character flaws

[memoriam]

has anyone come up with a way of adding flaws to True20? if done right i think flaws would add a lot to the system.

the reason i ask is because i was going to have a go my self but if someone else has done it already it would be good to have a look at what they have done and see what can be added, changed, etc to fit in with the way i'd like to do it.

thanks

[wulf]

has anyone come up with a way of adding flaws to True20? if done right i think flaws would add a lot to the system.

I haven't seen them myself, but I'm told there was a system of 'perks & flaws' for D&D 2nd. I'm going to get a look at it Saturday when I start Stargate True20, I was considering adding them into the Virtues & Vices concept.

Wulf

[Warbringer]

I was playing around with this and came up with a simple plan.

Describe a character flaw and pick a skill that it impacts.

If the flaw is minor apply a -1 penality to that skill; major -2; delapidating -4 and no ability mods.

Now pick another skill, add the same penality as a bonus.

Finally, roleplaying the flaw is a means to regaining conviction.

That's it. I'd strongly recommend staying away from feats for flaws exchanges, especially with adepts.

[JongWK]

I'm not a big fan of -x/+x flaws, as they're used and abused for min-maxing and not character development.

I couls see flaws taken in a slightly different direction. Take one and make it matter. Make it a essential part of the character. Imagine a brave knight with a "Doomed" flaw, fighting against all odds to prove the old hag wrong, yet moving closer to his final fate with each heroic deed. He might have to betray his country to save his bride, or something worse (damned if you do, damned if you don't).

Now that I think about it, it might be all about the GM and the player thinking ahead.

[timemrick]

BESM d20 has a system for character defects that can be used in any d20-based game. (Product page here; Anime d20 SRD here.) I haven't used it myself, but it seems far more playable than the handful of other ideas I've seen for flaws in d20.

[aaronil]

You might want to check out my thread on this forum about Complications:
http://www.greenronin.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6312

Also, as Shadow recommends there, you might have a look at the 2e Mutands & Masterminds for an example of Complications. These are much more flavorful than +/- and really encourage role-playing.

[Bhikku]

The character Defects from Animed20/BESMd20 are certainly handy, although balancing them against True 20 mechanics might be a little odd... if I remember, 2 character points in that system would be the same as a feat, but the Anime d20 SRD will say for sure.

I believe Unearthed Arcana had a Flaw system whereby each Flaw would allow an additional feat, but the level of penalties is always heftier than for Feats; so where a feat might give +2 to some skills, a flaw should give more like -3 or -4.

Personally, though, I prefer flaw systems that provide rewards in play, rather than providing a benefit at character creation. For example, if you took a flaw like "bum leg," then whenever that bum leg affected you ("I can't jump from roof to roof") you get some kind of perk (like a token to exchange for a +2 bonus to any roll, or something along those lines). If you keep ignoring it and play the flaw only when it's convenient, the GM may rule that you've obviously recovered from the problem and can no longer benefit from it.

(I believe the new World of Darkness uses something like this; one of the great free rpgs online also uses a similar system, but i can't remember which one; maybe One Brain Cell RPG?)

[timemrick]

The character Defects from Animed20/BESMd20 are certainly handy, although balancing them against True 20 mechanics might be a little odd... if I remember, 2 character points in that system would be the same as a feat, but the Anime d20 SRD will say for sure.

IIRC, 2 CP = 1 feat, yes. These CP can also be used for improving stats (I forget cost) and adding special abilities (which True20 does mainly through feats).

[BESM d20 also has an optional rule for buying CP with XP, or gaining XP by taking defects, but that obviously won't translate into True20 unless you've house-ruled in some kind of XP system.]

Personally, though, I prefer flaw systems that provide rewards in play, rather than providing a benefit at character creation. [...] one of the great free rpgs online also uses a similar system, but i can't remember which one; maybe One Brain Cell RPG?)

FATE does this; invoking negative Aspects gives Fate Points, which are very similar to Conviction in function.

[Grim Luck]

My character generator has a place for flaws. Mostly its a non-mathematical representation.

Narrators should just reward players who are hindered by their flaws, in my opinion. So a character who's flaw "Compulsive Hoarding" might get an extra point of conviction when the flaw actually seriously works against the player (Not everytime they play it up).

After all, its always the most annoying characters who don't seem to die in movies, litterature, and film. At least, that's my perception.

[Michael Tree]

Personally, though, I prefer flaw systems that provide rewards in play, rather than providing a benefit at character creation. For example, if you took a flaw like "bum leg," then whenever that bum leg affected you ("I can't jump from roof to roof") you get some kind of perk (like a token to exchange for a +2 bonus to any roll, or something along those lines).

Mutants and Masterminds has a system like this, and calls those flaws Complications. Basically, if a character is significantly hindered by a complication, they gain a free hero point, what M&M calls conviction.