Quote:
Originally Posted by johndallman
This disadvantage appeared in Compendium I for GURPS 3e.
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I believe that it first appeared in the GURPS 2E Riverworld supplement as well as a number of later GURPS 3E works. In Riverworld, it was possible to have -15 point Obsessions, but that option was dropped in GURPS 4E
Obsession is good for modeling internally motivated monomaniacal behavior as opposed to a Vow which represents a conscious choice to accomplish a particular goal or to behave in a certain way, although the two disads can be quite similar.
Realistic OCD is better modeled using the Compulsive Behavior disad.
Since Obsession is more of a roleplaying disad rather than one which imposes penalties or limits combat options, it's potentially free points in campaigns where there isn't much chance for an Obsessive character to achieve their stated goal or where the Obsession clearly works to the character's advantage (e.g., "Master Kung Fu" for a martial artist who already spends hours in training each day and who is always attempting to boost his unarmed combat performance). In such cases, Obsessions should just be treated as Quirks.
It's also a disad which requires GM permission and input, since the player and the GM must agree on the obsessive character's goal and where the GM has to work the PC's Obsession into play while not allowing it to overshadow the other PC's motivations.
For NPCs, it's a classic villainous motivation, especially the more sympathetic types.