dizman
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 38
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Post by dizman on Dec 12, 2011 2:01:34 GMT -8
Does anyone have isues with mind reading powers?
One of my layers went through a power concept that she can use "read surface thoughts 15m radius all the time" to a disadvantage that crowds daze her and make her seces go in over load. Apart of this has mind blast, and area mind scream. This sounded like a good idea at the time but this went and been a social game breaker, because its effective against most regular people.
So do you know any othe complete game breaking powers to watsch out in future?
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Nolinquisitor
Journeyman Douchebag
Next Project: BrigadeCon, RPGS 2 Your Science Fantasy Toolkit Supersetting
Posts: 162
Preferred Game Systems: GURPS, M&M, 7th Sea, Cypher System
Currently Playing: Playing is for the weak.
Currently Running: Cypher System, D&D 5E + Freeport
Favorite Species of Monkey: Dr. Zaius
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Post by Nolinquisitor on Dec 13, 2011 12:01:38 GMT -8
If your game is rigid, heavily structured or if you are not good at improv, you might have problems with a PC who can read minds. That's for sure. You can either: - Rework Mind Reading in GURPS to be more difficult. You can add several limitations to make the mind reading more difficult; Cost Fatigue; Side Effect; Requires a Skill Roll (Mind Reading); Preparation (1 hour); Accessibility (Only works on X); etc. - Take the mind reading into the writing of your adventure. Giving some moments to the player to show off his talent but also keeping your player to find the solution to all the problems. - You can take Languages into accounts. Maybe your PC cannot comprehend mind in another culture or language. - Some NPC could develop a Resistance to Mind Reading after a few reads or worse... awakens untapped psionic powers! - Some minds might be more tough to read. Ask for a IQ roll to understand the thoughts and give penalty based on the alienness of the read mind: -1 to IQ for a slightly alien mind, -10 for a totally alien mind. Be creative with this problem... you are the GM and a simple mind read should not stop you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2011 14:52:23 GMT -8
Haven't used GURPS, so not sure what the actual rules on it are, but since you mentioned surface thoughts you can limit things jsut by limiting that definitions.
Make surface thoughts only what they are saying or are about to say, coupled with emotions. So she'll know what they are getting ready to tell the group, and she'll be able to tell if they are lying or hiding something. Maybe slightly deeper you can give hints at other thoughts, broken images or words, but not enough to make a clear picture, just give hints at things.
Of course it will still require good improve or some preparation to work things into your notes.
You could also have the occasional person pick up on the mind reading, thus causing friction and drama, or even have people who when mind read retaliate with mental powers. Some might know they are doing it, some might jsut have an innate and instinct protective power.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2011 15:34:07 GMT -8
Mind control is another obvious one to either avoid or severely limit. I've had trouble with that one in the past, partially due to the power level involved and partially due to me being a new GM.
Generally my rule these days for psychic powers is it should be low powered, very limited or have severe consequences. For example taking damage when its used, only being able to sense general details (NPC is hiding something as opposed to what exactly they're hiding), generally difficult even against regular people (especially useful with mind control) and even harder against tough opponents.
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maxinstuff
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Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
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Post by maxinstuff on Mar 5, 2012 3:32:12 GMT -8
*gestures necromantically*
For mind reading I would just make it difficult to get anything of use from 'surface thoughts'. Trying to get information out of that noble? All he can think about is his itchy balls.
Of course - depending how common these sorts of abilities are in the world - the bad guys might have people who can do it to - or who can block his thoughts from being read (perhaps violently - MIND RAPE!).
As for breaky powers - you don't need to look any further than the basic spell list really..... entombment, flesh to stone, mind reading etc.
And for breaky mages in general - have inquisitors in the world. Inquisitors are awesome, awesome villains that make it scary to break out the spells where they'll be seen - especially when they have alot of political sway.
Death to mages!
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Post by doctorlovecraft on Mar 5, 2012 12:08:44 GMT -8
Don't forget that with Mind Reading even surface thoughts requires contest of the character's IQ vs the target's WILL and distance modifiers do apply, so anything further than 2m is at a penalty. So I would make important NPCs tougher to read with higher WILL.
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