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Before deciding on a course of action, having a general guideline is essential. I was in deep thought while taking a seat on the log chopping block beside the barn, which was by the way slowly becoming something akin to a temporary home base of mine. \n
Making up the three-dimensional screen before me were truly a vast amount of status clusters that are not restricted to just my basic body and then there are even more skills and special traits that belong to these various cluster categories intermingling with each other, which is why even now I havenât yet been able to grasp the whole picture despite chewing through countless rule books in my past life.\n
I guess it isnât that surprising considering my authority. For me to be able to âdo as I pleaseâ with myself the enormous chart Iâm seeing right now is packed with literally each and every kind of potential and possibility that exists in this world. And although conveniently sorting function and filters are present, it would take me years to make myself familiar with all the entries inside this system. \n
Even when it comes to the core components, surrounding the nucleus <Body> you have quite a wide variety of basic categories such as <Will><Education><Martial><Sense><Social> and then even further encircling the basics are myriad of profession categories. If you include the various effect descriptions and explanations, itâs ridiculous to think about how it would turn out physical page wise with its absurd amount of text and complexity so lets thank the future Buddha that he squeezed in everything for free since converting it to TRPG supplements Iâd have to spend a fortune to get my hands on them. \n
Although, since I identify as Data Munchkin I canât help but to have a hard time deciding on a course of action when Iâm overwhelmed with such colossal number of choices, though I also do realize this is quite a privileged concern. \n
Iâve already found a few [yep this oneâs broken alright] combinations which is making me more and more excited to find out how they would perform in actual practice. After all, which TRPG player wouldnât be excited with the prospect of dazzling amount of possibilities, not to mention being able to improvise and respond pragmatically and immediately to various circumstances as needed.\n
However that variety of choice and pragmatism can also be a problem.\n
Pragmatism. To follow up on what it could lead to in our case, thereâs a possibility to degrade and end up with a half-assed jack of all trades build as a result of selecting this and that since they seemed convenient in certain times and circumstances. Which is why, while I definitely canât complain about the usefulness and various features of this interface system, sadly this blessing of mine as a whole doesnât lend itself to flexibility. Different from paper character sheets where you write with a pencil or say inputting data in an Excel document character sheet, you canât delete skills and special traits here, but most importantly Iâm not able to respec, at all.\n
I tended to mess up like the above when I was just a newbie. While there wouldnât be a problem with the initial stage of the build, as a result of being greedy and wanting everything for every occasion the build would end up half-baked making me shed tears of frustration since in the climax battle of a campaign I would deal crappy damage despite all the effort. So in order to also honor all those characters in the corner of those fading memories of mine where they failed to enjoy the ending segments, I canât afford to end up half-assed.\n
But well, although there also exist understanding GMs(I believe myself to be one) who can be kind enough to allow for a build respec when youâre too far gone, sadly the GM folks that run this world donât seem to be that flexible and compassionate. In that sense I guess itâs similar to my previous world. After all nobody would attempt to roll for jumping off a building if rebuilding your life was possible.\n
For me to not end up that way I need to make a guideline for myself. What will I become, what will I aim for, what will I be able to do. In a way, this blessing of mine makes it possible for me to become almost anything as well as being able to do almost everything but unfortunately looking at it from another perspective if I go for that it would also mean becoming a nobody and being unable to really do anything. \n
I should tread carefully as Iâm still close to ignorant when it comes to this world. The only things I know for a fact can be counted on my fingers such as the name of this manor, which administrative district it belongs to(I was surprised when I found out they use something similar to the German administrative division) and names of the districtâs Bailiff and the Lord Governor. On the other hand I donât really know much about its political system, climate, geography or even history in detail, never mind other nations of this world.\n
So despite the numerous possibilities presented before me , itâs also true that setting my future in stone is still premature. Like if the policy I decided this early without knowing later turned out to be some kind of heresy among humans, meaning with that build I couldnât live freely in this part of the world without being hunted down or something, now that would be no laughing matter. Or maybe not being able to stay under one roof with people anymore because of my barriers and wards, give me a break.\n
Which means picking up simply efficient yet at the same time powerful traits(such as Child Prodigy) should be prioritized while also raising my basic parameters, thus my current guideline for now being just preparation for the moment when I can clearly decide what I want to become and what I want to focus on.\n
I often heard this from father in past life. That thereâs no harm in being educated. Because even after you graduate from the medical faculty of University of Tokyo, later if you suddenly decide on a change of pace, setting your sights on becoming a novelist you might be able to become one however if you reach adulthood uneducated becoming a doctor becomes close to impossible. Which is why itâs important to refine oneself in a variety of fields so you can be prepared for when you discover what you really want to be doing in the future.\n
Truly these are words of wisdom oh ex-father of mine, after all if I become an adult while leaving my bodily stats unattended, itâll be too late if I suddenly set my sights on becoming a master swordsman.\n
Allrighty, now with that decided first priority should be steady growth with as little deficiency as possible Body-wise, then also cultivating smarts and education related parameters. Furthermore picking up any outstanding special traits along the way and finally, information gathering. After all, there are tons of skills and traits with insufficient explanation making me scratch my head and go [What on earth am I looking at?] not to mention those that have unknown prerequisites and conditions to unlock them.\n
Regardless, itâs so much fun just rummaging through them, making it difficult to pick anything as Iâll be attracted to different skills and traits every time from the seemingly unlimited catalog.\n
All sorts of just simply powerful looking profession based skills, special traits that will never degrade and fall off such as observation power that can discern the authenticity of things. Every single time I find the likes of the above, my Munchkin blood would boil with excitement. While at this point thereâs already no need to talk about the importance of minor and major actions that churn out damage, skills that improve process of reaching the climax are also a vital part of what makes a character truly strong. But I also keep realizing that there are more and more among them which Iâm not allowed to pick up.\n
For example the likes of <Trueborn Noble>(Blue blood) are forever locked for me as itâs a trait related to ones origins which obviously Iâm not able to change. As far as I can tell from the description itâs a powerful trait that any Munchkin would crave with effects like immediately affecting ones behavior and actions as a noble after acquisition, like giving you bonuses in negotiating with opponents with high social status no matter who they areâŠwell even if Iâm able to fake and âlaunderâ my family tree the natural origins of my birth will never change so I guess this is what it is.\n
Then there also seem to be locked traits that are distant from my own disposition. For instance belonging to <Will> categoryâs peripheral sub-categories like <Faith> categoryâs <Saint>(person of lofty virtue) or <Depraved> categoryâs <Vorarephilia>(manslaughter enthusiast) and nor am I able to pick up traits that are related to a different race than mine. \n
The above is easier to comprehend in the sense that I already experimented with raising my <cogitation> and <memory> which didnât seem to effect my self-consousness and similarly I believe these traits and statuses wonât affect my sense of self either. They seem to be the type of external addons or influences that I will be able to choose only once I, myself reach the necessary disposition which they require. In that sense I could probably unlock them if for example later down the road something happens I lose heart and go full depraved madman, or if I suddenly get into religion becoming faithful and all that.\n
Furthermore, I canât seem to change my body which I was born with in any significant way either. Located in the dead center of the various surrounding clusters is my Mankind <Body> category where you can also find various status entries such as latent height potential values, latent skeletal frame values and the like minutely lined up, (This is just my guess but the reason my ego was awakened at the age of five is probably because âthe minimum experience required for a human beingâ finished being allocated to these parts right here, it mustâve been some kind of fail-safe mechanism that prevented me from dying by splurging points god knows where before the essentials were done)however what I can change here is simply that âlatentâ potential values and nothing else.\n
What this means is that dumping experience to change the bodyâs structural and anatomic stats only internally solidifies my future potential indicating [Youâll grow up this tall] or [Youâll gain weight in this manner] and the like. I canât really make it so that the changes would be immediate.\n
This I can also understand. If I suddenly decided [Yaaaay, I wanna be a muscle bound 2 meter tall Chad] dumping all my experience earned from doing chores and miscellaneous deeds into height and skeletal structure and in that moment âwooshâ I really became one, it would be no small matter(especially if someone saw me). High chance it would cause a commotion in the manor with people asking me who the hell am I.\n
Does seem reasonable that different from normal status parameters that increase by training or well simply dumping in various experiences in my case, parameters like the above have certain restrictions to them as they will always be âout of placeâ unless used wisely and conventionally. Gotta say, Iâm more and more impressed with how well balanced and thought out this system is so far however I do wonder, who on earth couldâve done the debugging?\n
I keep rambling on a lot about this by the way but Iâm still like 5 years old. I can do whatever in terms of my anatomical growth so it doesnât really matter in my case now does it.\n
âErich, you were stiiiiiill here daydreaming?â\n
While I was carefully contemplating the question of how much height I should go for, Heinz seems to have arrived. Hey I wasnât daydreaming I was in the middle of a very important contemplation process yes sir. Also earlier I was even practicing carving out Idol statues which I heard can fetch a high price if theyâre well made.\n
My brother who seemed to have finished his chores was armed with that wooden sword in one hand which you could say became his trademark with how much he likes it, and an old pot lid which he got god knows where suspended over his left arm, heâs made it into a shield. Think Iâll make him a proper shield as well next time I find a suitable wooden board.\n
âAh, hey Heinzâ\n
âYou come too lets play, Michael and Hans are already waitingâ\n
Ever since Heinz stopped harboring hostility and ill will heâs been inviting me to play often like this. Together with Michael and Hans my second and third older brothers. It seems these two were simply following Heinz who was in a bit of a disarray for a time and intimidating, they never seemed to have any real animosity towards me so now weâre all buddy-buddy.\n
âSure what we doing today?â\n
âPlaying adventurers of course!â\n
While following my brother with a tap-tap on my short legs, he answered as he proudly thrust his wooden sword towards the sky.\n
An adventurer is one of the few career choices one can go for rather freely and easily since itâs not bound by some of the various laws that are enforced in the Tri-Empire in this regard. \n
These heroes freely roam the peer trade guilds of their respective territories, solving everything from the problems of their Lords and the Bailiffs down to the most minor affairs of the streets and villages, subjugating grotesque monstrosities and finding treasures in distant lands or long ruined countries or so my brother thinks. Heinz has been rather obsessed with adventurers ever since he heard a saga the other day from a minstrel who came here not too long ago. The tale was a rather common trite of a dragon slaying story which people have heard so often in my previous life that it even gave birth to a certain phrase and commercial slogan âWeâve had enough of dragon-slayingâ(Dragoon Quest).\n
Summary is as follows, in order to save the queen who was cursed by a bad magician, the king decreed that he would give his daughter the princess as wife to any who would brave bringing back the jewel of healing held by an evil dragon. An adventurer who answered the call finds a legendary sword and with the blessing of gods sets on a hazardous journey.\n
Indeed GM decides on the basic plot however precisely because itâs up to the players how PCs(player characters) conduct themselves that while following the standard plot line, countless unique developments can take place. Ah yes, like for example in similar scenarios I remember one fool who went for seducing the dragon and eventually even married it! Then there was another one who went with a peculiar idea of âwhy is there need to fight, canât we haggle for it?â and eventually changed job to a phantom thief because the dragon asked for the Kingdomâs most valuable treasure in return. \n
When I think about how even the above contrived and twisty sessions were only possible precisely because these classics existed, Iâm filled with nothing but gratitude to the minstrel who recently visited and sang such a commonplace saga.\n
In any case it seems such dragon slaying stories really clicked with my brother and heâs been full of enthusiasm ever since. Heinz had loudly proclaimed heâs going to be an adventurer in the future and has thus far lead us brothers as a party playing adventurers which is quite heartwarming. Of course the leader of the party is none other than my brother starring as a swordsman, then you have Michael as a Priest whoâs dabbled into the miracles of healing, next comes Hans as a Sorcerer whoâs been exposed to the secrets of magic and lastly Iâm your friendly neighborhood thief. What? Itâs a fair role assignment considering the hierarchy between us brothers. Also as a fighting force, this is a very well balanced party with different roles so maybe my eldest brother actually has a pretty good head on his shoulders.\n
Well, I donât really want to spoil the mood right now when weâll be having so much fun and then thereâs really no need to thrust cold harsh truth at a child whoâs so immersed in his dreams and aspirations. Like the truth that adventurers in general are nothing but just roaming handymen and that what fate has in store for Heinz is not adventuring but attending the Bailiffâs school as the successor of our house.\n
A few days ago father called me to discuss something. Namely that if I wanted to, he would allow me to go to school instead of my brother. Being in my 30s mentally, I could easily guess what father was thinking, in short he had probably seriously started considering to have his intelligent fourth son inherit the house.\n
And I politely declined.\n
To speak frankly, I feel there are many unknown possibilities and paths waiting for me in this new world, which is why thereâs no need to force myself to become a successor of a landed peasant household. Sure, right now from this position it might be hard to find decent employment with Tri-Empire institutions but as long as a possibility exists that I might regret pushing myself to be just a farmer thereâs no problem with finding another path to follow. I feel bad for father whoâs been working frantically for our householdâs prosperity but come on Iâve been reincarnated into a fantasy world, who wouldnât want to tour around a bit, find out more about this world. \n
In any case Iâm still the 4th son. Even if I take over the house there will be a bunch of complications and restrictions, I donât want to create future conflicts with my brothers with whom Iâm finally getting along so well and thereâs no need for our father to burden himself with the such difficulties which is why I was able to tell him with a cheerful attitude and clear mind to please let Heinz attend instead. Also as a side note, it was then and there that I was told about the reality of the so called adventurers my brother admires.\n
Only a handful can vanquish dragons and dive into labyrinths full of treasures. The reality being that when Lords and Bailiffs simply find it troublesome or maybe if they find it a waste of time to use their men for miscellaneous deeds they push such chores onto your friendly neighborhood vagrant handymen. The world seems to take in adventurers as simply cheap workforce that can be dispatched almost anywhere.\n
It was quite the pitiable, disheartening story. Which is why I handed over my private school ticket to Heinz thinking of his future. To be blunt Iâm me, even if I donât go to this school there are various ways I can handle myself regardless of what I get into. And if so also for my piece of mind Iâll have my brother succeed the house and live out the rest of his life with his future stable and secured. \n
âWhere are we adventuring today?â\n
âLets go to the woods in the back. I heard this from the old man next door. That a few decades ago a child died while hiding a coin blessed by a fairy in the tree hollow! Doesnât it sound like an amazing treasure!?â\n
Which is why Iâll have Heinz enjoy adventuring to the fullest while he can. An adventure that doesnât require money or poses danger to life, If itâs just bustling around in these small woods then itâs perfectly safe. Coin of the fairy? Very nice. Itâs much much nicer and beats being sent out to hunt animals and brigands for dirt cheap or having to clean out town drainage from mud and rat infestation.\n
But itâs not as If I myself didnât harbor any passion towards the existence known as the adventurer. In fact many of my created characters embarked on their journey with that title. A twist-less story of a boy who bolted out from his village longing for a magic sword. A youth who heard the voice of god and left his abbey to stand up against barbarians. A half-demon man who could not accept his persecuted ancestry eloping to seek fame and glory. A widow of a conjuror who died on a journey, setting out to revive her partner. A magitech puppet that felt earning for the truth of its origins that was buried deep beneath the ruins of old, departs and dives deep while making use of magic tools and various apparatuses.\n
I remember each and every adventure so vividly that Iâd be able to write up a replay if I was asked to. They were wonderful, joyous memories of mine.\n
There were some who reached their objective and gained glory, some went way off in Henderson Scale becoming bandit chiefs and the like, then there were some who died in the very beginning because the GMs and PLs dice exploded(exploding dice mechanic) \n
Refreshing such memories, maybe being an adventurer isnât so bad after all. Whatever their actual state, itâs not as if the heroes sung in the sagas donât exist.\n
As I followed the back of my brother who was being submerged in the reveries of fantasy I broke into a run to be submerged in the same tideâŠâŠ.\n
[tips]: Experience assigned to skills and traits are irreversible. Blessing bestowed by god unfortunately canât be filled in with a pencil.\n
That concludes chapter 1 of the LN, which is actually 2 chapters in the WN. Seems like weâre through about 10% of LN vol 1. Yay progress.\n
Speaking of which I should probably translate what on earth is Munchkin. Though Iâm sure youâve already guessed it or googled it. Still I felt the info was scarce concerning the LN and WN Munchkin description and its Japanese origins so here you go:\n
<ol>Originates from the Munchkins of Wizard of Oz.From #1 it transformed into a derogatory term for children who do not behave themselves.From #2 it somehow transformed into a âderogatoryâ term for a Trpg player who wonât behave unless their character is the coolest and the strongest and tends to throw tantrums.Another meaning being a TRPG player who rather than enjoying the game, gets off on utilizing each and every rule that is possible within the system to create a powerful character. A category of power players basically but a little different, as we see with Erich.</ol>\nOh and the heroine finally makes her appearance next chapter.\n