 Blandness + Distinctive Style = ?, HE WAS SO AVERAGE! |
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 Jul 30 2011, 04:01 AM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 963 Joined: 15-February 11 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 21,972  |
Ok, Blandness + Distinctive style. Can these be combined? How would you represent it? I'm coming up with something like the protagonist from Idiocracy, but I'm intrigued to know what happens.
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Jul 30 2011, 05:41 AM
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#2
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,654 Joined: 29-October 06 Member No.: 9,731 |
They cancel each other out. Subtract 10 (the cost of Blandness) from the chosen level of Distinctive Style, i.e., if the character has a 20-point Distinctive Style Quality and takes Blandness, his Distinctive Style is reduced to a 10-point Quality (the additional 10BP are lost).
Alternatively, the character divides by zero and vanishes into a negative space wedgie. |
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Jul 30 2011, 05:49 AM
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#3
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Grand Master of Run-Fu Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,840 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 178 |
I just rule that they're incompatible, and leave it at that.
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Jul 30 2011, 05:54 AM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 704 Joined: 20-November 06 From: The seemingly unknown area of land between Seattle and Idaho. Member No.: 9,910 |
I would let them keep it. The person would be too ordinary. Someone who fits into the average so much, who is so perfectly normal that everynody remembers him. Unfortunately the best description would be "kinda average, nothing stood out." I would also have people slightly unnerved by him as well. Something you can't put your finger on.
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Jul 30 2011, 06:40 AM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 963 Joined: 15-February 11 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 21,972 |
QUOTE (crash2029 @ Jul 29 2011, 10:54 PM)  I would let them keep it. The person would be too ordinary. Someone who fits into the average so much, who is so perfectly normal that everynody remembers him. Unfortunately the best description would be "kinda average, nothing stood out." I would also have people slightly unnerved by him as well. Something you can't put your finger on. Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking, or a description of "So average you'll know when you see him." |
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Jul 30 2011, 06:46 AM
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#6
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
Bland in RL, Distinctive Style in AR/VR, maybe?
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Jul 30 2011, 06:55 AM
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#7
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 963 Joined: 15-February 11 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 21,972 |
Ooh! That'd be awesome for a hacker.
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Jul 30 2011, 07:07 AM
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#8
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
IRL: *Mumbles and looks small and insignificant*
Online: "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!!" |
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Jul 30 2011, 07:21 AM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 963 Joined: 15-February 11 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 21,972 |
Must not make hacker named ZOD, will feel need to understand Unwired. . .
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Jul 30 2011, 07:22 AM
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#10
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,717 Joined: 23-March 09 From: Weymouth, UK Member No.: 17,007 |
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Jul 30 2011, 02:24 PM
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#11
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Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,989 Joined: 28-July 09 From: Somewhere along the brazilian coast Member No.: 17,437 |
QUOTE (Tanegar @ Jul 30 2011, 02:41 AM) Alternatively, the character divides by zero and vanishes into a negative space wedgie. The first rule of dumpshock is you do not link to TVtropes.org. The second rule of dumpshock is YOU DO NOT LINK TO TVTROPES.ORG. |
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Jul 30 2011, 02:37 PM
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#12
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
QUOTE (CanRay @ Jul 30 2011, 01:46 AM) Bland in RL, Distinctive Style in AR/VR, maybe? QUOTE (ggodo @ Jul 30 2011, 01:55 AM) Ooh! That'd be awesome for a hacker. Well, it just makes sense. Think of the number of people IRL right now who are shrinking violets in person, but raging demons online?Not add a direct neural interface. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) |
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Jul 30 2011, 03:09 PM
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#13
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,654 Joined: 29-October 06 Member No.: 9,731 |
QUOTE (Brazilian_Shinobi @ Jul 30 2011, 10:24 AM) The first rule of dumpshock is you do not link to TVtropes.org. The second rule of dumpshock is YOU DO NOT LINK TO TVTROPES.ORG. Screw the rules, I have tropes! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) |
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Jul 30 2011, 03:12 PM
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#14
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Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022 |
QUOTE (Tanegar @ Jul 30 2011, 08:09 AM) Because Tropes are.... Good? |
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Jul 30 2011, 03:16 PM
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#15
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
QUOTE (Tymeaus Jalynsfein @ Jul 30 2011, 10:12 AM) Because Tropes are.... Good? They're tools, nothing more.
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Jul 30 2011, 03:16 PM
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#16
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The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 |
No, they are Terribad. Badong even.
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Jul 30 2011, 03:17 PM
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#17
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
Stahl, what did we say about using Newspeak here? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)
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Jul 30 2011, 03:31 PM
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#18
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The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 |
it's doubleplusnotgood?
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Jul 30 2011, 03:42 PM
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#19
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Immortal Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,358 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Member No.: 14,465 |
Just stick with proper English please, Stahl. The native speakers of that language get confused enough with it already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
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Jul 30 2011, 03:43 PM
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#20
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 748 Joined: 22-April 07 From: Vermont Member No.: 11,507 |
Blandness means that you are so "average in height, weight, and appearance, and ... physical characteristics or mannerisms" that it is easy for people to forget you, to the extent that anyone trying to follow or search for you suffers a –2 penalty.
Distinctive Style means that you have "distinctive physical feature or unique mannerism" which makes you stand out, giving anyone tracking or searching for you a +3 bonus. At first glance they are clearly opposites and would be incompatible. However I can think of two examples of them being combined. Tom Cruise arguably has a Distinctive Style, and yet he learned Blandness while preparing for his role in Collateral. He worked as a Fed Ex deliveryman, and with practice, no one recognized him. An even more famous fictional example was based just on whether the character was wearing glasses or a cape. So I would allow it, but the character would have to focus on being bland during an encounter to get the benefit (strict GMs could impose a penalty to the player like sustaining a spell). Even then the net result would still be +1 die to anyone looking for the target. |
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Jul 30 2011, 04:05 PM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 963 Joined: 15-February 11 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 21,972 |
QUOTE (CanRay @ Jul 30 2011, 08:42 AM) Just stick with proper English please, Stahl. The native speakers of that language get confused enough with it already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Newspeak is the only roper language. QUOTE (MJBurrage @ Jul 30 2011, 08:43 AM) Blandness means that you are so "average in height, weight, and appearance, and ... physical characteristics or mannerisms" that it is easy for people to forget you, to the extent that anyone trying to follow or search for you suffers a –2 penalty. Distinctive Style means that you have "distinctive physical feature or unique mannerism" which makes you stand out, giving anyone tracking or searching for you a +3 bonus. At first glance they are clearly opposites and would be incompatible. However I can think of two examples of them being combined. Tom Cruise arguably has a Distinctive Style, and yet he learned Blandness while preparing for his role in Collateral. He worked as a Fed Ex deliveryman, and with practice, no one recognized him. An even more famous fictional example was based just on whether the character was wearing glasses or a cape. So I would allow it, but the character would have to focus on being bland during an encounter to get the benefit (strict GMs could impose a penalty to the player like sustaining a spell). Even then the net result would still be +1 die to anyone looking for the target. I like this one. This is entirely a thought experiment, but I thought it would be interesting to see what The Internet thinks on it. Also, if they took 5 point distinctive style, then Blandness would give them a net -1. |
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Jul 30 2011, 04:22 PM
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#22
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Great Dragon Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,087 Joined: 3-October 09 From: Kohle, Stahl und Bier Member No.: 17,709 |
I'd imagine it as somebody who has a distinguishing feature, but a lot of other people have the same feature and he does not stand out among those.
Imagine a totally average Asian guy in a white crowd. Of course he will stand out, but people won't be able to give a better description than "well, he looked kinda...Asian...with black hair and...uhm...normal build" |
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Jul 30 2011, 04:32 PM
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#23
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The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 |
QUOTE (CanRay @ Jul 30 2011, 05:42 PM) Just stick with proper English please, Stahl. The native speakers of that language get confused enough with it already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) English, or bad english? *grins* |
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Jul 30 2011, 04:35 PM
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#24
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Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022 |
QUOTE (ggodo @ Jul 30 2011, 10:05 AM) Newspeak is the only roper language. I like this one. This is entirely a thought experiment, but I thought it would be interesting to see what The Internet thinks on it. Also, if they took 5 point distinctive style, then Blandness would give them a net -1. Ummmmm, Minor Nitpick.... Distinctive Style provides a +3, regardless of the Level, from 5 to 35 Points. Really, it is in the text. So it would always be a minimum of +1 (Blandness -2, Distinctive Style +3, nets a +1) using your logic there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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Jul 30 2011, 05:41 PM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 748 Joined: 22-April 07 From: Vermont Member No.: 11,507 |
QUOTE (Tymeaus Jalynsfein @ Jul 30 2011, 12:35 PM) Ummmmm, Minor Nitpick.... Distinctive Style provides a +3, regardless of the Level, from 5 to 35 Points. Really, it is in the text. So it would always be a minimum of +1 (Blandness -2, Distinctive Style +3, nets a +1) using your logic there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Based on the full wording of Distinctive Style, I am pretty sure that every 5 points from it is a single distinctive feature worth the +3 to others search tests, but their cumulative effect is capped at +6 dice.
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