Fairy Contracts

[TG_Bottousai]

Hey there long time lurker and maybe second time poster (had another account but I can't get into it for some reason). Anyway, i'm planning on running a darker fantasy campaign and one of my players wants to play a "Fairy" and she want's to have the ability to make contracts with mortals for their souls and make them their puppets. I was wondering what ways could I do that? She says she wants it to be like the fairies from old folktales before they became the cute innocent creatures commonly depicted in children's tales. How would I make a power that lets her make a deal, then hold on the the persons soul or otherwise compel them to do what she says.

[Refplace]

Affliction Duty or pact I think is the best way to go here.

[the_matrix_walker]

This sounds like Mind Control (Conditioning only, -50%) and probably another limitation that they have to enter into a bargain (-20%?)

[TG_Bottousai]

Hmm... affliction Duty sounds just like what i'm looking for. What do you think the modifiers for "Must enter into a bargain" would be?
Also, she would prefer some way to essentially hold the persons soul so they can't betray them, and if they do and she finds out she can kill them or w/e. Any Ideas on how to build that part of it?

I considered mind control but after reading it it doesn't quite sound like what I want, though thank you for the good suggestion :)

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by TG_Bottousai

Hmm... affliction Duty sounds just like what i'm looking for. What do you think the modifiers for "Must enter into a bargain" would be?
Also, she would prefer some way to essentially hold the persons soul so they can't betray them, and if they do and she finds out she can kill them or w/e. Any Ideas on how to build that part of it?

I considered mind control but after reading it it doesn't quite sound like what I want, though thank you for the good suggestion :)

At least a 50% maybe 80% for inflicting a duty or disad they have to volunteer for.
Then take a malediction attack to hurt those who beak the duty, again nice limitation and you could also get a couple versions as alternative abilities to that. So a damage one, but also agony or nausea as a mere reminder.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by TG_Bottousai

Hmm... affliction Duty sounds just like what i'm looking for. What do you think the modifiers for "Must enter into a bargain" would be?

-50% sounds about right to me, provided that she has to actually keep her end of the deal. Maybe -10% if she can just lie through her teeth, Fast-Talk them, etc, and welch on it after they sign.

Despite the special effects, it's going to need to be an Involuntary Duty (increasing the cost of the Affliction) if they can't just walk away from it by ripping up the contract or whatever, and may also be Extremely Hazardous depending on her ethics (I'd judge by what she is capable of making them do, rather than what she will typically make them do, because when the chips are down she'll throw them under the bus to save herself if she can bring herself to do it). If they can't resist, even waking up from a sound sleep to do her bidding, that's an Always-Available for x4.

Also, note that you can't normally Afflict a social Disadvantage like Duty, so you're going to want to make sure everybody knows that it's a non-RAW GM call and/or slap a Cosmic (Rule Bend) +50% on there.

Originally Posted by TG_Bottousai

Also, she would prefer some way to essentially hold the persons soul so they can't betray them, and if they do and she finds out she can kill them or w/e. Any Ideas on how to build that part of it?

Sounds like Detect (Broken Soul Contract) with Analyzing +100%, Reflexive +40%, and World or Dimension-Spanning Range to me, plus a nasty Malediction or three as suggested previously.

[JCurwen3]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

Also, note that you can't normally Afflict a social Disadvantage like Duty, so you're going to want to make sure everybody knows that it's a non-RAW GM call and/or slap a Cosmic (Rule Bend) +50% on there.

I wasn't aware that Afflicting social traits was normally explicitly disallowed by RAW. Can you give a citation for that?

It seems to me that Affliction of social traits would model very well a person's ability to hand out temporary (or semi-permanent) ranks, reputations, law enforcement powers, etc.

[Jerander]

This is a great idea. I'll have to swipe it for my demons. When I work something up, I'll post for comparison.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

I wasn't aware that Afflicting social traits was normally explicitly disallowed by RAW. Can you give a citation for that?

Sure: 4e Characters p 36: "Disadvantage: The victim temporarily gains one or more specific physical or mental disadvantages (but not self-imposed mental disadvantages - see p. 121)"

Italics original; bolding mine.

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

It seems to me that Affliction of social traits would model very well a person's ability to hand out temporary (or semi-permanent) ranks, reputations, law enforcement powers, etc.

Anybody who is in a position to hand out that sort of temporary privilege has already paid for that ability as a function of their existing Ranks or Status, if it operates through normal social channels, IMHO (EG: The Sheriff has the power to bestow or revoke Deputy privileges on another character because he is the Sheriff). If it is explicitly not operating through normal channels (EG: I can Afflict you with Legal Immunity or Status with my magical powers and people will act as though it is real even though neither of us has any real standing in the game society), then that would be a job for Affliction.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

This sounds like Mind Control (Conditioning only, -50%) and probably another limitation that they have to enter into a bargain (-20%?)

*nods* And maybe a 'single command' type of limiter.

I've always thought using Afflictions to do the work of MC was a bit cheesy... not to be offensive, JMO.