Nobilis faults
Unlike most games, faults in Nobilis don't give you extra character
points; instead, they're the main way to regain/get extra miracle
points in play. There are two kinds of faults in nobilis, Limitations
and Restrictions. Limitations are "always on", like being disabled, or
having an item that contains some of your powers. You get extra
miracle points at the start of the session for having a
Limitation. Restrictions are things that only come into play
sometimes; you get miracle points when they come into play. Finally,
there are Virtues, which are like faults, but different. A virtue is
an aspect of your character that is inviolate; you can't go against
it, other people can't make you go against it, you can't be tricked
into going against it, and you can sense what the right thing to do is
in some situations involving it. Finally, it's a fault in the sense
that if it gets you into deep trouble, you get a miracle point
back. You can have at most one virtue; be careful about taking one
you might not want to have later, because it will be TOO LATE.
As with gifts, feel free to design other
faults, and I'll work out a miracle point value for them.
Here are some of the sample ones from the book:
Limitations:
- Dead - 3 points (you're dead, and can only act through anchors)
- Disabled - 1/2 points (physical or mentally disabled)
- Hated - 1 point per point of realm (hated by chancel inhabitants)
- Light Touch - 1 point per point of spirit (you can't force your
anchors to do anything)
- Manifestation - 1/2 points (you are vulnerable to things opposed to your estate)
- Small Estate - 1 point per point of domain (you have a specific
estate, and no control outside it)
- Uninspiring - 1 point per point of spirit over 2 (you don't have
the force of personality associated with high spirit; other nobilis
look down on you)
- Unseen - 2 points (you must keep your identity hidden at all
times, except from members of your own Family; this makes it hard to
govern the chancel)
Restrictions:
- Blatant - 1/2 points (you cannot use subtle miracles)
- Cannot cross running water - 1 point
- Cannot enter a home uninvited - 1 point
- Cannot kill - 1 point
- Cannot use modern technology - 1 point
- Ceremonial - 1 point (must perform certain rituals)
- [thing] bond - 1/2/3 points (cannot refuse offer of [thing],
cannot harm person you exchange
[thing]s with)
- Compromised - 1/2/3 points (someone has Information about
you)
- Doomed - 3 points (horrible fate awaits you)
- Double - 1/2/3 points (you have an evil twin)
- Hated by animals - 1 point
- Health-linked - 1/2 points (damaging something else damages
you)
- Honest - 1 point
- Repulsed by the Creator's name - 1 point
- Respectful - 1 point (you respect some class of nobilis/humans and
cannot do [thing] to them)
- Relevatory trait - 1 point (something about you reveals your
presence/mystic nature)
- Subtle - 1 point (cannot use obvious miracles)
- Summonable - 1/2 points (1 point if you can be summoned, 2 if you
can't leave the summoning pentagram or phone booth or whatever)
Virtues:
- Artisan (in a particular craft)
- Cruel
- Deceitful
- Reckless
- Spiritual (eg, vegetarian, or any other religious precept)
- Egotistical
- Brave
- Honorable (this is much stronger than the restriction above!)
- Greedy
- Cowardice