Justifying the Adventurer's Journey with Kids

To many, the question of why an adventurer with children would venture into perilous lands rather than stay home is akin to questioning why a Viking would sail across the North Sea to raid rather than remain on their farmstead. The answer, in both cases, lies in the desire to secure a better future for their family. Adventuring involves high risks and high rewards, offering the potential to earn substantial wealth that could greatly enhance safety and prosperity for themselves and their children.

Why Would a Loving Parent Venture?

Valuing wise decisions and meaningful investments, a responsible parent with the skills and temperament would venture forth in the hopes of protecting and securing their children's future. Just as a Viking would seek wealth and power to improve his people's well-being, an adventurer would strive to secure wealth and safety, ensuring their family's prosperity and security.

Great Wealth

In the world of Dungeons and Dragons, a typical individual requires around 1 to 2 gold pieces (gp) per day to sustain a basic lifestyle, including food and safety from criminals or monsters. This makes surviving on a fixed income, whether through farming, military service, or a trade, challenging. However, on an adventure, an adventurer, even of low level, can earn close to 120 gp for a single dungeon run, a haul equivalent to about two or four months of work for a farmer or laborer.

The value of these adventures cannot be understated. For example, even if an adventurer earns a modest salary of $31,133 (the US median income) per year, a week or two away could yield a significant sum of $5,150, a substantial chunk of change. By fifth level, a single adventure could net an average of 1,200 gp, enough to live in luxury for a year. By tenth level, the haul could amount to 12,000 gp, equivalent to several hundred thousand dollars, a sum that could provide a comfortable retirement and ensure financial security for their entire family.

Make the World Safer

Adventuring is not just about personal gain; it is a means of ensuring the safety and stability of society. By tackling threats such as goblin raids or monstrous threats, an adventurer provides security not only for their immediate community but for the wider world as well. Over time, their efforts can make the world safer, reducing the likelihood that their children will face dangerous circumstances.

Other Reasons

While the primary motivation is often the desire to protect and provide for their family, there are other valid reasons why an adventurer might choose to leave their family behind. Perhaps they are fulfilling a duty or quest from before they had children, or they simply enjoy the lifestyle of an adventurer. Some might view a fight against a flesh-craving owlbear as a vacation, or a nomadic lifestyle might be the only way they can survive. The reasons are diverse and varied, but the underlying theme is always the desire to secure a better future for their loved ones.

Adventuring with kids may seem paradoxical, but it is a reflection of the enduring love and sacrifice that many parents are willing to make for their children. Whether it is through earning great wealth or making the world safer, an adventurer with children seeks to ensure that the burdens of the future are weighed against the potential benefits of their endeavors.