What is GURPS?

[Mercule]

The numbers on the sheet, if they say Total, put the character in as serious a bind as AD&D alignment, and the specific behaviors in question may be even more vague. I don't mind GMing characters with these traits, because I take the holistic approach, as you do, but I've read some statements from some Hero GMs that make me shiver at the idea of trying to play someone like Superman in their games. The rules are not on the side of "You've earned your points, and that sounds consistent with this character." The rules say, "This disadvantage occurs approximately this often and has this effect on the character's actions."

I have never found AD&D alignment to be heinous, so I guess I agree with what you're saying.

As far as Hero goes, I think I'm using psych lims as intended by the author, but it could certainly be better explained as such. Then again, as soon as you put a line in an RPG that says "feel free to ignore this rule", someone will inevitably pull that out at beat a GM with it. Sure, a good GM can deal with that, but a good GM doesn't need to be told he can ignore that rule in the first place.