Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Dragon

It does say that "good" disadvantages are still disadvantages because they restrict your character's actions or reactions.

Whereabouts?

The criteria for mental quirks, on the same page, says that they must either require a specific action, behavior, or choice, or give you a small penalty very occasionally or for a very specific thing. ...

As I mentioned before, the problem with Broadminded as described is that it goes beyond this, specifying a state of the world and adding a minor beneficial immunity.

... This is even more clear if you refer back to Xenophilia, of which Broad-Minded is explicitly a minor version of.

Also as I previously noted, the description does not provide any detail about scaling down Xenophilia, it instead details the benefits we have been discussing.

I'll just note again, I have no objection to a Quirk that consists of a scaled down Xenophilia concept. My point about Broadminded is not a beef with what it could be, but rather with, going by the RAW, what it is.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by B9anders

surprised there are so many who seem not to get how disadvantages work.

It's worth bearing in mind that a character with no disadvantages or quirks has a 100% flexible and adaptable character. He is capable of adjusting his outlook behaviour according to any circumstance (providing of course, he has the IQ to read the circumstances accurately).

Such a character is capable of being broadminded when useful, he can make callous decisions when needed, be kind and giving in other circumstances, act intolerant when in intolerant company and none of it will be 'out of character'.

A character with the broadminded 'quirk' has to be broadminded...

But being Broadminded, as described in the book, is solely beneficial to the character (unless, as many here suggest in various ways, the GM presumes that other, ancillary troubles should inhere to the Quirk).

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

As I mentioned before, the problem with Broadminded as described is that it goes beyond this, specifying a state of the world and adding a minor beneficial immunity.

It offers no beneficial immunity whatsoever.

[kenclary]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Getting along is a two way street, otherwise the description could just say 'You like strangers'.

Is that the core source of contention here?

I think your reading of that one sentence is too broad (pun not intended). It does not mean the vampire you just shook hands with isn't going to try to eat you. Much in the same way that Congenial doesn't mean groups do what you say (that's Leadership), Likes Fine Art doesn't mean you can always find fine art for cheap, and Proud doesn't mean you're always rich and successful. These are all Quirks, because they all help "pin down" your character's "quirky personality" in a way that is beneficial to the roleplaying experience. They are not secret guarantees of success at major game mechanics.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

You seem to have ignored what I was replying to there.

Enough already. Yes, maybe it should have said "You _try_ to get along with them". But most of us took that as read.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

It offers no beneficial immunity whatsoever.

True, "immunity" puts it too strongly.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Enough already. Yes, maybe it should have said "You _try_ to get along with them". But most of us took that as read.

Well, sure, a house-ruling is always there as a remedy.

{Edit: Of course, if the description had said that in the first place, the name Broadminded would not really make that much sense, as it lacks the imperative quality of (even minor) negative compulsion.}

[Ragitsu]

Well, it is a shame neither Romeo or Juliet had this "Social Immunity" Perk.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Well, sure, a house-ruling is always there as a remedy.

No, a house-ruling is when you change the rules from what they were actually intended to be by the designers. In the context the rule is clear enough as is. The lack of clarity you perceive is only because you are examining the sentence outside of its context. That it is quirk-level Xenophilia alone should have made the meaning clear.

{Edit: Of course, if the description had said that in the first place, the name Broadminded would not really make that much sense, as it lacks the imperative quality of (even minor) negative compulsion.}

Sure it does. If you roleplaying broad-minded then that means you don't get to be narrow-minded.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

No, a house-ruling is when you change the rules from what they were actually intended to be by the designers.

No, a house ruling is when you depart from what is RAW.

If you roleplaying broad-minded then that means you don't get to be narrow-minded.

Narrow-minded is not a thing you 'get' to be. Fundamentally, unless you impute a negative to it because the rules require it, the common semantic meaning of broadminded denotes a trait that would be positive in GURPS terms.