Quirks

Quirks define your interactions as a player with the world of Transference on a mechanical level. As Transference is a mechanics-light game that revolves primarily around uptime, the Quirks system is also light and strives mostly to provide a 'core' around which players can build out their characters.

Quirks in transference fall into two categories: Playstyle quirks, which affect your character's experience with the world in an out-of-character way, in essence defining the ways in which the GM team will interact with your character. Gameplay quirks represent some in-character characteristic. Though we will aim to reflect your character's quirks in the game, they often take a back seat to the decisions that you make in character. In general, you shouldn't worry too much about your gameplay quirks, and their main purpose in Transference is to give players an idea of some jumping-off points for character creation

You may take any number of playstyle quirks.

On the first night after the Transference, people - both local and from afar - notice a difficult-to-explain uptick in the strangeness of their dreams. Take this quirk to opt into experiencing your character's dreams through a short sentence or two in each turnsheet. Our intent is that this quirk will not stray into the territory of mind-altering effects or a loss of agency, though as it will include experiences taking place within the player character's psyche, we understand that players may feel differently.

Though the world is generally free of happenings outside the purview of the natural sciences, the Transference is a major exception. If you take this quirk, your character is more likely to experience the supernatural happenings that come in the wake of the Transference, especially if they choose to investigate the event itself. This quirk will not stray into the territory of mind-altering effects or a loss of agency.

Anchor Rock is a suitable setting for fun and whimsy, but also for moments of more intense emotions. Taking this quirk signals that you are happy for your character to experience the more melancholic side of Transference.

Taking this quirk signals that you are happy for NPCs to initiate romantic interactions with your character. This quirk does not affect PC-PC interactions, and romantic interactions with other players' characters should always be cleared out of character first.

The rules governing gameplay quirks are slightly more complex. You may take up to one 'Core Quirk' only, and may then take any number of non-core quirks. In addition, the total sum of the quirk values (Indicated by -1, or +1 next to the names of the quirks) must not be greater than one.

It may be that the Reputation and Relationship quirks are more likely to describe a Local player character while the Secret and Connected are quirks that are more likely to describe a Transfer player character. However, this is not a hard rule, and if your character defies it, then it should make for an interesting part of their backstory.

Your character stands out from the crowd in Anchor Rock, for good reasons or bad. If your character has a good reputation, this quirk's cost is +1. If your character has a bad reputation, this quirk's cost is -1. They will have an easier or harder time respectively earning the trust of local NPCs. Consider a good reputation might be due to age and wisdom, or due to some particular service rendered to the community in recent memory, or even due to a penchant for keeping quiet about gossip that makes your company a little more valuable than most. A bad relationship might be your fault, or it might not. Consider why the people of Anchor Rock feel this way about you, and how your character feels about the reputation that they've accrued.

Your character has a relationship, good or bad, with a Local NPC. If your character has a good relationship, this quirk's cost is +1. If your character has a bad relationship, this quirk's cost is -1. If you have a good relationship, that character trusts you and is more likely to turn to you when they need help, and you're more likely to find their ear when you need help. If you have a bad relationship, that character might want nothing to do with you, or they might be actively working to sabotage you. Consider whether a relationship is old or new, what form it takes in your day-to-day interactions with this character and others, and whether the feelings are mutual or one-way.

You know someone from outside Anchor Rock who's more likely than most to have a clue about what's going on. This contact might be an old friend, a colleague, or a family member. You will be able to contact this character during downtimes by using your action. Consider what your contact might know things about, and why they might know it. If your relationship to them is particularly close, consider how they might feel about the Transference and separation from you.

You have a secret. A real secret, not the sort of 'secret' that the gossipers of Anchor Rock will switch haphazardly between talking freely about and pretending is still completely unknown. A secret that you would rather stay secret. Consider what this secret might be, and further consider whether it's something your character has kept secret all this time, or something that's common knowledge outside Anchor Rock.

You may only pick one of these quirks. Observant characters are more likely to take note of the goings-on of other characters while they go about their business, while Unobservant characters will likely miss or ignore the activities of others, focused only on what is right in front of them. In turnsheets, Observant characters will gain additional information on who else is spending downtime in the same locations as they are, whereas Unobservant characters will not have access to any of this information, even in the event of obvious or dramatic actions taken by others.

You may only pick one of these quirks. Tight-Lipped characters will not reveal any more information than strictly necessary, while Loose-Lipped characters will take every chance to gossip, giving up potentially-unreliable information at the slightest cue. Tight-Lipped characters will be harder for other players to glean info on in turnsheets, whereas Loose-Lipped characters will not be able to do anything in secret and may even expose the secrets of others.

Your character is an expert in a field, which may or may not be the same field as the skill(s) you list in your character creation form. Taking the Expert quirk represents a greater proficiency in a field than simply selecting it as your skill. An Expert character is likely to be amongst the most capable characters in Anchor Rock on this subject, and will be invaluable to the community. Consider why and where your character developed this expertise, how it's affected your life since, and how your character would relate it to their time in Anchor Rock.