On April 1 2017 I published a very simple rule set for a role-playing game called “Scatological Utterance.” The original post was lost1 but is archived on my old LiveJournal2.
I did not cover the topic of characters leveling up, as that seemed inimical to the idea of the game itself. Then today I was reading this history of D&D and came across this quote:
Players took novice characters—“flunkies” in their terms—and implanted them in Blackmoor, a medieval setting of Arneson’s own invention.
Dungeons & Deceptions: The First D&D Players Push Back On The Legend Of Gary Gygax by Cecilia D’Anastasio
Reader, let me assure you that I am very upset with myself that I did not include basic leveling information, because “flunky” is a great term for a new character.
I suppose other level names would come to mind, because these things should be named and not be left with some number. A short trip to a thesaurus would have me include “servant”, “gofer”, and “lackey” so even now, one paragraph later, I’m doubting the use of “flunky” as a level name.
But I shall revisit it and upgrade the rules. And then one day, if I have friends and we are very drunk, we shall try to play a game.
1 Lost when John Ogden purchased my local ISP and shuttered it without warning, causing me lots of personal grief but more importantly causing several local business to loose their website and email history, thus crippling them.
2 One day I will cull all of the entries over there. It’s a long review process of memories and holding back tears at the prospect of deleting things Jay Lake wrote to me on the platform.