[IST Supers] Icepick's sexuality

[Phil Masters]

Originally Posted by Varyon

Note it could even be a Perk or better (Social Regard and/or positive Reputation) if your sexuality is generally celebrated and/or you can reliably get preferential treatment because of it.

Or if it effectively gives you high resistance to Sex Appeal and similar.

In this case (which by the way dates to 1991), I suspect that the writer wasn't thinking about non-heterosexual preferences so much as a classic "cold" personality - close to asexual, in more current terminology. She isn't impressed by high Appearance on male characters, may even get a small bonus against Sex Appeal-based influence rolls but also a penalty to any situation where being even slightly flirtatious would help her, can't easily judge where others' romantic interactions are going, and may be considered either an "icy b*tch" by shallow people or someone with admirably clear priorities by other business-first types. But it's only a quirk, so if someone criticals a Sex Appeal roll against her, she might decide to relax this one time.

[Anders]

Ok, thanks. :o)

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

Or if it effectively gives you high resistance to Sex Appeal and similar.

That feels more like it would be a Feature, provided it comes with a similar penalty to use Sex Appeal and similar yourself - it's harder to make someone think/hope you're into them if you aren't actually attracted to them much at all.

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

In this case (which by the way dates to 1991), I suspect that the writer wasn't thinking about non-heterosexual preferences so much as a classic "cold" personality - close to asexual, in more current terminology. She isn't impressed by high Appearance on male characters, may even get a small bonus against Sex Appeal-based influence rolls but also a penalty to any situation where being even slightly flirtatious would help her, can't easily judge where others' romantic interactions are going, and may be considered either an "icy b*tch" by shallow people or someone with admirably clear priorities by other business-first types. But it's only a quirk, so if someone criticals a Sex Appeal roll against her, she might decide to relax this one time.

Yeah, this matches what I was thinking based on the wording of the Quirk.

[Polydamas]

Interpreting this label this reminds me of asexual identity: some people who identify as asexual have more and more creative sex than a lot of people who don't. Words mean different things to different people.

In GURPS 4th edition I would interpret this as her being obviously cool towards men. Sexuality is a Feature but behaving in a way which can offend a large demographic is a Quirk. Phil's suggestions are more articulate than mine.

GURPS 3e had some dubious Quirks, GURPS 4e emphasizes that they have to cause difficulty in some common situation.

[Donny Brook]

Whatever the exact meaning is, it doesn't make a proper quirk as it doesn't invoke character-actioned behavior.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Whatever the exact meaning is, it doesn't make a proper quirk as it doesn't invoke character-actioned behavior.

That rule was not strictly applied in 3/e, as it is in 4/e. Icepick seems a likely case in point.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by whswhs

That rule was not strictly applied in 3/e, as it is in 4/e. Icepick seems a likely case in point.

Did it even exist in 3e? I recall it just being "write in whatever you want" but that might have been my group.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Did it even exist in 3e? I recall it just being "write in whatever you want" but that might have been my group.

I don't know if it was formally stated as a rule. Certainly I remember seeing it as an innovation when it appeared in 4/e.

[WingedKagouti]

Originally Posted by whswhs

That rule was not strictly applied in 3/e, as it is in 4/e. Icepick seems a likely case in point.

From 3E Basic (I could not find additional rules for Quirks in either Compendium):

A "quirk" is a minor personality trait. It is not an advantage, and is not necessarily a disadvantage - it is just something unique about your character.
<snip>
The only drawback to a quirk is this: you must roleplay it.

And ending the (one page) chapter with

Anything else that you can think of that will make your character into a "real person"!

With basically no limitation other than having to roleplay quirks and quirks being used to differentiate a character from the norm, "Not straight" (in any variation) is a valid quirk for most settings in 3E.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Whatever the exact meaning is, it doesn't make a proper quirk as it doesn't invoke character-actioned behavior.

Updating her, I'd put it as "Reacts coldly to romantic overtures."