[Basic] Disadvantage of the Week: Increased Life Support

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Vaevictis Asmadi

So I'm guessing then that ILS (Massive or Large) isn't something that happens just for having a large SM, except in cramped quarters on a ship or spaceship.

Exactly, Massive isn't about the creature's size, but the size (the logistics) of their life support requirements.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Vaevictis Asmadi

I must say, I'm finding these [X] of the Week threads very informative.

That is rather the point of them; to look at the way traits are used in games, and find new and interesting possibilities. See my signature for indexes.

[Ulzgoroth]

Increased Life Support specifically pertains to increased demands in a life support situation. It doesn't really address the related problem of turning a lot more gameplay situations into life support situations if

Originally Posted by whswhs

I would say not even then. That part is accounted for just by being big and awkward. You don't have to pay points for being SM -4 and taking up far less space than a human; you shouldn't get points back for being SM +4.

Of course, there are some real doubts about whether SM as a feature is really fair even in its best contexts. I think it's not really questionable that it's not at all fair if the limitations of enclosed life support environments are a significant factor for your game.

[Vaevictis Asmadi]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

It doesn't really address the related problem of turning a lot more gameplay situations into life support situations if

if.... fnord? :)

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Of course, there are some real doubts about whether SM as a feature is really fair even in its best contexts. I think it's not really questionable that it's not at all fair if the limitations of enclosed life support environments are a significant factor for your game.

I think that may be what ILS (Large) variant in Space addresses. I'm not certain.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Vaevictis Asmadi

if.... fnord? :)

Indeed, oops.

If the character has many of the kinds of needs that produce Increased Life Support.

Though not necessarily all of them - if you have ILS(Radioactive) because you are radioactive, that doesn't really mean you need more life support but rather that your presence means 'normal' humans need more life support!

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Though not necessarily all of them - if you have ILS(Radioactive) because you are radioactive, that doesn't really mean you need more life support but rather that your presence means 'normal' humans need more life support!

For the "you are radioactive" version, if you want to interact in a normal society of non-radioactive people (without killing them), you need to carry around your radiation armour.

(After all, this trait is only the logistics aspect.)

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

For the "you are radioactive" version, if you want to interact in a normal society of non-radioactive people (without killing them), you need to carry around your radiation armour.

(After all, this trait is only the logistics aspect.)

If the campaign is set on a planet with intense radiation everywhere, humans would have ILS and indigenous lifeforms would not, of course.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by whswhs

If the campaign is set on a planet with intense radiation everywhere, humans would have ILS and indigenous lifeforms would not, of course.

Yeah, this is a thing where GURPS inevitably has to give up some of its genericity and universality; I think the best solution is probably to extend the Reference Society tool, most conveniently described in GURPS Fantasy: Portal Realms.