Character Disadvantages

There is also a master list of all Character Disadvantages at the end. It's a rough list for now.

Characters are not just a collection of abilities for attack and defense. Their flaws add to their appeal just as much (if not more) than their deeds. A character with a newspaper editor hounding him, a sickly aunt, no love life, and the worst luck imaginable is possibly the most recognized character in the history of literature. Why? Because while we can’t identify with being able to fly through the air or have bullets bounce off our skin, we can identify with sick relatives, late bills, and no date on Saturday night. The more we identify with the protagonist of a tale, the more engaging that tale becomes.

Maximum Disadvantages
No character should have more than 10 DSR in disadvantages total, and no single disadvantage can be above 5 DSR. This can be discussed if it is imperative to your character's personality however.

Disadvantage Ratings and Character Disadvantages during play
The first time a disadvantage actively hinders your character during a scene, you immediately recover a number of Action Points equal to the DSR of that Disadvantage; however, you cannot ever have more Action Points than your current maximum (6 plus one-half your character level+one-half your ranks in Wits). You also gain a number of experience points equal to 10 x (DSR + your Level) at levels 1-5, 20 x (DSR + your Level) at levels 6-10, 50 x (DSR + your Level) at levels 11-17, and 100 x (DSR + your Level) at levels 18-20.

Removing Disadvantages As a character rises in level, he might wish to reduce his flaws, or even remove them entirely. A character must announce when he gains a level that he is attempting to remove a disadvantage. To reduce the DSR of a disadvantage by one, the character must then succeed at an appropriate skill check as set by the GM, with a DC of 15 plus the DSR of the disadvantage he is attempting to reduce. This check receives a modifier of +5 to –5 depending on how well the reduction of the disadvantage has been role-played in the campaign. In special circumstances, where the GM feels the reduction of the disadvantage is especially appropriate or especially inappropriate, she may even declare the attempt automatic, or that the attempt is impossible. Remember, however, that this disadvantages system provides no "up front" benefits. A character recovers Action Points equal to the DSR when a disadvantage appears in play, meaning that if the DSR is reduced, the character will receive a diminishing benefit. For this reason, the GM is encouraged to be lenient when determining if a disadvantage may be reduced.

Trading Disadvantages In some cases, a disadvantage is simply not working out in the game. In cases such as this, the GM should allow the character to trade in one enemy for another, at the same DSR.

Secret
You lead a double life, hiding a secret that could embarrass or destroy you. The DSR of this disadvantage depends on the consequences of your secret being known to the general public. At the beginning of a scene, the GM rolls a d20. On a roll of 20 or higher on a d20 (modified by the DSR), your secret is threatened. This will not involve a revelation of the secret, but rather, one or more individuals in the scene will have a feeling that you are hiding something, giving them Disadvantage on Deception and Persuasion checks when interacting with those individuals. Finding out your actual secret requires a skill check (usually the Gather Information skill use) with a DC of 25 – the DSR.
Action Points are awarded each time it is threatened. If the secret becomes public then the character must live with the revelation, and gains the Bad Reputation disadvantage at the same level.
DSR 1 (Embarrassing Secret): This secret would cause one of the following to happen: for one of the character’s contacts to sever ties (depriving the character the use of those Resource Points until his Reputation increased and he could re-allocate them) or for the character’s Wealth to be reduced by –2.
DSR 3 (Dangerous Secret): This secret would cause two of the following to happen: for all of the character’s contacts to sever ties, for the character’s reputation to be permanently reduced by -3, or for the character’s Wealth to be reduced by –6.
DSR 5 (Explosive Secret): The kind of secret a man or woman would kill to protect. If this secret is discovered, all the character's contacts sever their ties, the character’s Reputation is reduced by –6, his wealth is reduced by –12, the character gains an Enemy at DSR 5, and the character no longer gains a bonus to skill checks when dealing with someone of their allegiance(s)

Age
Your age holds you back and keeps you from succeeding. When age crops up to inhibit your character, they recover Action Points equal to his age DSR. Additionally, a character's age also increases their error rate, up to 5; when they role a critical failure because of their error rate they also recover this Disadvantage's DSR in Action Points. Note that characters always recover an action point when they roll a 1.

Note: You are not required to take this Disadvantage if you fall into one of these age categories, although be aware that you may still be subjected to some of their societal drawbacks. Being an adult rarely, if ever, inhibits a character, but by taking this Disadvantage, the GM will make sure to find the opportunity to do so; even then, these are small hinderances at best.