Fear & Sanity

[TheGhoulPriest]

The campaign I'm preparing for my friends will take place in my own custom corner of Cidri — one in which races other than humans are extremely uncommon, magic isn't common beyond a few spells useful around the house or farmstead, and the tone is on the darker end of things. Thing something like a marriage of Castlevania and Diablo run through the Photoshop filter of a Dungeon Synth album cover. Or, if those are alien references, a little bit of gothic fantasy, a lot of grimy dungeons and rotting Undead.

All of this to say: I'm pondering a TFT approach to (simple!) fear and sanity rules. I'm already aware of magical effects like spells or the ghost's "scare" ability, but am wondering if anyone here implements anything of the sort in their game. And if so, obviously, how do you handle it?

My first instinct is to mess with something like a fatigue system for IQ, but that's just an immediate thought.

[hcobb]

Hexagram #8, page 12

Also Book of the Unlife, I suppose.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by TheGhoulPriest

The campaign I'm preparing for my friends will take place in my own custom corner of Cidri — one in which races other than humans are extremely uncommon, magic isn't common beyond a few spells useful around the house or farmstead, and the tone is on the darker end of things. Thing something like a marriage of Castlevania and Diablo run through the Photoshop filter of a Dungeon Synth album cover. Or, if those are alien references, a little bit of gothic fantasy, a lot of grimy dungeons and rotting Undead.

All of this to say: I'm pondering a TFT approach to (simple!) fear and sanity rules. I'm already aware of magical effects like spells or the ghost's "scare" ability, but am wondering if anyone here implements anything of the sort in their game. And if so, obviously, how do you handle it?

My first instinct is to mess with something like a fatigue system for IQ, but that's just an immediate thought.

Yes! You want to pick up Hexagram 8 which features “Factoring Fear in the Fantasy Trip” by yours truly. The article presents very simple rules for how fear can work in TFT. In short, the severity (and effects) of fear is determined by the margin of failure for a Fear Factor roll. Although the article includes a set of possible outcomes, I often just improvise the consequences of failure to fit the situation and the margin of failure.

For the adventure you describe, rather than having a sanity stat that slowly dwindles, I’d recommend having characters who fail their Fear Factor roll get a penalty on their next Fear Factor test, increasing both the likelihood of failure and the severity of its consequences.

Have fun!

[TheGhoulPriest]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Yes! You want to pick up Hexagram 8 which features “Factoring Fear in the Fantasy Trip” by yours truly. The article presents very simple rules for how fear can work in TFT. In short, the severity (and effects) of fear is determined by the margin of failure for a Fear Factor roll. Although the article includes a set of possible outcomes, I often just improvise the consequences of failure to fit the situation and the margin of failure.

For the adventure you describe, rather than having a sanity stat that slowly dwindles, I’d recommend having characters who fail their Fear Factor roll get a penalty on their next Fear Factor test, increasing both the likelihood of failure and the severity of its consequences.

Have fun!

Excellent, thank you! I must admit, I've backed everything for TFT so far, so I have all of the Hexagrams, but I haven't made the time to actually read much outside of the core rules. I suppose I should probably get around to it, and maybe it would cut off some of my obvious questions.

[dmgrafton]

Yes I thought the Hexagram article on Factoring Fear was very good. I took that and upgraded it to include fighting scary looking creatures like demons or dragons, etc., and included - modifiers based on factors like how gruesome or bloody/horrifying the creature looks, how violent or imposing/ tall the creature is, and also + modifers for traits such as have they run into the creature before, certain talents like area knowledge, etc. We even created spin off aspects that use this table like " Cause Fear" spells and gas bombs, "Fear breath" certain creatures can expell, and like the talent in the article you can create a bravery potion to add + modifiers if you need it when fighting truly scary creatures. I haven't yet but I have an old insanity chart from my old DnD days 30 years ago that I'm going to set up similar to this approach. In fact I think this Fear Effects framework from Hexagram #8 is a great format to use for things like forgetfulness ( via spells or potions) and stun effects. The Forgetfulness approach might be more of a contest vs IQ and stun vs ST, but the range of effects based on the margin of error adds a lot of depth.

[hcobb]

Also note animal panic at ITL 133


What would be really fun would be a warhorse that had lost so much touch with reality that he doesn't stay in the same world and drags the rider along.

[JohnPaulB]

There are a Permanent Handicaps located in TFT Companion covering things like Alcoholic or Squeamishness or Neurotic.

There is also Temporary Handicaps in Hexagram #7 that converts the permanency of the permanent handicaps into things that the GM can inflict on players for an hour, a day or a session. Things like Terrified or Temporarily Apathetic or Stammering.

"Temporary Handicaps might be assigned instead of some or all of the damage from an injury. Or perhaps in place of (or in addition to) the usual effects of Critical Hits, Crippling Hits, or Aimed Shots to appropriate body parts."

Permanent Handicaps allow you to start off with more Creation Points.

[TheGhoulPriest]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulB

There are a Permanent Handicaps located in TFT Companion covering things like Alcoholic or Squeamishness or Neurotic.

There is also Temporary Handicaps in Hexagram #7 that converts the permanency of the permanent handicaps into things that the GM can inflict on players for an hour, a day or a session. Things like Terrified or Temporarily Apathetic or Stammering.

"Temporary Handicaps might be assigned instead of some or all of the damage from an injury. Or perhaps in place of (or in addition to) the usual effects of Critical Hits, Crippling Hits, or Aimed Shots to appropriate body parts."

Permanent Handicaps allow you to start off with more Creation Points.

This is great info. Thank you! I don't plan on allowing Permanent Handicaps to start with, but I love the idea of Temporary Handicaps as traumas to really bring home the horror of the setting. I'll use Permanent Handicaps pretty sparingly, probably if the players do something particularly stupid.

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by TheGhoulPriest

This is great info. Thank you! I don't plan on allowing Permanent Handicaps to start with, but I love the idea of Temporary Handicaps as traumas to really bring home the horror of the setting. I'll use Permanent Handicaps pretty sparingly, probably if the players do something particularly stupid.

Just a note on Permanent Handicaps. The were intended as a way to start the game with more Creation Points (like GURPS). During the game, if you got a Permanent Handicap, you don't get any compensation.

Also, you can give the NPCs some Permanent Handicaps. It lets your players ponder that your world is not a forgiving place.

If the players also know that you are using Hexagram #8's Factoring Fear, it will be on their mind what situation that they will get themselves into that these rules might come up.

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And there is Magical Backlash in TFT article in TFT Companion p 21. It has a table of 3 to 18 (bellcurve) for those risking dealing with Things Man Was Not Meant To Know.

[Thaime]

Originally Posted by TheGhoulPriest

This is great info. Thank you! I don't plan on allowing Permanent Handicaps to start with, but I love the idea of Temporary Handicaps as traumas to really bring home the horror of the setting. I'll use Permanent Handicaps pretty sparingly, probably if the players do something particularly stupid.tiny fishing

Hello, I'm a newbie. I wonder where I can find the guide to plan on allowing Permanent Handicaps. Thanks.