Disads: the Second Best CP Deal in GURPS

[Kax]

Originally Posted by martinl

1. Focus - folks often assign disads to areas that are not the focus of their character, and use the points they gain to be better at that focus. The stereotypical combat munchkin with -8 to reactions is the canonical example, but this is just generally common in many PC concepts. It is also the reason disad limits are so common - without them that PC would have -25 reactions but be able to kill everyone who looked at her funny because of it.

I have never seen this done, or even attempted. I have seen some other munchkinisms, however, but they never lasted in play as almost all munchkinisms have at least one glaring and exploitable weakness.

Originally Posted by martinl

1.a. Externalities - one of the worst variants of this is disads that hurt the group, not the PC. "Enemy, very powerful, all the time," is the 4e example now that Jinxed has been mercy killed. I generally try to prevent this from happening, since the other players usually find it obnoxious, but it may be hard to spot before it happens. Mr. -8 reactions often thinks it is his duty to do all the talking because he is the strongest fighter, for some reason.

Also not seen this done ever. I have seen an enemy that everyone had, though.

But I don't run with or run munchkins. They get weeded out one way or another.

Originally Posted by martinl

2. Definition (Character) - Some character concepts call for stuff that is an obvious weakness. A one eyed pirate, an honorable knight, or a scatterbrained wizard are all fun stereotypes, and disadvantages give your PC a little game mechanical cookie for playing a PC with a weakness.

3. Definition (Campaign) - Disads are also a tool that can be used to enforce campaign themes or rules. Inter PC loyalty, or duty to a specific NPC, or even "You are all guttersnipes with Status -2, Youth, and Wealth -2" are all things that give an in game reward for following the game guidelines.

These are normal and unexeptional uses.

Overall, I've not really had any problems over my time as a GM with RAW. But I suggest alternatives or--very seldom--say 'no' to unplayable disad comboes in character generation. And I do use them when making session notes, so they get poked and used.