But someone using her Walktapus Cooking to save her people from certain doom could be. A hero is defined by action, not by potential.
Comments
John Hughes was kind enough to comment on the above, saying, amongst other things:
"[Joseph] Campbell defined a hero as someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. On another occasion, he defined two different types of heroic deeds. One, he said, is the physical deed, in which the hero performs a courageous act and saves a life. The other kind is the spiritual deed, in which the hero learns to experience the supernormal range of human life and then comes back with a message (a lesson, a gift, an idea) to share.
"For me that's the essence of the hero (the definition is arbitrary but useful). You follow your own passion into realms previously unknown, discover a new truth or way of seeing, and 'bring that gift back for the enrichment of their people'. The last aspect is often overlooked, but is crucial: a gift for your community. Heroes understand something is missing from their consciousness, struggle until they find what it is, claim it, then share it.
"There's another side too. One thing I've always emphasised in my games is the way some (most?) of the greater Gloranthan heroes work to an alien, non-human scale of values. No one merely-human survives contact. Such heroes destroy the village (city, country, continent...) in order to save it. For those who encounter them, (or their armies), there is only suffering, bloodshed and death. [...]
"The land is afflicted by a hero..."
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The Hero Player Character
Not every campaign is about the player heroes becoming Heroes with capital H, and not every player is interested in playing such a character. But players wishing to create a character with potential for herodom, could easily use the discussion above when creating, and playing, her character.
A player hero with unusual qualities, who is working for the greater good of her society, who is searching for new truths and revelations, and who has flaws that must be overcome in order to prevail, will stand a much better chance of becoming a real Hero, than characters lacking these qualities. The hero will need Allies, Followers, Contacts, and other relationships. She will take charge; act instead of react. She will need to be creative, and above all, the player herself must actively participate in the telling of good stories.
Because the stories are really what being a hero is all about.
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Contact me at [email protected].
