[Basic] Disadvantage of the week: Charitable

[ravenfish]

What I've never been clear on is the distinction between Charitable and Selfless. Both would seem to take the form "compelled to help other people out, even at considerable risk to self" (Charitable suggests a failed self-control roll could lead to walking into a potential trap; Selfless forbids anyone failing a self-control roll from prioritizing even their own survival over the needs of others) but selfless is significantly cheaper. Is there something I'm overlooking, or is it just up to the player and GM to make sure that the character is selfless/charitable in proportion to the point cost?

[Kelly Pedersen]

Originally Posted by ravenfish

What I've never been clear on is the distinction between Charitable and Selfless.

The way I see it, Charitable is about giving people what they want, while Selfless is about giving people what they need. A Charitable person will respond favorably to most requests, even fairly frivolous ones. A well-off associate could say "Lend me your car for the evening, mine's in the shop" and a Charitable character would have to roll self-control not to give it up, despite them being able to afford to rent a car, or borrow someone else's.

Whereas a Selfless person will put genuine needs of others first, but can refuse trivial or frivolous requests. Also, there's nothing in Selfless about walking into a trap, so I assume you can generally avoid that, too - you can say "Sorry, I know there's a beggar down that alley, but I can also see all those gangsters hiding with knives, and my life is better spent not being stabbed. I'll help someone somewhere else."

[Not]

"Luke, it's a trap!"