[UA] Compulsion and PCs

[James O'Rance]

"Katie and Saul" <pulse at electricearth.net> wrote:

  >>>I am a little worried about the use magical compulsion or other
mind-affecting spells against PCs. Many of the adept schools and archetypes
have spells or channels that compel the target to perform (or restrain from
performing) certain actions or behaviours, or mess with their mind in some
other way.<<<

I try not to take control away from players in my campaigns, which can be 
hard when the setting implies that mind control is common (eg, I'm currently 
runnig Victorian Age: Vampire, and Dominate is a common Discipline).
Instead I'll use mind control powers in such a way that -restricts- a PC's 
actions - preventing them from doing such-and-such still gives the player 
choice over his other options.

Messing with a PC's mind is often better than controlling their behaviour; 
most players get paranoid if they have cause to suspect "illusions" but 
don't resent it as much as "charm" powers.


  >>>Is it fair to simply say to the player "your character is suddenly and
inexplicably obsessed with such-an-such, and you must try to seek her out
regardless of your other plans." (The Amoromancy spell 'You're My
Obsession') or "your character now believes such-an-such, no matter how
illogical it may seem to you".<<<

Inasmuch as UA is a "fair" game, sure. It's just as fair as having some punk 
blast you with a shotgun, and not as inconvenient.

You could go for a subtler route - if the PC is affected by an Amoromancy 
spell that makes something specific important to him, start including the 
item in your descriptions. Provide options for the character to pursue it, 
and ask which he's going to take. Some players will get the hint that their 
PC's mind has been messed with. Others may ask you what's going on, or for 
other options, to which you could reply "But this is so -important- to you!"

If that doesn't work, then you might need to explain that the PC is affected 
by some unknown compulsion.


James O’Rance
“Divine being creates petting zoo. It gets out of hand.”
- The Bible (summarised by John W. Mangrum)

http://www.geocities.com/dragon-dreamer
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