Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 17:33:25 GMT
Bad Liar (1 Trait Flaw)
It’s said that children develop the capacity for deception as early as two years old, but your talent for fabrication hasn’t progressed much since that tender age. You might have obvious behavioral telltales when you try to lie, such as stammering or blushing, or maybe you just tend to invent situations that are just too fantastic for anyone to give them credence. Regardless, you should roleplay this difficulty whenever possible, and you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges involving deception in a social situation.
Blackmailed (1 or 2 Trait Flaw)
Somebody has dug up some dirt on you and is forcing you to pay up or risk exposure. Whether the blackmailer is an individual or an organization, you’re stuck with the results: Your blackmailer demands money or your cooperation, or maybe even your organization’s secrets, in return for keeping your secret. For one Trait, you suffer from a rather embarrassing secret that might cost you your job and organizational position. For two Traits, you harbor a dangerous secret that could very well be the death of you if the blackmailer reveals it. Obviously, your antagonist won’t make it easy for you to kill him. You’ll need to roleplay cleverly to overcome this Flaw.
Bully (1 Trait Flaw)
You like to throw your weight around, and don’t see anything wrong with getting your way through social pressure or physical force when you feel like it. In addition to these charming traits, you don’t tend to deal well when compelled to follow a more forceful penalty, and tend to be a troublemaker when you’re not in charge. You’re one Trait down on all Social Challenges when you’re not the figure in charge, due to your irritation.
Charach (1 Trait Flaw)
You are known to have a Garou lover. You may be performing the Rite of the Clouds and Rain (see above), or simply be involved romantically. The Storyteller will create this character for you, but you should be aware that any charach is regarded by Garou (even some Children of Gaia) as a perverted criminal who deserves death. Other Garou may be very angry with you for breaking the Litany, and may insist on punishing you. You automatically begin the game with one less point of Renown, and must lose that point of Renown from Honor if at all possible.
Children (1 Trait Flaw)
You have children who depend on you for the necessities of life, not to mention love and support. Fortunately for them, you treasure your role as a provider and take pride in being there for your kids; unfortunately, the demands of the hunt can quickly place a strain on your relationship with them, and no matter how they feel about it, the guilt of neglecting your responsibilities takes a terrible toll on you. This Flaw requires a lot of downtime attention to be significant enough to count, and should only be chosen if you and the Storyteller are willing to mind it often enough for it to have a real presence in the character’s life. If you go more than three days without seeing your kids, either due to the hunt or other obligations, you cannot regain Willpower until you have a chance to be with them again for a like amount of time.
Collaborator (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether it was a devil’s deal to remove a larger threat to both sides, or just an innocent exchange of information, sometime in the recent past you’ve worked with one or more monsters to achieve your goals. Or maybe you haven’t, but word-of-mouth in the community says you have, and for one reason or another it’s been impossible to prove otherwise so far. Either way, this reputation can put a serious strain on your relations with more conservative imbued.
Crude (1 Trait Flaw)
You may be a trusted friend in private and valued ally on the hunt, but when it comes to situations that require a certain amount of manners or refinement, even your best friends try to pretend they don’t know you. You seem to break all the rules of etiquette, deliberately or otherwise, and thus are two Traits down on all Social Challenges in situations where tact or social grace are required. This Flaw can be taken in addition to Negative Traits such as Tactless or Obnoxious, because it reflects a general ignorance of social mores as opposed to a more specific difficulty with particular behaviors.
Cultural Snob (1 Trait Flaw)
Yes, yes, we’ve all heard how much you appreciate fine art, classical music, the best wines and the sublime ambiance of a good French restaurant - the problem is, we’ve also heard how much abuse you heap on those who demonstrate the least bit of knowledge or enjoyment of pop culture. In short, it’s obvious to everyone that you’re a cultural snob of the worst sort, and you should do your best to roleplay this grating distaste for all things “popular” as well as possible. What’s more, when it comes to dealing with people who aren’t equally snobby about such things (read: just about everyone), you’re two Traits down on all Social Challenges.
Dark Secret (1 Trait flaw)
Some incident in your past haunts you and you strive to cover it up - maybe you murdered an elder, or you had extensive dealings with a vampire. Whatever it is, knowledge of this could get you branded as a pariah in the Garou Nation. You can cover it for now, but someday, the piper will need paying.
Defensive (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether from a lingering amount of immaturity or an endless drive for perfection (in your mind, at least), you have trouble taking responsibility for your actions. Any time anything goes wrong, you always find a way to blame someone or something else, and become downright hostile to anyone who tries to point out this tendency as well. You are one Trait down on all tests that would involve accepting responsibility for one of your failures, and one Trait down on all Social Challenges with someone who tries to point out this lovely habit of yours.
Eccentric Appearance (1 Trait Flaw)
Perhaps you run with a particular clique -Goth, punk, raver, etc. - or maybe you’ve just got a truly unique sense of style, but either way your appearance immediately makes you stand out in a crowd (at least among more ordinary folks). Aside from occasionally drawing negative attention from others who disapprove of your clique or style, you’re also easily remembered by other people. Any attempts to track you down through witnesses are two Traits up, and you cannot take the Everyman Background or the Forgettable Merit.
Enemy (1 to 5 Trait Flaw)
There is someone or something out to get you. The value of this Flaw depends on the power of your enemy. An enemy with an equal level of power to yours is worth one trait where a pack of BSD or a coterie of vampires would be worth five traits.
Work with your storyteller to determine who your enemy is and how you became enemies.
Gambling Addict (1 Trait Flaw)
You can’t help it - whenever there’s a possible wager on the table, you just have to take it. This is bad news because while you probably have extensive experience with gambling, you’re addicted to it as well, which means that you tend to lose a lot more than you win because you can’t pull yourself away from the table when you’re ahead. Aside from the obvious impact this might have on your Resources, you must also make a Willpower test against four Traits to pass up a chance to gamble. Once you’ve started, you must spend a Willpower Trait or make another test to stop gambling for any reason less than a direct threat, regardless of whether you’re winning (“I’m ahead now, so why stop?”) or losing (“I have to at least break even!”).
Ghoulish Sense of Humor (1 Trait Flaw)
You have a highly active sense of humor, but not exactly a healthy one-in fact, you tend to find amusing what other people consider disturbing or outright disgusting, and thus have a bad tendency to crack inappropriate jokes at the worst possible times. Any time you’re faced with a gory scene or otherwise uncomfortable moment (such as someone consoling a crying victim), you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges due to your habit of belittling the situation or those involved in it. Needless to say, you should roleplay this behavior as well as possible, so long as you remember to keep all the jokes in character.
Icy Demeanor (1 Trait Flaw)
Whatever that intangible quality is that makes people open up to others, you just don’t have it. No matter what you’re like on the inside, you habitually project a cool and hostile demeanor to those around you, and most don’t bother trying to get to know you any better than that. You are two Traits down on all Social tests with someone during the first scene that you meet them, due to your innate difficulty with presenting a likable face to others. This is distinct from the Callous Negative Trait in that it represents an ineptness at presenting yourself well rather than actual emotional isolation, though the two may be combined in to create a truly heartless and distant S.O.B.
Impractical Dresser (1 Trait Flaw)
Nothing says your sense of style isn’t that great, but your sense of timing could definitely use an improvement, at least in regards to what you should - and shouldn’t -wear when on the hunt. Whether due to job constraints, wardrobe limits or simple force of habit, you always seem to be caught wearing high heels when you need to chase someone, or tight-fitting clothes that restrict your movements as you try to climb a chainlink fence. Even some painful past experiences haven’t broken you of the habit. You are assumed to begin each session somehow attired inappropriately for the needs of the day, and thus are considered one Trait down on all athletic- or combat-related Physical Challenges unless you specifically acquire extra clothes in-game and take time out to change during the session. This Flaw should be simulated as safely as possible with appropriate costuming, but should you ignore or readily circumvent this Flaw too often you may be required to buy it off, as it is obvious that you have finally learned how to dress to kill (so to speak).
Insensitive (1 Trait Flaw)
Relating to people in an emotional context is an awkward and uncomfortable experience for you, and your typical method of avoiding such unpleasantness (being very blunt about everything) doesn’t usually do much to smooth things over either. Most of the time you wind up apologizing without knowing exactly what you did to offend someone, since you have a difficult time figuring out how other people are feeling. You are one Trait down on all Social Challenges with someone in the grip of a strong emotion of any kind, and two Traits down on all uses of the Empathy Ability (these penalties are cumulative).
Isolated Upbringing (1 Trait Flaw)
Born and raised by peculiar parents, you rarely ventured into the outside world. You should roleplay a degree of unease with the modern world, and you sometimes fail to understand the customs of everyday life. You are one Trait down on all Social Challenges with people from outside of your corner of reality.
Mistaken Identity (1 Trait Flaw)
They say everyone has a twin out there somewhere; problem is, yours is known by everyone. You bear a striking resemblance to a famous or Infamous figure of some kind, whether a prominent criminal, a celebrity or even a feared monster or radical imbued. You must wear a description tag indicating this resemblance. It doesn’t usually take much effort for others to figure out that you’re not your twin, but some hotheads or glory hounds might not stop to make the distinction before confronting you, and even then your presence is easily remembered by those who recognize you.
Monogamous (1 Trait Flaw)
You mate once and stay with that partner for life. You are incapable of feeling sexual attraction for another while your mate lives or performing any sex act with another. Your mate may be a True Love, but there is no guarantee that your mate is equally monogamous.
Non-confrontational (1 Trait Flaw)
Bringing up subjects you know others would prefer to avoid is acutely uncomfortable for you, and you often find yourself giving in and accepting compromises you regret later on down the road. It’s not that you’re weak, it’s just that you hate being thought of as causing unhappiness to those you care about, so much so that you will go to great lengths to avoid it if at all possible. Any time you find yourself the bearer of bad news or in need of telling a friend or love one some unpleasant things, you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges for the rest of the scene as a result of your hesitation and unhappiness.
Rebel (1-3 Trait Flaw)
You have a reputation as a rebel, a maverick or even a loose cannon within your society. Maybe your techniques get results, but you are scorned and hated for your methods. Because your practices are seen as questionable (at best) by your peers and superiors, it is difficult for you to get support and backing from your organization. The more Traits in the Flaw, the less likely you are to get such help.
Revoked Driver’s License (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether you lost it due to a poor record, or never bothered to get it in the first place, you do not have a driver’s license of any kind, and if caught driving the police will immediately arrest you and impound your car. Needless to say, this can be a serious impediment to your plans, not to mention a substantial limit on your mobility in general.
Rival Clan (1 Trait Flaw)
For some reason, another group of shapeshifters has difficulty getting along with you. Perhaps you have provoked the Nezumi one too many times or have managed to alienate the local Tengu. For whatever reason, whenever you deal with your rival group, you suffer a two-Trait penalty in any Social Challenge and they gain an automatic retest. Work with your Storyteller to create this rival clan.
Shy (1 Trait Flaw)
Unlike the Negative Trait Shy, which indicates difficulty dealing with other individuals, you have a specific problem with large groups of people. You take a two-Trait penalty on all Social Challenges with three or more people, three Traits for groups of 10 or more.
Stubborn (1 Trait Flaw)
There are pit bulls, and then there’s you - both unwilling to let anything go once they’ve got a hold of it. All of your beliefs enjoy your full, unwavering support, and anyone who attempts to challenge them finds herself the recipient of as much grief as you can muster. Any time someone questions one of your beliefs, you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with that character for the rest of the scene as you naturally close yourself off to her (not to mention the embarrassment if she’s actually right).
Sunday Driver (1 Trait Flaw)
As much as they might love your company, your friends never want you to drive - maybe you’re fussy about obeying the speed limit and every other possible traffic regulation you come across, or perhaps you’re the exact opposite, and pay dangerously little attention to things like lane dividers or oncoming traffic. Either way, you’re down two Traits on all Drive tests involving high speed chases or other complicated maneuvers.
Superstitious (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether a cautious trait you acquired since learning that monsters existed, or a habit you’ve had all your life, you adhere rigidly to a number of superstitions, to the point where you frequently attribute the success or failure of your plans to how well you adhered to “the rules.” You need not risk your life or the lives of others on these foibles, however. Not only should this tendency be reflected on a constant level in your roleplaying, but you are such a stickler for your superstitions that you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with anyone who disapproves of them due to your conflict of belief.
Tangential (1 Trait Flaw, Galliard Only)
No matter how hard you try, your stories tend to meander. You can't stay on topic when in discussion or when performing, unless you heavily rehearse your lines ahead of time. As a result, you are seen as long-winded and rather dull. Add two to all Expression difficulties (unless you are reciting from a script or from memorized lines), and be sure to roleplay this Flaw.
Trusting (1 Trait Flaw)
You can’t help it - you just naturally take people at face value, whether due to an optimistic view of people or just a limited amount of contact with people whose motivations aren’t as noble as yours. Not only do you take them at their word, but you also do such incautious things as accept rides home from recent acquaintances or walk through bad areas at night, simply because you truly don’t believe something bad will happen. You are two Traits down on all attempts to detect a lie or judge the character of someone you’ve met for the first time that session.
Compulsive Liar (2 Trait Flaw)
Whether or not you’re good at it, you tend to inject your own special blend of the truth into what you say, ranging from little white lies to untruths that might potentially hurt others. At this point you might even believe the lies you invent, since you tell them so often. Regardless, you should roleplay this constant level of fabrication as best you can; additionally, in order to tell the complete truth for a scene, you must spend a Willpower Trait or win a Willpower Challenge against four Traits. This is also the case when you must tell a truth that openly exposes a previous lie.
Criminal Record (2 Trait Flaw)
Rightly or wrongly, you have been convicted of several misdemeanors or perhaps a minor felony, and questions of rehabilitation aside this places certain legal restrictions on you as well. You cannot buy firearms legally, you can be brought in for questioning with the slightest of evidence, and depending on your particular crime and the place you live you might have to report yourself to the local police, newspapers or both. Needless to say, this can earn a lot of ill will from those who find out about your past, and you can expect to get nothing but grief from most police officers. You are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with law enforcement officials who know of your criminal past.
Dangerous Secret (2 Trait Flaw)
You possess information of a highly secret nature. In fact, the information is so volatile that knowing about it puts your life in jeopardy. Perhaps you’ve uncovered a government conspiracy to breed humans and werewolves, or discovered that the archbishop is an infernalist. Not only will nobody believe you if you reveal the secret, but the individuals involved would probably bring the entire weight of the organization down on you. Revealing the secret might put you at risk of arrest or even execution.
Dogged by Fringe Media (2 Trait Flaw)
The truth is out there, but the sad fact is that lots of people went over the edge right along with it, and for one reason or another you’ve got one such “colorful” individual following you around. Worse still, this person is an amateur journalist for an paranormal Web site or ‘zine of some kind, and thus while you needn’t worry about his work landing you on the front page of the local paper anytime soon, he can still draw lots of unwanted attention toward you, especially if monsters happen to monitor the local fringe media. What’s more, he has the most annoying habit of showing up just in time to witness something bizarre or difficult to explain, which naturally only fuels his curiosity further. You should work with the Storyteller to come up with some details about him and how the two of you met, although it will be up to the Storyteller to determine his true abilities and motivation.
Foreigner (2 Trait Flaw)
While you might very well be fluent in the language and generally familiar with the customs, you are still not native to the area where you currently live. You tend to be ignorant of small cultural details, and might have additional legal restrictions on you as well. Whenever you attempt Streetwise or Etiquette tests, you are two Traits down dealing with this strange foreign culture.
Honest to a Fault (2 Trait Flaw)
Telling lies or even just bending the truth is contrary to your nature, so much so that you will not do it unless it’s necessary to save human lives. Naturally, this lack of practice tends to make you a pretty poor deceiver when you do attempt to twist the truth, and you are two Traits down on any Social Challenge involving deception.
Infamy (2 Trait Flaw)
You’re well known in the area that you live, but for all the wrong reasons. You might be a well-known criminal associate, or perhaps you were involved in a prominent local scandal that has never quite lifted from your reputation. While you won’t necessarily be attacked on the street, people do tend to look down on you or treat you with some hostility, and so you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with those who know about your past.
Lustful (2 Trait Flaw)
There are plenty of words for people like you, but regardless of how you want to look at it, even you admit that you seldom put up much of a fight when it comes to resisting the sensual charms of the gender you fancy. All attempts to seduce you are two Traits up, and in general you make very poor decisions when it comes to people that you find physically attractive, which should be roleplayed accordingly within the rules of Mind’s Eye Theatre.
Notoriety (2 Trait Flaw)
Something that you have done, or not done, identifies you as a liability to others. Your bad reputation in your own society makes your life difficult, and even independent Garou tend to distrust you. Maybe too many of your partners have been killed during your hunts, or perhaps your attitude is so zealous that you annoy everyone around you. You should choose the exact nature of this Flaw, with the help and approval of your Storyteller.
Persistent Parents (2 Trait Flaw)
When you became a Garou, you likely disappeared from your old life. Your parents refuse to let your memory lie and started searching for you. Perhaps they’ve even hired private detectives to hunt for you. For some reason, you simply can’t come clean with your parents - perhaps your mother is employed by Pentex, or they have strange religious beliefs that would mandate killing you to “save” you.
Poor Judge of Character (2 Trait Flaw)
No matter how hard you try, you always seem to fall in with the wrong crowd. Your “friends” tend to be moochers, petty criminals and other undesirables, and suffice it to say that your romantic history is probably long, tragic and highly repetitive. You are two Traits down on all Awareness-, Empathy- or Intuition-related Challenges in social situations, due to your difficulty in judging people correctly, and at the Storyteller’s discretion you may face occasional difficulties with Backgrounds such as Allies or Contacts if they involve your questionable associates.
Probation (2 Trait Flaw)
At least it got you out of larger trouble, but making a deal for probation does have its bad side as well - you must report to your case officer on a regular basis, and submit to random searches of your residence or person when the court deems it necessary. Not only that, but you must demonstrate a commitment to becoming a model citizen as well: hold down a job, keep up with debt, not being seen any place suspicious, etc. Needless to say, this can make a lot of hunting activities quite difficult to get away with, but as the price for getting caught is most likely being tossed in jail, it’s a balancing act you’re going to have to become quite good at if you wish to go far.
Scarred (2 Trait Flaw)
The unceasing brutality of existence as a warrior has finally gotten under your skin. Your emotional responses of all kinds are somewhat stunted, and almost nothing really gets a rise out of you. Creepy. You have a 2-Trait Penalty to all Empathy Challenges, as well as gaining the Negative Social Trait: Scarred.
Stalked (2 Trait Flaw)
Life as a garou is terrifying enough without the additional threat of an obsessed “normal” individual trailing your every move, but you have just one such sick person who continues to bother you despite repeated warnings to back off (legal and otherwise). This stalker need not be violent, but he is definitely beyond all reason regarding his obsession with you, and his action could possibly escalate into violence later on. Every time you got out you must make a Mental Challenge against five Traits - failure means that your stalker has managed to get your trail and may well put in an appearance later on that night. And before you ask, leading this nutcase into a trap or territory full of monsters never seems to work out the way you’d hope, at least until you buy off this Flaw .... Until then, however, you’re stuck with him.
Technophobe (2 Trait Flaw)
You hate modem technology, especially computers, and you’re pretty damn sure it hates you right back. While you’re at home with tried-and-true things like cars and telephones, making any sense of cell phones, pagers, laptops or other newfangled gizmos is quite beyond you. You must make a Mental Challenge against five Traits to perform even simple tasks on a computer, ATM machine or other technological device you’re not comfortable with (which is most of them), and the Storyteller will probably restrict some of the Abilities you can take at character creation to reflect this deficiency as well.
Hunted (3 Trait Flaw)
A very powerful hunter is tracking you, believing you’re a rabid animal who’s a threat to all humanity. He has the skills and resources enough to make your life “interesting” (and to snuff it out, if you aren’t careful), and will keep you watching over your shoulder. Your friends, family, allies and associates are also in peril should this hunter decide to turn an eye their way. Worse, your hunter is immune to the Delirium. Keep one eye on the exits ....
Illegal Immigrant (3 Trait Flaw)
Simple enough - wherever you live now, you don’t belong there, at least not as far as the law is concerned. If you’re ever arrested, there’s a serious risk of being deported to your country of origin, and you cannot hold down a job unless it pays you under the table. The Storyteller will most likely want to restrict your Backgrounds to reflect the difficulties you have being a non-citizen as well.
Moneygrubbing (3 Trait Flaw)
Money makes the world go round, and you intend to ride the merry-go-round for all it’s worth. Everything is secondary to the pursuit of wealth, and you’re capable of performing some extreme things so long as there’s enough money in it for you. Any time you’re offered a bribe, even by a monster or other loathsome figure, you must either spend a Willpower Trait or make a Willpower test against six Traits to avoid accepting the bribe. This difficulty increases by one if you’re pretty sure the task required won’t hurt anyone (that you know of). In addition, you must make a similar test to avoid searching the bodies or dwellings of fallen opponents for valuables.. . or looting fallen allies for the same.
Ward (3 Trait Flaw)
You are devoted to the protection of a human. Perhaps she’s Kinfolk, or one of the few friends you’ve hung onto since your Change. You may describe your Ward, but the Storyteller will actually create her. Such people are often targeted by your enemies, or just get caught up in the action too well. If she is Kinfolk, you must have a particularly special relationship with her (spouse, lover, child, longtime friend, sibling, etc.).
Criminal Entanglements (4 Trait Flaw)
Crime pays, as you learned when you went to some shady sources for a loan a while back; however, now you either can’t or won’t pay back what you owe, and that’s starting to irritate your unlikely business partners. They’re not sending hit men after you - not yet - but they will definitely make themselves known before long, and what’s more they will have no problem escalating the level of their coercion in an effort to get their money back or make an example of you.
Mr Red Tape (4 Trait Flaw)
Somehow, you always seem to get put at the bottom of the stack in any bureaucracy. Double the time and effort needed for all Bureaucracy Influence uses (for instance, faking a death certificate has a cost of six levels), as well as other influences (such as Health, University, Police) when they involve using official channels and/or paperwork.
It’s said that children develop the capacity for deception as early as two years old, but your talent for fabrication hasn’t progressed much since that tender age. You might have obvious behavioral telltales when you try to lie, such as stammering or blushing, or maybe you just tend to invent situations that are just too fantastic for anyone to give them credence. Regardless, you should roleplay this difficulty whenever possible, and you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges involving deception in a social situation.
Blackmailed (1 or 2 Trait Flaw)
Somebody has dug up some dirt on you and is forcing you to pay up or risk exposure. Whether the blackmailer is an individual or an organization, you’re stuck with the results: Your blackmailer demands money or your cooperation, or maybe even your organization’s secrets, in return for keeping your secret. For one Trait, you suffer from a rather embarrassing secret that might cost you your job and organizational position. For two Traits, you harbor a dangerous secret that could very well be the death of you if the blackmailer reveals it. Obviously, your antagonist won’t make it easy for you to kill him. You’ll need to roleplay cleverly to overcome this Flaw.
Bully (1 Trait Flaw)
You like to throw your weight around, and don’t see anything wrong with getting your way through social pressure or physical force when you feel like it. In addition to these charming traits, you don’t tend to deal well when compelled to follow a more forceful penalty, and tend to be a troublemaker when you’re not in charge. You’re one Trait down on all Social Challenges when you’re not the figure in charge, due to your irritation.
Charach (1 Trait Flaw)
You are known to have a Garou lover. You may be performing the Rite of the Clouds and Rain (see above), or simply be involved romantically. The Storyteller will create this character for you, but you should be aware that any charach is regarded by Garou (even some Children of Gaia) as a perverted criminal who deserves death. Other Garou may be very angry with you for breaking the Litany, and may insist on punishing you. You automatically begin the game with one less point of Renown, and must lose that point of Renown from Honor if at all possible.
Children (1 Trait Flaw)
You have children who depend on you for the necessities of life, not to mention love and support. Fortunately for them, you treasure your role as a provider and take pride in being there for your kids; unfortunately, the demands of the hunt can quickly place a strain on your relationship with them, and no matter how they feel about it, the guilt of neglecting your responsibilities takes a terrible toll on you. This Flaw requires a lot of downtime attention to be significant enough to count, and should only be chosen if you and the Storyteller are willing to mind it often enough for it to have a real presence in the character’s life. If you go more than three days without seeing your kids, either due to the hunt or other obligations, you cannot regain Willpower until you have a chance to be with them again for a like amount of time.
Collaborator (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether it was a devil’s deal to remove a larger threat to both sides, or just an innocent exchange of information, sometime in the recent past you’ve worked with one or more monsters to achieve your goals. Or maybe you haven’t, but word-of-mouth in the community says you have, and for one reason or another it’s been impossible to prove otherwise so far. Either way, this reputation can put a serious strain on your relations with more conservative imbued.
Crude (1 Trait Flaw)
You may be a trusted friend in private and valued ally on the hunt, but when it comes to situations that require a certain amount of manners or refinement, even your best friends try to pretend they don’t know you. You seem to break all the rules of etiquette, deliberately or otherwise, and thus are two Traits down on all Social Challenges in situations where tact or social grace are required. This Flaw can be taken in addition to Negative Traits such as Tactless or Obnoxious, because it reflects a general ignorance of social mores as opposed to a more specific difficulty with particular behaviors.
Cultural Snob (1 Trait Flaw)
Yes, yes, we’ve all heard how much you appreciate fine art, classical music, the best wines and the sublime ambiance of a good French restaurant - the problem is, we’ve also heard how much abuse you heap on those who demonstrate the least bit of knowledge or enjoyment of pop culture. In short, it’s obvious to everyone that you’re a cultural snob of the worst sort, and you should do your best to roleplay this grating distaste for all things “popular” as well as possible. What’s more, when it comes to dealing with people who aren’t equally snobby about such things (read: just about everyone), you’re two Traits down on all Social Challenges.
Dark Secret (1 Trait flaw)
Some incident in your past haunts you and you strive to cover it up - maybe you murdered an elder, or you had extensive dealings with a vampire. Whatever it is, knowledge of this could get you branded as a pariah in the Garou Nation. You can cover it for now, but someday, the piper will need paying.
Defensive (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether from a lingering amount of immaturity or an endless drive for perfection (in your mind, at least), you have trouble taking responsibility for your actions. Any time anything goes wrong, you always find a way to blame someone or something else, and become downright hostile to anyone who tries to point out this tendency as well. You are one Trait down on all tests that would involve accepting responsibility for one of your failures, and one Trait down on all Social Challenges with someone who tries to point out this lovely habit of yours.
Eccentric Appearance (1 Trait Flaw)
Perhaps you run with a particular clique -Goth, punk, raver, etc. - or maybe you’ve just got a truly unique sense of style, but either way your appearance immediately makes you stand out in a crowd (at least among more ordinary folks). Aside from occasionally drawing negative attention from others who disapprove of your clique or style, you’re also easily remembered by other people. Any attempts to track you down through witnesses are two Traits up, and you cannot take the Everyman Background or the Forgettable Merit.
Enemy (1 to 5 Trait Flaw)
There is someone or something out to get you. The value of this Flaw depends on the power of your enemy. An enemy with an equal level of power to yours is worth one trait where a pack of BSD or a coterie of vampires would be worth five traits.
Work with your storyteller to determine who your enemy is and how you became enemies.
Gambling Addict (1 Trait Flaw)
You can’t help it - whenever there’s a possible wager on the table, you just have to take it. This is bad news because while you probably have extensive experience with gambling, you’re addicted to it as well, which means that you tend to lose a lot more than you win because you can’t pull yourself away from the table when you’re ahead. Aside from the obvious impact this might have on your Resources, you must also make a Willpower test against four Traits to pass up a chance to gamble. Once you’ve started, you must spend a Willpower Trait or make another test to stop gambling for any reason less than a direct threat, regardless of whether you’re winning (“I’m ahead now, so why stop?”) or losing (“I have to at least break even!”).
Ghoulish Sense of Humor (1 Trait Flaw)
You have a highly active sense of humor, but not exactly a healthy one-in fact, you tend to find amusing what other people consider disturbing or outright disgusting, and thus have a bad tendency to crack inappropriate jokes at the worst possible times. Any time you’re faced with a gory scene or otherwise uncomfortable moment (such as someone consoling a crying victim), you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges due to your habit of belittling the situation or those involved in it. Needless to say, you should roleplay this behavior as well as possible, so long as you remember to keep all the jokes in character.
Icy Demeanor (1 Trait Flaw)
Whatever that intangible quality is that makes people open up to others, you just don’t have it. No matter what you’re like on the inside, you habitually project a cool and hostile demeanor to those around you, and most don’t bother trying to get to know you any better than that. You are two Traits down on all Social tests with someone during the first scene that you meet them, due to your innate difficulty with presenting a likable face to others. This is distinct from the Callous Negative Trait in that it represents an ineptness at presenting yourself well rather than actual emotional isolation, though the two may be combined in to create a truly heartless and distant S.O.B.
Impractical Dresser (1 Trait Flaw)
Nothing says your sense of style isn’t that great, but your sense of timing could definitely use an improvement, at least in regards to what you should - and shouldn’t -wear when on the hunt. Whether due to job constraints, wardrobe limits or simple force of habit, you always seem to be caught wearing high heels when you need to chase someone, or tight-fitting clothes that restrict your movements as you try to climb a chainlink fence. Even some painful past experiences haven’t broken you of the habit. You are assumed to begin each session somehow attired inappropriately for the needs of the day, and thus are considered one Trait down on all athletic- or combat-related Physical Challenges unless you specifically acquire extra clothes in-game and take time out to change during the session. This Flaw should be simulated as safely as possible with appropriate costuming, but should you ignore or readily circumvent this Flaw too often you may be required to buy it off, as it is obvious that you have finally learned how to dress to kill (so to speak).
Insensitive (1 Trait Flaw)
Relating to people in an emotional context is an awkward and uncomfortable experience for you, and your typical method of avoiding such unpleasantness (being very blunt about everything) doesn’t usually do much to smooth things over either. Most of the time you wind up apologizing without knowing exactly what you did to offend someone, since you have a difficult time figuring out how other people are feeling. You are one Trait down on all Social Challenges with someone in the grip of a strong emotion of any kind, and two Traits down on all uses of the Empathy Ability (these penalties are cumulative).
Isolated Upbringing (1 Trait Flaw)
Born and raised by peculiar parents, you rarely ventured into the outside world. You should roleplay a degree of unease with the modern world, and you sometimes fail to understand the customs of everyday life. You are one Trait down on all Social Challenges with people from outside of your corner of reality.
Mistaken Identity (1 Trait Flaw)
They say everyone has a twin out there somewhere; problem is, yours is known by everyone. You bear a striking resemblance to a famous or Infamous figure of some kind, whether a prominent criminal, a celebrity or even a feared monster or radical imbued. You must wear a description tag indicating this resemblance. It doesn’t usually take much effort for others to figure out that you’re not your twin, but some hotheads or glory hounds might not stop to make the distinction before confronting you, and even then your presence is easily remembered by those who recognize you.
Monogamous (1 Trait Flaw)
You mate once and stay with that partner for life. You are incapable of feeling sexual attraction for another while your mate lives or performing any sex act with another. Your mate may be a True Love, but there is no guarantee that your mate is equally monogamous.
Non-confrontational (1 Trait Flaw)
Bringing up subjects you know others would prefer to avoid is acutely uncomfortable for you, and you often find yourself giving in and accepting compromises you regret later on down the road. It’s not that you’re weak, it’s just that you hate being thought of as causing unhappiness to those you care about, so much so that you will go to great lengths to avoid it if at all possible. Any time you find yourself the bearer of bad news or in need of telling a friend or love one some unpleasant things, you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges for the rest of the scene as a result of your hesitation and unhappiness.
Rebel (1-3 Trait Flaw)
You have a reputation as a rebel, a maverick or even a loose cannon within your society. Maybe your techniques get results, but you are scorned and hated for your methods. Because your practices are seen as questionable (at best) by your peers and superiors, it is difficult for you to get support and backing from your organization. The more Traits in the Flaw, the less likely you are to get such help.
Revoked Driver’s License (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether you lost it due to a poor record, or never bothered to get it in the first place, you do not have a driver’s license of any kind, and if caught driving the police will immediately arrest you and impound your car. Needless to say, this can be a serious impediment to your plans, not to mention a substantial limit on your mobility in general.
Rival Clan (1 Trait Flaw)
For some reason, another group of shapeshifters has difficulty getting along with you. Perhaps you have provoked the Nezumi one too many times or have managed to alienate the local Tengu. For whatever reason, whenever you deal with your rival group, you suffer a two-Trait penalty in any Social Challenge and they gain an automatic retest. Work with your Storyteller to create this rival clan.
Shy (1 Trait Flaw)
Unlike the Negative Trait Shy, which indicates difficulty dealing with other individuals, you have a specific problem with large groups of people. You take a two-Trait penalty on all Social Challenges with three or more people, three Traits for groups of 10 or more.
Stubborn (1 Trait Flaw)
There are pit bulls, and then there’s you - both unwilling to let anything go once they’ve got a hold of it. All of your beliefs enjoy your full, unwavering support, and anyone who attempts to challenge them finds herself the recipient of as much grief as you can muster. Any time someone questions one of your beliefs, you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with that character for the rest of the scene as you naturally close yourself off to her (not to mention the embarrassment if she’s actually right).
Sunday Driver (1 Trait Flaw)
As much as they might love your company, your friends never want you to drive - maybe you’re fussy about obeying the speed limit and every other possible traffic regulation you come across, or perhaps you’re the exact opposite, and pay dangerously little attention to things like lane dividers or oncoming traffic. Either way, you’re down two Traits on all Drive tests involving high speed chases or other complicated maneuvers.
Superstitious (1 Trait Flaw)
Whether a cautious trait you acquired since learning that monsters existed, or a habit you’ve had all your life, you adhere rigidly to a number of superstitions, to the point where you frequently attribute the success or failure of your plans to how well you adhered to “the rules.” You need not risk your life or the lives of others on these foibles, however. Not only should this tendency be reflected on a constant level in your roleplaying, but you are such a stickler for your superstitions that you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with anyone who disapproves of them due to your conflict of belief.
Tangential (1 Trait Flaw, Galliard Only)
No matter how hard you try, your stories tend to meander. You can't stay on topic when in discussion or when performing, unless you heavily rehearse your lines ahead of time. As a result, you are seen as long-winded and rather dull. Add two to all Expression difficulties (unless you are reciting from a script or from memorized lines), and be sure to roleplay this Flaw.
Trusting (1 Trait Flaw)
You can’t help it - you just naturally take people at face value, whether due to an optimistic view of people or just a limited amount of contact with people whose motivations aren’t as noble as yours. Not only do you take them at their word, but you also do such incautious things as accept rides home from recent acquaintances or walk through bad areas at night, simply because you truly don’t believe something bad will happen. You are two Traits down on all attempts to detect a lie or judge the character of someone you’ve met for the first time that session.
Compulsive Liar (2 Trait Flaw)
Whether or not you’re good at it, you tend to inject your own special blend of the truth into what you say, ranging from little white lies to untruths that might potentially hurt others. At this point you might even believe the lies you invent, since you tell them so often. Regardless, you should roleplay this constant level of fabrication as best you can; additionally, in order to tell the complete truth for a scene, you must spend a Willpower Trait or win a Willpower Challenge against four Traits. This is also the case when you must tell a truth that openly exposes a previous lie.
Criminal Record (2 Trait Flaw)
Rightly or wrongly, you have been convicted of several misdemeanors or perhaps a minor felony, and questions of rehabilitation aside this places certain legal restrictions on you as well. You cannot buy firearms legally, you can be brought in for questioning with the slightest of evidence, and depending on your particular crime and the place you live you might have to report yourself to the local police, newspapers or both. Needless to say, this can earn a lot of ill will from those who find out about your past, and you can expect to get nothing but grief from most police officers. You are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with law enforcement officials who know of your criminal past.
Dangerous Secret (2 Trait Flaw)
You possess information of a highly secret nature. In fact, the information is so volatile that knowing about it puts your life in jeopardy. Perhaps you’ve uncovered a government conspiracy to breed humans and werewolves, or discovered that the archbishop is an infernalist. Not only will nobody believe you if you reveal the secret, but the individuals involved would probably bring the entire weight of the organization down on you. Revealing the secret might put you at risk of arrest or even execution.
Dogged by Fringe Media (2 Trait Flaw)
The truth is out there, but the sad fact is that lots of people went over the edge right along with it, and for one reason or another you’ve got one such “colorful” individual following you around. Worse still, this person is an amateur journalist for an paranormal Web site or ‘zine of some kind, and thus while you needn’t worry about his work landing you on the front page of the local paper anytime soon, he can still draw lots of unwanted attention toward you, especially if monsters happen to monitor the local fringe media. What’s more, he has the most annoying habit of showing up just in time to witness something bizarre or difficult to explain, which naturally only fuels his curiosity further. You should work with the Storyteller to come up with some details about him and how the two of you met, although it will be up to the Storyteller to determine his true abilities and motivation.
Foreigner (2 Trait Flaw)
While you might very well be fluent in the language and generally familiar with the customs, you are still not native to the area where you currently live. You tend to be ignorant of small cultural details, and might have additional legal restrictions on you as well. Whenever you attempt Streetwise or Etiquette tests, you are two Traits down dealing with this strange foreign culture.
Honest to a Fault (2 Trait Flaw)
Telling lies or even just bending the truth is contrary to your nature, so much so that you will not do it unless it’s necessary to save human lives. Naturally, this lack of practice tends to make you a pretty poor deceiver when you do attempt to twist the truth, and you are two Traits down on any Social Challenge involving deception.
Infamy (2 Trait Flaw)
You’re well known in the area that you live, but for all the wrong reasons. You might be a well-known criminal associate, or perhaps you were involved in a prominent local scandal that has never quite lifted from your reputation. While you won’t necessarily be attacked on the street, people do tend to look down on you or treat you with some hostility, and so you are two Traits down on all Social Challenges with those who know about your past.
Lustful (2 Trait Flaw)
There are plenty of words for people like you, but regardless of how you want to look at it, even you admit that you seldom put up much of a fight when it comes to resisting the sensual charms of the gender you fancy. All attempts to seduce you are two Traits up, and in general you make very poor decisions when it comes to people that you find physically attractive, which should be roleplayed accordingly within the rules of Mind’s Eye Theatre.
Notoriety (2 Trait Flaw)
Something that you have done, or not done, identifies you as a liability to others. Your bad reputation in your own society makes your life difficult, and even independent Garou tend to distrust you. Maybe too many of your partners have been killed during your hunts, or perhaps your attitude is so zealous that you annoy everyone around you. You should choose the exact nature of this Flaw, with the help and approval of your Storyteller.
Persistent Parents (2 Trait Flaw)
When you became a Garou, you likely disappeared from your old life. Your parents refuse to let your memory lie and started searching for you. Perhaps they’ve even hired private detectives to hunt for you. For some reason, you simply can’t come clean with your parents - perhaps your mother is employed by Pentex, or they have strange religious beliefs that would mandate killing you to “save” you.
Poor Judge of Character (2 Trait Flaw)
No matter how hard you try, you always seem to fall in with the wrong crowd. Your “friends” tend to be moochers, petty criminals and other undesirables, and suffice it to say that your romantic history is probably long, tragic and highly repetitive. You are two Traits down on all Awareness-, Empathy- or Intuition-related Challenges in social situations, due to your difficulty in judging people correctly, and at the Storyteller’s discretion you may face occasional difficulties with Backgrounds such as Allies or Contacts if they involve your questionable associates.
Probation (2 Trait Flaw)
At least it got you out of larger trouble, but making a deal for probation does have its bad side as well - you must report to your case officer on a regular basis, and submit to random searches of your residence or person when the court deems it necessary. Not only that, but you must demonstrate a commitment to becoming a model citizen as well: hold down a job, keep up with debt, not being seen any place suspicious, etc. Needless to say, this can make a lot of hunting activities quite difficult to get away with, but as the price for getting caught is most likely being tossed in jail, it’s a balancing act you’re going to have to become quite good at if you wish to go far.
Scarred (2 Trait Flaw)
The unceasing brutality of existence as a warrior has finally gotten under your skin. Your emotional responses of all kinds are somewhat stunted, and almost nothing really gets a rise out of you. Creepy. You have a 2-Trait Penalty to all Empathy Challenges, as well as gaining the Negative Social Trait: Scarred.
Stalked (2 Trait Flaw)
Life as a garou is terrifying enough without the additional threat of an obsessed “normal” individual trailing your every move, but you have just one such sick person who continues to bother you despite repeated warnings to back off (legal and otherwise). This stalker need not be violent, but he is definitely beyond all reason regarding his obsession with you, and his action could possibly escalate into violence later on. Every time you got out you must make a Mental Challenge against five Traits - failure means that your stalker has managed to get your trail and may well put in an appearance later on that night. And before you ask, leading this nutcase into a trap or territory full of monsters never seems to work out the way you’d hope, at least until you buy off this Flaw .... Until then, however, you’re stuck with him.
Technophobe (2 Trait Flaw)
You hate modem technology, especially computers, and you’re pretty damn sure it hates you right back. While you’re at home with tried-and-true things like cars and telephones, making any sense of cell phones, pagers, laptops or other newfangled gizmos is quite beyond you. You must make a Mental Challenge against five Traits to perform even simple tasks on a computer, ATM machine or other technological device you’re not comfortable with (which is most of them), and the Storyteller will probably restrict some of the Abilities you can take at character creation to reflect this deficiency as well.
Hunted (3 Trait Flaw)
A very powerful hunter is tracking you, believing you’re a rabid animal who’s a threat to all humanity. He has the skills and resources enough to make your life “interesting” (and to snuff it out, if you aren’t careful), and will keep you watching over your shoulder. Your friends, family, allies and associates are also in peril should this hunter decide to turn an eye their way. Worse, your hunter is immune to the Delirium. Keep one eye on the exits ....
Illegal Immigrant (3 Trait Flaw)
Simple enough - wherever you live now, you don’t belong there, at least not as far as the law is concerned. If you’re ever arrested, there’s a serious risk of being deported to your country of origin, and you cannot hold down a job unless it pays you under the table. The Storyteller will most likely want to restrict your Backgrounds to reflect the difficulties you have being a non-citizen as well.
Moneygrubbing (3 Trait Flaw)
Money makes the world go round, and you intend to ride the merry-go-round for all it’s worth. Everything is secondary to the pursuit of wealth, and you’re capable of performing some extreme things so long as there’s enough money in it for you. Any time you’re offered a bribe, even by a monster or other loathsome figure, you must either spend a Willpower Trait or make a Willpower test against six Traits to avoid accepting the bribe. This difficulty increases by one if you’re pretty sure the task required won’t hurt anyone (that you know of). In addition, you must make a similar test to avoid searching the bodies or dwellings of fallen opponents for valuables.. . or looting fallen allies for the same.
Ward (3 Trait Flaw)
You are devoted to the protection of a human. Perhaps she’s Kinfolk, or one of the few friends you’ve hung onto since your Change. You may describe your Ward, but the Storyteller will actually create her. Such people are often targeted by your enemies, or just get caught up in the action too well. If she is Kinfolk, you must have a particularly special relationship with her (spouse, lover, child, longtime friend, sibling, etc.).
Criminal Entanglements (4 Trait Flaw)
Crime pays, as you learned when you went to some shady sources for a loan a while back; however, now you either can’t or won’t pay back what you owe, and that’s starting to irritate your unlikely business partners. They’re not sending hit men after you - not yet - but they will definitely make themselves known before long, and what’s more they will have no problem escalating the level of their coercion in an effort to get their money back or make an example of you.
Mr Red Tape (4 Trait Flaw)
Somehow, you always seem to get put at the bottom of the stack in any bureaucracy. Double the time and effort needed for all Bureaucracy Influence uses (for instance, faking a death certificate has a cost of six levels), as well as other influences (such as Health, University, Police) when they involve using official channels and/or paperwork.