Post
by TH - The Hunt » Sat Oct 16, 2021 2:49 am
Since the Hero's Journey also showed up in that image there... It's interesting to think about it in that context, too. Hircine's ascension (or rather, the point at which it's determined whether he will ascend or not) would represent the midpoint, not the end, of one such journey. This is equally true for anyone who's directly involved in how that event unfolds, whether they see themselves as the hero, Mishrak, or some hypothetical entity that interferes (or attempts to).
The Hero's Journey story doesn't end when the event (the Crisis) occurs, it ends when things return to normal, or a new normal is established. So, virtually half the story would be missing if the game ended with the divine ascensions, assuming those were what we were supposed to focus our attention on.
That's a big assumption. That aside, if players lose interest because they can't influence what happens when the trip reaches the deep end, it would be helpful to direct their attention toward the influence they'll have over what happens next. If their efforts weren't focused on the unknown, that means they've been focused on the known--and that should matter.
Players who were heavily committed to engaging in a deep dive into divinity, revelation, and alien mysteries will have sacrificed their connection to and influence over the mundane and the ordinary, putting themselves into a position where it's someone else's turn to guide the story, and design where goes next.
"The Hunt rides. The Hunt protects."