Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

I've always wondered this, especially in a "normal" TL8 type setting (such as our Earth).

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It makes you rather oblivious concerning intolerance as a motivation. You'll be taken by surprise if you go into a place where your skin colour isn't welcome and will invite a stigmatized minority into places where they wouldn't be welcome.

At the same time, however, it is certainly possible to say that a given quirk isn't quirky in a a given setting.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

There are lots and lots of societies where not being broadminded is the norm. An ancient Greek who didn't hold barbaroi in contempt would have been unusual. So it's a good example of the kind of thing that a quirk can represent.

And as David says, the GM is free to define certain traits as being so standard that you don't get points for them in certain settings. My current high fantasy campaign, based out of Atlantis, defines Heterosexual as a quirk and Bisexual as not worth points, being normal.

Bill Stoddard

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

"Broadminded" is presumably a quirk because it is a minor feature that sets the character aside (sic) from others, though not necessarily a disadvantage.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

On the mundane side of things, a broad-minded character is likely to earn a reaction penalty from intolerant people (for instance, a restaurant proprietor in 1950s Missouri who welcomes people of color), and can be expected to react well to people different from himself. This last is less a mechanical issue than a roleplaying one.

It may help to consider Broad-Minded to be a quirk-level Xenophilia; situations where that disadvantage could get you in trouble are good opportunities for the quirk to cause some issue.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

because, everything tends to have a "side"?

I mean we see so much intolerance in the news from all sides, sounding reasonable can sound like your tolerating or accepting something the majority does not condone.

For instance, being broad minded means your stance about Sexuality and Marriage fall to the minority - A POV which can get you into trouble and a negative.

or on the flip side, being a Liberal one can be branded conservative by various "broad minded" stances.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It's not really the opposite of intolerance

It's an example of a disadvantage reduced to quirk level, Xenophilia in this case. Think of it less like "I'm not racist" and more "I'm actively interested in other races, just not to the point of a xenophile."

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Which can get you in trouble in some settings, the restaurant proprietor being a good example, but also accepting Orcs into your establishment as a tavern owner in a classic Fantasy setting ("as long as they behave"), or being "open minded" about vampires and werewolves in a World of Darkness-like setting (which might prove rather... unhealthy)

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

exactly, A single but trivial act of open mindedness can be interpreted a hundred ways and can get pretty much out of control once the knowledge gets into the wrong hands.

Like in modern times, if someone were to say something broadminded that can open to more interpretation and has many of its implied assumptions that were mentioned in previous conversations, can find that piece of information manipulated and blown out of context.

Like "Regulation" which can be interpreted as either Control or Balance. A broad minded person would consider the context of Regulation as Balance/Moderation, but someone can interpret it as Control or ...

So if someone said More Regulation is Good/Bad, the difference of context can get you into some negative reactions.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Let's not get too far from the RAW description of a trait when discussing the RAW, okay?

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

So, that, reduced to quirk level.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

That is okay, but the post about stealing effects from Gullibility wasn't very appropriate.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

The concept of Quirks seems to have mutated without purging and is a bit of a muddle now.

Broad-minded and a few other beneficial 'quirks' were corruptions that popped up in supplement materials in either 2e or 3e and were not extirpated as they should have been in the transition to 4e.

Really, digging back to the roots of the idea in 1e, a Quirk should just be any sort of non-beneficial, minor role-playable feature that distinguishes the character. There is no need for it to be actually disavantageous -- the -1 point is a bonus and incentive to roleplay.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

-1 Likes Green

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

There WAS no need for it to actually be disadvantageous.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Is no need, I think you'll find if you re-read the description in Characters.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

That wouldn't be enough in any of my games. Quirks do have to be enough of a trait to be playable often enough to justify the point you get from them. This one wouldn't play enough to even be worth a point. :)

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Sure it is. It'd be basically a Quirk-level Trademark. When you've got a choice between things, you'll usually go with the green thing, all other things being equal.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Quirks got a bit out of hand by the end of the 3rd edition period, so the definition was tightened up a little for 4th edition (and the whole concept of physical quirks was formally added to the game). They may not have to be actively disadvantageous, but they do have to be noticeably roleplayable. You'll note that sample characters in 4e books tend to have slightly fewer quirks these days; they're more likely to be queried at the editing stage.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

To make it playable I'd take it one farther... if the two things are slightly unbalanced you'll go for the green one even if the other would perform better otherwise. (Not if there is a significant unbalancing, then you can go with the logical choice)

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

So, some people say Broad-Minded is merely an open mind, while others call it a minor active interest in people of a different culture/ethnicity/race. I know both are "right", but the latter seems to live up to the disadvantageous aspect of a Quirk.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

In the former case, it has to be a roleplayable open mind - it has to be something that the GM can plausibly penalise you for failing to act on. That's why there's at least a slight sense that it should be disadvantageous; if this is trivially normal behaviour in the setting and there's no incentive for you to ignore the quirk or difficulty in remembering it, taking that quirk is hardly a "contract to roleplay". "Oh yeah, that guy who hangs out with haints and spriggans - bit of a freak, though he seems quite cool when you talk to him."

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Broad-minded is not beneficial. It causes negative reactions from anyone who possesses the normal prejudices of the society around them.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

These days I lean more to its the player's responsiblity to bring up their quirks. If you make a point of asking the girl in green for a dance, or inquiring if the shopkeeper has it in green every once in a while, then Likes Green is a perfectly good quirk. If after a few sessions I can't recall a time you've made color an issue, you need to be challenged on it.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Right, it becomes the equivelant of "Wears clothes" or "gets upset when people are mean to him."

You have to up those a little too "Really fascinated by clothes and fashion" or "Splutters and stutters when angry" or "curses constantly when angry."

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

The description on B163 says nothing about negative reactions from anyone. It says you get along well with others and strange appearances of others don't bother you. Both would appear to be beneficial attributes.

Attentive is another Perquirk -- a slightly less useful Single-minded that you get a point by taking!

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

In what way? A completely neutral 0 point feature (based on having no mechanics whatsoever) is easily arguable, but I don't see how you can get beneficial out of that without reading as much additional positive stuff into the description as you are protesting the negative reading in of.

And pulling back a little from the actual wording, making a case for taking a bad roleplaying penalty for acting on a prejudice being a drawback in a typical roleplaying setting isn't all that hard. There are usually negative prejudices which are *justified* by the stereotyped behaviors of some races. If my GM is going to dock me an xp for refusing to let an orc into the party without specific evidence against him, *even though* if I do he will claim to be entirely justified when said orc betrays us, I'm clearly suffering for having this feature.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Definitly something that can get you in trouble. Befriending strange people or strange beings can have it's advantages though.
Broad-Minded doesn't make you gullible or stupid, but it makes you rather open-minded about odd Strangers.

Imagine the following. A vampire lad wants to join up with with our gang to stop the flesh eating swap creatures that have appeared in the realm. He claims to have good intent, and says that he doesn't kill (or turn) his victims.

The middle aged magician says "Hmm? And how exactly do we know that you won't tear our throats out in the dead night? We need some sort of proof that we really can trust you."

The easy-going frequently drunk, but friendly and broadminded middle-aged warrior says "I'm guessing your story has had a few hardships. Why don't you sit down by the fire and we can each share our tales?"

The Xenophilic time-traveller lass says "Omigosh! You're a vampire? With real fangs? Can you show me them?"

- - - - -

Now assuming vampires are typically fairly dangerous, not letting them sit down by your campfire where they might get a good chance at stabbing you in the back might be a good idea. Before good proof that this particular member is at least a bit trustworthy you might want to keep them at a few arms reach.
Getting them to share their tales would make understanding who they are, and whether they really are trustworthy easier though.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

They'll exist regardless of whether they'll be mentioned. People who are suspicious of the aliens are not going to be thrilled by the "Let's be friends" crowd. But mostly it's a matter of being constrained in your roleplaying.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Be that as it may, it's not part of the Quirk as per RAW.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Glad to see someone else thinks so.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Well, there's no mechanic provided, but generally speaking, is it not considered good to get along well with others and not freak out when you see something strange?

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It's also considered good to be law abiding and trustworthy, but you can score 10 points for it.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

In the vast majority of human societies, no, it is and has been considered bad and dangerous to associate with foreigners. A comparatively small number of modern progressives suppose that it ought to be considered virtuous, but they are few enough, even today.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

*scratches head* That doesn't account for cultural diversity in countries where a significant portion of the citizens are the children or grandchildren of fairly recent immigrants. Are you saying this negative aspect of Broad-Minded would not come up in campaigns set within a single country/state, unless the PC is constantly encountering "foreigners"?

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Remember that Broad-Minded also covers strangers and strange people.

"I'm going to ask the mercenaries what they are doing up here at our bar up in the hills"
instead of
"Let's just try not to make eye-contact with them. Hopefully they'll be on their way soon enough..."
or perhaps something like...
"Haven't they been her long enough? It should be obvious that us folk here don't like them 'ere!"

It's more than just a lack of racism we're talking about here, it's keeping an open mind about people.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

I suppose not if the setting were homogenous enough to have no outsider groups. In which case you shouldn't get points for Xenophilia either.

Though it needn't be foreigners. "I saw Rick the other day down at the market, and he was talking with those damn Catholics. Seemed to actually be *listening* to them friendly like. Never would've thought he'd become a heretic, but learn something new every day I guess. Whose gonna tell the Pastor?"

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

You seem to be completely forgetting the nature of what is advantageous and disadvantageous for characters in a roleplaying game context.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Anyone seen West Side Story? or Mississippi Masala?

Bill Stoddard

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

That's not the relevant perspective. The appropriate one is from the perspective of whether a PC has more and/or easier choices.

(And note that the description in the rules makes no reference to the opinions of society in general at all.)

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

And you seem to be overlooking the fact that in GURPS 4e, a quirk is not necessarily a disadvantage. Dig out a copy of Characters, check p. 162, and then get back to us.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Yeah, if it weren't a quirk, that would be true.

As it is a quirk, it only has to suggest a subset of choices without forbidding any. Which it does.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Not at all, and not in the least. I'm quite clear on that. I made that point earlier, up the thread.

A quirk is not supposed to be advantageous though, either, and that's the problem with Broadminded.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

What does Broadminded let you do that you couldn't already? It doesn't add any capabilities, obviously, and "not broadminded" is not a mental disadvantage.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

I refer you to the description in Characters. As I mentioned, no specific mechanics are provided, but the description contains only beneficial features. As described, it should be a perk, not a quirk.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It absolutely can't be a perk, since perks by definition have beneficial mechanics.

It's impossible for a non-mechanical quirk to contain beneficial features. The so-called benefits of Broad-Minded are all things that a non-Broad-Minded character could do just as well, so there's no actual benefit. One could argue that there's no detriment, but as established that isn't required for a quirk.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Hm, can Broad-Minded be a 0 Point Feature?

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

There are criteria to qualify as a mental quirk are in two bullet points on B163. I'm not sure if Broad-Minded hits either of the possibilities.

On the one, it could be argued that it requires a specific choice on your part from time to time. I'd let it by under that, but it's debatable.

On the other, it doesn't say anything about giving any penalty ever. It calls itself a trivial form of Xenophilia, but it's taken a disadvantage that only dictates roleplay in narrow circumstances in the first place and slimmed it down...does it still make the cut?

I'd say on a list that includes Habits or Expressions, Likes, and Dislikes (telephone solicitors), Broad-Minded is fine...

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It doesn't contain any beneficial features.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

-3 to notice stuff when working on any sort of long task? It really shouldn't take much of a killer GM to make that downright life-threatening.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

That's news to me. Can you point me to that requirement?

??? I'm having difficulty wrapping my head around that idea. Do you mean to say that without specific mechanics the descriptions of traits are meaningless?

So, by analogy then, I suppose you wouldn't object to Quirks such as:

"You are good with money and it tends to find its way to you. And you don't react emotionally to money issues."

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Except the player has choice over when to incur the penalty and seek the benefit. Compare Single-Minded, it gives a +3 to tasks and incurs a -5 penalty. A minus 5 penalty surely wouldn't take any kind of killer GM to make life-threatening if a player were foolish enough to use this advantage in an enemy's lair, but Singleminded is considered Advantageous and Attentive is not. There's a screw up there, and it happened when they rolled out bad Quirks a few years ago.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Yes it does.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

"A 'perk' is a very minor advantage"

No beneficial mechanics = not an advantage.
No, I wouldn't say that. Likes Kittens isn't meaningless, for instance. But there's no way it or any other non-mechanical quirk contains beneficial elements because what they do is apply soft constraints on your roleplay. Since you could play exactly the same way without having the quirk, it certainly isn't beneficial.
Well, the first sentence doesn't make any sense without mechanics, and with them it would be an advantage. The second sentence could be a quirk.

EDIT: Though I wouldn't generally recommend the second sentence as a quirk. I could imagine it being played out well and interestingly, but a lot of the time it just wouldn't show, since it indicates a non-action rather than an action. RAW quirk-test wise it's open to the same criticism as Broad-Minded, I think.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

No, it doesn't. It constrains your PCs options when you decide what actions he takes; when you're playing a Broad-Minded PC, you're always open minded and you don't freak out over strangers. With a non-Broad-Minded PC, you have the option of being close-minded and/or freaking out over strangers. That makes it a disadvantage, especially since those strangers you're being freindly with could be dangerous and/or deceptive.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Well, there's where we differ, I guess. To me the text needs to be given effect even if no specific mechanic is provided.

But Broadminded does more than just state neutral or slightly disadvantageous elements of roleplay. It goes beyond the player's controllable choices and specifies a state-of-the-world: the character gets along well with others. And then it adds a minor immunity to a particular kind of discomfort.

Your analysis is admirably consistent. I agree if I were going to publish Broadminded as a Perk, it would be vastly improved by having mechanics built for it. But the starting concept is based on a benefit, and so it does not belong as a Quirk.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

But those aren't constraints in any meaningful way. There's no benefit from being close-minded or freaking out over strangers, so it's advantageous for a character to be free of that.


As noted by others above, being Broadminded does not mean you have to be gullible.

Come to think of it, one could rebuild the notion as a proper Quirk by making it a flavour of Gullible -- you have -1 to resist Influence attempts by strangers and aliens.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Some perks contain no mechanical benefit, but instead, provide a "soft constraint" on the GM. For example, alot of the schtick perks allow characters to have a "standard operating procedure." Off-screen Reload provides no real mechanical advantage, it just means the GM can't ambush you with "Did you remember to reload?" because you can always tap your perk and say "Yup." Or High-Heeled Heroine, or the one that lets you wear a cape without problems. These represent contracts with the GM that he won't be a jerk about some fashion choices. These aren't "mechanical" in the sense of a bonus, much like not all quirks are "mechanical" in the sense of a direct penalty.

Mind you, I'm not sure this means that Broad-Minded should be a perk. I can't think of what actual benefits it provides, "soft" or otherwise. People might react well to you being so open-minded, but they might just as easily react poorly to it, and it's something you must roleplay. It's certainly a positive, likeable trait, but so is a quirk level chivalry "Polite to the ladies," but it's still certainly a quirk.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Yes, there is. If you invite a monster in for a beer to tell his story, and he's just trying to get close enough to rip your throat out, it's a disadvantage. If you're in Ravenloft, it's a disadvantage. Hell, it's a disadvantage generally; PCs have a reputation for being paranoid for a reason, you know. Anyone your PCs meet might be a threat, and Broad-minded prevents you from being properly paranoid about them.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

I think you're misunderstanding what the text of the quirk is supposed to mean. I suspected as much.

Of course, my reading may be influenced by seeking to interpret things in such a way that they aren't stupid. I can't be certain of the author's intent.
Some of them are mechanical in the sense of a bonus, like High-Heeled Heroine which negates a specific penalty. All of them are mechanical in the sense that I use the term. Cloaked makes you immune to certain occurrences. That's as mechanical as immunity to poison. SOP doesn't change active play as such, but it imposes a hard constraint on what happens in the background.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Seconded. You've put these examples, but there are many more, even in the real world. "Broad-Minded" can be good in some contexts, but in others it can be a really bad thing. It's a double-edged trait. Sometimes is needed to reject foreign influences for cultural survival because these influences can be, in various senses, harmful. It doesn't matter if many people today, in our globalized epoch, sees "Broad-Minded" only from its positive angles. Many civilizations entered into irreversible processes of decadence through the opening to foreign influences.

So, if it's a positive or negative trait, even an advantage or a disadvantage... that should be left entirely in hands of the GM/players' assumptions & campaign setting, as so many things. Overally speaking, I think "Broad-minded" makes more sense being classified as a Quirk, not a Perk nor an Advantage, because that keeps the trait in a more or less indeterminate status. The value or "Broad-Minded" is too variable and relative.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It's possible for a GM to impose any kind of outcome onto a trait by building plot elements that play that way. Advantages can be disavatageous if the GM makes it so (e.g. a serial killer is hunting the wealthy). However, while the things you are imputing to Broadminded could indeed make it mildly disadvanageous, the written description of the trait doesn't contain them.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Who is misunderstanding? I think it's you.

You need to find the right starting point maybe.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

And quirks impose a hard constraint, to use your term, on how you should roleplay your character. I mean, you can hardly take "Very soft spoken" as a quirk, and then have your character bellowing all the time.

Some perks offer you no benefit other than a guarantee of certain things from the GM. Some quirks offer no penalty other than a guarantee of certain things from a player. If you qualify one as mechanical, I think you should qualify the other as mechanical.

EDIT: For an on-topic example, you cannot take Broad-Minded as a quirk, and then suspiciously regard anyone who is stranger than you. You don't have to walk over and cheerfully offer them your throat (that's Xenophilia), but you should role-play a general acceptance and lack of discrimination.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Compare with the quirk "Really likes vegetables."

While the argument could be made that, since vegetables are good for you, this is actually a benefit. Also, since your parents want you to eat your vegetables, they will like you more, so it is a benefit.

However, it is a quirk because it _limits choice_ on your part. The GM can rely, at least a little bit, on the notion that you will tend to choose vegetables over non-vegetables. And the GM and other players can rely on the notion that you will tend to roleplay a fondness for vegetables, which will hopefully add to everyone's roleplaying experience at the table. You get a point in exchange for this. To prevent abuse, you are only allowed to get up to 5 points for a collection of these.

Even "Really likes healing, and goes out of the way to heal injuries" is a quirk. Because it means you will tend to get healed _even when it might be better to wait for healing._

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Being "broad-minded" should be thought of as being a contrasting trait to "narrow minded".

Obviously, being narrow minded means that your character suffers from ideological blind spots-- these can be religious, atheistic, left wing, or right wing. It is a positive thing for a character to not be required to make knee-jerk responses when faced with certain stereotypical situations.

If you wanted to accentuate the negative aspects of broad mindedness, you would paint it as an inability to embrace an objectively true principle regardless of the evidence. Such a person (if he's wrong) is set to become a statistic or a character in a morality tale. Socially speaking, a broad minded person is not going to have an easy time becoming very far advanced in a specific religion, political group, or "cryptic alliance." Group leaders will not trust him and he may even be shunned if he fails to fast-talk his way out of situations where his lack of ideological purity becomes evident.

Socrates was broad minded, for example... and it became quite dangerous for him, indeed. Of course, he took it to at least the level of a -10 point Odious Personal Habit.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

No, but at any given time you can bellow. Likes Kittens does not compel you to run over and admire every kitten you encounter, Dislikes Kittens does not require you to avoid them at all costs. They're soft constraints. In general you should act on them, but on any given occasion you're not obliged to.
An every time guarantee, in every case I can think of. They're hard constraints which the GM is obligated to respect any time they apply. (Rule 0 aside, of course)

If Broad-Minded guarantees the player will behave a particular way in every instance of a given situation, I'm not seeing how. It demands nothing more specific than a general policy of tolerance, as far as I see.
Well, it would be kind of disturbing if you thought you were misunderstanding...

Am I missing something that makes this informative?

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

I hope not.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Is Chauvinistic (what I assume to be "narrow minded") equally disadvantageous then, or more so?

And to address your second point: well, not if the entire group has Broad-Minded :-D. Seriously speaking however, I can see the benefits of having a leader with the Quirk. Especially if they deal in trade agreements.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

It depends on the context. Some form of chauvinism may be required to be a part of certain "country club" type groups-- the Traveller's Aid Society, maybe.

Broad-minded is usually a tag taken to mean that the person if willing to discuss, experiment with, or tolerate whatever is currently being objected to by "old fashioned" folks. Being broad minded will endear you to the "fringe" and hurt you with the "establishment". Being chauvinistic (to whatever degree) will do the reverse.

Ugh. Entire groups that think they're broad minded are often the most narrow minded people of all. "If you disagree with us, then you must be really narrow minded." Right.

Yes, and a "broad-minded" mathematician will look for a solution in places where other guys wouldn't-- which leaves him more likely to walk into serendipitous solutions to unsolved problems.

Most people think of themselves as broadminded and see it in a positive way. I was simply pointing out the aspects of it that you could "hook" into in order to play up the more negative aspects of it.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

A Broad-Minded character could be open-minded about inter-species romance (or other, more physical inter-species activities), without seeking it out in the active, obsessive, fetischistic way that someone with actual Xenophilia would.

That's not how the Quirk is intended, of course, but it could have that as a secondary effect in some types of campaigns.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Statistically speaking, it is highly unusual.

Only in the last century or so has there existed one even slightly stable culture, in which the behavuiour you describe is considered to be virtuous (o, as you say, "good").

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

I'm not sure I disagree.

If a character has Xenophilia, and hasn't encountered anything sufficiently xeno, then when he finally does encounter it, he's going to go absolutely berzerk on it, desperate to explore and interact with it.

Same as a Lecherous heterosexual character who has been in a single-sex prison for several years. Once he or she gets out, there'll be a lot of attention paid to the first encountered person of the opposite sex.

There may be some campaigns where the probability of the PC party ever encountering anything "sufficiently xeno" is microscopic, but they are very rare.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

If it is, I'm not going to put it on my character sheet. I want payment up-front for it. Else it doesn't get there.

I may still roleplay my character in a more or less broad-minded fashion, but it's not going to be stated on my character sheet.


Also, I'm inclined to agree with those who disagree with Figleaf. I can't see why Broad-Minded is in any way an Advantage, in the RPG sense of the word, that it somehow enhances or improves the choices available to the character, or improves the character's functioning in some activity.

One could make a Perk that's a bit like that, Free of Prejudice, that makes the player exempt from XP penalties for failing to roleplay his character as realistically prejudiced, in settings where prejudice is extremely common, but it would be a Perk quite distinct from the Broad-Minded Quirk.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Nah. Schtick (Friends with everyone) would probably be a Perk variant; it waives any penalties due to intolerance/prevents a bad Reputation due to the company you keep.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

That social consideration is only part of the matter though. The practical value of being able to get along with strangers and not react to them out of reflex remains.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

And that's more than outweighed by the practical value of the ability to be properly paranoid of everyone you meet. It restricts your options of playing, ergo it's a disadvantage.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

You are wrong. There is a benefit from being suspicious of unfamiliar people. Particularly in roleplaying where there's a distinct tendency for unfamiliar people to be out to kill you. Take Northwest Smith. Despite having Bloodlust and a Bad Temper he's Broadminded so when he sees an unfamiliar species being hunted by an enraged torch-bearing mob, he intervenes, assuming she's actually a victim rather than the soul-eating monster she really is. He takes no particular precautions against her even though he still has no idea what she really is, and doesn't even really investigate. It's just dumb luck that a buddy interrupts the feeding.

Note that Northwest Smith is not a Xenophile. He has no particular attraction to the strange. It's just that nothing is strange to him.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Well...broad minded doesn't give you any social skills, so you don't magically get the ability to get along with strangers...just in the same way that Lecherous doesn't actually give you the Sex Appeal skill. And you do react towards strangers out of reflex, that reflex is: "Ooo Shiny" and some strangers may be offended by your mild fetishization of them. So disregarding the rest of society which may disapprove of your non-discriminatory ways, even the people you think are "so cool because they are different, can I touch your hair" may react not so well.

Re: Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?
 

Disagree. Lecherousness is not the same as Addiction (Sex). Being triggerable by something doesn't mean an automatic increase in sensitivity to said trigger while the trigger is absent. Compare: When I have access to the forum, I'm eager to read it. However, after spending a week away from it, I did not make me spend more time reading it. I behaved like I did before the week-off.