Just a quick question about quirks

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by malloyd

That is, even if SJ were to offer an answer to any particular question like this, which you could then label official, no one writing any particular rule you think it makes a difference for made any effort to write it to be consistent with whatever answer you got. I suppose you could then be *certain* two (one supposes equally official) rules conflict with each other, rather than just thinking that might be the case, but I don't see what you gain from that.

I fairly sure that all published stuff is consistent with the Basic Set, unless specifically labelled optional. The writer's guidelines certainly require that writers are consistent with prior material.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I fairly sure that all published stuff is consistent with the Basic Set, unless specifically labelled optional. The writer's guidelines certainly require that writers are consistent with prior material.

Low Tech makes this a thin fiction with the armor stats. And doesn't it outright overwrite a couple Basic Set weapon statlines?

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Low Tech makes this a thin fiction with the armor stats. And doesn't it outright overwrite a couple Basic Set weapon statlines?

It expressly does so. I don't think there's anywhere that contradicts the Basic Set that's not labeled as doing so.

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

If I'm following things right, the following assumptions are being made in GURPS design:

1) GMs set their own Disadvantage Limit for their games;
2) Anything with a negative point cost, unless it's declared part of a set of traits everyone gets for free, counts towards said Disadvantage Limit;
3) Quirks are -1 point Disadvantages;
4) Not all Quirks are necessarily truly disadvantageous to the character (note the lower-case "d" there); and
5) Not everything that was a Quirk in 3e is legal in 4e (case in point, "always wears black" is explicitly mentioned as not a valid Quirk in 4e).

Did I miss anything?

Yeah, that sounds like a good way to state it in a manner I can not only understand, but also use to explain it to other. My thanks especially for point number five; I had missed that change but it does sound in line with some of the earlier rules text that was quoted.

[Phantasm]

As an addendum to:

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

4) Not all Quirks are necessarily truly disadvantageous to the character (note the lower-case "d" there)

The three Quirks in Basic Set: Characters I can think of that fits these criteria are Habit, Likes, and Dislikes. "Habit: Bounces Knee While Sitting When Nervous", "Like Latin Jazz", and "Dislikes Brussels Sprouts" aren't truly disadvantageous to the character. At most, they can give a situational reaction penalty (and maybe bonus, for the latter two, in the right company). What they do is help define the character's personality.

For the:

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

5) Not everything that was a Quirk in 3e is legal in 4e (case in point, "always wears black" is explicitly mentioned as not a valid Quirk in 4e).

what it means is that the Quirk cannot be passive with no drawback or necessary action on the PC's part. "Always wears black" is too passive and weak to count as a Habit Quirk; "Has a 'lucky' black leather jacket he wears when expecting a fight" may be valid as it requires some thought as to whether to wear the jacket or not (and some PCs may not be expecting a fight when speaking with a contact or patron) and ultimately is up to the GM to decide; while "Always dresses as a stereotypical necromancer" will likely give a slight reaction penalty and is valid in fantasy settings (but may give a positive reaction from modern-day cosplayers if done right) and is expressly given in 4e as a valid Quirk

YMMV, so remember Rule Zero.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

As an addendum to: The three Quirks in Basic Set: Characters I can think of that fits these criteria are Habit, Likes, and Dislikes. "Habit: Bounces Knee While Sitting When Nervous", "Like Latin Jazz", and "Dislikes Brussels Sprouts" aren't truly disadvantageous to the character. At most, they can give a situational reaction penalty (and maybe bonus, for the latter two, in the right company). What they do is help define the character's personality.

Attentive mostly balances out. Broad-Minded, Careful and Congenial are probably mildly advantageous behaviors in most games.