Steve Jackson Games - Site Navigation
Home General Info Follow Us Search Illuminator Store Forums What's New Other Games Ogre GURPS Munchkin Our Games: Home

Go Back   Steve Jackson Games Forums > Roleplaying > GURPS

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-23-2013, 05:16 PM   #1
Luke Bunyip
 
Luke Bunyip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The Kingdom of Insignificance
Default Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Am planning on running a one-off game involving dwarves poking around in an abandoned mine. I've set up a 150pt template for PCs, but I've used 118 points up in just building a basic character. However, I've only allocated 22 pts worth of disadvantages, namely:
  • Greed (15 or less)
  • Overconfidence (12 or less)
  • Sense of Duty (team) (Small Group)
  • Social Stigma (Second-Class citizen)

The last one on that list is relevant to the setting. Some of you helped me knock around ideas on the thread Dwarven Governance and Economics, and I like the idea of the extended family group/clan being the basic economic unit in a Dwarven society. I am running with the basic premise that mining operations are managed by one family, other families deal with the transport, maintenance, actual mining or geological surveying.

However, every society has orphans. If you couple a strong societal value on the care and upbringing of children, a distrust of people not associated with proven (ie reputable) families, and a user pays principle, I can see orphanages that contract out their teenagers / early twentysomethings as explorers and teams that patrol the depths and underground caverns. Where the nasty goblins and other unmentionables live...

Basically the former orphans are sent where no one else would wisely go. And in my humble opinion, perfect for PCs in a one off GURPS game.

Thusly Q: What additional disadvantages would be suitable for a young Dwarf, raised in an orphanage, and expected to be sent out exploring and patrolling the underground depths which lie below a Dwarven mine?
__________________
It's all very well to be told to act my age, but I've never been this old before...
Luke Bunyip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 05:34 PM   #2
Maz
 
Maz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Denmark
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

If its their job and it's dangerous and they cant' really say no, then they should have a Duty, potentially -15 or even -20.
They are also likely Poor, and should probably have Low Status on top of Social Stigma.

I think it's a bit boring to give ALL of them overconfidence. One could be Careful, one could be Curious.
Maz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 05:35 PM   #3
Stripe
 
Stripe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Midwest, USA
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Off the top of my head, Duty, or perhaps some sort of Vow about not returning before proving themselves worthy.
__________________
.
"How the heck am I supposed to justify that whatever I
feel like doing at any particular moment is 'in character'
if I can't say 'I'm chaotic evil!'"? —Jeff Freeman
Stripe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 05:46 PM   #4
Anders
 
Anders's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Alcoholism - it's bravery in a bottle.
__________________
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius
Anders is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 05:50 PM   #5
Flyndaran
Untagged
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Quote:
Originally Posted by Asta Kask View Post
Alcoholism - it's bravery in a bottle.
Really any form of addiction and OPH as everyone already looks down on you, so why not be true to your inner jerk?
Lots of outcasts love scaring the "squares".
__________________
Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.
Flyndaran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 05:51 PM   #6
Luke Bunyip
 
Luke Bunyip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The Kingdom of Insignificance
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maz View Post
... they should have a Duty, potentially -15 or even -20.. also likely Poor, and probably have Low Status on top of Social Stigma.

I think it's a bit boring to give ALL of them overconfidence. One could be Careful, one could be Curious.
Ta on the former. And excellent point on the later. Shall adjust accordingly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stripe View Post
Off the top of my head, Duty, or perhaps some sort of Vow about not returning before proving themselves worthy.
Oh...Vow is good.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Asta Kask View Post
Alcoholism - it's bravery in a bottle.
Prior to a source of income, a bit difficult to justify. After they have seen Things No Dwarf Should See, yes... but not quite yet.
__________________
It's all very well to be told to act my age, but I've never been this old before...
Luke Bunyip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 09:00 PM   #7
Daigoro
 
Daigoro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Meifumado
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Wouldn't 2nd class dwarves be an overclass?
__________________
Collaborative Settings:
Cyberpunk: Duopoly Nation
Space Opera: Behind the King's Eclipse
And heaps of forum collabs, 30+ and counting!
Daigoro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 09:13 PM   #8
dcarson
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

If user pays applies to the orphans then Debt, which can be replaced with Duty. So they either owe so much service or cash.
dcarson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2013, 11:35 PM   #9
Luke Bunyip
 
Luke Bunyip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The Kingdom of Insignificance
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcarson View Post
If user pays applies to the orphans then Debt, which can be replaced with Duty. So they either owe so much service or cash.
I meant it as figurative debt, rather than a literal one. I'm going to rationalise it as a Duty to working to maintaining the orphanage, with older former orphans running and training the younger ones.
__________________
It's all very well to be told to act my age, but I've never been this old before...
Luke Bunyip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2013, 12:09 AM   #10
tanksoldier
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Default Re: Wanted: Disads for Underclass Dwarves

Quote:
Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip View Post
Prior to a source of income, a bit difficult to justify.
Plenty of alcoholics have no significant income. They buy booze instead of food, instead or rent, instead of clothes.
tanksoldier is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dwarves

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Fnords are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.