Just a quick question about quirks

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by PK

Absolutely. The Basic Set is explicit that anything with a negative point cost -- including disadvantages, quirks, attributes below 10, and secondary characteristics lowered below base value -- counts toward any disadvantage limit set by the GM.

Yes. The "anything with a negative point cost" definition is early on. (No books handy, but it's at the beginning of Characters, probably intro text for Disadvantages.) It mentions a number of specific categories. Quirks aren't included by name in the enumerated examples, but there's an "and so on".

But then, the text for Quirks is also explicit (and quoted in the referenced Krommquote): "It has a negative point value, but it is not necessarily a disadvantage."

These two statements are contradictory. Either everything with a negative point cost is a Disad, no matter what; or there are some exceptions where at least some Quirks with a negative point cost are nevertheless not Disads. Both statements can't be true at once. The contradiction has nothing to do with Disad limits. These statements are simply about category.

- All traits with a negative point cost are Disads
- All Quirks have a negative point cost
= Therefore, Quirks are Disads
- But, not all Quirks are Disads

At least one of our three axioms must be false.

Not a big deal, and easily dealt with in real life. But as long as we're quoting scripture, we have to face the fact that the text is self-contradictory. Perhaps there's a perfectionist that feels up to writing the errata. Then that can be filed at the bottom of the priority list where it belongs, and the text will eventually be updated, perhaps in 5e.

I'll be sad that Bertrand Russell has to drop out of my group, no longer being able to enjoy a game that includes this sort of flaw, but the rest of us will struggle on somehow.