How do you make this? Possessing Fiend

pawsplay · 07-18-2008, 02:42 AM

How do you do this? A spirit possesses someone, and grants them +10 ST and Darkvision.

talonthehand · 07-18-2008, 02:48 AM

What do you mean by possess? Since you say "grant" I assume the original person is still in control, but with higher powers, right. Sorta like in Shaman King? That'd probably just be (as an example) Extra ST 10, switchable (for when the spirit isn't there), and with the spirit power modifier from Powers (I think that was -25%).

vicky_molokh · 07-18-2008, 04:33 AM

It's an Affliction which grants ST. Or it can be Lifting ST and Striking ST, both with Affects Others.

transmetahuman · 07-18-2008, 08:36 AM

Usually it's written up as an ability of the character that gets possessed (Spirit Warrior etc.), rather than of the spirit. Kinda like abilities Granted By Familiar don't actually go on the familiar's racial template or character sheet at all.

This thread might be of some help, too.

pawsplay · 07-18-2008, 09:04 AM

Usually it's written up as an ability of the character that gets possessed (Spirit Warrior etc.), rather than of the spirit.

That seems kind of backwards, not to mention potentially problematic if you expect the entity to possess anyone else, ever.

carllarson · 07-18-2008, 09:19 AM

Would depend on the ties between the possessing spirit and the character, IMO.

If the spirit is possessing at its will, and the character has no choice or desire, then the ability is part of the spirit, and costs are part of the spirit's sheet.

If the spirit has a link where the choice has been made by the character, such as Spirit Warrior, Channelling, Patron or Ally, I'd probably decide its a set of abilites that need "Granted by X."

As far as the spirit being able to possess and boost other characters, cover that with accessability or frequency.

djones · 07-18-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawsplay

Usually it's written up as an ability of the character that gets possessed (Spirit Warrior etc.), rather than of the spirit.

That seems kind of backwards, not to mention potentially problematic if you expect the entity to possess anyone else, ever.

Communications error I guess, TMH was describing something like how you'd stat a voudoun spirit warrior, who would gain advantages when being ridden by a given loa.

In the case of statting a spirit who has the ability to possess a subject, and during the possession (in which the spirit was in control of the body) the subject gains <stat> and <advantage> it should be written up, as stated above, as an affliction which grants the advantages and which has an accessibility modifier.

Of course, if you're not worried about play balance and it's entirely between two NPCs, there's no need to do math at all. The NPC has one set of stats, then another when possessed.

pawsplay · 07-18-2008, 10:21 AM

Ah, I see. I was thinking of something like the bad guy in Fallen, although not quite as mobile, who turns his host into a powerhouse.

transmetahuman · 07-18-2008, 10:30 AM

In the thread I linked to up there, Kromm weighed in with either:

1) Affliction with Advantage(s) (attribute bonuses would be done using the Advantage enhancement), Aura (so it'll keep 'reinfecting' the subject as the duration wears out), and an Accessibility limitation for "only on the body I'm currently Possessing; terminates immediately when it's no longer possessed" which he put at -80%.

or

2) A house-ruled variation on Affects Others in the +50% range

or

3) A supernatural Alternate Form with lots o' bonuses modified so the possessing entity can only use it while possessing someone. That one's kinda interesting, in that it implies a use of Shapeshifting as a Mental ability (goes with the mind, not the body)... but I'm not seeing how it would keep any variations in the subjects' original races relevant.

pawsplay · 07-18-2008, 12:32 PM

Ok, I think Affliction is the way to go. Now here's a question: does this need Affects Substantial, or does the possessor effectively have the ability to influence the body already, even though this is not explicitly defined as a psi or magical power?

07-18-2008, 02:42 AM	#1
pawsplay Join Date: Sep 2007	How do you make this? Possessing Fiend How do you do this? A spirit possesses someone, and grants them +10 ST and Darkvision.

07-18-2008, 02:48 AM	#2
talonthehand Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: LFK	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend What do you mean by possess? Since you say "grant" I assume the original person is still in control, but with higher powers, right. Sorta like in Shaman King? That'd probably just be (as an example) Extra ST 10, switchable (for when the spirit isn't there), and with the spirit power modifier from Powers (I think that was -25%).

07-18-2008, 04:33 AM	#3
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend It's an Affliction which grants ST. Or it can be Lifting ST and Striking ST, both with Affects Others. __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

07-18-2008, 08:36 AM	#4
transmetahuman Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend Usually it's written up as an ability of the character that gets possessed (Spirit Warrior etc.), rather than of the spirit. Kinda like abilities Granted By Familiar don't actually go on the familiar's racial template or character sheet at all. This thread might be of some help, too.

07-18-2008, 09:04 AM	#5
pawsplay Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend Usually it's written up as an ability of the character that gets possessed (Spirit Warrior etc.), rather than of the spirit. That seems kind of backwards, not to mention potentially problematic if you expect the entity to possess anyone else, ever.

07-18-2008, 09:19 AM	#6
carllarson Join Date: Feb 2005	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend Would depend on the ties between the possessing spirit and the character, IMO. If the spirit is possessing at its will, and the character has no choice or desire, then the ability is part of the spirit, and costs are part of the spirit's sheet. If the spirit has a link where the choice has been made by the character, such as Spirit Warrior, Channelling, Patron or Ally, I'd probably decide its a set of abilites that need "Granted by X." As far as the spirit being able to possess and boost other characters, cover that with accessability or frequency.

07-18-2008, 10:21 AM	#8
pawsplay Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend Ah, I see. I was thinking of something like the bad guy in Fallen, although not quite as mobile, who turns his host into a powerhouse.

07-18-2008, 10:30 AM	#9
transmetahuman Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend In the thread I linked to up there, Kromm weighed in with either: 1) Affliction with Advantage(s) (attribute bonuses would be done using the Advantage enhancement), Aura (so it'll keep 'reinfecting' the subject as the duration wears out), and an Accessibility limitation for "only on the body I'm currently Possessing; terminates immediately when it's no longer possessed" which he put at -80%. or 2) A house-ruled variation on Affects Others in the +50% range or 3) A supernatural Alternate Form with lots o' bonuses modified so the possessing entity can only use it while possessing someone. That one's kinda interesting, in that it implies a use of Shapeshifting as a Mental ability (goes with the mind, not the body)... but I'm not seeing how it would keep any variations in the subjects' original races relevant.

07-18-2008, 12:32 PM	#10
pawsplay Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: How do you make this? Possessing Fiend Ok, I think Affliction is the way to go. Now here's a question: does this need Affects Substantial, or does the possessor effectively have the ability to influence the body already, even though this is not explicitly defined as a psi or magical power?