Thank you so much for writing this out. You echoed my thoughts way better than I could have.
I agree completely with concerns expressed, particularly in option 4, and I also agree with the sentiments expressed in #1, that it would do little to bolster CR in any way.
Of options 2-4, I definitely prefer 3. I think IC selection would, as you expressed, favor certain characters - particularly those from large canons and/or those with lots of CR.
As a player of a character with major trust issues and a history of playing secretive types, I could certainly make option 4 work, but I would feel a little bit like it was discouraging those character types. I would be forced into creating an ic workaround (like a safe house) to be able to continue to play the character enjoyably, thus putting the onus on me as a player to put in more effort to maintain my character's enjoyability. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, it's a bit like a punishment for not playing someone more heroic/social/well adjusted. Again, it's something I'd be willing to do (I wouldn't drop over it or anything), but it's an attitude I'm wary of and which I worry might discourage new players/characters of that type.
Between options 1 and 3, I'd still vote 3. It would be cool to have that optional CR bridge and easy enough to justify icly with a "kedan are moving into housing Evandau is randomly reassigning." It's not like they got a choice on where they lived in the first place!
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I agree completely with concerns expressed, particularly in option 4, and I also agree with the sentiments expressed in #1, that it would do little to bolster CR in any way.
Of options 2-4, I definitely prefer 3. I think IC selection would, as you expressed, favor certain characters - particularly those from large canons and/or those with lots of CR.
As a player of a character with major trust issues and a history of playing secretive types, I could certainly make option 4 work, but I would feel a little bit like it was discouraging those character types. I would be forced into creating an ic workaround (like a safe house) to be able to continue to play the character enjoyably, thus putting the onus on me as a player to put in more effort to maintain my character's enjoyability. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, it's a bit like a punishment for not playing someone more heroic/social/well adjusted. Again, it's something I'd be willing to do (I wouldn't drop over it or anything), but it's an attitude I'm wary of and which I worry might discourage new players/characters of that type.
Between options 1 and 3, I'd still vote 3. It would be cool to have that optional CR bridge and easy enough to justify icly with a "kedan are moving into housing Evandau is randomly reassigning." It's not like they got a choice on where they lived in the first place!