New campaign, need to balance this Flaw

[Greyfeld]

So, I'm applying for a new PBP game on another website, and the GM really liked my character concept. So, I'm piecing together my character sheet, and I realized that to help flesh out my character, Flaws would be perfect.

Of course, there aren't any flaws that I'm aware of that fit what I'm looking for. So, I decided to make one up myself. While I'm waiting for the GM's ruling on the flaw, I'd like a little feedback on what the community thinks.

Background: The character is a 14 year old girl, who was sold into prostitution. This girl was given to the most "eccentric" clients. The campaign starts shortly after she manages to find a way to escape and stow away on one of the ships at the city's port.


Sexual Trauma

When the character is aware of at least 3 humanoids of the opposite sex within 10 feet of her, she becomes Shaken. This effect lasts until there are less than 3 humanoids of the opposite sex within 10 feet of her, +1d4 rounds. This flaw cannot be negated by any type of resistance or immunity that would negate fear or mind-effecting effects.

 

[Greyfeld]

Somebody told me that fear effects ramp with multiple applications, which I wasn't aware of before. So, I'll probably end up changing the effect to Sickened instead of Shaken. Any thoughts are still welcome.

 

[Greyfeld]

After some more consideration, the flaw currently reads:

Childhood Trauma

The character has suffered one or several traumatic events growing up. Even if the mind forgets, the body always remembers.

When aware of 3 or more hostile creatures within 30 ft. of her, the character becomes Sickened. This effect lasts until there are less than 3 hostile creatures within 30 feet of her, +1d4 rounds. To trigger this effect, the hostile creatures must share at least one racial subtype with the character. This effect cannot be removed or dispelled by effects that would normally negate the Sickened status.


Edit: I'm currently debating whether to go with 30 ft. or 10 ft. I like the idea of it triggering when the character is "surrounded" but balance needs to be taken into consideration.

 

[radmod]

I know it sounds stupid to ask, but are you talking about a 'Flaw' (as in each Flaw gives you a Feat) or a 'flaw' (as in a roleplaying quirk or trait)?

Personally, I think 'shaken' is better than 'sickened' as it is a lesser form of 'fear'.
Unfortunately, I don't have UA (our group hates it) and I can't remember where else Flaws might be. Looking online, http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/3.5e_Flaws,it sounds like your Flaw is too debilitating compared to what I've seen there (except possibly for the racial subtype).

From what little I know of psychiatry, I think you may be on the right track. My understanding is that traumatic recurrences are usually triggered by a specific event or combination of events. However, my 'rational' mind has trouble understanding/believing:
1) If the trauma is sexual as you originally indicated, then actions other than hostility could set it off. Any person looking lasciviously at the character could start it off, as well as things like torn clothing.
2) It sounds like your saying they have to be of the same racial subtype (unless I'm misreading). That would mean if she were human (Humanoid(human)) then she would be unaffected by an Orc (Humanoid(orc)). I could see it if the Orc was the affecting subtype, but I have problems with it the other way around.
3) Depending on your final version, it seems like it could occur quite a bit. For example, in one world that I run, if Orc was the affecting subtype (quite likely in this world) then it would occur a lot.

 

[Greyfeld]

I know it sounds stupid to ask, but are you talking about a 'Flaw' (as in each Flaw gives you a Feat) or a 'flaw' (as in a roleplaying quirk or trait)?

Personally, I think 'shaken' is better than 'sickened' as it is a lesser form of 'fear'.
Unfortunately, I don't have UA (our group hates it) and I can't remember where else Flaws might be. Looking online, http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/3.5e_Flaws,it sounds like your Flaw is too debilitating compared to what I've seen there (except possibly for the racial subtype).

I'm talking about the former, not the latter. The reason I went with Sickened rather than Shaken is because somebody pointed out to me that since Shaken is a fear effect, I'm looking at it ramping up into Frightened and Panicked very quickly with additional applications of fear effects. Since they essentially have the same mechanical effect, and it's not abnormal for somebody to become sick to their stomach over an unconscious fear, I felt it was an acceptable trade.

1) If the trauma is sexual as you originally indicated, then actions other than hostility could set it off. Any person looking lasciviously at the character could start it off, as well as things like torn clothing.

You're right. However, I have to keep the effect balanced within the system. I can roleplay it however I like, within reason, but from a mechanical standpoint, I needed something more concrete, and the trigger I came up with seemed fitting. I also considered adding a trigger of the character being grappled, but I thought that may end up being too much, considering how strong the effect is already.

Besides, my character's personality is going to be very rough and abrasive... very defensive, and especially quick to anger in the case that males try to touch her. Kind of like "You touch me, I'll cut something off." But as psychology will tell you, a front like that typically hides fear, which I don't want to really trigger in the case of only having 1 or 2 people just hanging around her.

2) It sounds like your saying they have to be of the same racial subtype (unless I'm misreading). That would mean if she were human (Humanoid(human)) then she would be unaffected by an Orc (Humanoid(orc)). I could see it if the Orc was the affecting subtype, but I have problems with it the other way around.

You know, I really want it more versatile, but I don't really know how to write it. I want it to where the Flaw will effect any race(s), not necessarily sharing your same racial subtype... like, maybe kobolds killed your parents when you were a kid, so the flaw effects you when you're around kobolds. You know what I'm saying?

3) Depending on your final version, it seems like it could occur quite a bit. For example, in one world that I run, if Orc was the affecting subtype (quite likely in this world) then it would occur a lot.

Yeah, I created it specifically so it would occur semi-regularly. The way I see it, the effect is stronger than your typical flaw, but it's triggered, not static, so it's only fair to balance things out that way. That being said, if the DM is purposely throwing you in situations to constantly trigger your flaw, then I'd have to say the DM is just being a prick. The flaw is supposed to be designed to be moderately crippling (or annoying, in the case of higher levels) when it triggers, but only trigger every once in a while.

I'd also like to point out that I haven't exactly figured out the distance I want to set it at, but I'm leaning toward 20 ft.

 

[radmod]

I'm talking about the former, not the latter. The reason I went with Sickened rather than Shaken is because somebody pointed out to me that since Shaken is a fear effect, I'm looking at it ramping up into Frightened and Panicked very quickly with additional applications of fear effects. Since they essentially have the same mechanical effect, and it's not abnormal for somebody to become sick to their stomach over an unconscious fear, I felt it was an acceptable trade.

Ah, I understand. Good point. I can see how it could easily become Improved Childhood Trauma and Greater Childhood Trauma!

You know, I really want it more versatile, but I don't really know how to write it. I want it to where the Flaw will effect any race(s), not necessarily sharing your same racial subtype... like, maybe kobolds killed your parents when you were a kid, so the flaw effects you when you're around kobolds. You know what I'm saying?

I believe I do. Something like:
To trigger this effect, the hostile creatures must share at least one racial subtype with the subtype of the creature that caused the childhood trauma.

As a DM, I tend to be more interested in descriptors rather than types, so I imagine you are more up on types/subtypes, but I worry that someone might try to get around it. Aren't there many creatures without subtypes? Also you list "at least one."
If I were looking to intentionally screw with the Flaw, I might make it something like fire subtype (or better yet, oozes). While this would also include azers and mephits (which makes sense), it would not include all dragons. I find this somewhat unrealistic (but, hey, it's D&D). How often would a PC be subjected to three or more red dragons?
I'm wondering if you might not want to modify as 'kind' and similar.

Yeah, I created it specifically so it would occur semi-regularly. The way I see it, the effect is stronger than your typical flaw, but it's triggered, not static, so it's only fair to balance things out that way.

Certainly better than some of the D&D Wiki ones I read.

That being said, if the DM is purposely throwing you in situations to constantly trigger your flaw, then I'd have to say the DM is just being a prick.

Yeah, except when some bad guy knows your Flaw and is purposely screwing with you, but that's a roleplaying/story aspect. And also, let's not forget the jerk player who keeps messing with you (I had a player traumatized by giant ants and another player kept trying to make 'ant' sounds.)

I'd also like to point out that I haven't exactly figured out the distance I want to set it at, but I'm leaning toward 20 ft.

Well, modern day PTSD and the like often require a relatively close proximity. That is, if someone were raped by a person wearing glasses, then they are probably okay in public when people with glasses walk by. In an elevator with someone wearing glasses they might become extremely nervous and anyone "getting in their face" would completely freak them out.
To make it effective, perhaps try thinking of how often said number of creatures might be within the range. Even if they were large sized, you could still get 3 or more within 20'.
Also, what about concepts like being surrounded. I don't really think you need it but I thought I'd mention it.

Sounds like you have a very, very good handle on it. I'm just still a little concerned that it might be too debilitating and about the actual wording.

 

[Celebrim]

I integrate the 3.0 Ravenloft rules for Fear/Horror/Madness into my standard game.

I therefore have generalized phobia rules. Fear of the opposite sex counts as a major phobia and is disadvantage worth two postive traits during character creation.

I'm not sure I'd allow the character concept because I see it as a crippling flaw in group play. It's a good flaw for a game with 1 DM and 1-2 players, but in a larger group it would be too distracting and focus too much attention on the single player. It inhibits too much RP interaction, and until the character reaches a fairly high level it would make the character too much of a weak link. In a small group, these worries are lessened.

Your softer version of a phobia has less of those problems, but on the other hand you seem to be trying to define it down to the level which would be best described as a 'quirk'. Not only is increasingly unlikely to matter in the way you've defined it, but the fact that it can't ramp quickly up to frightened or paniced reduces versimilitude in my opinion. (The number of times in a campaign in which you'll have 3 members of the opposite sex who are not player characters within 10' and in which you'll miss a roll by 2 or less is probably actually quite small for most campaigns. So far, thinking back, it wouldn't have happened in any of the 10 sessions I've played in the most recent campaign.)

It is IMO as written not severe enough of a flaw to allow you to select a significant advantage, and is not interesting enough mechanically to justify the hassle in trying to keep track of it. Also, seeing as the overwhelming effect of it would be to make you nervous and hostile to your fellow player character's, I don't find it to be a very redeeming concept.

 

[Greyfeld]

Celebrim, I could be wrong, but I think you are responding based on the original post. I changed the effect to trigger on hostile creatures of any sex (but same creature type... or something like that). It gives it more of a combat-oriented deficiency without constantly becoming the center of attention by having it trigger every time my teammates get within 20 feet of my character.

And considering the majority of flaws are something ridiculously small (like -4 to balance checks), I don't see it as an "insufficient" penalty as a mechanical flaw.

 

[Greyfeld]

Well, modern day PTSD and the like often require a relatively close proximity. That is, if someone were raped by a person wearing glasses, then they are probably okay in public when people with glasses walk by. In an elevator with someone wearing glasses they might become extremely nervous and anyone "getting in their face" would completely freak them out.
To make it effective, perhaps try thinking of how often said number of creatures might be within the range. Even if they were large sized, you could still get 3 or more within 20'.
Also, what about concepts like being surrounded. I don't really think you need it but I thought I'd mention it.

That was something I'd considered, but there were two issues.

1) With a player group of 5-6 characters, I was concerned that if I made the trigger size something like 10' that I would never ending up triggering it, because all the opponents would be spread out amongst different targets. However, 30' was a ridiculously huge area, and it would be triggered pretty much every time we got into a fight (especially since the character in question is going to be fighting on a ship the majority of the time).

2) If I had her freak out every time one person got in her face, I'd have to change her into a melee striker into an archer just to keep her from constantly triggering her effect. I was considering adding an "or grappled" clause to it, but considering her strength modifier is -1 (base 8 strength), I felt it was going to be overkill, considering how strong the effect already is. She doesn't need to get a -2 to her rolls every time she has to try to wiggle out of a grapple check as well.

 

[radmod]

I have to make this quick, the wife's calling.

I thought about it and I'd say scratch some of my comments on type/kind, etc. With the Flaw as you have written, a player can't take this Flaw unless the monster in question has a sub-type. Unfortunately, I think that leaves out things like Giants.