[Basic] Disadvantage of the week: Addiction and Alcoholism

[Flyndaran]

It shouldn't be assumed either way. Addictions are as unique as the addicts themselves.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by TGLS

It just seems peculiar that if a drug is legal, it suddenly becomes easier to quit...

A couple of thoughts:
If a drug is legal, it's not that much effort to stay a user; as a result some people will coast along as users even if it's not hard to quit.
If a drug is illegal, being a user takes dedication (something like Compulsive Thrill Seeking or COH: FSK The Authorities) if it's not particularly addictive.

In both cases "legal" implies "and enforced" - marijuana is still illegal in Canada until next July, but many jurisdictions have stopped enforcing the simple possession laws because of the pending decriminalization.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Just looking at a hole: Minor addictions are defined by having a particular negative point value. However, the main factor in what makes an addiction minor or not tends to be if it is legal or not (because addictions in the -10 or less sweet spot can get shifted around by the +5 that legality gets). It just seems peculiar that if a drug is legal, it suddenly becomes easier to quit...

Hangon, just digested what you're posting after having some coffee. They are not defined by having a particular negative point value; they're defined by having a particular negative point value before applying the legality modifier. The legality modifier doesn't turn something into something easier to quit. "Addiction" has a -5/-10/-15 cost that determines the strength of the addiction and a modifier for legality that's unrelated to the level of the addiction.

[TGLS]

I looked at basic again. On B122, under the sub-heading, "Minor Addictions", it specifies that - 5 point can be and zero point addictions must be treated as minor addictions that use different withdrawal rules, but neglects mentioning legality.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Hangon, just digested what you're posting after having some coffee.

Speaking of minor addictions. Heh.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Bruno

The legality modifier doesn't turn something into something easier to quit.

I think he was talking about the way a legal addiction is easier to buy off, because the player doesn't have to save up so many earned points.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by johndallman

I think he was talking about the way a legal addiction is easier to buy off, because the player doesn't have to save up so many earned points.

In the real world there's a lot more and cheaper support for quitting smoking than for quiting heroin, so maybe this actually makes sense.

[vicky_molokh]

What I found lacking was some sort of broadly-approved game mechanic for gaining addiction from use of whatever. Yes, it varies IRL, but so do withdrawals.

[Daigoro]

About Alcoholism- why does it have a Will roll to avoid taking a drink, when other mental disads spurn this for Self-Control rolls?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

About Alcoholism- why does it have a Will roll to avoid taking a drink, when other mental disads spurn this for Self-Control rolls?

I don't know for sure, but possibly because of the way that long-term Alcoholism can reduce your basic attributes (ST, DX, IQ or HT). Will goes down when you lose IQ; SCRs don't have a mechanism like that.