Talk:Racist (3.5e Flaw)

[edit] Possible Change

This carries no statistical detriment, which doesn't really make it a flaw at all. It should be moved to a Variant flaw section because it is a roleplaying flaw. The will save of 20 - int modifier is also a little strange. I would propose something more drastic:

You are unable to conceal your hatred for other races. You get a -6 to diplomacy checks with members of other races. If you are able to contribute in some way, if even by giving a menacing glare, your allies get a -2 to diplomacy checks with members of other races.

This follows the general guidelines of a flaw where the penalty is twice what a feat could net you (-6 diplomacy against +3 skill focus). The second penalty is there to offset the fact that you can still easily interact with members of your own race. That would make this flaw about as broken as any other flaw.

Actually, I'm just going to change it. The author can feel free to revert it or discuss it here... --Aarnott 11:39, 15 June 2009 (MDT)

Allies get a penalty? Flaws should impact you and you only, not your fellow PCs who never took the flaw. Surgo 11:43, 15 June 2009 (MDT)

Yeah... I wasn't sure about that idea. I just figured that if it wasn't there, the flaw does absolutely nothing unless taken by the "party face", which of course, would not take the flaw. Honestly, I just wanted to make a somewhat balanced flaw. Sadly, I don't think that is how they are supposed to work. I'll remove the party penalty. --Aarnott 12:55, 15 June 2009 (MDT)

That reasoning is entirely correct based on the guidelines given in Unearthed Arcana and you are correct for using it. The trouble is that Unearthed Arcana ignores its own guidelines when it publishes flaws like feeble, inattentive, shaky... Surgo 13:00, 15 June 2009 (MDT)

I had forgot they explicitly mentioned charisma skills in the flaw creation rules. I would say that it would be better to balance flaws against the guidelines for creating them, rather than the actual flaws that are in UA (which are, as you mentioned, contradictory to the guidelines for creating them). Which means, this flaw still needs some work. I do agree that it is lame to penalize your allies because of a character creation choice you made. Any ideas? --Aarnott 13:10, 15 June 2009 (MDT)

I would say follow the flaws that are actually in UA, instead of the guidelines -- we already have flaws that are as good as this one in UA itself, if these aren't as good they'll never end up used. Surgo 13:13, 15 June 2009 (MDT)

[edit] Name Change?

Racism is often associated with a particular prejudice. Given the universal nature of this flaw, perhaps Ethnocentric (belief in the superiority of one's own race) would be better? It might require a little rewording, but in my mind it makes more sense. -- Jota 14:42, 20 June 2009 (MDT)

Should be at least be Racism, since there's also a Racist trait.