History BlessedWithSuck / TabletopGames

** To put a more Specific example: Let's take Dominic D'Honaire - he's able to control anyone he wants, and has managed to basically control the country from the shadows and create a vast Spy Network. HOWEVER, if he falls in love with anyone, he can't mind control them, and she'll just find him more repulsive the more he tries to woo her until she's driven off.

* Becoming almost any kind of magician in ''UnknownArmies'' requires developing obsessions and taboos that make it near-impossible to have anything resembling a normal life. How serious this gets depends on what specific path you follow. For example, Plutomancers gain magic by acquiring cold, hard cash - then have to live like paupers because spending it nukes their powers. Personamancers master identity and masks by destroying their own sense of self. Dipsomancers find power in booze and cirrhosis - and have no power unless they're drunk. Pornomancers enslave their sexuality to a porn star who seemed to ascend to a higher plane. These are some of the saner Adepts.

*** Even better: no matter how powerful you become, no matter what great accomplishments you have to your name, no matter whose ass you kick, ''[[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair it will not matter in the end.]]'' The timeline "ends" with the heat death of the universe, with nothing remaining but [[EldritchAbomination the Cold Ones.]] And that's just in the ''long run.'' In the ''short'' run, your creations are often more fragile than mundane fare unless you go out of your way to toughen them up, everything you make has some small imperfection, and the only way to get around any of it is ''[[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity more power.]]'' There are countless ways things can go wrong, and there are [[ThirtyGambitPileup countless ways]] ''[[MyGreatestFailure those]]'' can be rendered [[ShaggyDogStory meaningless.]] It's the World of Darkness; it is not a nice place.

** The [[Eberron Cataclysm Mage]] prestige class. One of the class features is a self-related prophecy. Said prophecy has a 1/4 chance of being fatal. It is possible to survive all but one of those prophecies (the exception being one that requires you to die). You get a special benefit for fulfilling these prophecies. At the DM's digression, the prophecies have to be fulfilled in order for you to advance in the prestige class.

* Becoming almost any kind of magician in ''UnknownArmies'' requires developing obsessions and taboos that make it near-impossible to have anything resembling a normal life. How serious this gets depends on what specific path you follow.

** With the new edition of Mummy, White Wold has decided to allow the official boards to weigh in on the fluff and feel of the the game. So, now ''you'' get to decide how they're going to be kicked in the teeth!

** It should be noted that the 4e update tried to discard this trope, removing the "Must be LawfulGood" from Paladins, removing the capacity for classes to have their powers stripped from them altogether (no anti-magic fields or divine rebukes, for example), and simultaneously lowering the power of wizards (and raising the power of other classes) while redesigning the way powers work so a wizard can never really run out of spells. [[BrokenBase Fans]] are divided.

** To put a more Specific example: Let's take Dominic D'Honaire - he's able to control anyone he wants, and has managed to basically control the country from the shadow and create a vast Spy Network. HOWEVER, if he falls in love with anyone, he can't mind control them, and she'll just find him more repulsive the more he tries to woo her until she's driven off.

* Becoming almost any kind of magician in ''UnknownArmies'' requires developing obsessions and taboos that make it near-impossible to have anything resembling a normal life. How serious this gets depends on what specific path you follow.

**** Of course, one interpretation of the Hunters is that they're all actually unwitting servants of the Wyrm or the big enemy from the Mage setting.

** It should be noted that the 4e update tried to discard this trope, removing the "Must be LawfulGood" from Paladins, removing the capacity for classes to have their powers stripped from them altogether (no anti-magic fields or divine rebukes, for example), and simultaneously lowering the power of wizards (and raising the power of other classes) while redesigning the way powers work so a wizard can never really run out of spells. [[BrokenBase Fans]] are [[UnderStatement divided]].

*** Even better: no matter how powerful you become, no matter what great accomplishments you have to your name, no matter whose ass you kick, ''[[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair it will not matter in the end.]]'' The timeline "ends" with the heat death of the universe, with nothing remaining but [[EldritchAbomination the Cold Ones.]] And that's just in the ''long run.'' In the ''short'' run, your creations are often more fragile than mundane fare unless you go out of your way to toughen them up, everything you make has some small imperfection, and the only way to get around any of it is ''[[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity more power.]]'' There are countless ways things can go wrong, and there are [[ThirtyGambitPileup countless ways]] ''[[MyGreatestFailure those]]'' can be rendered [[ShaggyDogStory meaningless.]] It's the World of Darkness; [[{{Understatement}} it is not a nice place.]]

*** The Hunters, oddly enough, might be considered to have it easiest; most of them are ordinary mortals without any superpowers. The catch? They get to go up against all of the above supernatural creatures... without any superpowers. Then there's the toll hunting can take on an ordinary life. Oh, and there's the risk of turning into the antagonist in a [[SlasherMovies Slasher Movie]], too. Those few Hunters who ''do'' get superpowers often find things don't get any easier...

* Being a supernatural creature in the ''WorldOfDarkness'' is quite often a blessing with suck:

** Changelings in the new ''World of Darkness'' are the only group that have it worse - magical abilities are a cold gift when you can never be sure TheFairFolk won't show up one day and drag you back into Arcadia to serve the wretched life of a slave.

*** Even better: no matter how powerful you become, no matter what great accomplishments you have to your name, no matter whose ass you kick, ''[[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair it will not matter in the end.]]'' The timeline "ends" with the heat death of the universe, with nothing remaining but [[EldritchAbomination the Cold Ones.]] And that's just in the ''long run.'' In the ''short'' run, your creations are often more fragile than mundane fare unless you go out of your way to toughen them up, everything you make has some small imperfection, and the only way to get around any of it is ''[[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity more power.]]'' There are countless ways things can go wrong, and there are [[ThirtyGambitPileup countless ways]] ''[[MyGreatestFailure those]]'' can be rendered [[ShaggyDogStory meaningless.]] It's the WorldOfDarkness; [[{{Understatement}} it is not a nice place.]]
* In White Wolf's ''other'' main RPG, ''{{Exalted}},'' the entire world is blessed with suck. While [[FantasyKitchenSink every imaginable wondrous phenomenon is a possibility]] there, the presence of so many strong, unwavering wills with different opinions is destined to break out in a devastating conflict. 1st ed. canon has this conflict resolved in the creation of the above-mentioned ''WorldOfDarkness,'' and that's one of the ''best possible outcomes.''

*** [[FaustianRebellion As is befitting Infernals]], it's successor Charm removes the "suck" by widening the "energy from activity" criteria to "anything somewhat strenuous", meaning that to avoid exhaustion you...have a normal workday, or do something that results in an adrenaline rush (which is part of a normal workday for Exalted).

** [[GeniusTheTransgression Geniuses]] continue the tradition in their own ways. Yes, you can make [[WeirdScience wonders of impossible science]] to do almost anything... but as soon as a [[{{Muggle}} mortal]] gets their hands on it, it'll [[GoneHorriblyWrong break, explode or worse]]. Aside from that though they don't have it ''too'' bad, at least until they [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity become more powerful]] and have to control the burning light of [[TouchedByVorlons Inspiration]]. Because if they don't [[ComesGreatResponsibility show restraint]], [[HeroicRROD things]] [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope can]] [[MoralEventHorizon get]] [[ItGotWorse messy]].

* Most scenarios of ''InNomineSatanis[=/=]MagnaVeritas'' take the form of discreet, undercover investigations amongst {{Muggles}}, and the {{Masquerade}} is sacrosanct (heh). So when one of your possible "powers" is "Incarnation in the body of a famous CEO/TV anchor/Rock star/Politician", well... Have fun trying to explain this paparazzi shot of you shooting holy lightning out of your eyeballs is really stage effects ''sans'' stage, or something. Or infiltrating the BigBad's lair with groupies in tow.

** It should be noted that the 4e update tried to discard this trope, removing the "Must be LawfulGood" from Paladins, removing the capacity for classes to have their powers stripped from them altogether (no anti-magic fields or divine rebukes, for example), and simultaneously lowering the power of wizards (and raising the power of other classes) while redesigning the way powers work so a wizard can never really run out of spells. [[BrokenFanbase Fans]] are [[UnderStatement divided]].

** It does not stop there either folks. Are you a Mad Scientist? Then you are slowly driven mad by the demons giving you all those "Keen" ideas. Be a mage and yeah not only do you need to hide your magic skills or get lynched by the scared towns folks but you ALSO have to deal with demons to get your power and messing up can mean all KINDS of unpleasent effects. Hell just being sucessful at stopping evil plots means that sooner or later the Big Bads will notice you and decide to shut you UP via demon bull or if you have REALLY honked em off they send their personal hit man after you. [[{{NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast}} Stone]].

* ''{{Magic the Gathering}}'' has an ability called Shroud - a permanent(creature or otherwise) with it cannot be targeted. It seems like a great bonus at first - things like, say, [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=191089 Lightning Bolt]] are unable to touch it, rendering a shrouded creature immune to most types of removal. The downside is that it applies to you too; you can't [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=189879 Giant Growth]] it if you need to. Not nearly as serious as all the other examples here, but hey.

*** Even better: no matter how powerful you become, no matter what great accomplishments you have to your name, no matter whose ass you kick, ''[[LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair it will not matter in the end.]]'' The timeline "ends" with the heat death of the universe, with nothing remaining but [[EldritchAbomination the Cold Ones.]] And that's just in the ''long run.'' In the ''short'' run, your creations are often more fragile than mundane fare unless you go out of your way to toughen them up, everything you make has some small imperfection, and the only way to get around any of it is ''[[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity more power.]]'' There are countless ways things can go wrong, and there are [[ThirtyXanatosPileup countless ways]] ''[[MyGreatestFailure those]]'' can be rendered [[ShaggyDogStory meaningless.]] It's the WorldOfDarkness; [[{{Understatement}} it is not a nice place.]]

*** Oh, what's that, you say? Fae power as long as the changeling isn't caught? Well, that doesn't sound so bad. But wait, there's more: instead of the "Morality" scale that mortals are judged on, changelings operate on "Clarity" which is basically sanity. At the top of the chart, most of their powers are completely inaccessible; at the bottom, however, floaty sparks carpe mindmaps no pointclick. So yeah, there's that...

* Psykers in ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'', especially amongst humans. The fate of the overwhelming majority of psykers in [[TheEmpire the Imperium]] is to die at their hands of their fellow humans, who hate and despise them. And if they're ''lucky'', said death will just be a bullet through the brainpan or being burned at the stake. And if they ''aren't'' caught and killed (or controlled by the Imperium, not a nice fate either), they usually go [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity insane]]. [[FateWorseThanDeath Or worse]]. Given the fact that Psykers gain their powers due to the fact that they have a gate to the realms of soul devouring demons and endless, sanity devouring horrors in their brains, they're practically the living embodiment of this trope.

* Becoming almost any kind of magician in ''UnknownArmies'' requires developing obsessions and taboos that make it near-impossible to have anything resembling a normal life. How serious this gets depends on what specific path you follow.
* [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/spelltouchedFeats.htm Spelltouched feats]]: most have some minor use, but two, Stench of the Dead (Makes other sick near you) and Life Leech (automaticaly drain life from the serious injured for a temporary boast) could cause you some serious problems.
* Being a [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/halfFiend.htm half fiend]] or [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/halfDragon.htm half dragon]] has lots of little benefits, however many are hideously ugly, social outcasts or destined to become evil.

* Paladins in ''DungeonsAndDragons'' are sometimes depicted as being such [[SlaveToPR Slaves To PR]] as to have little free will. Thus, they must do the most obvious "lawful good" action to any situation, even if the end result will obviously be bad, or else lose their powers or [[ThePunishment worse.]] Many have called this interpretation "[[LawfulStupidChaoticStupid Lawful Stupid]]."