03.13 Ron d6 Disadvantages: Social & Cultural
Alien Prejudice (1-5 points)
It is true the universe over. People who are different from the majority are treated differently – how much so sometimes depends on how different they are. This Disadvantage reflects how that prejudice can come into play in a gaming environment.
Characters with the Alien Prejudice have to deal with either minor or violent prejudice as a matter of daily life. They have difficulties most other characters don’t even think about. The table below gives some examples and some point values.
Although we are all different in our own way, and could be considered alien in some way, the differences that go with Alien Prejudice are those that get focused on by bigots, authority figures, and those ignorant, frustrated or angry. Even small differences – like a minor mutation or genetic enhancement (Psionic Ability and Increased Attribute Limit both fit) can run the range of this scale. The GM and the player should discuss how much this Alien Prejudice will affect the game and agree upon appropriate roleplay in-game situations that it would come up.
As a rule, one-point Alien Prejudice Compensations come into play more as flavor than anything else, while five-point prejudices can quickly become the focus of any interaction.
| Point Value | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | The character is a little different from the standard around here and only has a few problems fitting in. Examples include a very near-Human (almost identical); a Human with an unusual characteristic (like a dwarf or a giant); a character from a backwater world (could even be totally Human). |
| 2 | The character is obviously different from the norm and has occasional serious problems with prejudice. A character from an obviously alien, but humanoid, species. The character is probably looked at with suspicion and prejudice, but only has problems with true bigots or manipulators. |
| 3 | The character is either not humanoid or comes from an extremely alien society. The alien probably does not look close to Human, and/or comes from a culture known to be very different – perhaps on the fringe – from the norms. The character has problems assimilating to certain situations and doesn’t get much help from the intolerant. |
| 4 | The character is from a known fringe species and/or culture and is viewed with contempt, fear, and suspicion. The species/culture has had major conflicts (either socially or militarily – or both) with the predominant powers that be and this will be recognized by most civilized people. The alien is easily the first choice as a focus of bigotry and frustration. This character may still be, at the core, a Human, but has such social and physical differences that most people do more than shy away. |
| 5 | The character is from a hunted, enslaved or outlawed culture; a member of a fringe group; a hostile alien. The species/culture has been declared an enemy of the powers that be and, whether the character agrees with it or not, he or she is caught up in the hostilities. Any authority figure will see the alien as a threat. And most civilians will have the same opinion. |
Bigotry (1-3 Points)
The character is a bigot. The intolerance and prejudice the character feels is justified in the character’s mind, and may even be unofficially supported by the population at large – but is Bigotry nonetheless. The extent and depth of the Bigotry define the point values.
In most cases, Bigotry should be run as an irrational, though probably background-based hatred and/or prejudice against someone different. This prejudice may benefit the character at times but, in most cases, makes the character unable to view the world except in tunnel vision. The character probably is very closed-minded about the bigotry and will irrationally dismiss good ideas and concepts he would normally accept only because they spring from the target of his prejudice.
| Point Value | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | The character is prejudiced against a common target – aliens, etc. – and the prejudice is socially acceptable. |
| 2 | The character’s bigotry is against a less acceptable target – government enforcement officers, people from a particular sector, mega-corp employees – and doesn’t play well in several situations. |
| 3 | The prejudice is against a target that it is not a good idea to be prejudiced against – government authority, the dominant mega-corp in a sector, Humanity – and has serious trouble getting along in many situations. |
| +1 | The prejudice takes on dangerous proportions – either the bigot will attack the target or vice versa. |
| +1 | The target of the bigotry is much more powerful than the bigot. |
| -1 | The bigot is able to suppress his prejudice while saving up for a particularly nasty deed. |
| -1 | The bigotry is not very strong – the character may not even know he is a bigot. |
General Prejudice (1-5 points)
For some reason, the character is discriminated against. This is essentially the same as Alien Prejudice, except the fact that the character is or isn’t an alien has nothing to do with the prejudice.
The character might be from a lower social class than the norm. Or the character might be from a much-oppressed minority. Maybe the prejudice is actually justified (somewhat) – the character has habits that make him or her very objectionable to those around the character. Some Quirks can result in General Prejudices.
The point value depends on how often the General Prejudice comes up, and how violent the response. A character that will be shot on sight nearly everywhere he or she goes is easily a five (or maybe more – in which case the character isn’t really what you might want to play). One that provokes mild hostility but very little overt effect would be a one-pointer.
Language (1-2 Points)
The character is, for some reason, unable to speak the dominant language. If he can understand the language but not speak it, this Compensation is worth 1 points. If he cannot speak it or understand it, it is worth 2 points.