The pratfall effect

WaterAndWindSpirit · 01-20-2019, 09:04 AM

According to psychology studies, clumsy people are more endearing than a person with the same body but who is not clumsy. They call it the pratfall effect.

So it's just a manner of combining Klutz as a disadvantage and a higher appearance than the character's body would otherwise suggest, right?

khorboth · 01-20-2019, 09:54 AM

This seems like something that would usually be below the level of game effects.

If you wanted to simulate it, I'd use Charisma so that it's independent of gender. Special effect: Dick Van Dike.

newton · 01-20-2019, 09:58 AM

I think the pratfall effect is likely more akin to the Pitiable advantage as opposed to Appearance.

Donny Brook · 01-20-2019, 11:56 AM

I second Pitiable [1].

Vaevictis Asmadi · 01-20-2019, 01:46 PM

My guess at the psychological effect is that clumsy adults remind us of toddlers, making them more-or-less 'adorkable.' So Pitiable seems like a good representation.

whswhs · 01-20-2019, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

I second Pitiable [1].

I agree. That was my first thought.

SilvercatMoonpaw · 01-20-2019, 02:36 PM

You probably don't want the advantage to be too high because there will be people who get annoyed because of various reasons (the klutz is a liability, the klutz keeps breaking stuff, the klutz represents the existence of failure which they cannot tolerate because Unrealistic Hollywood-OCD, etc.).

Flyndaran · 01-20-2019, 02:50 PM

It's charming until you shoulder check their wall, knock something out of their hands, spill something on their clothes, or otherwise slam into something important to them.

At best, it's just an explanation for Pitiable.
At worst, it might be akin to an involuntary Odious Personal Habit.

01-20-2019, 09:04 AM	#1
WaterAndWindSpirit Join Date: Oct 2014	The pratfall effect According to psychology studies, clumsy people are more endearing than a person with the same body but who is not clumsy. They call it the pratfall effect. So it's just a manner of combining Klutz as a disadvantage and a higher appearance than the character's body would otherwise suggest, right?

01-20-2019, 09:54 AM	#2
khorboth Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver, CO	Re: The pratfall effect This seems like something that would usually be below the level of game effects. If you wanted to simulate it, I'd use Charisma so that it's independent of gender. Special effect: Dick Van Dike.

01-20-2019, 09:58 AM	#3
newton Join Date: Oct 2018	Re: The pratfall effect I think the pratfall effect is likely more akin to the Pitiable advantage as opposed to Appearance.

01-20-2019, 11:56 AM	#4
Donny Brook Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Snoopy's basement	Re: The pratfall effect I second Pitiable [1].

01-20-2019, 01:46 PM	#5
Vaevictis Asmadi Join Date: May 2007 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, U.S.A.	Re: The pratfall effect My guess at the psychological effect is that clumsy adults remind us of toddlers, making them more-or-less 'adorkable.' So Pitiable seems like a good representation. __________________ I have Confused and Clueless. Sometimes I miss sarcasm and humor, or critically fail my Savoir-Faire roll. None of it is intentional. Published GURPS Settings (as of 4/2013 -- I hope to update it someday...)

01-20-2019, 02:36 PM	#7
SilvercatMoonpaw Join Date: Jun 2017	Re: The pratfall effect You probably don't want the advantage to be too high because there will be people who get annoyed because of various reasons (the klutz is a liability, the klutz keeps breaking stuff, the klutz represents the existence of failure which they cannot tolerate because Unrealistic Hollywood-OCD, etc.).

01-20-2019, 02:50 PM	#8
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: The pratfall effect It's charming until you shoulder check their wall, knock something out of their hands, spill something on their clothes, or otherwise slam into something important to them. At best, it's just an explanation for Pitiable. At worst, it might be akin to an involuntary Odious Personal Habit. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.

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