Why does your character care more than you do?
“The problem with billionaires is any of them can solve all the world’s problems, but they’re too greedy to do it!”
Then why aren’t you trying to become a billionaire?
Serious question. Financial mobility exists – anyone can become a billionaire, no matter their background. There are obstacles, but they’re not insurmountable.
I know, I know. It would take decades of your life – full-time dedication, with no guarantees it would work.
But… didn’t you just say a billionaire can solve all the world’s problems?
Think about your PCs. Even the lawful good ones would travel across the kingdom and wipe out a bugbear camp at the whiff of a promise of a +1 sword.
For a ritual that could elevate them to a god, they’d endure an entire campaign.
And isn’t that what you’re accusing billionaires of being – entities powerful enough to make stuff happen with the snap of a finger?
So why are the fictitious versions of you more willing to solve the world’s problems? An interesting thought, no?
Games are escapism, but escapism doesn’t just have to be a refuge from reality’s struggles. It can be a place to practice being someone else for a while, before bringing parts of that back into your quote-unquote “real” life.
You might as well practice being someone who’s good at getting richer.
Consider it a moral obligation to build wealth. Poor people might need to rely on friends, family or the government to support them; rich people can do the supporting. A poor person can volunteer at a homeless shelter once a week; a rich person can build them. Poor people sometimes work jobs they despise, while rich people have the freedom to say no to bad tasks.
There have been a number of opportunities to help the world – including one cause that’s very close to my heart – but I missed them. Why? Because they needed money and I didn’t have enough.
“There are more important things than money!”
Didn’t you say that billionaires can solve the world’s problems? What sort of person believes that and doesn’t try to become one?
“So are you trying to become one?”
No, because I don’t believe that billionaires can solve all the world’s problems. I believe they can do a lot of good, sure, but owning a few companies doesn’t make you a god. Don’t mistake me – they live very well and have a lot of power. Not enough to solve major problems using their disposable income, though.
Part of the challenge is that billionaires are worth billions but they don’t have billions – if you don’t understand the distinction, no wonder you think they buy yachts instead of feeding Africa.
So, no, I don’t aspire to be a billionaire. It’s not worth it for me.
But I am building my wealth. I’m working to make the world a better place and I can do more if I have more.
“But how billionaires gain wealth is immoral. No one got rich by helping the little guy!”
Walmart employs millions of people while solving problems for low-income households. They earn hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
Elon Musk is worth billions as a side effect of his quest to save humanity.
Richard Branson is worth billions from founding companies that offer quality services to the middle class at a reasonable price.
What have you done that’s better than any of that?
Better question: what would your best PC do once they understood this?
You’ll get the highest quality answer to that question when you play more and better games.
You do that by being a better player or GM.
Isn’t it lucky there are quick, deep and free resources you can access.
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