Statting a Hell Surgeon

Cyrilin · 06-08-2014, 06:12 AM

Hello, dear GURPSians.

Once more I bring to you an insane character concept in hopes that you might make it work. This one was inspired by a aprticularly deranged comic I read.

The concept I am looking at is that of a Hell Surgeon. And insane Frankenstein fanatic that has very, highly cinematic surgery skills that are pretty much in superpower territory.

Basically the things I would like to do is do things like give my party members extra arms, extra heads, etc. (Temporary, of course), Regeneration, winged flight and that sort of fun little thing. I figured that the way to do it would be via Afflictions, though I'm about stumped as to how to work out the exact details.

I'm fine with things like it costing FP and whatnot.

johndallman · 06-08-2014, 06:37 AM

Actually, I think Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic may well be the right thing to use.

The things you're aiming to do are blatantly supernatural, take a fair amount of time, and can fail badly. RPM can bestow advantages and disadvantages, which is what you need, is clearly supernatural and takes time - normally to gather energy, but there's no reason why that shouldn't be done on an operating table.

Refplace · 06-08-2014, 06:48 AM

Pretty much build a series of Afflictions such as Affliction: Extra Arm
Make them alternative Abilities or if you have Powers Ups 4 Enhancement variable Enhancements and just write up a list.

Anders · 06-08-2014, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndallman

Actually, I think Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic may well be the right thing to use.

The things you're aiming to do are blatantly supernatural, take a fair amount of time, and can fail badly. RPM can bestow advantages and disadvantages, which is what you need, is clearly supernatural and takes time - normally to gather energy, but there's no reason why that shouldn't be done on an operating table.

Yep. Make Surgery the root skill, add a limitation that it can only be performed by surgery and bam!

Anaraxes · 06-08-2014, 10:06 AM

For Frankenstein-like surgical procedures, Effect Shaping seems like a better fit than the Energy Accumulation that's part of the RPM mashup base. Conditional rituals don't seem appropriate, either. And the existing Paths don't seem well balanced in this case, as it's mostly just alteration of the body.

One Powers-based approach would be to have a Modular Ability that's used to build an Affliction that afflicts the appropriate traits on the target -- Extra Arms, Flight (Winged), etc.

I wouldn't mind some more description from the OP. How do you see this ability being used in the game? Does it require an extensive surgical procedure in a mad-scientist lab? Or can you just snap your fingers and have wings sprout from someone's shoulders while you're out in the field, or in the middle of a fight? If you give someone an extra arm, is that a permanent alteration (unless you decide to cut it off again), or will it disappear on its own (perhaps "rotting off" due to lack of proper circulatory support).

GodBeastX · 06-08-2014, 11:13 AM

High Craft with Surgery has the craft skill with that Pyramid on RPM High Craft was my thought on this.

06-08-2014, 06:12 AM	#1
Cyrilin Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Germany	Statting a Hell Surgeon Hello, dear GURPSians. Once more I bring to you an insane character concept in hopes that you might make it work. This one was inspired by a aprticularly deranged comic I read. The concept I am looking at is that of a Hell Surgeon. And insane Frankenstein fanatic that has very, highly cinematic surgery skills that are pretty much in superpower territory. Basically the things I would like to do is do things like give my party members extra arms, extra heads, etc. (Temporary, of course), Regeneration, winged flight and that sort of fun little thing. I figured that the way to do it would be via Afflictions, though I'm about stumped as to how to work out the exact details. I'm fine with things like it costing FP and whatnot. __________________ How are you? Are you feeling well? Yes? Well, that just means you haven't been enslaved enough just yet!

06-08-2014, 06:37 AM	#2
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Re: Statting a Hell Surgeon Actually, I think *Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic* may well be the right thing to use. The things you're aiming to do are blatantly supernatural, take a fair amount of time, and can fail badly. RPM can bestow advantages and disadvantages, which is what you need, is clearly supernatural and takes time - normally to gather energy, but there's no reason why that shouldn't be done on an operating table.

06-08-2014, 06:48 AM	#3
Refplace Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Yukon, OK	Re: Statting a Hell Surgeon Pretty much build a series of Afflictions such as Affliction: Extra Arm Make them alternative Abilities or if you have Powers Ups 4 Enhancement variable Enhancements and just write up a list.

06-08-2014, 10:06 AM	#5
Anaraxes Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: Statting a Hell Surgeon For Frankenstein-like surgical procedures, Effect Shaping seems like a better fit than the Energy Accumulation that's part of the RPM mashup base. Conditional rituals don't seem appropriate, either. And the existing Paths don't seem well balanced in this case, as it's mostly just alteration of the body. One Powers-based approach would be to have a Modular Ability that's used to build an Affliction that afflicts the appropriate traits on the target -- Extra Arms, Flight (Winged), etc. I wouldn't mind some more description from the OP. How do you see this ability being used in the game? Does it require an extensive surgical procedure in a mad-scientist lab? Or can you just snap your fingers and have wings sprout from someone's shoulders while you're out in the field, or in the middle of a fight? If you give someone an extra arm, is that a permanent alteration (unless you decide to cut it off again), or will it disappear on its own (perhaps "rotting off" due to lack of proper circulatory support).

06-08-2014, 11:13 AM	#6
GodBeastX Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Behind You	Re: Statting a Hell Surgeon High Craft with Surgery has the craft skill with that Pyramid on RPM High Craft was my thought on this.