Limiting a Disadvantage

JanMikal · 06-11-2018, 03:07 PM

I have a character in my game who is 19 years old, but she's 4'8" and about 80lbs. We want to apply the 'Social Stigma - Minor' to her, because she *looks* young, but she could whip out her ID or driver's license to prove that she really is of age, depending on the scenario.

But how to work it. I thought modifying Social Stigma with something like Unreliable might work - on a roll of X or less, she's taken for a child, and maybe on a FURTHER roll, the beholder might not even believe that her ID is real. Any ideas?

Maz · 06-11-2018, 03:51 PM

Could simply put a mitigator (ID card) on it. Not sure how much it should be worth. Maybe -60% ?

For comparison, glasses for Nearsightened is a -60% mitigator. And an ID card fits the "is vulnerable, and easily stolen, broken, or misplaced" (see p.112). And like glasses you could always get a new ID card, but it can be a lot of trouble.

AlexanderHowl · 06-11-2018, 04:20 PM

My fiancee has similar problems in real life (she is 5' and age 24), which means that I have problems when people call the cops on me for being with her. From our experiences, I would suggest that it is much more problematic than a -2 point disadvantage would represent. It prevents us from going out to a lot of restaurants, as we have had police called on us at our apartment, on birthday parties, during anniversaries celebrations, after getting hotel rooms while traveling, etc.

I would represent it as a form of Mistaken Identity, just mistaken for a group rather than an individual, with the ID just giving you a bonus to convince people you are the age that you say you are. The ID is not a mitigator as it does not prevent the initial reaction penalty because fake IDs exist. For example, my fiancee has been accused by cops of trying to give them a fake ID until they checked it in their computers.

Pursuivant · 06-13-2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanMikal

I have a character in my game who is 19 years old, but she's 4'8" and about 80lbs. We want to apply the 'Social Stigma - Minor' to her, because she *looks* young, but she could whip out her ID or driver's license to prove that she really is of age, depending on the scenario.

Quirk: Distinctive Appearance (Jailbait/Appears to be Underage).

Functionally the same as Social Stigma 1 with -60% Mitigator limitation, but with the "Perk" that she can pass as a teenager when she needs to.

And don't think that the players won't game the hell out of the upside of her Quirk and make her carry 3 types of high-quality ID at all times so she can deal with the inevitable hassles!

OTOH, in a game setting where you can't just whip out a passport or military ID card to prove your age, she has a full-blown Social Stigma.

06-11-2018, 03:07 PM	#1
JanMikal Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: St. Louis, MO	Limiting a Disadvantage I have a character in my game who is 19 years old, but she's 4'8" and about 80lbs. We want to apply the 'Social Stigma - Minor' to her, because she looks young, but she could whip out her ID or driver's license to prove that she really is of age, depending on the scenario. But how to work it. I thought modifying Social Stigma with something like Unreliable might work - on a roll of X or less, she's taken for a child, and maybe on a FURTHER roll, the beholder might not even believe that her ID is real. Any ideas?

06-11-2018, 03:51 PM	#2
Maz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denmark	Re: Limiting a Disadvantage Could simply put a mitigator (ID card) on it. Not sure how much it should be worth. Maybe -60% ? For comparison, glasses for Nearsightened is a -60% mitigator. And an ID card fits the "is vulnerable, and easily stolen, broken, or misplaced" (see p.112). And like glasses you could always get a new ID card, but it can be a lot of trouble.

06-11-2018, 04:20 PM	#3
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	Re: Limiting a Disadvantage My fiancee has similar problems in real life (she is 5' and age 24), which means that I have problems when people call the cops on me for being with her. From our experiences, I would suggest that it is much more problematic than a -2 point disadvantage would represent. It prevents us from going out to a lot of restaurants, as we have had police called on us at our apartment, on birthday parties, during anniversaries celebrations, after getting hotel rooms while traveling, etc. I would represent it as a form of Mistaken Identity, just mistaken for a group rather than an individual, with the ID just giving you a bonus to convince people you are the age that you say you are. The ID is not a mitigator as it does not prevent the initial reaction penalty because fake IDs exist. For example, my fiancee has been accused by cops of trying to give them a fake ID until they checked it in their computers.