 Edges & Flaws - a primer, what are some common choices? |
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 Feb 21 2005, 07:31 PM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 202 Joined: 15-September 04 From: East Providence, RI Member No.: 6,664  |
I haven't made a character yet that had any Edges or Flaws (I've been pretty much avoiding them) but I've been reading about them a bit more lately. What are some common choices?
Which ones are very annoying in play and which ones are flat-out cheesy? Which ones are worth taking? (both good and bad) |
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Feb 21 2005, 07:38 PM
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#2
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 485 Joined: 25-October 04 Member No.: 6,789 |
it all depends on what you want to do. No matter the archetype Good looking and Knows it, Good Reputation and Friendly Face are just useful to ignore. Well connected is worth every point as is Ambidexterity (which is cheese but fun).
For flaws you would be surprised how many of my deckers take sensitive nural structure. |
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Feb 21 2005, 07:38 PM
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#3
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Oh, there are plenty. It depends heavily on who your character is, both in terms of role and personality. Bonus Attribute Point and Exceptional Attribute are ones I almost always take, and Vehicle Empathy for Riggers. Flaws typically run towards phobias or allergies.
~J |
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Feb 21 2005, 07:41 PM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 668 Joined: 15-February 05 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 7,086 |
Edges:
Quick Healer/Fast Healing. Whichever it's called. I don't have the book on hand. The boosted and exceptional attributes. Great for designing a specific concept, little bit scary as far as how powerful they can be, if done right. Flaws: Whatever goes. Phobias seem common with my group.. between 3 PCs, there are 4 phobias.. Sammie with a lightning phobia, shaman-adept with a mild phobia of priests and a major one of churches (backstory: he nearly got burned at the stake) Haven't run into any that are annoying in play yet.. but all of the ones I've taken have been just naturally part of the character. Build the personality first, then find the ones that fit and it solves most of the annoyance problems, I've found |
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Feb 21 2005, 07:54 PM
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#5
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Mr. Johnson Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,587 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 7,014 |
If a flaw doesn't really create a disadvantage within the context of the game, it probably is either a cheesy flaw or a flaw chosen to flesh out the character.
As far as edges, I'd be very wary of choosing Aptitude, if you are concerned about cheese. It tends to be one of the more powerful edges if your GM allows it. I'm always fond of the Toughness edge myself. One of our characters has Allergy: Severe, Citrus Fruits, which makes him a little hard to live with at meals. We're thinking about giving him some sort of compulsive/paranoid flaw when it comes to cooking or eating. |
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Feb 21 2005, 08:20 PM
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#6
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,102 Joined: 23-March 04 From: The Grizzly Grunion, in a VIP room. Member No.: 6,191 |
High pain tolerance is a good one to have, as is full ambidexterity. As for flaws... I usually pick ones that will give my character depth by fitting in with his back story.
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Feb 21 2005, 08:43 PM
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#7
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 292 Joined: 24-September 04 Member No.: 6,701 |
If your GM allows it, get Skill Aptitude on your primary combat skill. Nothing beats it; period.
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Feb 21 2005, 09:33 PM
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#8
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,088 Joined: 8-October 04 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 6,734 |
*cough* Yeah, it's definately the way to go, IF your GM lets you.
I let Lina get away with one when I was just starting as a GM...I ain't allowing it again. *grumble* |
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Feb 21 2005, 09:46 PM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 316 Joined: 18-July 03 Member No.: 4,963 |
One of the most common flaws in my experience is Enemy.
It's not like it's a real flaw. It just means your character gets more 'screen time' so to speak. |
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Feb 21 2005, 09:52 PM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 619 Joined: 27-May 03 From: Detroit Member No.: 4,642 |
If you are a Ghost Hunter type, Bravery and Natural Immunity (HMHVV) are really useful.
As for flaws I like Day Job but it can be pure Velveeta if your GM let's you take the money with out having your job complicate your life. |
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Feb 21 2005, 10:20 PM
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#11
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Target Group: Members Posts: 64 Joined: 17-December 04 Member No.: 6,886 |
The cheese factor is pretty high all around, but I'd reccomend a simpler approach. Start out with a concept, and a story, and take flaws and attributes that follow that story. That will make the GM's job easier, by giving more plot hooks and things to play with.
In terms of effectiveness, it matters more how the attibutes fit in with the character concept. |
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Feb 21 2005, 10:29 PM
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#12
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Mr. Johnson Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,587 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 7,014 |
This has already been discussed in a previous thread, but it can be a very annoying flaw if it frags up an otherwise perfect run. It depends on how the GM uses the flaw, really... some GMs simply use it to make existing enemies more powerful (more willing to cooperate together, more resources, etc.), others make sure that you (read: Your Team) are paying for the flaw in a very real way. |
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Feb 21 2005, 10:56 PM
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#13
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,512 Joined: 16-August 03 From: Northampton Member No.: 5,499 |
Common Edges.
Perceptive Ambidextrous 3 Focused Concentration Night Vision Bonus Attribute Exceptional Attribute The last 2 are very common. Flaws? Enemy's Phobia's Day Job's (or as i prefer to call them "Commitments") I tend find that Flaws are more fitting to a character and thus you get a broader spectrum of them over edges. |
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Feb 21 2005, 10:58 PM
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#14
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
If you're playing after YOTC (specificly more than 10-WIL weeks after) Chronic Osteocspus is the way to go. A -10 point flaw that gives you Pain Resistance 3 and +1 to all unarmed attacks in exchange for being a slow healer (And 10-Willpower weeks of +4 TNs). Very cheesy. Great for a Minotaur Adept.
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Feb 21 2005, 11:10 PM
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#15
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Mr. Johnson Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,587 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 7,014 |
Well, you still would have to pay somehow for the dubious "privilege" to be a SURGE changeling at character generation, either as a GM-sanctioned SURGE roll or paying 5 points at character generation. Not to mention that Chronic Osteocuspus is NOT a fun thing to have. You wouldn't be able to hug or "get intimate" with anyone, for starters, you have to buy modified clothing and armor, and I'm very sure that you will be ostracized by others. |
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Feb 21 2005, 11:54 PM
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#16
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,144 Joined: 22-September 04 Member No.: 6,690 |
I like:
Perfect Time and Perceptive myself. Flaws tend to vary wildly depending on the character, but phobias can offer fun RP options, as well as compulsions. Really, what flaws and edges you take should really depend on the character concept. |
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Feb 22 2005, 12:06 AM
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#17
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Moving Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 202 Joined: 15-September 04 From: East Providence, RI Member No.: 6,664 |
Cool ideas everyone. Thanks.
Just out of curiosity, what are some phobias you have taken or seen in play? |
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| Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_* |
Feb 22 2005, 12:07 AM
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#18
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Guests |
And your PC also suffers from a condition that hurts like hell.
Enemy? Hmm.... Enemy... *checks his copy of SR3Comp, and specifically the Edges & Flaws Table on page 31* Nope. No "Enemy" flaw there. There's an "Extra Enemy" Flaw, and a "Hunted" Flaw. If you're going to criticize something, at least do it correctly. |
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Feb 22 2005, 12:22 AM
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#19
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,144 Joined: 22-September 04 Member No.: 6,690 |
I have a character with a severe phobia of bug spirits (he finished growin up in the Chicago CZ) but I extend that to him being jumpy around ALL bugs.
Any kind of phobia of dogs can be interesting if someplace you're making a run on has parananimal guards. Water can also be a good one. |
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Feb 22 2005, 12:22 AM
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#20
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Mr. Johnson Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,587 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 7,014 |
You can call a pistol as a "gun" or even a "slugthrower" and people will still know what you are talking about. Since most people know that when you say "Enemy Flaw", you really mean "Extra Enemy Flaw", it seems to be an accepted usage of the text. Ah, semantics. Back to the topic, I currently play a character who has a mild phobia of Shapeshifters, due to a bad tangle with a Shapeshifter prior. "I shot him with 6 bullets from each revolver, and it STILL didn't die!" |
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| Guest_Crimsondude 2.0_* |
Feb 22 2005, 01:32 AM
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#21
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Guests |
Actually, since it generally is used to refer to the Hunted Flaw, or was in the recent and similar thread, it is not that self-evident. And besides, I don't assume. Nor do I guess, hypothesize, speculate, or infer (yes, credit where credit is due goes to Jimmy Caan in Way of the Gun) when I'm discussing anything online. I'm weird like that. |
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Feb 22 2005, 02:33 AM
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#22
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Target Group: Members Posts: 71 Joined: 2-February 05 From: Greensboro, NC Member No.: 7,046 |
i rarely use edges or flaws, but i'm a big fan of common sense...
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Feb 22 2005, 02:42 AM
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#23
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
While many advised to be careful with Aptitudes, I'd also add to be careful with Preceptive. It is Aptitude (Intelligence AND Complementary Stealth) for the cheap and cheesy cost of 3, unlike that of Aptitude with cost of 4. With Preceptive and Cognition in the hands of a player, you can kiss that sniper goodbye as a GM, unless you break the rules.
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Feb 22 2005, 03:18 AM
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#24
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 582 Joined: 30-July 04 Member No.: 6,525 |
I also rarely make use of edges or flaws unless it is a very good fit for the character. Although when the SR Companion first came out I made several characters who were all color blind. I am color blind myself so I thought it was a neat way to take a flaw which would be so simple for me to RP.
Which brings up a silly random question. Are there any documented cases of a human (in RL, not SR) being allergic to silver? |
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Feb 22 2005, 03:27 AM
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#25
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Mr. Johnson Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,587 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 7,014 |
A quick journal search reveals: Agarwal S. Gawkrodger DJ. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis to silver and colophonium in a jeweler. [Case Reports. Journal Article] American Journal of Contact Dermatitis. 13(2):74, 2002 Jun. Ehrlich A. Kucenic M. Belsito DV. Role of body piercing in the induction of metal allergies. [Journal Article] American Journal of Contact Dermatitis. 12(3):151-5, 2001 Sep. Fraser-Moodie A. Sensitivity to silver in a patient treated with silver sulphadiazine (Flamazine). [Case Reports. Journal Article] Burns. 18(1):74-5, 1992 Feb. From a brief look at some articles, this mostly comes up in silver-amalgam fillings in the context of dentistry, so it happens at a rare frequency. |
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