Code of Honor (Legendary Rogue)

#disadvantage

-10 points; this is a Code of Honor.

A character with this code lives for daring exploits, elaborate schemes, and the promise of being remembered. Comfort, safety, and ordinary profit are secondary to adventure and reputation.

The character must not refuse a bold adventure merely because it is dangerous. They may retreat from certain death, but only after attempting a clever reversal, dramatic escape, or other suitably audacious solution. They do not risk life and limb for money alone, although wealth is acceptable when it funds a scheme, wins influence, embarrasses a foe, or secures a grander prize.

Worthy enemies are rivals, not obstacles to be erased. The character must offer such foes a fair chance to escape, recover, or return later, unless they pose an immediate lethal threat to innocents, companions, or the adventure’s central goal. Treacherous villains, monsters, and faceless hirelings need not receive this courtesy.

Whenever skulduggery, misdirection, disguise, dramatic boasting, or an intricate plan would make success more memorable, the character should prefer it to a dull but efficient approach. This does not require stupidity: A scheme may be practical, but it should never be bland.

Finally, the character must cultivate legend. They should claim memorable deeds, leave calling cards, accept impossible wagers, protect their reputation, and choose the course that will make the better tale - provided it does not betray companions or violate the rest of this code.

Severe Variant
In a high-romance or cinematic campaign, use Code of Honor (Legendary Rogue) [-15]. At this level, the character must take dramatic risks even when caution is plainly wiser, must let any worthy rival escape unless doing so would cause immediate catastrophe, and must pursue fame strongly enough that anonymity feels like defeat. This version is best suited to swashbucklers, trickster-heroes, pulp masterminds, and mythic scoundrels.

Shortened forms for quick reference:
Code of Honor (Legendary Rogue): Never refuse a grand adventure merely because it is dangerous; value the thrill of the exploit above money, except where wealth serves a scheme. Let worthy enemies escape, recover, or return if this promises future adventure, dramatic consequences, or a better tale. Prefer skulduggery, misdirection, boasts, wagers, disguises, and elaborate plans to dull efficiency. Live so that songs, scandals, and legends will remember you. This code does not require betraying companions, ending the adventure, or making further play impossible. -10 points.

Code of Honor (Legendary Rogue, Severe): Never refuse a grand adventure merely because it is dangerous; prize the thrill of the exploit above safety, comfort, or money. Let worthy enemies escape, recover, or return, even at serious cost, if this promises future adventure, dramatic consequences, or a better tale. Prefer audacity, skulduggery, misdirection, boasts, wagers, disguises, and elaborate schemes to safe or dull solutions. Live so that songs, scandals, and legends will remember you. Catastrophe is acceptable; anticlimax is not. This code does not require betraying companions, ending the adventure, or making further play impossible. -15 points.

Source: This is a custom-made disadvantage, designed for Redd James and the crew of the The Red Scorn.