Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[Thunderforge]

What sort of Hindrance would you give someone who is mute? I imagine if they are taking a vow of silence, you could do Vow (Major: Vow of silence), but what if they are incapable of speaking because they have their tongue cut out or something? I'm not sure that SWD has a suitable Hindrance for it (and I'm surprised that there isn't a "mute" Hindrance anyway).
_________________
Wild Card Creator: Any PDF. Any Setting. No Extra Cost.

The Elder Scrolls conversion and other fun creations.

[Dahak]

I'd just import the Disability hindrance from the Super Powers Companion. As speech impediments are listed under minor, I'd figure full lack of speech to be major.

[ValhallaGH]

Not being able to speak is about as large a problem as not being able to hear - so a Major hindrance. All speech-based actions automatically fail, and I'd give a -2 Charisma for most interactions (it's really hard to be correctly understood when you cannot quickly and clearly communicate).

There area host of work-arounds (writing, sign language, charades, etc.) but they all have drawbacks (time, others understanding, etc.).

It's about as likely to be Fun as the Blind hindrance, but it could be cool with the right group of players.
_________________
"Got a problem? I've got the solution: Rocket Launcher."
"Not against a Servitor."
"... We're all gonna die."

[Tavis]

I had a character in my Evernight game that was a Mute Barbarian from the White Towns.

I made it a Major Hindrance, and she couldn't speak.

All communication in-character was done with mime and hand-signals.

She was considered to know a form of sign-language so that she could communicate with those who had learned it (which I required to be learned as a Smarts-Based skill for 'non-native' speakers) But most of it was roleplayed out.

She also had a chalk-board for writing things on as well. (The character had one, so we got one for the player to use)

In some ways it was a MAJOR hindrance. No calling for help from around the corner, no communication when the lights are out (and they are out a LOT in Evernight), Can't have a conversation unless your hands are free to write/gesture, communication takes longer ...

I reckon it's not in the main book as being Mute just isn't 'fun' to play for most folks - and as a GM do you really want to be saying all the time "You can't just tell him that, you're mute ..." - the hindrance becomes a restriction for the player as much as for the character, unless it's something they really want to deal with ... in which case they will probably ask for it, as my player did.
_________________
Currently Playing:

SWD: 50 Fathoms (GM)

[catalac]

ever see lightning jack? good movie and it should help out with this.
so yes the character should get the outsider hindrance right off the spot. they can't communicate by speaking, ask for help, tell every one when they make a notice roll that says that their about to be ambushed in a second, or perhaps they can't say what the weakness to a monster is while fighting.
add in the fact that most worlds have a majority of illiterate characters. this hindrance is is really major and i think that when using sign language or other gestures require a smarts roll to understand one word gestures, -2 for a simple sentence, -4 too anything that requires a paragraph or more or really complicated sentences. linguists and people with speak language can understand him better then most. so give them +2 in the case of linguists and have the speaker mage understand him completely.
over all a major and in a illiterate setting you might consider giving a free edge like blind does although that might be a bit too much for the hindrance not sure.

edit: oh yeah. don't forget that for these guys talking is not a free action. and he must take an action to try to communicate (and as with above there is no guaranty they will understand what you are saying)
all in all its a cool concept (just like blind) but you'd have to be crazy to take (it just like blind )