GURPS: Lima Syndrome

WaterAndWindSpirit · 12-23-2014, 05:57 AM

Hello all!

So, I've been wondering about something: I stumbled onto a discussion of Stockholm Syndrome in GURPS terms and rules, so I wanted to do the opposite: Lima Syndrome.

Lima Syndrome is when the captors start feeling empathy (or more) for their hostages.

So what if a likable (possibly with Pitiable advantage), or even the Face of the party was captured by an enemy cult or something, and had to rely on Lima Syndrome to get out?

My first instinct would be to get them to make reaction rolls (and possibly Diplomacy Influence Skill Rolls) toward the person with whom they interact each day, and positive reactions would steer the captor toward friendliness. I'd record a score (Good reaction being less than Great...), and once that score goes far enough, they win a one shot ally for the upcoming escape (or someone who could give them favors which they could misuse to escape). Switching guards regularly, preventing the captive from speaking (potentially allowing him/her to sidetrack it with Fast Talk) or a guard with Callous, could potentially prevent such a stunt, multiple guards would give a penalty, and a less than loyal or mistreated guard (he's such a wimp, let's give him the most degrading task) could give a bonus. I remember Batman doing such a stunt in "Injustice for All" of the Justice League cartoon (except it was a red herring. He had secured another villain's help through plain old bribery by paying him triple. And he could have escaped anytime, he just decided to stay to keep an eye on these clowns (including an actual clown, the Joker) (He's Batman, what did you expect?)).

12-23-2014, 05:57 AM	#1
WaterAndWindSpirit Join Date: Oct 2014	GURPS: Lima Syndrome Hello all! So, I've been wondering about something: I stumbled onto a discussion of Stockholm Syndrome in GURPS terms and rules, so I wanted to do the opposite: Lima Syndrome. Lima Syndrome is when the captors start feeling empathy (or more) for their hostages. So what if a likable (possibly with Pitiable advantage), or even the Face of the party was captured by an enemy cult or something, and had to rely on Lima Syndrome to get out? My first instinct would be to get them to make reaction rolls (and possibly Diplomacy Influence Skill Rolls) toward the person with whom they interact each day, and positive reactions would steer the captor toward friendliness. I'd record a score (Good reaction being less than Great...), and once that score goes far enough, they win a one shot ally for the upcoming escape (or someone who could give them favors which they could misuse to escape). Switching guards regularly, preventing the captive from speaking (potentially allowing him/her to sidetrack it with Fast Talk) or a guard with Callous, could potentially prevent such a stunt, multiple guards would give a penalty, and a less than loyal or mistreated guard (he's such a wimp, let's give him the most degrading task) could give a bonus. I remember Batman doing such a stunt in "Injustice for All" of the Justice League cartoon (except it was a red herring. He had secured another villain's help through plain old bribery by paying him triple. And he could have escaped anytime, he just decided to stay to keep an eye on these clowns (including an actual clown, the Joker) (He's Batman, what did you expect?)).