Why the D20 system has no merits and flaws system ?

[orangefruitbat]

Roleplaying is its own reward

If you want to play a shy cleric - go for it. If you do really well, then maybe some extra rping XP for you. Same goes for cowardly rogues, brash fighters, etc. If you want your barbarian to be an alcoholic or your mage addicted to mana dust, be my guest. I see no reason to have a merit and flaw system for social activites. An appropriate division of stat and skill pts, plus some roleplaying is more than adequate.

On the other hand, maybe there is a case for some mechanical advantages/disadvantages - the one-armed paladin, or the monk with mob connections. For something like mob connections, I'd be tempted to rp it, but if a character wanted to start with mob ties then maybe a feat would be appropriate (I know, nobody has enough feats).

The one-armed warrior would be unable to use shields or two-handed weapons. Maybe I'd give him an extra feat to balance it out, maybe. I'd be worried that he would just then find a cleric with regeneration - do I take back the feat?

Most distadvantages that players take aren't really disadvantages. They're sneaky that way.

 

[Andor]

Merit/flaw system

The D20 BESM system has merits and flaws. It's also been designated open content. You can download the whole thing from the srd site.

Andor

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I used to GM for Alternity. It had perks and flaws.

It didn't work. Some flaws should simply never be allowed. If it's a flaw like "major enemy" or something else that doesn't inflict a concrete penalty, it should not be a flaw. It should be RP.

It's also pointless to give a flaw that makes you weak at unarmed combat when you're playing a mage or someone else who is weak at unarmed combat.

Flaws like Old Wound were decent in concept, although the execution was lacking. (You had to fail a Strength check to suffer the penalty. Oh look, only werens with maxed out Strength ever took that flaw.)

 

[Nightfall]

My only comment for this thread, Psion is a good guy. I wish he was my Dm.

 

[Psion]

My only comment for this thread, Psion is a good guy. I wish he was my Dm.

Wonder what inspired that...

Well, you might not be saying that if you knew what total brain lock I have over planning tonight's game.

(Bangs head on desk a few times...)

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

I just came accross a pretty cool mechanic in the Dying Earth RPG. If you've ever read Jack Vance's Dying Earth novels you know that the characters are, shall we say ... morally flexible. So in the RPG, all the characters start out with around six disadvantages (lecherous, gourmand, etc.) and you have to spend character points to buy them off!