Merits & Flaws

You’ve made a bad name for yourself among the Masses. Like the Background: Fame, this Flaw represents a degree of recognition; in your case, though, that’s not a good thing… especially not when you want to keep your life as a mage a secret from the Sleepers.

Once again, the weight of the Flaw determines its value:

• (1 point) Certain people within a region or subculture recognize and dislike you. (Examples: the local drunk, Vox Day.)

• (2 points) Your notoriety was wide once, but has faded to occasional recognition and disdain (H.R. Clinton, M.C. Hammer).

• (3 points) You’re famous, but many people do not like you (Kanye West, Nickelback).

• (4 points) The authorities don’t like you either (Roosh V, Jared Fogle).

• (5 points) You’re a household name, and that name is shit (O.J. Simpson, Charles Manson).

Especially in the age of social media and intelligence net­ works, this sort of infamy can be a very bad thing. Obviously,

some folks adore you, if only because the rest of the world hates you. On the whole, however, your reputation among the Masses is more bad than good, and folks go out of their way to give you a hard time. As with other bad reputations, you may not have actually done anything wrong; then again, there might be reasons that folks hate your guts.