KORPG™ Games 
Brave is a low level RPG done right
So I took the kids to see Brave on Friday and really enjoyed it. Granting that it is as predictable as any other Disney|Pixar film, the kids obviously found it a fun movie and they had a great time.
All in all it is a good movie and worth your time.
Most notably however, and altogether unexpectedly, the game player/developer in me started to analyze the story at a much deeper level.
And lately I have been thinking over how well it aligns with my opinion on how low level RPG gaming should be presented.
Caveats…
- For starters, no real spoilers here. The actual storyline isn’t what’s important to the discussion. Rather, the presentation of the story is what’s significant here.
- Second, if you have the opportunity, go see the movie. Trust me, it’s worth it. This isn’t a review of the movie per se, but I would recommend it were I asked.
No on to my point…
Brave is low level high fantasy gaming as it should be presented to players.
Characters:
The characters aren’t much better than their peers, but the movie doesn’t dwell or turn on some fantastic and heroic capability that is required to resolve the story. Instead, the story simply doesn’t require heroic capabilities above and beyond those of a normal person.
Skill:
Sure there’s skill demonstrated, but it isn’t demonstrably over what anyone else could accomplish.
I know what you’re thinking. The scene with the archery challenge sets Merida as a very accomplished archer… but her back-story doesn’t indicate her prowess is unnatural or super, just that of a well practiced individual. – KO
Magic:
Sure, there’s magic in the story, but it isn’t used directly to overcome the dangers present.
Again, I know I’m splitting this point pretty fine here, but it’s my discussion so I’m going to do just that. – KO
Dangers and Challenges:
Most notably, and more to my point, the dangers aren’t scaled down in order to present a challenge worthy of a lower skilled protagonist. The challenges faced are equal in scope (story-wise) to those that might be faced by a seasoned and more “heroic” character. And yet the dangers aren’t dumbed-down in order to lower the scope of their challenge.
Resolution:
What’s more, Merida and her family deal with a threat in a rather innovative way; not unlike how low level characters in a RPG would.
The takeaway…
So stop making the low level characters of your players face off against rats and goblins. Let them face off against mythic beasts and challenges that are worthy of a heroic story.
So here’s my advice: Let each and every story you present, and the means by which you present it, unfold as heroic and worthy of becoming legend… even if the characters involved are little more skilled than the kitchen scullery maid.
Trust me, your players will thank you for it.
Took my daughter & wife and the three of us enjoyed it. I don’t know that I would qualify it as high fantasy though. Even with the fey and small amount of magic, the setting was pretty much historical. I felt it was more of a low-fantasy setting in much the same way How to tame your dragon was IMHO.
But outside of my quibble about the type of fantasy, I think your conclusion is spot on.
Regards.
Glad your family enjoyed it.
And for the record, my definition of High Fantasy has admittedly grown over the past couple of years. So I won’t open up that can of worms further.
That aside, I find the storyline a great demonstration of how low level should operate. The heroes are low power and must work together to overcome the threat. And what a threat it is… the Demon Bear Mordu no less!
Yeah, that’s the adventure I’d prefer to be dropped into.
Admittedly I haven’t seen the movie, but from your descriptions, that’s exactly what I think of when I imagine good low level play.
To be honest though, I’m a bit surprised by your post direction on the movie.
As I listen to you describe the setting and story, I can’t help but think Brave is also a good (albeit less deadly) representation of your Darkwood setting.
That’s interesting Phil.
I never made that connection myself, but now that you mention it, it does indeed fit.