Taint

I use counters to represent Hero Points in the game, white ones for Hero Points and Red ones for Taint.

The characters can gain a rank of Taint when they have contact with a source of the taint, such as a demonic entity from the beyond.

Once a character gains their first rank of Taint the following rules come into effect.

At the beginning of each session the character gets one red counter per rank of Taint. The Taint counter can be spent as a Hero Point, but only when the character is out of regular hero points.

• If the character spends a Tainted Hero Point on self-preservation or other non-heroic act then the character needs to make a Willpower save [DC: 10+ PL + Taint Rank] to avoid gaining another rank of Taint.

While a character has a Taint counter they may make use of extra-effort without becoming fatigued.

• If the character uses extra-effort and avoids the fatigue level then the character needs to make a Willpower save [DC: 10 + Taint Rank] to avoid gaining another rank of Taint.

Taint Drawbacks
A character may possess up to 4 ranks of Taint with no ill effects, however when the fifth rank of taint is awarded the GM will assign a 5 point mental or physical drawback. The character can avoid this by taking a mental drawback at any time equal in value to the current effective rank of Taint.

Taking the drawback doesn't award the character any points.

Once the 5 point drawback has been assigned the character then gains two ranks of Taint where they would have gained one previously. If the character gains double the amount of taint they had when the 5 point drawback was assigned then that character is lost to the darkness.

Removing Taint Drawbacks
A drawback can only be removed when the rank of Taint has been reduced to a point below when the drawback was assigned.


Okay, I'm confusing myself. Let me have a think and I'll try and re-write this with a little more clarity.