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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Graf" data-source="post: 3934639" data-attributes="member: 3087">I could see why that would be a source of frustration.I hope you can also appreciate that I discouraged it mostly because it's a power thing. If half the group does it then basically it starts a bit of an arms race.(not really of course, but in roleplaying games can be competitive)It also, is a bit weird if everyone is ambidextrous with lots of dots in fighting styles AND has an edictic memory AND striking looks etc etc etc. (which is what tends to happen when you give people merits in a competitive setting, rare merits that are availible only at character generation are point magnets).With 7 merits people have to chose one or two traits like that to define their character but their really forced to work on developing a personality.For example: Right now one of Beth's interesting traits is that she has an edictic memory. it costs a lot to buy and it's a way that she's different and unusual. With 17 points (assuming everyone feels like they need to blow all their humanity playing "keep up with the joneses") there's a good chance that someone with an intellectual background will want to take the same merit.Effectively the player is penalized for not playing someone with a psychotic disposition. Since my goal is to run a game where people struggle with not becoming evil monsters (instead of start out that way) I think it's a perverse incentive.I'm not trying to stop debate, per se. I just want to talk about it a week or two once Festy's prelude is wrapped up. If, at the begining of the game, you feel like you want your character to be in the same position as Festy's we'll work it out.I prefer to show and not tell (somewhat, though I think dicussion and direct opinion sharing is valuable too) and also as I've said before:. Characters aren't finalized until the preludes are over and the game is ready to begin.</blockquote>

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