[Basic] Luck/Unluckiness limitation: Long-Term Relationships cost?

[Prince Charon]

Sorry the title isn't better. It's pretty common in fiction for the hero to be very lucky, except in the one area of long-term relationships, where his (or sometimes her) luck is terrible. Doylistly, this is because the writers need him to be available for the next Girl of the Week (or whatever), but it's not unreasonable to want to simulate this on a character sheet.

The specific case of James T. Kirk comes readily to mind: he pretty clearly has either Ridiculous Luck or some form of Probability Alteration, if not both, except in the one case of keeping a girlfriend for more than an episode, at which he seems to be Cursed, or Jinxed (which doesn't exist in 4e) - far too often, the Girl of the Week dies during the episode, but even if she doesn't, the relationship ends before the next time the Girl of the Week goes for the Captain. Eventually, even the Enterprise, the one lady he'd been able to mostly keep, died.

It really seems to me that Kirk has Ridiculous Luck (Not for Long-Term Relationships, -??%) and Cursed (Only for Long-Term Relationships, -??%). But how much is that '??%' worth? I think that it would be a different number for each, as it only limits luck in a small way, but limits Unluckiness & Cursed in a very large way. I'm wondering if anyone has a clear idea of how much.


Thoughts?

[Mark Skarr]

I think you're misinterpreting "unlucky in love" for Kirk. He's really got "Lecherous + Xenophilia." And, unless Robot Chicken is correct Resistant: Disease (Immunity). Maybe with a little cosmic thrown in.

Lecherousness will have the desired effect on long-term relationships.

The only other thing it could be is that Kirk has a sex-related affliction that afflicts Cursed (Doomed to die really, really soon) on his partners. Again, doesn't have anything to do with Luck.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

Thoughts?

Kirk has the Quirk: Can't Keep A Stable Relationship [-1].

Nothing more, nothing less as it has almost zero impact on the game/story (or rather it fits into the genre of the game/story and leaves him open for romance whenever a romance plot is offered up).

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

Kirk has the Quirk: Can't Keep A Stable Relationship [-1].

Nothing more, nothing less as it has almost zero impact on the game/story (or rather it fits into the genre of the game/story and leaves him open for romance whenever a romance plot is offered up).

I really think the number of them that die, sometimes within days of meeting him, suggests more than a quirk.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

I really think the number of them that die, sometimes within days of meeting him, suggests more than a quirk.

But is it significantly greater than the chance of dying gained simply by being played by a guest actress in star trek? I'm not sure I could say either way, but its a possibility worth looking at.

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by ericthered

But is it significantly greater than the chance of dying gained simply by being played by a guest actress in star trek? I'm not sure I could say either way, but its a possibility worth looking at.

To be fair, if you were a guest actress in TOS, you were probably a love-interest for Kirk.

But really, this isn't something that should be modeled on Kirk, I'd say it's more a combination of his Lecherousness and a setting switch.

[martinl]

Yes, this is a setting switch - "Reset Button."

[Black Leviathan]

I think the Unlucky at Love trope is already represented in the Luck Advantage. The things that make a relationship work aren't dependent on statistical chances so much as hard work. And there aren't many skill rolls in maintaining a relationship that can be effected by the Advantage.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

I really think the number of them that die, sometimes within days of meeting him, suggests more than a quirk.

No worse than being a Redshirt, and being an NPC means the GM never has to say sorry.

[capnq]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

I really think the number of them that die, sometimes within days of meeting him, suggests more than a quirk.

Maybe Destiny (long-term relationships are Doomed) [-5]?