Complications arising during Childbirth

[grumbold99]

It looks like this year we will have our first children being born. It might be worth refreshing the rules on childbirth, especially injuries sustained during childbirth. At present everyone is rolling on the wounds table which are designed for battlefield injuries. It's unlikely that bearing a child would result in a visible scar or the loss of an eye or limb.

For NPC's, percentage endurance loss is also irrelevant. It seems more appropriate that a new complication table be drawn up with NPCs enduring a number of weeks bedridden and unable to take part in society rather than END loss, the potential to be unable to bear more children and in extremis, death rolls for the mother and/or children.

Here's my first attempt:

[New] Health assessment at month 3:
DR of 10+ for the unborn child > if true, DR 12 mother is barren

Birth table d6
1-3 No complications
4-6 Complication

Being a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist: -2
Donation to the temple of Chalana Arroy to engage the services of a skilled midwife [3xCHA crowns] : -1
Being sequestered for the entire 9th month, no activity possible, if PC then CP treated like being at the front: -1

Birth complication d10
1-2 complication for mother and child
3-5 complication for the mother
6-7 complication for the child
8-9 More than one child (reroll, on a 6 an additional child and keep rerolling, every child rolls for a complication)
10 Child bears no resemblance to the father (I keep this in as it is in the original and it's cool for roleplay, but barring significantly different skin colour, really how would you tell at this age?)

Complication for the mother 2d6
2 Barren; no further children possible
3 Any further pregnancy will always encounter a complication for the mother
4 Any further pregnancy will always encounter a complication for the child
5-6 Bedridden for 1 month, light duties only in 2nd month, 50% End loss
7 What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, permanent +1 Con to a max of 18
8-10 Light duties only for 2 months, 25% End loss
11+ Death

Complication for the child 2d6
2-3 Child is stillborn
4-5 Child is very sickly, DR 9+ next month
6-7 Child won't stop crying, -1 modifier to player skill rolls next month due to fatigue unless at the front (dad too)
8-9 Isn't it the cutest child you ever saw? Parents insufferably smug, +1 modifier to player skill rolls next month unless at the front
10 Dazed parents mistakenly announce the wrong gender, gain a NiS.
11 The child's birth is mentioned in court, gain a MiD
12 The child's birth fulfils a prophecy, gain +1 CHA [or GM determined story outcome]

[Afur]

SL of Mother?

[Erik]

1D6 for complications in childbirth seems too simplistic, as written a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist can engage a midwife and always avoid complications. I feel a 2D6 table would work better.

[Erik]

1D6 for complications in childbirth seems too simplistic, as written a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist can engage a midwife and always avoid complications. I feel a 2D6 table would work better. But well done for the whole idea.

[grumbold99]

SL should be CHA. I will edit.

1D6 for complications in childbirth seems too simplistic, as written a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist can engage a midwife and always avoid complications. I feel a 2D6 table would work better.

The original d6 table allowed the same, without the need to engage a midwife or confinement. I carried that forward as it seemed a small intended benefit for lesser-chosen cults with reason to confer advantage. The goddesses blessings at work for their faithful? There is still a little risk involved if the mother bears twins.

[Puckohue]

Thanks, I'm open for improvements. I really appreciate the effort.

It's unlikely that bearing a child would result in a visible scar or the loss of an eye or limb.

Being sequestered for the entire 9th month, no activity possible, if PC then CP treated like being at the front: -1

I don't really like rules that limit PC activity (too much). Doing nothing for nine turns is boring for everyone.

a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist can engage a midwife and always avoid complications

This is intended, as their divine magic protects them. Maybe it's enough if it reduces the risks. But I still think the higher ranked Chalana Arroy and Ernalda cultists should be guaranteed a safe birth.

SL of Mother

Yes, maybe? Is there a way to get that into Grumbold's system?

Dazed parents mistakenly announce the wrong gender, gain a NiS.

Could we find another way to earn a NiS, I don't really like this one.

[Afur]

Being sequestered for the entire 9th month, no activity possible, if PC then CP treated like being at the front: -1

I don't really like rules that limit PC activity (too much). Doing nothing for nine turns is boring for everyone.

[/quote]

It is just 1 month - the last

[grumbold99]

Thanks, I'm open for improvements. I really appreciate the effort.

It's unlikely that bearing a child would result in a visible scar or the loss of an eye or limb.

Being sequestered for the entire 9th month, no activity possible, if PC then CP treated like being at the front: -1

I don't really like rules that limit PC activity (too much). Doing nothing for nine turns is boring for everyone.

The confinement is only for the last (9th) month and only as a way for non-Chalana Alloy/Eurmal mothers to reduce any chance of a complication. I figured I'd put it there for the risk-averse people. I agree that doing nothing for a turn is really boring. It could be confinement for 2 weeks in the last month, making it the same kind of restriction as being a temple initiate or army private.

That then raises the question of which required duty takes precedence and would rather expect the player to earn enough CP to maintain rank rather than getting a free pass like being at the front. I'm sure you would then get asked if a risk averse player who does not worship Chalana Arroy or Ernalda can be allowed to double up and rest for 4 weeks to avoid the remaining 1 in 6 chance?

Separate thought: Perhaps add an additional modifier so followers of Eurmal and Humakt get a +1?

a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist can engage a midwife and always avoid complications

This is intended, as their divine magic protects them. Maybe it's enough if it reduces the risks. But I still think the higher ranked Chalana Arroy and Ernalda cultists should be guaranteed a safe birth.

SL of Mother

Yes, maybe? Is there a way to get that into Grumbold's system?

I included SL/CHA just on the cost of a midwife. Going for tiers of midwifery based on cost and status seemed to be added complexity for little benefit. The poor parents have had to buy a house when they got married and will be paying for the children after birth, so they probably don't need more ways to make them poor.

Dazed parents mistakenly announce the wrong gender, gain a NiS.

Could we find another way to earn a NiS, I don't really like this one.

Instead of dazed parents we could revert to a tweak of the previous one (a rumour starting that the husband is not the father) - or something else anyone can think of

[Puckohue]

It is just 1 month - the last

Oh, sorry, I misread.

[Puckohue]

[New] Health assessment at month 3:
DR of 10+ for the unborn child > if true, DR 12 mother is barren

Here, I would also like: Being a Chalana Arroy or Ernalda cultist: -2.