Why is Broad-Minded a Quirk?

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Mailanka

It's not really the opposite of intolerance

It's an example of a disadvantage reduced to quirk level, Xenophilia in this case. Think of it less like "I'm not racist" and more "I'm actively interested in other races, just not to the point of a xenophile."

A Broad-Minded character could be open-minded about inter-species romance (or other, more physical inter-species activities), without seeking it out in the active, obsessive, fetischistic way that someone with actual Xenophilia would.

That's not how the Quirk is intended, of course, but it could have that as a secondary effect in some types of campaigns.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

I've always wondered this, especially in a "normal" TL8 type setting (such as our Earth).

The concept of Quirks seems to have mutated without purging and is a bit of a muddle now.

Broad-minded and a few other beneficial 'quirks' were corruptions that popped up in supplement materials in either 2e or 3e and were not extirpated as they should have been in the transition to 4e.

Really, digging back to the roots of the idea in 1e, a Quirk should just be any sort of non-beneficial, minor role-playable feature that distinguishes the character. There is no need for it to be actually disavantageous -- the -1 point is a bonus and incentive to roleplay.

[Jeffr0]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Really, digging back to the roots of the idea in 1e, a Quirk should just be any sort of non-beneficial, minor role-playable feature that distinguishes the character.

-1 Likes Green

[Kaldrin]

Originally Posted by Jeffr0

-1 Likes Green

That wouldn't be enough in any of my games. Quirks do have to be enough of a trait to be playable often enough to justify the point you get from them. This one wouldn't play enough to even be worth a point. :)

[nick012000]

Originally Posted by Kaldrin

That wouldn't be enough in any of my games. Quirks do have to be enough of a trait to be playable often enough to justify the point you get from them. This one wouldn't play enough to even be worth a point. :)

Sure it is. It'd be basically a Quirk-level Trademark. When you've got a choice between things, you'll usually go with the green thing, all other things being equal.

[Phil Masters]

Quirks got a bit out of hand by the end of the 3rd edition period, so the definition was tightened up a little for 4th edition (and the whole concept of physical quirks was formally added to the game). They may not have to be actively disadvantageous, but they do have to be noticeably roleplayable. You'll note that sample characters in 4e books tend to have slightly fewer quirks these days; they're more likely to be queried at the editing stage.

[nerdvana]

Originally Posted by nick012000

Sure it is. It'd be basically a Quirk-level Trademark. When you've got a choice between things, you'll usually go with the green thing, all other things being equal.

To make it playable I'd take it one farther... if the two things are slightly unbalanced you'll go for the green one even if the other would perform better otherwise. (Not if there is a significant unbalancing, then you can go with the logical choice)

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Kaldrin

That wouldn't be enough in any of my games. Quirks do have to be enough of a trait to be playable often enough to justify the point you get from them. This one wouldn't play enough to even be worth a point. :)

These days I lean more to its the player's responsiblity to bring up their quirks. If you make a point of asking the girl in green for a dance, or inquiring if the shopkeeper has it in green every once in a while, then Likes Green is a perfectly good quirk. If after a few sessions I can't recall a time you've made color an issue, you need to be challenged on it.

[RedMattis]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

There is no need for it to be actually disavantageous -- the -1 point is a bonus and incentive to roleplay.

There WAS no need for it to actually be disadvantageous.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by RedMattis

There WAS no need for it to actually be disadvantageous.

Is no need, I think you'll find if you re-read the description in Characters.