Personality Flaws

Choosing a personality flaw

Every player must choose at least one personality flaw. these flaws are the iconic double edged sword; they can benefit your hero just as much as they can hinder.

Personality Flaws in play

There are two ways that Personality Flaws can come into play. Any time a Hero plays up their flaw to their own detriment, the Editor-in-Chief may award that player a Plot Die. When utilized in this manner the hero can gain absolutely no advantage from its use, in any way.

The second method a flaw may be utilized is by the Editor-in-Chief and the other players: once per scene, the Editor-in-Chief or any of the other players may activate a flaw. This may be countered by the player with the expenditure of a plot die, though they may be awarded a plot die if they accept the consequences with grace, at the Editor-in-Chief’s discretion.



The Editor-in-Chief determines the penalty suffered; this could range from a -2 penalty to a specific type of action for the remainder of the scene or simply ‘failing’ the scene (you didn’t convince the second enclave to join yours, you got captured by a super zombie, you failed to hit something when it really mattered).

Always a Sidekick

Look, whatever you guys want to do is fine by me. I wish Shooting Star was still here; he always pointed me in the right direction.

You were a sidekick in the Glory Days and you still haven’t come to grips with the fact that you’re a top dog. You always look to others to fill the “hero” role, and you’re happy to work alongside them – or maybe just a step or two behind them.

Bloodthirsty

Cool it, man! He stole the can of tuna because he was hungry; you don’t have to beat him to a bloody pulp over it.

You have a brutal temper that borders on sadism. You enjoy beating enemies to a bloody pulp and often look for the flimsiest excuse to consider someone an enemy.

Craven

Forget B-Lister, you act more like a Super-Villain’s cowardly minion – or comic relief. You jump at shadows, shriek at the slightest threat of violence, and are quite afraid of... well, absolutely everything.

During the Glory Days you were a Hero’s expert or Villain’s minion; you were never called upon to fight and you actually can’t stand violence. You firmly believe that discretion is the better part of valor and avoid conflict whenever possible.

Darwinist

Sometimes you need to sacrifice one to save many.

You won’t go out of your way to save a Bystander when the odds don’t favor it and you aren’t adverse to allowing slow or wounded Bystanders “take one for the team” and save the rest. While you may be able to convince Bystanders and other Heroes of the necessity of your actions, they often find it diffcult to live with once you’re past the immediate danger.

Greedy

You know that little girl needs your antibiotics, but you may need them some day! You found them, and they are yours, damn it!

You are very possessive of items you salvage; you have a stock pile of stuff and will go out of your way to get more, risking life and limb in the process. You are also fully capable of hiding things you find from your fellow survivors.

Haunted by Nightmares

I see them all, those who I could not save in my sleep, and sometimes when I am awake.

You have trouble sleeping through the night without zombies infecting your dreams. At times it’s so bad that they appear in your daydreams as well.

The Hero's Code

Look, I get it. You want to fight for freedom, justice, and mom’s apple pie. But take a look around; it’s all gone, ushed down a zombie toilet. Why can’t you see that?

Whether you actually believe in it or are just using it to hold on to your sanity, you continue to follow the unwritten code of superheroes to an extreme. You do not lie, cheat, or steal, even to survive. You treat zombies as honorably you would any other super villain or henchman.

Hero Worship

If Lady Liberty were here, she’d try to save those Bystanders. If I want to prove myself worthy of carrying on her mantle, I’ll need to try to save them as well.

You idolize a particular hero or villain. You try to live by their code and remind others about their deeds. You may even model your own super identity on that hero or villain. Note that the subject of your worship need not be dead or Z’d and your subject may not be too happy to have you using her handle.

Impatient

Listen, if this is not done now, we will never be able to do it.

You can’t stand sitting around and making plans; the zombies are everywhere and they’re closing in all the time! You want to act, now! Unfortunately, your impatience oen leads you into danger with no preparation.

Lone Wolf

Look, we voted and I’m the leader, remember? I want us to survive just as much as you do. Why do you keep second-guessing me and undermining my authority?

While you understand the concept of safety in numbers, you just don’t work well with a group. Someone is always holding you back or supporting a clearly inferior course of action. You’d just rather be on your own, taking support only when you need it.

Lying Eyes

Your tongue may be clever, but your eyes betray you.

No one trusts you. Maybe it’s the way you carry yourself, maybe it’s because you make unconvincing arguments, or maybe it’s because you really don’t care. In any case, you have a difficult time convincing people of what you say.

Megalomania

I’ve been telling you for years that only through an iron fist does civilization stand a chance! Look at the world now! Once I establish order we’ll wipe away the zombies once and for all!

You were a power-mad super villain (albeit a low- powered one) during the Glory Days and Z-Day changed nothing. While you protect Bystanders and work with Heroes, you do so out of a desire to establish a new world order, with you at the top.

Nihilistic

Even if we do destroy all the zombies, then what? Look around you, guys, this world is over. We’ve got nothing to look forward to but ruins and memories.

You’ve given up hope. You survive because you must, if only to help others, but you just don’t see a glimmer of a bright future anywhere on the horizon. When things seem hopeless you’re strangely content, and it’s difficult to get you to fight against the odds.

Oblivious

Hey guys, why are you all sneaking up the stairs with your guns drawn?

You are oblivious most of the time; maybe you suer from extreme ADHD or have simply drawn into yourself. Regardless of the cause, there are times you ignore or fail to notice what is right in front of you.

Over Protective

What do you mean, “If we send out a group maybe some of them will come back?” We can’t treat Bystanders like cattle! I’ve been protecting this enclave since Z-Day. They’re my children!

You are extremely over-protective of the Bystanders in your enclave and treat each of them as you would your children (and you dote on your children). This makes the hard choices even more difficult for you, and you take the loss of any Bystander extremely hard.

Patriot

Sure things look tough, but we’re Americans! Our nation was born in troubled times and we’ve weathered worse! We’ll get through this so long as we never forget our ideals!

You strongly believe in something, usually the nation of your birth, and you optimistically hold on to its ideals, laws, and principles. Your patriotism is often at odds with reality, and many fellow Heroes and Bystanders aren’t appreciative of your love for the Golden Age.

Poor Substitute

What do you mean, ‘I’m too young to be the Night Ranger’? I kept the city safe from Mega Master countless times! Of course I don’t have all the trick arrows anymore; I lost them years ago!

You have not only taken on the mantle of an old superhero, you’re starting to believe that you are that superhero. Unfortunately, this goes far beyond roleplaying; at times you believe that you have access to powers that you simply don’t have, which can be dangerous when the zombie horde is surrounding you.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

You have seen the dark face of the apocalypse; it’s changed you, and you’re on the edge of losing it, all the time.

Not only brought on through combat experience, PTSD can be brought on by any violent traumatic experience, like a zombie apocalypse. You are always on edge; you jump at loud noises and y o the handle sometimes despite yourself. It’s hard for you to sleep, but when you do, you sleep with a knife at your side and a gun under your pillow.

Revolutionary

You disagree with how your enclave is governed and you make no attempt to hide your disapproval.

You are constantly at odds with the leadership of your enclave and actively support replacing it with another type of government. Unfortunately, you usually hold the minority opinion and most Bystanders worry that your position may one day threaten the enclave.

Ruthless

We will do it, no matter what it costs.

You are a reformed Super-Villain or amoral hero and you try to do the right thing, but you still lack compassion for others. You have no appreciation for the feelings of others and fake compassion as best you can. You know that what you’re doing now is right, but you might as well be a robot as far as your feelings are concerned. You often look to other heroes to see how you should be feeling.

Survivor’s Guilt

You let someone die in a moment of weakness and no matter how much you try to make up for it, Bystanders never let you forget it.

You just can’t put your moment of weakness behind you. Not only is it brought up every time you oer an opinion on a course of action, but the friends and loved ones of the person you deserted occasionally try to exact revenge.

Unlucky

Lady Luck wants to see you get eaten by zombies.

You can’t put your finger on it, but you just have the worst luck. Two paths? The one you take is filled with zombies. Have a weakness? Count on it to be incorporated into the next super zombie’s costume.

Unattractive

You never did look good in spandex due to that pot belly. The prescription eyeglasses don’t help either.

For whatever reason, people that would normally be attracted to you find you homely at best and quite possibly repulsive.

Villainous Past

Yes, you keep saying that the Z-Day changed everything, but you know what? I really don’t care. Before the Z-Day you were an arrogant, megalomaniacal, narcissistic SOB with blood on your gloves. I still don’t trust you.

You were a rather public and sinister supervillain before the Z-Day and you can’t shake your reputation. You are treated poorly, constantly watched, and always the first suspect whenever something bad happens that doesn’t involve zombies.

Young Gun

Are you sure that you should be out here?

You are so young it’s hard for others to take you seriously, as a result you constantly compensate in a desperate bid to gain respect.

When others are watching, you are exceedingly reckless, all in an attempt to gain some level of respect. You always volunteer for dangerous missions and leap headlong into “heroic” situations.

Xenophobia

I don't know you and I really don't like you

You are immediately suspicious and intolerant toward anyone that isn’t part of your survivalist enclave. It takes a long time for a stranger to gain your trust.

Zealot

We brought this on ourselves. Only if we truly repent and ask for forgiveness will this nightmare be over.

Whether you were a person of faith before or found religion in the aftermath of Z-Day, you now strongly hold on to its teachings. Your faith may not be exactly what that faith taught in the Glory Days (you’ve had to interpret a lot on your own) and some of your interpretations may be quite fanciful, but you really believe in it. You want – need – everyone else to join you.