How do you define character "weakness?"

[Wolfpack48]

So this poll spins off from our other recent poll on how "overpowered" your character needs to feel to enjoy a system. Here we are selecting the element that make your player feel so "weak" that you don't wish to continue the game/system. These will have some extreme choices just for discussions sake but will also have other that folks talk about more often. Yes, this is more geared toward non-superhero play, but perhaps everyday military heroes and fantasy genres.

Pick as many as you think apply to you or your players!

 

[MGibster]

I think my character's only real weakness is they care too much. I've found that my players tend to feel underpowered when they feel as though their characters are ineffective. Call of Cthulhu is an example because your character might have a few skills hovering between 20-30% and it can very much feel like, "What's even the point of having a skill that low?"

 

[grankless]

I can only envision a game where weakness (in terms of "power") is defined by not being capable of doing the things you should probably be doing very well due to what your character is. This is generally a design flaw.

I'm more interested in like, emotional weaknesses and parameters other than just Power for what makes a character interesting.

 

[Tonguez]

Systems that ignore or diminish player agency are weak systems not weak characters

Smart planning should be rewarded even if my character has difficulty succeeding at checks - failing forward is always better

 

[Bedrockgames]

All 18s but he has a weakness for cheesecake

 

[GMMichael]

Poll decision paralysis feels like a weakness to me.

 

[aramis erak]

I don't find much in there a problem, and my players seldom complain unless the system generates NTPKs regularly.

After all, I'm currently running a halfling wizard in TFT

 

[Jd Smith1]

I cant really that's a point I consider. I use systems that, at least IMO, require a considerable player input, so the result is solely the concern of the player.

Players being over-powered is an issue with me, which is one of many reasons I don't play D&D.

 

[TiQuinn]

I’m trying to imagine the system that ignores player agency as mentioned in that poll but whatever system prompted it, I hate it.

 

[Wolfpack48]

I’m trying to imagine the system that ignores player agency as mentioned in that poll but whatever system prompted it, I hate it.

That’s probably more a GM foible, but I suppose the system might not give the GM enough tools or direction.