Quirks and Sanity

Introduction

I began down this path working on my Heresies Without Number kitbash of Stars Without Number and Dark Heresy. I wanted a fairly simple but still play-affecting sanity system, as well as a way to inject some 40k flavor into characters from the get go. So I turned to two sources: Darkest Dungeon and Arnold K.

The sanity rules are pretty much a reskin of this post by Arnold. I changed the name of "insanity points" to "stress points" because I like the inclusive nature of covering everything from cosmic horror to extreme or constant mundane stress.

Quirks are meant to be a simple way to impart unique character to the acolytes, as well as to differentiate them more than merely their skills and careers. Quirks are gained at character creation, at certain levels, and as the result of breakdowns. They have a rules impact so that players and GMs will remember them and pay attention to them, but their primary goal is to be create a sense of character. They should not be used as an attempt to optimize or game the system - there are much better rules systems for that sort of play than this one.

I got a list of Darkest Dungeon quirks from the Darkest Dungeon Wiki, many of the quirks are Talents from Dark Heresy, and I supplemented with some traits from Mouse Guard and Torchbearer, as well as some disorders from Dark Heresy and the D20 version of Call of Cthluhu.

I think quirks and the sanity rules link up reasonably well, and there are some different ways you could use one, the other, or both together.

How to Use This Blog Post

Now, of course, you can do whatever the hell you want with this blog post, but here is what I see as the most likely ways to make use of it:

• Use as one piece of the more-or-less complete Heresies Without Number rules I'm putting together. This is what I intend to do, and lots of the specific quirk rules refer to rules changes I'm using there (like having HP split into "blood" and "guts")
• Use as a reasonably drop-in ready set of sanity rules for any D&D-alike game, or really any game with a "Willpower" equivalent type stat. If using this, please note that the stress points are scaled to a D20 roll and relevant stats - you might want to multiply everything by 5 if you use a D100 system like BRP
• Use just Arnold's awesome sanity rules and a more freeform system for the effects
• Use just the quirks for more interesting character creation
• Use the names of quirks without the rules as a resource for either positive or negative character traits in combination with some other rules (potions, spells, NPCs, whatever)

Stress and Madness

Many of the things acolytes face are not meant to be experienced or understood by humanity, and these are represented by Stress points and negative quirks.

Gaining Stress Points

Whenever characters see something terrible or confront an awful truth, they gain stress points. Generally stress points will be between 1 and 4 for a single event. Characters gain 1 fewer point when they’ve encountered something similar before.

Stress points may be gained from prolonged or especially extreme exposure to more mundane stressors like hunger, darkness, or danger.

Testing for Breakdowns

Every time characters gain new stress points, they roll 1d20 + willpower modifier. If the result is is equal to or under their new stress point total, they suffer a breakdown. The nature of the freakout may be determined by existing character quirks, but by default assume catatonia or a weeping fit. If the result is higher, they face no negative consequences beyond being slightly shaken or disturbed, but the points remain.

Gaining New Negative Quirks

When characters complete their breakdown, they make a willpower test. If successful, they face no further negative consequences, but the stress points remain. If failed, they gain a new negative quirk, which can either be determined randomly, or worked out with the GM to fit the character and the circumstances of the breakdown.

Recovering Stress Points

Stress points may be recovered by doing normal, human things - like getting drunk, relaxing, enjoying good meals, visiting family, or the like. The effectiveness of different activities should be based on what the character would find cathartic or relieving. One point may be recovered per week.

Minimum Stress

Half the value of a character’s historic high stress point score becomes their new minimum value - their stress can never drop below this, as they have been permanently damaged by their experience.

Quirks

Gaining Quirks

Character Creation

At character creation, characters gain three quirks: one from their background, one positive from the starting quirks list, and one negative from the starting quirks list. The default method is to randomly determine all quirks, but at the GM’s discretion they can instead be chosen by the players in order to meet a particular character concept.

Stress and Breakdowns

After characters suffer a breakdown, they must test their willpower to see if they gain a new negative quirk from their experience. If they fail their willpower test, they either roll a new random negative quirk form the negative quirks in the In Play Quirks list, or agree on a specific negative quirk with the GM that fits the circumstances and character (such as gaining a Fear of Xenoi after a breakdown causing encounter with a Tyranid).

Levelling Up

Every 3rd level (3rd, 6th, 9th, et cetera) a character may gain a new positive quirk from the In Play Quirks list, either randomly, or based on their actions and character since the last positive quirk was gained. The player in question and the GM should come to a mutually agreeable decision on this if it’s not obvious.

Duplicate Quirks

If characters gain the same quirk more than once, either increase its severity or re-roll, as makes the most sense in the circumstances.

Losing Quirks

At the GM’s discretion, certain quirks may be lost, whether intentionally or not, through the course of play. Generally speaking, the system is meant to reflect slow breakdown in the face of unrelenting horror and stress, but if a more heroic campaign is desired or if circumstances are particularly apt, both positive and negative quirks can be overcome and removed from a character. This is left as an exercise in GM judgement, though players can of course make clear which quirks they may wish to explore in depth and potentially overcome.

Creating New Quirks

The quirks lists, both positive and negative, are far from exhaustive, and players should feel free to suggest new quirks to their GMs to fit the things that have happened to their characters, while GMs should create any quirks that better reflect the particular challenges and triumphs of their campaigns. The perks, flaws, or traits rules of other games, especially those dealing with horror and insanity, should be invaluable sources of inspiration. Quirks would also be an excellent way to define a Xenos player character or NPC.

Alternate Approaches

If you like the idea of quirks, but not how they are presented, here are some alternate approaches to consider:

• Use the names of quirks, but not rules. Simply treat them as reminders to player and GM about how that character should be played and might react to situations
• Use the names of the quirks, but instead of a specific rule for every quirk, simply grant advantage on related rolls for positive quirks, and disadvantage for negative quirks. This will take some interpretation for the less obviously applicable quirks, and in practice might end up more like the first approach above.
• Combine positive and negative quirks into one list, and use one or both methods for gaining new quirks to represent differing reactions to stress or ongoing experience in the dark underbelly of the Imperium. For example, combining lists and only gaining quirks from stress might represent a game where some people respond positively to stress rather than negatively, and differently depending on circumstances, while combining lists and only gaining quirks every 3rd level would show that experience is a double edged sword that provides benefits as well as debilities

Starting Quirks

Positive

Positive
Roll	Name	Effect
1	Clotter	-1 to all Blood damage taken
2	Clutch Hitter	When guts reduced to 0, increase critical hit range by 1
3	Deadly	+1 to Critical hit range on all attacks
4	Eagle Eye	+1 to Critical hit range on ranged attacks
5	Evasive	+1 Guts
6	Fated	Once per session, reroll a missed to hit roll
7	Gift of the Healer	Recover 2 extra blood per day of complete rest
8	Hard Noggin	-2 damage from stun attacks
9	Hard Skinned	-1 damage from all attacks
10	Improved Balance	Advantage on any Dexterity rolls for balance
11	Last Gasp	When Guts equal to zero, +1 initiative
12	Light Sleeper	No penalties for being woken up
13	Lurker	Do +2 damage on melee attacks made from the dark
14	Meditator	Recover 1 extra stress point per week if significant time spent meditating
15	Natural Eye	+1 to hit on ranged attacks
16	Natural Swing	+1 to hit on melee attacks
17	On Guard	+1 initiative and +1 AC for first round when surprised
18	Precision Striker	+1 to critical hit range on melee attacks
19	Quick Reflexes	+1 initiative at all times
20	Quickdraw	+4 initiative first round of combat
21	Resilient	Recover 1 extra stress per week
22	Robust	Advantage on toughness checks to resist disease
23	Second Wind	+2 Damage when Guts equals zero
24	Slugger	+2 Damage in Melee
25	Steady	Advantage on Breakdown Checks
26	Stout	Recover 1 extra Blood per day
27	Thick Blooded	Advantage on Toughness checks against poison
28	Tough	+1 Blood
29	Unerring	+1 Damage to Ranged Attacks
30	Unyielding	+2 to Toughness checks against death

Negative

Negative
Roll	Name	Effect
1	Bilious Personality	Suspicious, angry yet very watchful and aware.
2	Cardinal Personality	Seeks balance in all things, yet often cannot choose a path forward.
3	Choleric Personality	Active, takes charge, yet easy to anger.
4	Fixed Personality	Solid, unyielding and definitive in all things.
5	Melancholic Personality	Thoughtful, introspective and prone to depression.
6	Mutable Personality	Unpredictable, undisciplined and rebellious.
7	Phlegmatic Personality	Practical, careful, yet very reserved.
8	Sanguine Personality	Confident, optimistic, yet prone to dreams and whimsy.
9	Supine Personality	Loyal, devout yet easily led.
10	Anemic	Take 1 extra blood damage whenever blood damaged
11	Bad Humours	-1 Blood
12	Calm	-1 Damage first round of combat
13	Clumsy	-1 Guts
14	Curious	Obsessed with the acquisition of knowledge.
15	Diurnal	-1 Initiative in the dark
16	Emperor Fearing	Can only relieve stress through prayer and religious activity
17	Flawed Release	-1 to critical hit range on ranged attacks
18	Fragile	-1 Blood
19	Gambler	Can only relieve stress by gambling
20	Hagiomania	Obsessed with achieving sainthood.
21	Hemophilia	+1 to all blood damage taken
22	Lazy Eye	-1 to hit with ranged attacks
23	Light Sensitive	-1 damage in bright light
24	Love Interest	Can only relieve stress making romantic overtures to your love interest
25	Nocturnal	-1 initiative in bright light
26	Sickly	Disadvantage on toughness checks against disease
27	Slow Reflexes	-1 initiative
28	Slowdraw	-2 initiative first round of combat
29	Soft	-1 Guts
30	Thin Blooded	Disadvantage on toughness checks against poison

In Play Quirks

Positive

Positive
Roll	Name	Effect
1	Air of Authority	Advantage on Command tests
2	Armour of Contempt	Advantage on malignancy tests from gaining corruption points
3	Berserk Charge	Advantage on melee to hit rolls in first round of combat if you were able to charge
4	Bitter	Advantage to resist persuade rolls
5	Close-Minded	You are unswayed by new or heretical thoughts. Advantage on willpower tests against those espousing them.
6	Clotter	-1 to all Blood damage taken
7	Clutch Hitter	When guts reduced to 0, increase critical hit range by 1
8	Crack Shot	Add +1 Blood damage when damaging Blood with ranged attacks
9	Crippling Strike	Option to take disadvantage on a melee to hit roll, if attack hits, counts as critical
10	Crushing Blow	Add +1 damage to melee attacks
11	Dark Soul	Add willpower modifier to malignancy tests
12	Deadeye Shot	You may take disadvantage on ranged attacks, and if attack hits, it counts as critical
13	Deadly	+1 to Critical hit range on all attacks
14	Decadence	You are extremely resistant to the ill effects of drugs and alcohol
15	Die Hard	Advantage on Death Saves
16	Disturbing Voice	Advantage on Intimidate rolls, disadvantage on friendly persuade rolls
17	Eagle Eye	+1 to Critical hit range on ranged attacks
18	Evasive	+1 Guts
19	Extrovert	Advantage on persuade rolls with strangers
20	Fated	Once per session, reroll a missed to hit roll
21	Favoured by the Warp	Advantage on Perils of the Warp Tests
22	Fearless	Immune to fear effects
23	Foresight	Once per session, gain advantage on any Lore test.
24	Frenzy	Enter a psychotic rage to gain an extra melee attack per round, but with some chance to attack unintended targets
25	Gift of the Healer	Recover 2 extra blood per day of complete rest
26	Good Reputation†	You are well thought of within a certain, specific group. This may grant bonuses to certain rolls
27	Hard Noggin	-2 damage from stun attacks
28	Hard Skinned	-1 damage from all attacks
29	Hard Target	Opponents have disadvantage on ranged attacks against you when you run
30	Hardy	Heal 1 extra Blood per day
31	Hatred of Chaos	+2 Damage and Advantage on Breakdown checks caused by Chaotic Creatures
32	Hatred of Heretics	+2 Damage and Advantage on Breakdown checks caused by Heretics
33	Hatred of Mankind	+2 Damage and Advantage on Breakdown checks caused by Humans
34	Hatred of Xenoi	+2 Damage and Advantage on Breakdown checks caused by Xenoi
35	Hidden Depths	You are surprisingly insightful. Once per session, automatically succeed in a Lore test
36	Hip Shooting	You may run and shoot with disadavantage
37	Honorable	Advantage on Breakdown checks if breaking down would endanger a promise you have made
38	Improved Balance	Advantage on any Dexterity rolls for balance
39	Insanely Faithful	Advantage on breakdown rolls against heretics and chaotic beings
40	Into the Jaws of Hell	Subordinates have +1 morale
41	Iron Discipline	Advantage on command tests with subordinates
42	Iron Jaw	May make a toughness check to overcome stunning
43	Jaded	Take no stress from mundane, non-supernatural situations or horrors
44	Keen Hearing	Your hearing is extremely sharp. Hear things others can't, and advantage for any hearing-based awareness tests
45	Keen Smell	You can smell things others can't. Advantage on smell based awareness tests. Extremely sensitive to unpleasant smells.
46	Last Gasp	When Guts equal to zero, +1 initiative
47	Light Sleeper	No penalties for being woken up
48	Lightning Attack	Gain an additional melee attack per round
49	Lightning Reflexes	Add +2 to initiative rolls
50	Litany of Hate	Extend the benefits of a Hatred effect to all friendly characters within earshot
51	Lurker	Do +2 damage on melee attacks made from the dark
52	Marksman	Advantage on extremely long range to hit rolls
53	Master Orator	Advantage on persuade rolls when you have a large audience
54	Meditator	Recover 1 extra stress point per week if significant time spent meditating
55	Mental Fortress	Advantage to resist mental attacks and interrogation
56	Mimic	You can copy voices you havce heard
57	Natural Bearings	You always know the cardinal directions (or other fixed point of reference) and are almost never lost
58	Natural Eye	+1 to hit on ranged attacks
59	Natural Swing	+1 to hit on melee attacks
60	Nerves of Steel	Advantage on breakdown tests where stress is caused by physical danger
61	Nymphomania	Recover 1 extra stress per week if you can engage in sexual activity
62	On Guard	+1 initiative and +1 AC for first round when surprised
63	Photomania	Instantly calm down from breakdowns if brought into bright light and out of immediate danger
64	Precise Blow	Increase melee critical hit range by 1
65	Precision Striker	+1 to critical hit range on melee attacks
66	Quick Reflexes	+1 initiative at all times
67	Quickdraw	+4 initiative first round of combat
68	Rapid Reaction	Make a willpower check to avoid being surprised
69	Rapid Reload	Reduce time to reload weapons
70	Resilient	Recover 1 extra stress per week
71	Robust	Advantage on toughness checks to resist disease
72	Second Wind	+2 Damage when Guts equals zero
73	Sharpshooter	Extend the critical hit range by 1 on ranged attacks
74	Slayer of Chaos	+2 to hit and increase critical range by 1 against chaotic beings
75	Slayer of Heretics	+2 to hit and increase critical range by 1 against heretics
76	Slayer of Mankind	+2 to hit and increase critical range by 1 against humans
77	Slayer of Xenoi	+2 to hit and increase critical range by 1 against Xenoi
78	Slugger	+2 Damage in Melee
79	Sound Constitution	+1 Blood
80	Sprint	You can run faster than normal for short periods of time
81	Steady	Advantage on Breakdown Checks
82	Step Aside	Improve AC by 2 in Melee if you forgo attacking
83	Stoic	Advantage on breakdown rolls brought about by mundane stressors
84	Stout	Recover 1 extra Blood per day
85	Street Fighting	Advantage on melee to hit rolls involving knives or improvised weapons
86	Strong Minded	Advantage on willpower tests to resist psychic powers
87	Sure Strike	Modify critical hit rolls up or down by 1, your choice.
88	Suspicious	Advantage on willpower tests to resist persuasion.
89	Swift Attack	You can attack twice in melee
90	Takedown	You can choose to replace all damage from a melee attack to knock your opponent prone
91	Thick Blooded	Advantage on Toughness checks against poison
92	Total Recall	You can remember trivial facts and minor details with uncanny accuracy
93	Tough	+1 Blood
94	True Grit	Critical hit injury rolls against you take -1
95	Unerring	+1 Damage to Ranged Attacks
96	Unremarkable	You are easily forgettable
97	Unshakeable Faith	Advantage on stress rolls that involve fear
98	Unyielding	+2 to Toughness checks against death
99	Wall of Steel	Improve AC by an extra 2 if you fight defensively in Melee
100	Warrior of Light	+2 Melee damage in bright light

Negative

Negative
Roll	Name	Effect
1	Ablutomania	Obsessed with cleanliness. Disadvantage on Breakdown checks involving filth
2	Alcoholism	Heavy drinker. Can only recover stress by getting very drunk.
3	Anemic	Take 1 extra blood damage whenever blood damaged
4	Anxious	Suffer anxiety over even minor stresses. More likely to gain stress than normal
5	Automatonophobia	Believe humans are actually soulless robots. Take 1 extra stress in stress inducing situations involving human enemies
6	Bad Gambler	Disadvantage on gambling rolls
7	Bad Humours	-1 Blood
8	Bloodthirsty	Fascinated with injury, wounds, and torture.
9	Bulimic	Heal 1 fewer Blood per day, and half Guts from eating
10	Callous	Lack of empathy and feeling for fellow man
11	Calm	-1 Damage first round of combat
12	Chemical Addiction	Addicted to some drug stronger than alcohol
13	Claustrophobia	Severe fear of enclosed spaces.
14	Clumsy	-1 Guts
15	Compulsion	Character must frequently perform some action and becomes extremely agitated if prevented
16	Compulsive	Suffers intense need to do specific actions.
17	Curious	Obsessed with the acquisition of knowledge.
18	Dacnomania	Obsessed with killing.
19	Dark Temptation	Prone to investigating Forbidden Lore
20	Dead Comrade	Hears and/or sees a dead comrade, who often offers rebukes and criticism
21	Delusion	Holds and acts on an erroneous belief about self or the world
22	Demonomania	Believes self possessed by demons
23	Demonophobia	Disadvantage on breakdown checks caused by demons
24	Deviant Tastes	Socially unacceptable appetites, not welcome in brothels
25	Dispomania	Intense craving for alcohol. Will go to great lengths to seek it out.
26	Diurnal	-1 Initiative in the dark
27	Egomania	Obsessed with self-worship.
28	Emperor Fearing	Can only relieve stress through prayer and religious activity
29	Enlightened	Will only relieve stress through meditation
30	Explosive	Frequent outbursts of violence and aggression
31	Faithless	Cannot relieve stress through prayer or other religious action
32	Fear Of Chaos	Disadvantage on breakdown checks caused by chaotic beings
33	Fear of Heretics	Disadvantage on breakdown checks caused by heretics
34	Fear Of Insects	Extereme fear of insects, arthropods, and those alien creatures reminiscent of them
35	Fear of Mankind	Disadvantage on breakdown checks caused by humans
36	Fear Of The Dead	Extreme fear of corpses and death
37	Fear of Xenos	Disadvantage on breakdown checks caused by Xenoi
38	Flagellant	Can only relieve stress by self flaggellation
39	Flashbacks	Vivid hallucinations of past traumatic events
40	Flawed Release	-1 to critical hit range on ranged attacks
41	Fragile	-1 Blood
42	Gambler	Can only relieve stress by gambling
43	Guilty Conscience	Bears the crushing guilt of deeds real and imagined.
44	Hagiomania	Obsessed with achieving sainthood.
45	Hemophilia	+1 to all blood damage taken
46	Hieromania	Experiences religious visions and delusions.
47	Horrific Nightmares	Terrible dreams, trouble sleeping
48	Hylomania	Obsessed with material things.
49	Hypochondria	Often suffer from imagined illnesses in order to gain attention. Follow rules for disease, without risk of actual death
50	Invulnerability	Believes self unable to suffer harm, either from a specific source, or at all
51	Kleptomaniac	Prone to stealing Items
52	Known Cheat	Not welcome with gamblers that know your reputation
53	Lazy Eye	-1 to hit with ranged attacks
54	Light Sensitive	-1 damage in bright light
55	Love Interest	Can only relieve stress making romantic overtures to your love interest
56	Lygophobia	Disadvantage on Breakdown Checks in the dark
57	Megalomania	Delusion of own's power and superiority, obsessed with exercise of power over others
58	Mercurial	You frequently change your mind and have a hard time sticking to a consistent plan of action
59	Misses the Spot	-1 to critical hit range
60	Monophobia	Fear of being alone. Disadvantage on breakdown checks while alone
61	Necromania	Fascinated with corpses.
62	Nervous	Disadvantage on all breakdown checks
63	Nervous Tic	When stressed or nervous, suffer a specific involuntary twitch
64	Nocturnal	-1 initiative in bright light
65	Obsession	Character fixates on particular topic and has difficulty not thinking or referring to it
66	Off Guard	-2 initiative and -2 AC first round when surprised
67	Panicky	Disadvantage on willpower checks to remain calm
68	Paranoia	Delusions of hostile attention and action from specific or general entities
69	Paranormania	Obsessed with the paranormal.
70	Pathological Liar	Will frequently lie, even when it is disadvantageous. Advantage on Persuade rolls involving lies, must pass willpower check to avoid lying when under stress
71	Phengophobia	Disadvantage on breakdown checks made in direct sunlight
72	Plutomania	Manic for money.
73	Resolution	Will not drink and cannot relieve stress by doing so
74	Righteousness	Believes in rightness of own actions no matter what actual compromises are made or costs are paid
75	Ruins Phobe	Disadvantage on breakdown checks in ruins
76	Ruminator	Relieve 1 point of stress every other week of stress relieving activity
77	Selective Amnesia	Cannot remember traumatic events, will not believe others about them
78	Self-Mortification	Character compulsively damages own flesh
79	Shaky	-1 Damage to ranged attacks
80	Shell Shock	Distant, emotionally deadened, nightmares. More likely to take stress from going into dangerous situations
81	Shocker	+1 damage taken from stun attacks
82	Sickly	Disadvantage on toughness checks against disease
83	Sleep Walking	While sleeping, will occasionally get up and move around, even in potentially dangerous situations
84	Slow Reflexes	-1 initiative
85	Slowdraw	-2 initiative first round of combat
86	Soft	-1 Guts
87	Stress Eater	When stress is over minimum value, eat compulsively
88	Thanatophobia	Disadvantage on breakdown checks when Guts equals 0
89	The Flesh Is Weak!	Character blames flesh for failings and weakness, and will desire to replace it with improvements like cybernetics
90	The Yips	-1 to hit ranged attacks
91	Thin Blooded	Disadvantage on toughness checks against poison
92	Tippler	Can only relieve stress by drinking
93	Tither	Donates large amounts of money to the church. -1 to all Patronage checks
94	Tuckered Out	-1 Damage when Guts equals 0
95	Unquiet Mind	Cannot relieve stress by contemplation or meditation
96	Weak Grip	-1 to critical hit range in melee
97	Weak Grip on Life	Disadvantage on Death Saves
98	Winded	-1 Initiative when Guts equals 0
99	Witness	Cannot relieve stress by prayer or religious activity after seeing disturbing behavior
100	Zoophobia	Disadvantage on breakdown checks caused by animalistic creatures