Punching Harder, Harder to Punch

Whenever a new book comes out for the Savage Worlds RPG, some of the first things I look for are the new Edges and Hindrances. These are the things that can make characters more interesting (“You can dodge chickens!” “You’re afraid of insurance salesmen!”) but also tie them more closely to the the genre or setting. (Just don’t ask me what genre dodges chickens and fears salesmen.)

So of course, as I continue to flesh out the details of the Ghost Punchers RPG, part of that process is coming up with a batch of fun Edges and Hindrances. While you could use them in any setting, I think they feel like they fit best with ghost-punching heroes. Here are a couple of each I’ve got so far:

Edges

Occult Bookshelf
Requirements: Novice, Knowledge (Any) d6+
While some ghost punchers dream of wood-paneled rooms filled with books of forbidden lore, those books are expensive and hard to find. Most such dreamers must content themselves with a much smaller selection of tomes. For every four hours they spend studying with their bookshelf, those with this Edge may add +2 to their Knowledge (Occult) or ghost-related Investigation rolls, to a maximum of +4.

Font of Trivial Knowledge
Requirements: Novice, Smarts d6+
Some folks are the kings and queens of trivia night, and the undisputed champions of shouting correct answers at contestants on TV quiz shows. Heroes with this Edge add +2 to their Common Knowledge rolls.

Hindrances

Nightmares (Minor or Major)
Those who punch ghosts have seen some crazy, disturbing stuff—the sort of stuff that comes back to torment them when they’re trying to sleep. A hero who suffers freaky dreams as a minor Hindrance must make a Spirit roll each night when she sleeps. If she fails, she starts the next day with a Fatigue level that can only be removed by getting four hours of sleep. As a major Hindrance, the hero makes the Spirit roll at -2, and must make Vigor rolls during slow, tedious moments throughout the day to keep from falling asleep. (Fatigue levels from nightmares aren’t cumulative; no matter how many nights the hero fails the roll, she still only starts the day with a single Fatigue level.)

Queasy (Minor)
Some people don’t have the stomach for dealing with blood and gore. When a hero with this Hindrance makes a Fear check, he does so at a -2 penalty if the subject of the check is particularly gruesome. He’s also subject to violent nausea at the sight of such things, and must make a Vigor roll to keep his lunch down upon encountering them (even if it doesn’t require a Fear check).

Yes, there will be more where these came from. And yes, I’d love to hear your suggestions. Please add them in the comments (the sad little comment box that no one ever uses) or drop me a line on the Book of Faces or the twittery thing.