Merits and Flaws
- Thread starter Romotre
- Start date
Crothian
First Post
the type of system is to easy to min max and the flaws are never as a good as the merits. Even in WW I've seen this happen more then not., Mostly it's lazy storytellers who refuse to make flaws mean something.
However, I think they can be used in d20 if the DM is willing to actual balance them and make them mean something. However, you cannot balance roll with role (one of WW big's problems).
I leave this sort of theing up to the players to come up with. I'm not going to give them a list so they know X is worth Y points. THe players are expected to come up with their own and then I balance it out.
However, I think they can be used in d20 if the DM is willing to actual balance them and make them mean something. However, you cannot balance roll with role (one of WW big's problems).
I leave this sort of theing up to the players to come up with. I'm not going to give them a list so they know X is worth Y points. THe players are expected to come up with their own and then I balance it out.
i agree. if i want one arm for a character i'll give em one arm, no reason to give me free points. however, interesting merits like "good memory" might be interesting. but your character might have remember but you forgot and didn't write down, but with the merit the dm might offer a clue or piece. if done well, merits/flaws like this could add a easy yet effective level to the game. obviously, if done poorly would be a min/maxers dream.
Crothian
First Post
Romotre said:
i agree totally. that is why I don't assign specific values for specific merits and flaws. in my system there is nothing to min max. you create something that fits your character. and I jusge that on how it benefits or hurts your character. some merits are lousy for one PC but gold for another. Same with flaws.
Humanophile
First Post
I happen to be a fan of point based merit/flaw systems (I figure that if a player comes in with a mechanical disadvantage or advantage, missing an arm should be about level with having a low STR, and the kind of person who likes merits and flaws probably likes point buy too). I find the whole "if it's part of your character, just do it" attitude to smack a little of role-play elitism, and let's be honest, how many people will voluntarily play suboptimal characters?
On the other hand, psychological/background merits and flaws generally should be relegated solely to earning roleplaying XP. Maybe some merits, but the flaws are easily too abuseable.
On the other hand, psychological/background merits and flaws generally should be relegated solely to earning roleplaying XP. Maybe some merits, but the flaws are easily too abuseable.
Steven McRownt
First Post
3E Character Flaws:
*2/4/6 represents the bonus skill points that are received for taking a flaw…remember, flaws are bad, and
must be roleplayed, and enforced by the DM.
Bad Luck 6
When your Hero rolls a one, its outcome is always the worst possible effect.
Blood Thirsty 2
Your Hero doesn’t take prisoners, and enjoys confrontation.
Cautious 2
Your Hero is not impulsive. In fact she will not do anything without thinking it out first.
Death wish 6
Your Hero doesn’t care if she lives or dies, and will take extreme chances without personal regard.
Enemy 2 – 4 – 6
This Flaw speaks for itself.
Greedy 2
Your Hero is greedy…not necessarily money, but something is very important to him.
Habit 2 – 4
You have an annoying or revolting personal habit.
Addiction 2 – 4
Your Hero is addicted to a mildly addictive (tobacco) 2, or dangerous substance (alcohol).
2 – subtract 2 from all mental based skill rolls if substance is not available every 24 hours.
4 – subtract 4 from all skill and combat rolls if substance is not available every 48 hours.
Snobbery 2
Your Hero looks down on all others that are not equal to his station.
Child 4 – 6
Your Hero has had an early start. For 4 points, your character starts at age 11-15, with –1 Str and –1 Int..
For 6 points, your character is age 8-10 years old with –2 Str and –2 Int.
Lame 2 – 4
Your character has been injured, or was born with a disability. 2 points is a limp – it reduces movement by
one quarter.. 4 points is a missing or severely crippled leg. Movement is reduced to half..
Miser 2
Your Hero must always buy the cheapest gear possible, and must haggle for all exchanges.
Cruel 4
For one reason on another, people don’t seem to like your Hero. She is hateful and mean spirited. It is
difficult for your character to be friendly.
Oath 2 – 4 – 6
Your character has sworn to perform an oath. The value of the oath, and how often it comes into play
depend on the points.
Outlaw 2 – 4 – 6
Your Hero has broken a law, and is wanted by the authorities.
Mangled 4 - 6
Your Hero only has one hand (4), or one arm (6).
Poverty 4
Roll your starting money, and halve it. Your hero can’t keep money for long. She has trouble saving, and
when she has money, she squanders it.
Pacifist 4 – 6
You will not kill unless absolutely unavoidable (4), or you wont kill under any circumstances (6).
Superstitious 2
Your Hero believes in superstitions and tries to live her life by signs and omens.
Vengeful 4
Your character must always right a wrong committed against him.
Coward 6
Your character is not one for one on one fights, in fact, she is most likely to run when the odds are against
her. She is also more likely to be frightened by un-natural fear ( -2 to fear checks).
They have been written months ago by a player of my group (and now i've translated them). We've used them for a while, then i decided to quit. I think they're belanced afterall, if you like the system; ...i quitted them because they were annoying...
Steven McRownt
based on an idea of Luca Colonna (Avatar)
*2/4/6 represents the bonus skill points that are received for taking a flaw…remember, flaws are bad, and
must be roleplayed, and enforced by the DM.
Bad Luck 6
When your Hero rolls a one, its outcome is always the worst possible effect.
Blood Thirsty 2
Your Hero doesn’t take prisoners, and enjoys confrontation.
Cautious 2
Your Hero is not impulsive. In fact she will not do anything without thinking it out first.
Death wish 6
Your Hero doesn’t care if she lives or dies, and will take extreme chances without personal regard.
Enemy 2 – 4 – 6
This Flaw speaks for itself.
Greedy 2
Your Hero is greedy…not necessarily money, but something is very important to him.
Habit 2 – 4
You have an annoying or revolting personal habit.
Addiction 2 – 4
Your Hero is addicted to a mildly addictive (tobacco) 2, or dangerous substance (alcohol).
2 – subtract 2 from all mental based skill rolls if substance is not available every 24 hours.
4 – subtract 4 from all skill and combat rolls if substance is not available every 48 hours.
Snobbery 2
Your Hero looks down on all others that are not equal to his station.
Child 4 – 6
Your Hero has had an early start. For 4 points, your character starts at age 11-15, with –1 Str and –1 Int..
For 6 points, your character is age 8-10 years old with –2 Str and –2 Int.
Lame 2 – 4
Your character has been injured, or was born with a disability. 2 points is a limp – it reduces movement by
one quarter.. 4 points is a missing or severely crippled leg. Movement is reduced to half..
Miser 2
Your Hero must always buy the cheapest gear possible, and must haggle for all exchanges.
Cruel 4
For one reason on another, people don’t seem to like your Hero. She is hateful and mean spirited. It is
difficult for your character to be friendly.
Oath 2 – 4 – 6
Your character has sworn to perform an oath. The value of the oath, and how often it comes into play
depend on the points.
Outlaw 2 – 4 – 6
Your Hero has broken a law, and is wanted by the authorities.
Mangled 4 - 6
Your Hero only has one hand (4), or one arm (6).
Poverty 4
Roll your starting money, and halve it. Your hero can’t keep money for long. She has trouble saving, and
when she has money, she squanders it.
Pacifist 4 – 6
You will not kill unless absolutely unavoidable (4), or you wont kill under any circumstances (6).
Superstitious 2
Your Hero believes in superstitions and tries to live her life by signs and omens.
Vengeful 4
Your character must always right a wrong committed against him.
Coward 6
Your character is not one for one on one fights, in fact, she is most likely to run when the odds are against
her. She is also more likely to be frightened by un-natural fear ( -2 to fear checks).
They have been written months ago by a player of my group (and now i've translated them). We've used them for a while, then i decided to quit. I think they're belanced afterall, if you like the system; ...i quitted them because they were annoying...
Steven McRownt
based on an idea of Luca Colonna (Avatar)
Last edited:
Steven McRownt
First Post
Ooops... i didn't type the first lines... after this message i'm going to do it. Anyway, these are simply bonus skill points; a character can choose flaws at the beginning, and will receive this skill points. They are just "one-shot", i mean, they are NOT bonus skill points for each level...
I've checked them, and noticed that there were nothing to edit after all, cause I said that there were just skill point bonuses... i made the sentence bolded, so it will be -I hope- clearer.
Steven McRownt
I've checked them, and noticed that there were nothing to edit after all, cause I said that there were just skill point bonuses... i made the sentence bolded, so it will be -I hope- clearer.
Steven McRownt
Last edited:
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