Berserk includes Bad Temper?

[ralphy]

Hi all,

since this is my first post here, I'd like to say hello to everyone first.

Now on to the point: Under the berserk disadvantage, it says "Like bad temper, but worse.". Does that mean that berserk includes the bad temper disadvantage?

Regards,
ralphy

[thastygliax]

Originally Posted by ralphy

Under the berserk disadvantage, it says "Like bad temper, but worse.". Does that mean that berserk includes the bad temper disadvantage?

Hmm, from what you quoted, I assume you mean in 3e?

In 3e, I'd interpret that first line to mean that Berserk does include Bad Temper, esp. since you aren't allowed to take both. But the berserk rage requires more stress to set off than the temper does--though the one will frequently lead to the other.

In 4e, the text specifically mentions that you can have both, so Berserk wouldn't include Bad Temper.

[Kromm]

In 3e, Berserk is "Bad Temper, Level 2." You can't have both.

In 4e, Berserk is one thing and Bad Temper is another. You can have both.

This is why Berserk is worth fewer points by itself in 4e . . . but with Bad Temper, it's effectively worth more points, which is only fair for something as nasty as Berserk.

[Sense of Duty (Kittens)]

Is Berserk mutually exclusive with Unfazeable. It doesn't make sense for a cool-headed PC to lose his temper and attack someone, but this is not mentioned in the book.

[banditangel]

Originally Posted by Sense of Duty (Kittens)

Is Berserk mutually exclusive with Unfazeable. It doesn't make sense for a cool-headed PC to lose his temper and attack someone, but this is not mentioned in the book.

I've seen Singleminded and Absent-Minded combined, so I'd allow pretty much *any* combination the PCs could come up with (and now I have this strange urge to write up a Pyromanic with Pyrophobia...)

One explanation would be that he just suddenly slips in to cold-blooded killer mode, mowing down people without concern for friendship nor personal safety. He might also have some dark trauma in his past which can pierce even his cool-headed nature (and is quite possibly the reason nothing *else* phases him). It's no less reasonable than Nightmares, Bad Temper, and the like, really.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Sense of Duty (Kittens)

Is Berserk mutually exclusive with Unfazeable.

Unfazeable means that you aren't easily frightened. This is why it's incompatible with all Phobias. It doesn't mean that you won't fight like a maniac in combat. The combination of Unfazeable and Berserk would be entirely logical for the stereotypical fantasy barbarian who knows no fear, at all, and who therefore wades into the enemy with total ferocity. If he isn't afraid of enemy attacks, why should he waste time fending them off?

[Sense of Duty (Kittens)]

Originally Posted by banditangel

One explanation would be that he just suddenly slips in to cold-blooded killer mode, mowing down people without concern for friendship nor personal safety.

That is the quintessential definition of Callous.

[tylrlsaa]

Originally Posted by Sense of Duty (Kittens)

That is the quintessential definition of Callous.

But with Callous, he can choose what he wants to do; fight, run, or stand off to the side and make snide comments, what have you. When you go Berserk (no book, just memory, be gentle), you're gonna fight, fight, or fight, probably with little tactical sense, until you snap out of it.