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Message no. 1
From: Airwasp <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Edges and Flaws
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 09:44:55 EST
I'd like to know of any edges and flaws you guys have made or introduced into
your games (if you even allow them at all) as I would like to know about them.

In return, I have modified one of the flaws, Weak Immune System, from being a
1 point flaw to something with 4 potential variations :

Weak Immune System (Modified)

Flaw Points : Light (-1), Moderate (-2), Serious (-3), Deadly (-5)

Description : Each of the flaw describes the person's general lack of an
immune system, each level increases the chance of catching a disease by the
flaw point cost (?!?), and at the same time also increases the target number
to resist the disease that is afflicting them. At all levels of the Weak
Immune System the character also loses a die from their Body Resistance test
against the disease.

When a character has a Moderate Weak Immune System the damage power of the
disease in increased by one.

When a character has a Serious Weak Immune System the damage power of a
disease is increased by two.

When a character has a Deadly Weak Immune System, not only does the power of
the disease go up by two, but the damage level of the disease also goes up by
one too (if the disease is already a 'D' level then add another +2 to the
power of the disease for resisting it).

What do you guys think of it, and I look forward to hearing some of the ones
you guys have also.

Mike
Message no. 2
From: "Ryan W. Bolduan" <emeottrw@***.MRS.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 09:55:57 -0600
On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, Airwasp wrote:

> I'd like to know of any edges and flaws you guys have made or introduced into
> your games (if you even allow them at all) as I would like to know about them.

If you want to find a larger list of edges and flaws you can check out my
web page at:
http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/sr/sr.html
Follow the rules link from there. I was playing with edges and flaws
several years before they were introduced in the companion. We had
composed a list from an old game called Top Secret SI that worked very
well. Sometime soon I will have up my list of serious mental disorders
too. It's lots of fun.

>
> In return, I have modified one of the flaws, Weak Immune System, from being a
> 1 point flaw to something with 4 potential variations :
>
> Weak Immune System (Modified)
>
> Flaw Points : Light (-1), Moderate (-2), Serious (-3), Deadly (-5)
>
> Description : Each of the flaw describes the person's general lack of an
> immune system, each level increases the chance of catching a disease by the
> flaw point cost (?!?), and at the same time also increases the target number
> to resist the disease that is afflicting them. At all levels of the Weak
> Immune System the character also loses a die from their Body Resistance test
> against the disease.
>
> When a character has a Moderate Weak Immune System the damage power of the
> disease in increased by one.
>
> When a character has a Serious Weak Immune System the damage power of a
> disease is increased by two.
>
> When a character has a Deadly Weak Immune System, not only does the power of
> the disease go up by two, but the damage level of the disease also goes up by
> one too (if the disease is already a 'D' level then add another +2 to the
> power of the disease for resisting it).
>
> What do you guys think of it, and I look forward to hearing some of the ones
> you guys have also.
>
> Mike
>
I kind of like it myself. I seriously doubt any of the characters in my
campain would ever take it, but you never know.

--
Ryan Bolduan
emeottrw@***.mrs.umn.edu
Message no. 3
From: SCROSE <scrose@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 12:33:16 -0600
Airwasp wrote:
>
> I'd like to know of any edges and flaws you guys have made or introduced into
> your games (if you even allow them at all) as I would like to know about them.
>
> In return, I have modified one of the flaws, Weak Immune System, from being a
> 1 point flaw to something with 4 potential variations :

Here's one I use it's similar to the one you have. It's based on
distinctive style.

1) Distinctive style as stated in SRComp
The others are based on someone's face being on the trid and/or other
media too much.
A great many reasons exist for a person to become a media icon and the
degree of fame denotes who well known they are
2) Local personality.
3) Regional or National personality
4) International personality
Message no. 4
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 00:15:12 -0500
>I'd like to know of any edges and flaws you guys have made or introduced
into
>your games (if you even allow them at all) as I would like to know about
them.

I've actually een working on something I saw on the list, I can't recall who
brought up the notion that Paranoia might be both and edge and a flaw, but
that idea got me thinking.

Destiny - 5 point Edge/Flaw

When a character is given this E/F, the Gm chooses what the PC's destiny is.
Until that destiny is fulfilled, that Pc cannot die.
(He is free to be maimed, tortured, sold into slavery, etc. - he just won't
die.)

Sounds great until you realize that "Men of Destiny" are always right in the
middle of the nastiest situations, right? <EGMGrin>

Steven A. Tinner
bluewizard@*****.com
http://www.ncweb.com/users/bluewizard
"Poppa ... I got cider in my ear ...." - Marlon Brando as Sky Masters in
Guys and Dolls
Message no. 5
From: Panther <qmilton@**.NET>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 19:26:19 -0800
Steven A. Tinner wrote:
>
> Destiny - 5 point Edge/Flaw
>
> When a character is given this E/F, the Gm chooses what the PC's destiny is.
> Until that destiny is fulfilled, that Pc cannot die.
> (He is free to be maimed, tortured, sold into slavery, etc. - he just won't
> die.)
>
> Sounds great until you realize that "Men of Destiny" are always right in
the
> middle of the nastiest situations, right? <EGMGrin>

I like it. I think I'm gonna work on a character with this. Should
make for GREAT RP :)

Panther
Message no. 6
From: Airwasp <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 09:13:00 EST
In a message dated 98-03-27 10:59:41 EST, you write:

<< > I'd like to know of any edges and flaws you guys have made or introduced
into
> your games (if you even allow them at all) as I would like to know about
them.

If you want to find a larger list of edges and flaws you can check out my
web page at:
http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/sr/sr.html
Follow the rules link from there. I was playing with edges and flaws
several years before they were introduced in the companion. We had
composed a list from an old game called Top Secret SI that worked very
well. Sometime soon I will have up my list of serious mental disorders
too. It's lots of fun.

Thanks for the information, btw, mind if we add you onto the Hoosier Hacker
House's List of Links Page (which whould be soon in coming).

And I did enjoy playing Top Secret also, pity it was drowned out by TSR's
AD&D.

> Weak Immune System (Modified)

<snip>

I kind of like it myself. I seriously doubt any of the characters in my
campain would ever take it, but you never know.
>>

Actually, I gave it to one of the pcs in the group who got nailed by Resonance
and was turned into an Otaku. He still does not know it yet that's all.

Mike
Message no. 7
From: Airwasp <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 09:36:26 EST
In a message dated 98-03-28 00:18:07 EST, you write:

<< I've actually een working on something I saw on the list, I can't recall
who
brought up the notion that Paranoia might be both and edge and a flaw, but
that idea got me thinking.

Destiny - 5 point Edge/Flaw

When a character is given this E/F, the Gm chooses what the PC's destiny is.
Until that destiny is fulfilled, that Pc cannot die.
(He is free to be maimed, tortured, sold into slavery, etc. - he just won't
die.)

Sounds great until you realize that "Men of Destiny" are always right in the
middle of the nastiest situations, right? <EGMGrin>
>>

Tinner, mind if I put something about this on Hoosier Hacker House, or do you
already have it on your web-site ?

Mike
Message no. 8
From: Wafflemiesters <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject: Re: Edges and flaws
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 14:40:25 -0600
Heres some edgesand flaws I was gonna put on mypage. Ijust neverpolished
them up and HTMLized them. Tell me what y'all think.


Edges and Flaws:

Physical:

1 point edge: Long legged: add 1 to the characters quickess, for
determining movement only.

1 point edge: Husky: add 1 to the characters strength, for detrmining
lifting and encumberance only.

Variable flaw (not yet determined): Bad cyber implant: a single
cyberware implant the character has was badly implimented, and is hard
to use, or causes pain when used. (tn penalty when using implant, worth
more for bigger implants and ones that can't / shouldn't be turned off
and worse TN penalties)

4 point flaw: Lost essence point: the character has lost an essesnce
point, to drugs of essence drain. This does NOT contribute to an
"essence slot". 6 point flaw for magically active characters.

Skill:

2 point edge: Extraordinary skill: The character is very skilled, and
may spend 7 skill points on one skill

1 point edge: Special training: the character may add 1 to any skill
specialization. The specialized skill may be over 8 at character
creation.

2 point edge: Concentrated training: the character may add 1 to any
skill concentration. The skill concentration may be over 7 at character
creation.

The GM may want to restrict the use of these edges in combination.
Otherwise, a decker could buy computer/ software at 6/8 for with the 2
point edge and 7 skill points, then get Concentrated training in
software for 2 and specialized training in decking for 1, giving him
compute/ software/ decking 6/9/10. On the other hand, that would cost 5
edge points (and seven skill points).
One solution would be to double these edge costs if used with skills
that allow (non karma) pool use.

Magic:

1 point flaw, +2 per level: Lost magic points: the character has lost
magic points to some “natural” cause, either to drug use, wounds, or
age. This does not affect the characters essence, and magic lost to
other sources is cumulative with this loss. 1 magic point per level is
lost. The character must take geas as normal.
This flaw is worth an extra point for physical adepts and physical
mages.

Varianble point flaw: Learned Geas: The magician learned magic with a
limitation, and must take a geas. Physical adepts can not take this
flaw, and physical mages must apply it to “active” magic.
The flaw is worth 1 point, plus another point if the character is a
“full mage”, plus another point if the geas can not be shed with
intitiation. Particular geas may be worth an extra point, if they
affect the mage very often in gameplay.

1 Point flaw: Magical Loner: The character can not participate in ritual
sorcery with other mages of any type.

2 point flaw: Strange Path: For some Psycho-mystical reason, the
character can not form an “astral contact”, and therefore can not join
any magical group, even one S/he attempts to form. S/he can still
intitiate alone and associate with groups socially or profesionally,
however.

3 point flaw: fragile magic: he character has a weak connection to
magic, and could even burnout from natural causes. S/he rolls only 1
die when checking for magic loss, instead of 2.

3 point merit: robust magic: the characters connection to magic is
strong, and s/he will not loose it easily to damage, drugs, or othe
natural causes. S/he rolls 3 dice when checking for magic loss, instead
of 2.
Message no. 9
From: BigDaddy <bigdaddy@*****.COM>
Subject: Edges and Flaws
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 11:00:03 -0400
A while back i was zooming through some characters, when I noticed some
edges and flaws. Now being that I don't currently own SR2 could someone
give me a brief overview on them? Also if someone has a set of them
online i can purview tell me! Would sure luv to incorporate them!
--
Napalm Sticks to Kidz,
BigDaddy
Message no. 10
From: Tim Kerby <drekhead@***.NET>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 11:06:27 -0400
On 22 Jun 98, at 11:00, BigDaddy wrote:

> A while back i was zooming through some characters, when I noticed some
> edges and flaws. Now being that I don't currently own SR2 could someone
> give me a brief overview on them? Also if someone has a set of them
> online i can purview tell me! Would sure luv to incorporate them! --

Edges and Flaws were introduced in the SR Companion. Basically, they
are quirks that you assign to your character at creation. Edges are
generally beneficial quirks, and Flaws are detrimental quirks.
Edges/Flaws have certain point values based on their severity. You
buy Edges with Build Points, and/or taking a Flaw gives you a number
of Build Points equal to their value.

--

=================================================================
- Tim Kerby - drekhead@***.net - ICQ-UIN 2883757 -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Reality is the only obstacle to happiness." - Unknown
Message no. 11
From: Paul Gettle <pgettle@********.NET>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 12:15:42 -0400
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

At 11:00 AM 6/22/98 -0400, BigDaddy wrote:
>A while back i was zooming through some characters, when I noticed
some
>edges and flaws. Now being that I don't currently own SR2 could
someone
>give me a brief overview on them? Also if someone has a set of them
>online i can purview tell me! Would sure luv to incorporate them!

It's even worse than that. Edges and Flaws were developed after SR2,
and the rules for them are in the SR Companion. Essentially, it's a
system that allows for positive and negative character traits that
weren't previously within the scope of the character creation rules.
(though a few of the "Flaws" listed were actually things that some of
the better roleplayers had been doing with their characters as a
matter of course)

The general idea is that each Edge has a positive point value and each
Flaw has a negative point value. Usually when the system is used, a
starting character may take a handful of both edges and flaws,
provided they total up to zero. (I suppose though, a GM could set the
target total to some positive or negative number, if he wanted his
players to have more or less powerful characters.)

The Edges and Flaws are highly compatable with the optional "Build
Point" chargen system offered in the Companion, as the point values
for Edges and Flaws are directly comparable to the Build Points used
in that system.

You probably won't find a listing of the Companion's Edges and Flaws
anywhere online, because that is a major portion of the SR Companion,
and to post it would violate FASA's copyright.
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--
-- Paul Gettle (pgettle@********.net)
PGP Fingerprint, Key ID:11455339 (RSA 1024, created 97/08/08)
625A FFF0 76DC A077 D21C 556B BB58 00AA
Message no. 12
From: wafflemiester <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 13:55:30 -0500
> > Re: Edges and Flaws
(Tim Kerby , Mon 10:06)
>
> On 22 Jun 98, at 11:00, BigDaddy wrote:
>
> > A while back i was zooming through some characters, when I noticed some
> > edges and flaws. Now being that I don't currently own SR2 could someone
> > give me a brief overview on them? Also if someone has a set of them
> > online i can purview tell me! Would sure luv to incorporate them! --
>
> Edges and Flaws were introduced in the SR Companion. Basically, they
> are quirks that you assign to your character at creation. Edges are
> generally beneficial quirks, and Flaws are detrimental quirks.
> Edges/Flaws have certain point values based on their severity. You
> buy Edges with Build Points, and/or taking a Flaw gives you a number
> of Build Points equal to their value.

Good synopsis. For some (non-FASA) examples, check
http://www.concentric.net/evamarie/MF.htm
For various reasons, my page is a little heavy on new flaws, which
might make it less useful for character creation.

-Mongoose
Message no. 13
From: BigDaddy <bigdaddy@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 22:37:19 -0400
wafflemiester wrote:
>
> > > Re: Edges and Flaws
> (Tim Kerby , Mon 10:06)
> >
> > On 22 Jun 98, at 11:00, BigDaddy wrote:
> >
> > > A while back i was zooming through some characters, when I noticed some
> > > edges and flaws. Now being that I don't currently own SR2 could someone
> > > give me a brief overview on them? Also if someone has a set of them
> > > online i can purview tell me! Would sure luv to incorporate them! --
> >
> > Edges and Flaws were introduced in the SR Companion. Basically, they
> > are quirks that you assign to your character at creation. Edges are
> > generally beneficial quirks, and Flaws are detrimental quirks.
> > Edges/Flaws have certain point values based on their severity. You
> > buy Edges with Build Points, and/or taking a Flaw gives you a number
> > of Build Points equal to their value.
>
> Good synopsis. For some (non-FASA) examples, check
> http://www.concentric.net/evamarie/MF.htm
>

page aint up why not?
--
Napalm Sticks to Kidz,
BigDaddy
Message no. 14
From: wafflemiester <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject: Re: Edges and Flaws
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 10:39:18 -0500
>
> Re: Edges and Flaws (BigDaddy , Tue 21:37)
>

> > > Edges and Flaws were introduced in the SR Companion. Basically, they
> > > are quirks that you assign to your character at creation. Edges are
> > > generally beneficial quirks, and Flaws are detrimental quirks.
> > > Edges/Flaws have certain point values based on their severity. You
> > > buy Edges with Build Points, and/or taking a Flaw gives you a number
> > > of Build Points equal to their value.
> >
> > Good synopsis. For some (non-FASA) examples, check
> > http://www.concentric.net/evamarie/MF.htm
> >
>
> page aint up why not?

Because I'm a bad proofreader- try
http://www.concentric.net/~evamarie/MF.htm (the tilda does the trick)

-Mongoose (I'm OUTTA here!)
Message no. 15
From: abortion_engine abortion_engine@*******.com
Subject: Edges and Flaws
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 16:44:24 -0400
The question to ask yourself is this: Why does this character have this edge
of flaw? Does it make any sense that such a thing would have happened to the
character? And if not, are they just using the flaw points to boost up their
characters, so they can screw you?

'Cause lets face it, with Edges and Flaws, SR has become much like...oh,
another points-based game where everybody did this whose name I can't
remember...anyway. If your players are just picking this garbage for
numbers, stick it to them. I mean, isn't this all about roleplaying? My GM
won't even let us use Edges and Flaws: he says he's not going to reward us
ahead of time for good roleplaying, for making an interesting character. The
bonus comes at the end of the adventure, in the extra karma points you
receive for ROLEPLAYING, not just GAMING.

When I GM, I allow E&F, but not abuse of them. C'mon, why are these five
guys all walking around hunted, or with borrowed time? What relevance does
it have to the character?

If your players are just gaming, not roleplaying, it's time to really make
those flaws count. I mean, come on.
Message no. 16
From: David Yiannakos yiannako@*******.edu
Subject: Edges and Flaws
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 17:42:59 -0400
<Snip a bunch of stuff about Edges and Flaws with the general gist of it
being:>


| The question to ask yourself is this: Why does this character have this
edge
| of flaw? Does it make any sense that such a thing would have happened to
the
| character? And if not, are they just using the flaw points to boost up
their
| characters, so they can screw you?

I'm pretty new to Shadowrun, but I do run a session of the game Deadlands
once in a while. (Wild west with magic and monsters, to those of you who
don't know...) Deadlands uses edges and flaws as well, and I like them. I
think they're a great way to flesh out a character in it's early stages
(especially because long campaigns in DL are rare, at least in my groups.)
In order to prevent their abuse I do have to put some limitations. The
rulebook suggests no more than 10 points each in Edges and Hinderances. I
pass along this suggestion to the players, but I know from my experience
playing, that sometimes some extra are needed to fit the character. So I'm
forgiving if people want to go over, as long as they follow these rules:

-No more than Thirteen points. Period.
-Never more Edges than Flaws (Duh)
-Every 1 point over 10 in Edges costs 2 points in Flaws
-Flaws over 10 cannot be used to get character building points.

What this does (at least for me so far) is that anyone who takes excessive
amounts of Flaws (Hinderances) is doing it for the purpose of character
personality enhancement (wow...) because there's really no gain to the
numbers you can get from it. (Unless you take 10 points in flaws and no
edges... hmm. Gimpy McStubbs, the one legged, one armed, one eyed, three
fingered bank robber... it'll be fun for the GM at least.)
But I digress...

Dave ('s not here man)
(self proclaimed) parenthesis junkie...

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Edges and Flaws, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!