I explained to my players that vices were “things that help scoundrels relax, and pull their attention away from scoundrelling.”
In that vein, I suggest a couple more that could be intriguing. Family Doting and Academics. Both are time intensive, require loyalty, and have endless expenses. =)
Those are good ones. Both forms of Affiliation “vices,” I’d think.
They’re not exactly vices though, are they?
Benjamin Davis I guess it depends on whether we consider faith a vice. When I saw that on the list, I expanded my understanding to something that would distract a scoundrel, relax them, and compete for their attention.
Matthew Gagan I think Academics specifically is distinct enough not to be an affiliation. Reading, research, attending events, one-ups-manship with other scholars, getting in bar fights with other academics over fine scholarly points… sounds like a distracting lifestyle. =)
As for the family vice, this is for supporting a brood. Giving them enough attention, feeding them, clothing them; it’s got all the power of an addiction for a parent or responsible adult who takes it seriously. That’s beyond membership in something, I think.
I may misunderstand “Affiliation.”
One of my players took Affiliation with the Academic twist, meaning he either gets into intellectual conversations or otherwise mixes it up with the published and their publications.
I played a Skovlander Cutter whose Affiliation vice relates mostly to familiar obligations and community leadership of Skovlan refugees in the city. It’s fun and works well enough.
Maybe so. I guess it depends on how many categories you want.
Both my family and academic career would comfortably fall under “weird.”
Might explain the drinking.
Adam Minnie So was the academic affiliated with a university, or a scholarly society, or some group? Or did you use “Affiliation” to be a synonym of lifestyle?
I guess I see a big difference between caring for a dependent family and community leadership of refugees, but that’s not the point–I think your point is that you can take any group with obligations attached and make it an “Affiliation” vice. Is that right?
Matthew Gagan Awesome. =)
I also think there’s room to not define it, but say “something like this.” This system does not have a rigid feel. When people propose something, if I see how I could make it work, I go with it. Like adding the “military” lifestyle; sure, I see how that could work, so we pencil it in and go.
I mainly bring it up because looking at categories inspires, and these could be neat, rather than thinking the rigidness of the existing vices should be expanded.
Yeah basically. Anything that works conceptually with the “overindulgence” options (with some creative liberties) should be fine. I would even use Affiliation for fight club-style proclivities (if gambling or others don’t fit). They’re not particularly constraining as much as inspiring cool ideas tailored to your own character.
Isn’t academia obsessive -compulsive? Family sounds more like an obligation than stress release ☺
I’d say thaat depends entirely on the family 😉