Proposed Mechanics: Banlist, Custom Advantages/Disadvantages

A general note on advantages/disadvantages - I'm a big advocate of not paying XP to add or remove them once the game starts. Pretty much every one of these advantages/disadvantages can be acquired or removed through RP, and it doesn't make sense that people need to spend XP on them after character creation - the following list is created with the assumption that after creation, advantages will be acquired without the expenditure of XP. As an aside - I fell the same way for Shugenja Scrolls. But that's a topic for another day.

Disadvantages

Bitter Betrothal [Social] (2 Points) - Restrict

Easy points for a disadvantage that's difficult to arbitrate - even if it's restricted to other PC's. I feel as if a pretty strong story and a thoroughly developed relationship with the spouse should be provided before allowing this flaw. I also think it's best that if it's acquired in game.

Dark Fate [Spiritual] (3 Points)

I'm kinda with you there on this one, Travis. I would suggest just leaving it at is - but the moment someone uses the ability to survive an encounter, set the Dark Fate in motion. Drop whatever we decide is appropriate for the character as a plot the next session, and escalate it at any time they use the ability again. The trick to making this worth the points is being creative about it - and I think that's all that's required to balance it. We just have to be on top of making survival less appealing than an honorable death.

Disturbing Countenance [Physical] (3 Points)
Something about your appearance causes others to respond to you with concern and caution. You are not nec
nessarily unattractive, merely disturbing in some way. The TN of all your Social Skill Rolls is increased by +5. This Disadvantage is worth 4 points to Spider characters.

Not restricted, but should be reflected in costuming.

Enlightened Madness [Spiritual] - Restrict (4/6 Points)

Erm... so. I really like this. While I don't like forcing people out of game - they don't have to take this disadvantage if they don't want to be put in that position. I say we keep it as is, but restrict it - if only so people understand that it could cut out of their game session time.

Haunted [Spiritual] (3 Points) Restrict

Just because it's hard to arbitrate. I'd suggest having players with this disad wear a gray sash so that when it's appropriate to trigger this disadvantage, an ST will be immediately aware. For people who can see spirits, it also lets them know there is something that can be interacted with.

Lord Moon's Curse [Spiritual] (3/5/7 Points) Restrict (at the very least)

Sort of in the same place as with enlightened Madness - except we'd have to be on top of making sure there are times when this disad comes into play... given the relative rarity of a full moon, I'm not sure it should be allowed at all.

Rumormonger [Social] (4 Points) Restrict

Again, this is a matter of arbitration. How do we monitor it to make sure it's actually being used as a disadvantage to the character and contributing to the narrative?

Sworn Enemy [Social]Restrict (3 Points)

If taken for anything other than a PC, this will require us to create an NPC and background for it. Doable, but we'll want to make sure it's worth the effort.

Unlucky [Spiritual] (2 Points per Rank) Restrict

Wear a brown sash to indicate this, and it eliminates the arbitration problem.

Weakness [Physical] (6 Points)

In EH, this is a great flaw to take given the value of Traits in this system. I don't want to restrict it, but want to emphasize that it's cost needs to decrease if the value of traits is not going to be addressed.

Wrath of the Kami [Spiritual] (3 Points)

Emphasize 'spells cast against you' and this should be fine. I've heard many arguments that this could apply to friendly spells such as healing and buffs. No thank you.

Gentry [Material] (Variable)

Needs to be addressed, but doesn't need to be restricted. People with this should generate additional influence.

Higher Purpose [Mental] (3 Points) Restrict or Ban
There is some greater purpose to which you have devoted your life. This is not a simple matter, but some grand work that will take years or perhaps even the whole of your life to accomplish. Whatever this goal is, during any session in which you and the GM agree you have made demonstrable progress toward it, you gain one additional Experience Point.

Requires significant monitoring. I think it may be easier to just ban it outright, but my general philosophy is to allow as much as possible. .

Kharmic Tie [Spiritual] (1-5 Points) Restrict
Your destiny is not yours alone, but is bonded to that of another in some fundamental way. You may have been close to this other person during a previous life, or perhaps your destiny in this life will yet be entwined in theirs in some essential manner. Select one person when purchasing this Advantage. For each point spent on this Advantage, once per session you gain a bonus of +1k1 to the total of all attack rolls made when fighting for or protecting the person to whom you are bonded.

I'd prefer if this were done with a PC.

**Read Lips [Mental] (4 Points)*8 Ban
Either through natural ability or incredible patience and practice, you have the ability to understand what others are saying even if you cannot hear them, simply by observing how their lips move. When you are in a situation where others are speaking and you cannot hear them, you can understand what they are saying by making a Perception Trait Roll against TN 15 + 5 for every twenty feet away from you the speakers are. Courtier characters may purchase this Advantage for 3 points.

Near impossible to arbitrate, especially, in PVP situations.

Way of the Land [Mental] (2 Points) Restrict

It should only ever be relevant to Otoson Uchii, and therefore, barring a background that revolves around being in or around the city all the time, should be restricted to 'figure it out in game'.

The more I think about Dark Fate, the more Kolat Sleeper agents come to mind. I think we have a clear way to make it a relevant and terrifying disadvantage in this game. I'm going to vote on not banning it.

I don't know that I want to base it on what it is at time of game...it is likely that we'll have some pattern where it'll be "third weekend" or something every weekend for a while. Given that it's a downtime action, and a full moon will happen every month, would a static DC suffice to see if they were strong enough that month?

It got used once in EH(on a character who was specifically designed to not ever fail that roll). It's not super popular, but again...it's a lost action thingie. Not playing your char is usually not a lot of fun.

Making it happen during downtime instead of at-game time is a big improvement, I think. Fairly modest loss. I would modify it to also include "You may see rumors on the rumor sheet regarding what your character has done in the meantime". That gets you something to actually get other PCs involved with it.

Also, no ten page backstories, just saying. =)

From an ST point of view, the reason we restrict stuff as an ST is because we know something can be cool in the hands a good roleplayer, but cheezy in the hands of bad roleplayer.  The hoops you sometimes jump through is to help signal you are the former camp.

That said, the current LARP has been a more than a little ridiculous in the hoops they demand.  If an ST can not give you a path to acquiring said restricted stuff with one month of thinking about it, or the ST can no agree on something fairly quickly then a simple ban/allowed list is better.

My two cents on this is that if we have a restricted list then the qualifications should be delegated to one decisive ST to decide, and that that players should be informed that restricted traits are contingent on game balance and fun.