Hey I'm working on new pen and paper inspired RPG software. In the character creation section we have players assigning strengths and weaknesses. Instead of creating a list and limiting the players we allow anything. For example I am play-testing with a character who's weaknesses are Bad at diplomacy, High Pitched Voice, Acute Paranoia and short term memory problems. My friend is playing a bard who is a womanizer, alcoholic coward. Some other examples of weaknesses are out of shape, butterfingers, cocky, massive stature, stick fingers/must steal, ugly as sin, stupid, wimpy, bad liar.

I am not making an all inclusive list but I would like a reference list with suggestions to inspire players. Strengths or weaknesses.

Any help will be appreciated hopefully this is a fun and engaging thread.

more info at //www.TrollJawtavern.com

Just thought of a couple Tourettes, narcolepsy, no sense of direction, afraid of the dark

I'd recommend looking at the lists from games such as GURPS, Hero or Savage Worlds.

GURPS already has a list.

Womanizer seems a lot more like a strength than a weakness. "Falls for any member of the opposite sex" would be a weakness, though.

Quote from: merc;894317Womanizer seems a lot more like a strength than a weakness. "Falls for any member of the opposite sex" would be a weakness, though.

Yeah I guess (chasing women) was the main concept. I see uncontrollable desire for all women as a disadvantage. I could see being "a suave womanizer" where the women also want character as an advantage

Thanks for the info about GURPS and Hero/Savage worlds. Those will come in handy

WorldofDorkness Big List of Merits and Flaws

"strengths and weaknesses" are tickets for character-creation min maxing. You'll have to be very careful how you implement any of these. In my experience, random rolls are pretty much the only way to avoid abuse. Any other method, however well 'balanced' you think it is, can be heavily gamed.

Quote from: RPGPundit;895334"strengths and weaknesses" are tickets for character-creation min maxing. You'll have to be very careful how you implement any of these. In my experience, random rolls are pretty much the only way to avoid abuse. Any other method, however well 'balanced' you think it is, can be heavily gamed.

The best solution is just not to play with those sorts of people.

This may be the most comprehensive list of Complications for the Hero System available:

http://masterlistsofcomplications.wikia.com/wiki/The_Master_List_of_Complications_Wiki

Quote from: TristramEvans;895353The best solution is just not to play with those sorts of people.

Except that 'those people' are ultimately the majority of players.  Yes, there's the ridiculously outrageous powergamers and min-maxers who are players you don't want to have around. But there's also the basic reality that if you create a system where by fiddling with points you can give your character a certain advantage, every player will try to do that to some extent, because it's in the nature of players to want their characters to have an edge.