The Hero Within RPG 13: Are Discipline Points the Best Way to Shape Your Hero?

Should character progression be controlled through Discipline Points, or is there a better way?

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In The Hero Within, Discipline Points (DP) are a unique currency used to enhance skills, master magic, and shape a character’s journey.

Unlike traditional XP systems, DP rewards creativity, problem-solving, and survival rather than just combat victories.

But here’s the big question: Is this the best way to handle progression? Should DP be the primary method for character growth, or should there be other ways to develop skills and abilities?

Before finalizing this system, we need your input! Let’s dive into what Discipline Points do, how they work, and whether they should remain the foundation of progression.

🔹 What Are Discipline Points?

Discipline Points are earned through gameplay, roleplaying, and trials, rewarding players for playing their character well and making smart choices. DP can be spent on enhancing class abilities, magic mastery, and unlocking new skills.

Here’s how they work:

• Earned (1-3 per session) based on performance, creativity, and survival.

• Voted MVP Bonus: At the end of each session, players vote for the Most Valuable PC, who gains an extra DP.

• Spent Outside of Gameplay: DP can be used at the start or end of a session, but not during gameplay (except in rare cases like trials).

• Unlimited Accumulation: No DP cap—players can save up and spend as they see fit.

Community Question:

1. Does DP feel like a rewarding way to track character growth?

2. Should players have more control over how they earn DP?

🛠️ Spending Discipline Points – Is This the Right System?

Currently, DP is used to enhance characters in meaningful ways:

• Skill Growth: Improve or unlock class-based skills.

• Magic Expansion: Mägo and other magic users can create custom spells.

• Trial Rewards: Successfully passing a trial allows immediate DP spending as a reward.

This system allows player-driven progression, but does it provide enough variety? Should DP be the only way to grow, or should leveling, story progression, or other mechanics play a role?

Community Question:

1. Should DP be the primary method of character advancement, or should it be paired with other progression systems?

2. Are there areas of character growth that should not be tied to DP?

⚖️ Balancing DP – Should There Be Limits?

One advantage of DP is its flexibility—but should it have restrictions to prevent unbalanced progression?

Some potential balancing ideas:

• Caps on Spending: A limit on how much DP can be used at once.

• Class-Specific Costs: Some skills might require more DP based on class difficulty.

• Scaling Costs: The more powerful a skill, the higher the DP cost.

Community Question:

1. Should DP spending have limits, or should players have full freedom?

2. Would a tiered system for spending DP (higher-cost abilities require greater investment) work better?

🎖️ Player Choice – Should DP Be Earned Differently?

Currently, DP is awarded by the GM and through player voting. But should there be more ways to gain DP?

Possible alternatives:

• Automatic DP for Major Story Events (boss fights, discoveries, heroic deeds).

• Roleplay-Based Rewards (great character moments, deep storytelling, or meaningful decisions).

• Skill-Specific DP Gains (using a skill repeatedly might grant DP in that area).

Community Question:

1. Should DP be earned solely through GM discretion and player voting, or should it be tied to in-game achievements?

2. Would you prefer an alternative method for character progression beyond DP?

🏆 Help Us Decide the Fate of Discipline Points!

This is your chance to help define character progression in The Hero Within!

• Is DP the best way to shape a character’s growth?

• Should it remain the main system, or be combined with other progression methods?

• How should DP be earned and spent for the best gameplay experience?

Drop your thoughts in the comments at LifeOfFiction.com and let us know what you think! Together, let’s build a progression system that truly reflects the hero’s journey! 🔥📖✨

Want to support this project?

You can help fund this project by becoming a yearly subscriber (best), buy Jaime a coffee, or even buy a book!

Want to get a taste of the world we’re creating?

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Would you like to participate in the live discussions?

We are developing a growing section of the The Fiction HUB for the TTRPG part of Life of Fiction. A place where we can meet in real time, via video and chat, and discuss these aspects together.

This is available to supporters of Life of Fiction.

If you’d like to be included, please send me a private message and I’ll keep you in the loop. We don’t have an established time yet and have to play it by ear…for now.

Thank you for your time and insights—your feedback is what helps bring The Hero Within to life!