Severe disadvantage + very easy mitigator?

[Ashtagon]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

Agreed, but only if getting back on the prayer regimen reverses the damage, much like a Pact limitation [B113].

Normally, failing to adhere to a Disciplines of Faith by itself results in a loss of earned character points for that adventure. If the penalty is significantly more than that, then a second disadvantage is called for.

Yes, of course. However, in this case, the penalty is so severe that the player may well say the character is no longer playable, and insist on having a new character in the interim while the first recovers. As such, since the penalty probably won't be played, it is in effect free points.

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Ashtagon

Yes, of course. However, in this case, the penalty is so severe that the player may well say the character is no longer playable, and insist on having a new character in the interim while the first recovers. As such, since the penalty probably won't be played, it is in effect free points.

That being the case, I'd argue the character is effectively Terminally Ill. The fact that the character is actually being rendered no longer playable due to insanity is mere color—no longer playable is equivalent to dead.

You may believe that Terminally Ill should not be worth any character points, since it never impacts a character you're currently playing. I'd say your reasoning is compelling, but I don't think it's RAW.