Quirks help define particularly interesting features about your character. These can be both positive Quirks (which help your character and may be actively employed), and negative Flaws (which hinder your character and may strike without warning).
Quirks/Flaws are purchased at Character Creation and can be both acquired and lost in play through various means (but not mechanically through Character Advancement).
At character creation you start with 1 point to spend on positive Quirks and may gain up to 4 Quirks in total by taking up to 3 negative Flaws. You may not have more than 3 Flaws. Unless specified, Quirks can only be taken once. If you want to take a Quirk/Flaw or combination of Quirks/Flaws in a certain way that you're unsure about, contact the GM team.
“Oh, and which one's yours? …What? What do you mean you don't have one???”
Unlike most of the attendees of the UMBA League Conferences, you do not own a Monster. You may not create a Monster as part of your character submission, and while you are still welcome at the League Conferences, you will need to work to justify your presence throughout the Season. You may acquire a Monster later on, but this precludes you from having one at the start of the Season.
These Quirks relate intrinsically to your character, their skills, physique and personality.
Art's heart skipped a beat. Did they say 'Razor Ridge'? No, no they must have said something else. Nobody had been there since… and… and if they had, then they would know and she'd be done for… no, it couldn't be. Could it?
In the past you did something particularly awful. You covered it up, and now nobody knows what you did and everything is fine, but if people knew then they would almost certainly look at you in a new light. Specify what you did (and justify it if you think you can). The GMs reserve the right to deny inappropriately horrifying Dark Secrets, but also remind players that secrets must of course abide by the Acceptable Themes.
Nocturne locked eyes with “Toxtor”, and in that moment both recalled flicking the same behemoth in the antennae for fun as a child. A fond memory for Nocturne, as evidenced by the Monster's sudden charge, perhaps a sore point for Toxtor…
At some point in your past you did something to anger a Monster. You may not even remember what you did, or even that the Monster holds a grudge, but the Monster certainly does, and is very likely to want vengeance.
Specify which Monster you upset and how.
You may take this Quirk multiple times for different items.
“Oh my SKY, Quench, haven't you heard? Dust told Scar that they heard from Shocktrap - you know Shocktrap, he's that trainer with the WICKED spiked collar and the giant lizard - anyway, Dust said that APPARENTLY Shocktrap's Uncle works in the Network - I KNOW RIGHT? - and Shocktrap's Uncle says that the Network is planning to completely DELEGITIMISE the entirety of Team Laser Explosion! I KNOW RIGHT??”
You have access to a modest information network that can give you gossip or information from parts of the City or the Arena. Specify an area that your network operates in (e.g. “The Arena Stands”, or “Monster Hunters”) and you will receive updates in Minor Actions.
Clarity, watching from the long grass for her snare to catch one of the grass-fiends, had to bite her tongue to stop herself wincing. Her leg was acting up again, as it had been since the bite, and now was not a good time to let the pain get the better of her…
You're off to a bad start - you have an ongoing illness or physical disability that's been causing you problems for some time. Perhaps you're missing a limb from a past incident with a Monster, or perhaps you're suffering from a long term illness that no known medicine has found a cure for. Define what your illness is, and how (if at all) you've made accommodations so far for it.
“FYI - Doomigator vs Victory Viper - Viper is going to throw fight (lovers tiff). - X”
You have a source that manages to get you tip-offs on Arena Matches faster than most others. You will receive updates and tip-offs throughout the game, but don't expect your source to do you any more favours than that.
“Why is it always me?” thought Darling, as the three-headed dog bore down on them salivating with a ravenous look in its eyes, “Why? Why? Why?”
For some reason you just look delicious to Monsters, meaning they're far more likely to single you out to chow down.
Muzzle looked back and forth between the strange man and her beloved 10ft tall “Spikeby”. Spikeby whined, clawing at the ground, and the stranger dropped to the floor, keeping his eyes on it. Spikeby growled, and the man backed off, whispering, “I get it, girl, I get it,” before turning to Muzzle and simply stating, “Stop cooking her meat, she needs it raw.”
You have an improved understanding of Monster behaviour and can determine what a Monster is trying to get across from studying it carefully. You can't necessarily determine abilities or calm a Monster down with this, but can interpret what is currently bothering them.
The omni-wrench slipped out of Rascal's hands, and before they could reach for it, it had already fallen far, far away. It probably wasn't that important, right?
You are especially clumsy. Usually it's fine, but from time to time this comes to bite you as you fumble something important, slip on some slime and fall into a Monster trap, or just press the wrong button on a piece of Archaeotech you're using…
“Vince! Vince, there's a SPINE sticking through your arm!” Vince looked, and indeed there was. She hadn't noticed.
You are particularly tough and can shrug off injuries that would incapacitate a lesser person. You may still want to treat these, since you're not immortal!
Domino was about to leave the table. The cards had not gone well for her that night, and she was already 99R down, but then she heard the dealer's voice and the siren song of the words, “Double or nothing?” and she just couldn't resist…
You have a tendency to indulge in something, or have a bad habit that you just can't get enough of. You might find yourself suffering if you're unable to indulge, or find the promise of indulgence overpowering in the face of common sense. Be sure to specify what your vice is!
“Oh come on, Ribsy, it's only a little bit of acid breath! Stop screaming, would you?”
You are particularly weedy and injuries that would mildly inconvenience your peers tend to leave you in agony.
These Quirks pertain to how you are perceived by others.
“Seeded Number 10,” the Network bulletin said, and Teeth grinned. Number 10 was only 2 below the absolute champions. Number 10 was the product of years of training and hard work. Number 10 was good.
You've competed in previous Ultimate Monster Battle Arena Championships and came out toward the top of the League. You never made it to Grand Champion, but this year could be your year! As such, you are well known as one to watch and your Monster is seeded higher for this Season.
“And right at the bottom we have Optizorb! Ha! Yes listeners, that is the same Optizorb that failed in the first round last year because it got a speck of dust in its giant eye. Well, we can't all be Champions can we?”
You've competed in previous ULTIMATE MONSTER BATTLE ARENA Championships and crashed and burned. As such, you are well known for being a complete and utter failure and your Monster is seeded lower for this Season.
“The Professor? The Professor is a piece of shit. Wreckatar is just a phoney copy of Doomatros and did you see that underhanded shit after the end of the season? The Professor can melt in acid for all I care. You buy a Wreckatar poster and I'll personally see nobody ever speaks to you again.”
You have an incredibly loud base of haters who despise you and everything you stand for. Regardless of how you perform in the Arena, they'll actively harm your popularity.
Specify what in particular the haters hate about you. Note that you don't need a Monster to be hated in the Arena (for example: five Seasons ago, a particularly despised peanut-seller was chased by an angry mob of Fans after raising their prices for the tenth, and last, time).
Fever waited anxiously outside the back entrance to the Arena, hoping against hope that they were on time, when a battered briefcase fell from the window above them. A note attached read, 'Next time, you'll owe me', but they didn't mind: they unlocked the case and smiled as they started to read the titles of the documents inside.
You have a working relationship with a member of the Network and can use this to get information or minor tasks done for you inside the Network. Specify who they are and what sort of a relationship you have with them.
Bear in mind that your contact may also wish you to do favours for them in return, and that this relationship can be broken if you upset them.
Two-Eyes read the note again. Its source was clear, and its message was unmistakeable: rig the Volcanosaurus match against the newcomer, “or else”. Two-Eyes felt a pain where their left eye used to be as they thought about it: “or else” was very clear.
You have a more one-sided relationship with a member of the Network who will likely ask you to complete tasks for them. Specify who they are and what you did to get on their wrong side.
Bear in mind that your contact might be willing to do favours for you in return, and that this relationship can be mended if you please them.
“Hey, meathead!” Green stopped and turned around to the familiar sound of Night, standing with his Monster leashed behind him, “In this next round, I'm going to ANNIHILATE you and your little squid-thing too!”
You have a Rival who will stop at nothing to see you defeated. Specify who they are and why you have such a competitive relationship with you.
“OH SKY WAS THAT WRECKATAR'S TRAINER?!” “OH FUCKING SKY IT IS!! IT'S THE PROFESSOR!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!” “I'VE GOT EVERY WRECKATAR POSTER. EVERY SINGLE ONE.” “I'VE GOT A SIGNED COPY.” “OH MY SKY I WILL PAY YOU FOR THAT.” “NO WAY IT'S ONE OF A KIND!”
You have an incredibly loud and active fanbase that lap up everything you do. Regardless of how you perform in the Arena, they will actively improve your popularity.
Specify what it is your Fans love about you.
“Jaws!” shouted the woman with skulls adorning her shoulders and barbed wire braided into her hair, “How the fuck are you? What's tried to kill you recently? You good for supplies? Anything we can kill for you?”
You've spent some time among Wastelanders and have made a few friends. They're likely to put you up, answer a few questions and maybe do a thing or two for you while you're out there. Be careful not to take them for granted or piss them off though, or you might find yourself in trouble.
Specify who your Wasteland Connections are and what sort of relationship you have with them!
Oxygen checked his map - if it was correct then there'd be a settlement up ahead: somewhere travellers in the Wastes might be able to find food, shelter, friends, but for him and his reputation, somewhere he'd want to stay well, well clear of.
You are known throughout the Wasteland as someone to be avoided. Scavengers will be unlikely to help you, and bandits will attack you on sight. Think you're safe in the city? You thought wrong - people in the City know about your time out and about and think you're just as much a piece of shit for it as the Wastelanders do.
Specify what you did to piss them off, or we'll just assume it's your face.
These Quirks define things that your character calls their own (or lacks). Where applicable, you will be provided with a card to represent possessions during uptime.
Canvas lounged back in his luxury seat in his luxury box, and briefly glanced to the regular stands where Fans jostled for the best view. He wondered, briefly, what it must be like to only afford those, but that thought disappeared as he took another sip of wine…
You have access to additional funds beyond the norm. You start the game with additional wealth.
MegaStrike looked at the coins in her bag. This was all she had left. If she counted right she could afford food, just about, but… well, maybe those new spiked pauldrons would have to wait.
You have much less access to funds than the norm. You start the game with reduced wealth.
Ants looked at the letter with a sinking feeling. Two simple words: 'Pay Up'. Two words that were expected when they'd taken out that loan. Two not-so-simple words when they factored in that they'd spent that loan backing the wrong monster in a double-or-nothing bet last month…
In your past, someone gave you a loan. They're going to want that in soon. Specify what you needed the money for, where that money went, and who you owe. You cannot owe another Player Character with this flaw.
Seven locks might seem excessive, but when you're one of the best trainers in the League, a little more security doesn't hurt.
You have a privileged dwelling within the Ultimate Monster Battle Arena Competitors' Village. There are guard patrols, there's more lighting at night, and your doors and windows have state of the art locks. Your belongings and personal space is safe from all but the most determined criminals.
(OC Note: you cannot take this Quirk if your character is not intending to live in the Village)
With a satisfying SHANG of the razor sharp metal of the enormous sword against carapace, the armoured Monster slumped to the ground. Lungs was NEVER letting this one out of her sight.
You have a piece of equipment that will help you survive an unexpected Monster attack. Pick from the following categories and define what your special equipment is:
You may take this Quirk multiple times for different items.
Night considered the offer - state of the art plating for The Green Beast, though it wasn't going to come cheap. Looked like it was time to call in a debt…
In your past, you lent someone some money, and soon they're going to need to pay up. Specify who you loaned and what they said it was for. You cannot be owed by another Player Character with this Quirk.
It had cost a pretty coin or two to buy, but Hairy was pretty pleased with the Green Scaly Monster Egg that sat on the shelf, and was even more pleased when the day came that the shell started cracking, and a big yellow eye stared out at them.
You have a Monster Egg that should hatch soon. Specify what the egg looks like and where you got it from.
“IT GLOWS!” said Glee with a grin to match his name. Razor, his sister, seemed unconvinced, “I can see that, but what does it do?”. Glee shrugged, “Something awesome, probably!”
You have a piece of Archaeotechnology. Specify what it is - if you have the Basic Archaeotech skill you can more accurately define what it does, but otherwise you should describe only what it looks like and the GMs will determine what your cool bit of tech does.
You may take this Quirk multiple times for different items.
Competitors' Village was a mixed bag, but this was taking the cake. The windows didn't close fully, the door had clearly been jimmied open more than once in the past, and at night you can barely see the next building along. At least the ceiling was solid.
You have a pretty rubbish dwelling within the Ultimate Monster Battle Arena Competitors' Village. Locks don't work, crime is basically expected, and your home is easily accessed by lazy opportunistic thieves.
(OC Note: you cannot take this Flaw if your character is not intending to live in the Village)
These Quirks primarily affect how your character may act in an ambiguous situation during downtime. They cost nothing to have, but will help the GMs when working out how your character responds, or when choosing what to push in your direction. You do not have to take one, and can change your mind at any time by contacting the GMs
You are particularly cautious. When faced with a dangerous situation you will act in a way least likely to risk yourself or your belongings. This might be because you're a coward, or because you like not dying, but you are less likely to do something if you're not sure it will be safe. You should specify why your character acts in this way.
For example, “When faced with a maze of burning acid spikes, Jeff chooses to look for a different way round instead, even if it will take longer. It's just not worth the risk.”
You prefer to throw caution to the wind and take chances in life. When faced with a dangerous situation, you will act in the way most likely to bring about success: even if it means putting your life on the line. It doesn't necessarily mean you are foolish, but you are more likely to do something if it furthers your goal, even if the stakes are high.
For example: “When faced with a maze of burning acid spikes, Jeff chooses to gamble and try to navigate it anyway to get to the other side as fast as possible. Never tell me the odds!”
By taking this Quirk you are signalling to the GMs that you are happy for NPCs to initiate romantic plotlines and potentially engage in relationships with your character. This doesn't guarantee you'll be the subject of any advances, but NPCs will not initiate IC romance with your character without this.
