Lords of the Dungeon 80: Balancing Rewards and The Virtue Engine

Greetings, Cabalists! This be a day most grand, for 'tis the day of roleplaying tales and discourse! Today, we delve into two most wondrous topics. First, we entertain a query from a keen listener who seeks wisdom on how to bestow rewards upon players without upsetting the delicate balance of the game. And then, we unravel a New Concept of considerable intrigue—a Character Virtue Engine! This wondrous mechanism doth guide thy characters through the murky waters of moral quandaries and ambiguous fates. We bid thee enjoy this lively discussion!

Virtue Engine Definition

Virtue Engine is a conceptual system in TTRPG that determines a character's decisions and actions based solely on their established beliefs, morals, and personality traits (developed as part of character creation), without direct player input. It functions as a behavioral guide, where the character's decisions are driven by their internal moral compass, rather than external influence. The Virtue Engine is designed to simulate how a character would respond in any given scenario, particularly in morally ambiguous or challenging situations. It provides a framework that helps define whether a character's response is altruistic, selfish, or somewhere in between, based on the principles that define their worldview. In essence, the Virtue Engine acts as an autopilot for the character's ethical choices, ensuring consistency and depth in their roleplaying portrayal, even in the absence of a player's direct control. This Virtue Engine map is a concept that a player could refer to throughout a campaign to help understand their own character’s personality - particularly when it diverts from their own real life Virtue Engine. And further, a character’s Virtue Engine would be regularly revisited and revised based on in-game events that may alter the character’s moral compass and/or worldview.