Paradigm Concepts

[wmullen]

With my phobia, how general or specific must or can I get?

I am guessing that having a phobia of left-handed, blond, mandolin players from western Sylvania, in reg/Blue party-colored dress would either be disallowed or there would suddenly be a spate of such individuals crossing my path. What I was looking for is can I state that I have a phobia a specific animal such as snakes or spiders? or maybe my phobia is that I faint at the sight of blood?
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Will Mullen
Chicago, IL

[Nierite]

I GM it as having phobias against things that might come up during game. Two examples of this are found locally:

Phobia: Corporeal Undead
Phobia: Claustrophobia

Both could have in-game effects, and therefore qualify (to me) as flaw-worthy. Having a fear of Red-Haired Ansharan Gnomes isn't a phobia as it is too specific.
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Cody Bergman

aka = Haakon Marcus val'Virdan, Priest of Nier (Divine 1.
aka = Dyabe val'Abebi, Templar of Althares (Divine 1.4)
aka = Jorma Ostoman, Battlemage of the Coryani Empire (Arcane 1.2)

[Njal Val'Assante]

Note to self: Include a red-haired Ansharan gnome AND a left-handed, blond, mandolin player from western Sylvania in a red/blue party-coloured dress in my next mod... Ooo! Star-crossed (colour-blind) lovers with a penchant for theatre!

Honestly, the flaws are there for roleplay purposes. Though many power-gamers will simply take a flaw for the extra talent, there's far more fun in taking something that will actually help you develop your character. Sure you could have a phobia of red-haired Ansharan gnomes... but you'll never get to play it up, and that's boring.
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Anthony Nijssen
Instigator. Causer of Chaos. Nobody Important.

[Nierite]

I use flaws as RP fodder, but I do insist that they are FLAWS that will have in-game effect. Otherwise they are simply free talents and that is just powergaming.
_________________
Cody Bergman

aka = Haakon Marcus val'Virdan, Priest of Nier (Divine 1.
aka = Dyabe val'Abebi, Templar of Althares (Divine 1.4)
aka = Jorma Ostoman, Battlemage of the Coryani Empire (Arcane 1.2)

[wmullen]

[EricGorman]

[Double post]
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~Eisener val'Holryn. Holy Champion of Nier and haunted veteran of the crusade
~Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn, gave his soul to help free King Noen from the LLT Banner

[EricGorman]

Personally I think snakes is probably to narrow...the flaw says creature type. You could choose wild animals but I'm guessing that's not quite what you are shooting for. Possibly (really) bold if you have a lot of players choosing Ss'ressen, you could choose Phobia: Ssethrics or maybe Ssethregorans.
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~Eisener val'Holryn. Holy Champion of Nier and haunted veteran of the crusade
~Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn, gave his soul to help free King Noen from the LLT Banner

[Harliquinn]

Reading the new flaw in Codex of Heroes, there are specific phobias you can take. I believe those are the only legal ones for the campaign that will grant you a free Talent. As a secondary flaw or in a home game, knock yourself out.

John
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- Harliquinn, John Bellando
Ohio Harvester

Kelb'Bakari, Dark-kin Altherian Corsair, Gentleman Archaeologist
-"Judge a wine by its label and you will miss out on the best vintages."

[Nierite]

I disagree that they are the only ones, just like the list of Knowledges in the A:RPG isn't tbe full list or the list of languages only covers the high points. For snakes (speaking from experience) i think that would be fairly broad, but i probably expand that to reptiles. This could pose issues with Ss'ressen, though. As someone who IS ophideophobic, I can tell you that my fiancee's fascination with creatures like Monitor Lizards and Tegus bothers me a lot, but doesn't paralyse me like when she brought me to the snake house at the zoo.

I'd probably make the snake guy,as such, make a Horror check at a lower TN for "similar" creatures.
_________________
Cody Bergman

aka = Haakon Marcus val'Virdan, Priest of Nier (Divine 1.
aka = Dyabe val'Abebi, Templar of Althares (Divine 1.4)
aka = Jorma Ostoman, Battlemage of the Coryani Empire (Arcane 1.2)

[Harliquinn]

The Phobia Flaw says:
"Choose a creature type (such as Undead or Spirits) or one of the following: crowds, open spaces, enclosed spaces, the dark, specific religious sects, heights, storms, or social situations."

Knowledge says:
"These fields are: Arcanum, Architecture & Engineering, Geography, History, Myths & Legends, the Planes, Religion, Science, and Trade. Alternately, you may also choose a specific nation. For example, you may choose Knowledge (Coryani Empire)."

I don't see anything in Knowledge that says "choose anything you want"; however, you are free to take a Knowledge Skill that isn't listed, but most campaign mods aren't going to have a check for Knowledge (Fashion Sense Canceri). Similarly, you can choose other Phobias, but only the ones listed count as a Flaw for the purposes of qualifying for an additional Talent at character creation. The flaw doesn't say "Some examples of allowable phobias are..." it says "one of the following:". They were chosen for the their breadth of applicability in a campaign such that they offer a detriment to the character.

John
_________________
- Harliquinn, John Bellando
Ohio Harvester

Kelb'Bakari, Dark-kin Altherian Corsair, Gentleman Archaeologist
-"Judge a wine by its label and you will miss out on the best vintages."

[Nierite]

What if you wanted Knowledge: Gnomes or specializations like Knowledge:Military History?

There are a lot of Phobias that can be just as, if not more, debilitating than those listed. They are simply the most common ones. If someone chose Trypophobia, I'd probably allow it.
_________________
Cody Bergman

aka = Haakon Marcus val'Virdan, Priest of Nier (Divine 1.
aka = Dyabe val'Abebi, Templar of Althares (Divine 1.4)
aka = Jorma Ostoman, Battlemage of the Coryani Empire (Arcane 1.2)

[Harliquinn]

The main difference is that Knowledges are skills and don't give you a free Talent. You are free to take any Knowledge you want, knowing that a limited or non-listed specialization might not see a lot of use. For instance, Military History is just a subset of History (which exists).

However, a Flaw gives you a free Talent and must be a detriment to the character, and something that modules are likely to provide as a situation. That is why PCI has given specific Phobias that apply for a Flaw (at least in the campaign). As a home game, you're free to take any phobia you want and the Chronicler can approve it. Also, I'd say if you are taking an *extra* flaw beyond the one for your free Talent, sure, pick whatever you want. If you want your free Talent from the Phobia flaw for the campaign, it has to be one of the ones listed, though.

John
_________________
- Harliquinn, John Bellando
Ohio Harvester

Kelb'Bakari, Dark-kin Altherian Corsair, Gentleman Archaeologist
-"Judge a wine by its label and you will miss out on the best vintages."

[wmullen]

[Harliquinn]

Will
You are completely free to take Phobia - Snakes, take the mechanical disadvantage only around snakes, RP the 'Snakes' bit, and be mindful of Ss'ressen. The only thing I was saying is, you don't get your free Talent for it. You'd have to take a listed Phobia for that.

John
_________________
- Harliquinn, John Bellando
Ohio Harvester

Kelb'Bakari, Dark-kin Altherian Corsair, Gentleman Archaeologist
-"Judge a wine by its label and you will miss out on the best vintages."