When is a Perk a Quirk?

Sense of Duty (Kittens) · 05-08-2007, 05:43 PM

In Basic, Broad minded is described as a Quirk, but in light of human history, it actually seems more advantageous than anything you should get points for taking. Was it miscategorized?

Gudiomen · 05-08-2007, 06:21 PM

I think it comes from being a sort of very toned town form of Xenophilia. And would count as a "very minor disadvantage". Also, maybe it's a quirk because, on the individual's point of view, there's no advantage, it only serves to modulate and add taste to role-playing, but it does limit your options a tiny bit. Hence, quirk.

Bruno · 05-08-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sense of Duty (Kittens)

In Basic, Broad minded is described as a Quirk, but in light of human history, it actually seems more advantageous than anything you should get points for taking. Was it miscategorized?

Perks give you benefits: small bonuses in narrow circumstances, favorable reactions, etc. Broad Minded gives you no benefits and restricts your reactions. Ergo, Quirk.

crazycaleb · 05-08-2007, 09:42 PM

To keep things in perspective, having a narrow-minded view could be considered even more disadvantageous (i.e. Intolerance, B140).

Kromm · 05-08-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sense of Duty (Kittens)

In Basic, Broad minded is described as a Quirk, but in light of human history, it actually seems more advantageous than anything you should get points for taking. Was it miscategorized?

Nope. It limits a PC's actions. The player scores his extra point for making a contract with the GM to roleplay his PC as viewing aliens and foreigners as "okay guys" until he gets painful, in-his-face proof that he's wrong in cases where, well, he's obviously wrong.

Honesty is ostensibly a virtue, and highly valued throughout history. Ditto many Codes of Honor. I could go on. Behaviours that are "virtuous" in the abstract or "advantageous" to an entire civilization are often fairly serious disadvantages for adventuring PCs. It's no comfort that your breeds-like-bunnies species can take over the world through birth rate if your Lecherousness gets you shot down by the cute, almost-compatible alien who took exception to your advances . . .

David Johnston · 05-08-2007, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sense of Duty (Kittens)

In Basic, Broad minded is described as a Quirk, but in light of human history, it actually seems more advantageous than anything you should get points for taking.

In light of human history? Human history tells us that strangers can be very dangerous and assuming the best of them is not always the best approach.

nik1979 · 05-09-2007, 12:31 AM

My interpretation of it as a quirk is that Broadminded means you have a broader sense of open mindedness than your peers. This includes that of modern standards. So in a modern game where from a pretty much open minded society , your thoughts go to places where even your peers won't go.

A broadminded person of today might have an extensive knowledge of taboo related topics: pagan rituals, grotesque or monstrous crimes, obscure points in history (no one cares about) etc. Basically what is not considered polite conversation.

Not another shrubbery · 05-09-2007, 10:05 AM

I'd be fine with making Broad-Minded a 0pt feature. The text of it (minus the first sentence, which makes it clear that the intent is simply a mild form of the Xenophilia disad) makes it sound fairly innocuous.

Kromm · 05-09-2007, 10:21 AM

Bear in mind that "innocuous" doesn't mean "isn't a valid quirk." Put another way, a quirk doesn't have to be disadvantageous in the slightest. It merely has to constrain roleplay somewhat. The rules on pp. B162-163 are especially clear on this point. Thus, Broad-Minded is a quirk if you make a contract with the GM to roleplay your PC that way . . . but not if you can opt out of it whenever you wish. It's never a perk, though. A perk has to be at least somewhat advantageous. As written, Broad-Minded doesn't actually do anything for you. It just tells you how you have to roleplay your PC.

LemmingLord · 05-09-2007, 01:21 PM

In a sense, broadminded frees a person from the limitations of "normal" exclusiveness...

In a old west setting, for example, a GM might not explicitly say that the PCs are intolerant of x, y or z ethnicities... But if you play your character like a modern day hippie from berkely with your open mindedness and you don't something on your character sheet to support it... Well you should be smackied.. :)

05-08-2007, 05:43 PM	#1
Sense of Duty (Kittens) Join Date: Apr 2005	When is a Perk a Quirk? In Basic, Broad minded is described as a Quirk, but in light of human history, it actually seems more advantageous than anything you should get points for taking. Was it miscategorized? __________________ Steal Energy- giving Dungeon Fantasy wizards a pretext to learn healing magic since 2004.

05-08-2007, 06:21 PM	#2
Gudiomen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: in your pocket, stealing all your change	Re: When is a Perk a Quirk? I think it comes from being a sort of very toned town form of Xenophilia. And would count as a "very minor disadvantage". Also, maybe it's a quirk because, on the individual's point of view, there's no advantage, it only serves to modulate and add taste to role-playing, but it does limit your options a tiny bit. Hence, quirk.

05-08-2007, 09:42 PM	#4
crazycaleb Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kentucky	Re: When is a Perk a Quirk? To keep things in perspective, having a narrow-minded view could be considered even more disadvantageous (i.e. Intolerance, B140).

05-09-2007, 12:31 AM	#7
nik1979 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Philippines, Makati	Re: When is a Perk a Quirk? My interpretation of it as a quirk is that Broadminded means you have a broader sense of open mindedness than your peers. This includes that of modern standards. So in a modern game where from a pretty much open minded society , your thoughts go to places where even your peers won't go. A broadminded person of today might have an extensive knowledge of taboo related topics: pagan rituals, grotesque or monstrous crimes, obscure points in history (no one cares about) etc. Basically what is not considered polite conversation. __________________ GMing Blog MIB#2428

05-09-2007, 10:05 AM	#8
Not another shrubbery Join Date: Aug 2004	Re: When is a Perk a Quirk? I'd be fine with making Broad-Minded a 0pt feature. The text of it (minus the first sentence, which makes it clear that the intent is simply a mild form of the Xenophilia disad) makes it sound fairly innocuous.

05-09-2007, 10:21 AM	#9
Kromm *GURPS* Line Editor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Montréal, Québec	Re: When is a Perk a Quirk? Bear in mind that "innocuous" doesn't mean "isn't a valid quirk." Put another way, a quirk doesn't have to be disadvantageous in the slightest. It merely has to constrain roleplay somewhat. The rules on pp. B162-163 are especially clear on this point. Thus, Broad-Minded is a quirk if you make a contract with the GM to roleplay your PC that way . . . but not if you can opt out of it whenever you wish. It's never a perk, though. A perk has to be at least somewhat advantageous. As written, Broad-Minded doesn't actually do anything for you. It just tells you how you have to roleplay your PC. __________________ Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> *GURPS* Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just *GURPS* News]

05-09-2007, 01:21 PM	#10
LemmingLord Join Date: Jul 2005	Re: When is a Perk a Quirk? In a sense, broadminded frees a person from the limitations of "normal" exclusiveness... In a old west setting, for example, a GM might not explicitly say that the PCs are intolerant of x, y or z ethnicities... But if you play your character like a modern day hippie from berkely with your open mindedness and you don't something on your character sheet to support it... Well you should be smackied.. :)