History BerserkButton / TabletopGames

* Of the various [[ProudWarriorRace Clans]] in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'', the Ghost Bears are frequently considered to be the most laid back and least aggressive. Unless you attack their capital, Alshain. Or use nuclear weapons. Or they have any reason whatsoever to even suspect that you might be associated with Clan Wolverine. Doing any of the above makes them angry. [[UnstoppableRage That's very, very bad.]]

** In ''TabletopGame/WerwolfTheForsaken'', each wolf has a set of three triggers that can induce ''[[UnstoppableRage Kuruth]]'': a ''passive'' trigger that is very difficult to avoid and may not even require that the wolf be aware of its occurence (such as her auspice moon being in the sky), a ''common'' trigger that is difficult but possible to avoid (such as ''seeing'' her auspice moon in the sky), and a ''specific'' trigger that is fairly rare (such as hearing a wolf howl while her auspice moon is in the sky). If the werewolf's Harmony is heavily tilted towards one side or the other, even the passive trigger can set her off, while as her Harmony moves towards the middle it needs first the common trigger, then the specific trigger, then at Harmony 5 none of the triggers can set her off. There are also a few general triggers (like taking damage from silver) that affect all werewolves and apply regardless of Harmony.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'', avoid being a Communist. Friend Computer will allow mutants to register their powers, and may even be lenient on traitors. But if you are a Commie (or made to look like one), you WILL be terminated.

** Cowardice is [[WarGod Khorne]]'s BerserkButton. Slaughter defenseless women and children too much? He'll think you're a spineless pussy and set his hounds on you. Psykers also piss him off, because he thinks killing things with your brain at a distance is cowardice, even compared to things like artillery, and ''definitely'' when compared to rushing in with a chainaxe and mangling shit yourself. As a result, he gives his followers ways to resist their powers and demands they leave none alive.

** [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension The Progenitors]] are, as [[TheMan Technocrats]] go, rather laid-back, friendly, and focused on making the world a better place rather than controlling it... but they view the promotion of homeopathy, New Age remedies, and other forms of alternative medicine pseudo-science as literal war crimes (because even if mages can [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve make them work]], most people can't), and it's the reason they're by far the most gung-ho of the Conventions about wiping out [[InsistentTerminology Reality Deviants]].

** Remember that bit about Clan Wolverine above? The safe play when around a Clanner is to just forget the word "Wolverine" even exists. There are documented instances where Clanners and Inner Sphere Mechwarriors somehow met on neutral ground. A Inner Sphere warrior, not aware of the whole "Clan Wolverine" thing, innocently described a Clanner as having fought like a wolverine, intending it as a compliment. The Clanners, en masse, proceeded to pummel the snot out of him. Note that there exists a 'Mech known as the ''Wolverine''. When the Clans began their [=IIC=] program of updating venerable designs with new tech, they made it abundentely clear that there is '''no''' ''Wolverine [=IIC=]''. There is instead the ''Conjurer''. On pain of serious bodily harm.

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* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Demon prince]] Graz'zt is probably the least likely demon lord to rip you apart just for existing, even opening his layers of the abyss for trade. Mention that he actually fell in love with Iggwilv, that Malcanthet turned him down, or call his domain "The Little Hells," and he will feed you to the predatory plants in his gardens.
** Do NOT talk about [[FantasticRacism dragons around a behir]].

** To make lycanthropy less predictable, ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' encourages {{Game Master}}s to link werebeasts' involuntary transformations (and subsequent Berserk Button rampages) to phenomena other than the full moon, such as the tides, exposure to a particular odor, food or substance, or stressful situations such as feeling hemmed in by a crowd.
** In the ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' campaign setting, the local ProudWarriorRace are the elves of Valenar. Calling a Valenar a ''vadis nia'' (which means "disgracer of the blood" in their tongue) or otherwise accusing them of disgracing their ancestors is an extremely effective way of getting yourself into a fight with a furious elf who thinks he's a Klingon.

* The "Consumer On the Brink" archetype from the ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' supplement "Seed of the New Flesh" is not very powerful in terms of skills. But attack him or put him in close proximity to his irritant, which is a Berserk Button or something else that pisses him off to no end, and he gets 4 bonus points that he can distribute however he wishes between his Body and Reflexes stat, which can affect his combat [=AVs=].
* TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} has multiple ways of simulating this in a character, the most common of which is simply called Berserk.

** [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension The Progenitors]] are, as [[TheMan Technocrats]] go, rather laid-back, friendly, and focused on making the world a better place rather than controlling it... but they view the promotion of homeopathy, New Age remedies, and other forms of alternative medicine pseudo-science as literal war crimes, and it's the reason they're by far the most gung-ho of the Conventions about wiping out [[InsistentTerminology Reality Deviants]].

** In ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' the [[ThoseWilyCoyotes Nuwisha]] can magically learn just the right statement to set off someone's ''berzerk button''.

** Cowardice is [[WarGod Khorne]]'s BerserkButton. Slaughter defenseless women and children too much? He'll think you're a spineless pussy and set his hounds on you.

* ''TabletopGame/PsionicsTheNextStageInHumanEvolution'': Two examples are in the game's fluff.
** Don't accuse Tim of using his psychokinesis unethically or he'll throw a fit, almost to the point of overloading.
** God help you if you tell Mama Bear that you've hurt her friends and may your insurance provider be merciful if you do.

** ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'': Because they accidentally had a hand in the rise of the Third Reich, and are now trying to atone for it, the Loyalists of Thule ''loathe'' Nazis and anyone willing to follow their philosophy. Members who show neo-Nazi tendencies have a strong chance of finding themselves [[ThrowThemToTheWolves suddenly abandoned in a monster's lair while on a mission]].

** ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'': Because they accidentally had a hand in the rise of the Third Reich, and are now trying to atone for it, the Loyalists of Thule ''loathe'' Nazis and anyone willing to follow their philosophy. Members who show neo-nazi tendencies have a strong chance of finding themselves suddenly abandoned in a monster's lair while on a mission.

** In 4th Edition, suggesting that a half-orc was a ChildOfRape in earshot of one is a quick way to get your teeth punched out.

** In the ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' campaign setting, the local ProudWarriorRace are the elves of Valenar. Accusing a Valenar elf of dishonoring their ancestors is an extremely effective way of getting yourself into a fight with a furious elf who thinks he's a Klingon.