The Dresden Files > DFRPG
&%#ing Death Curses.
Harlan Quinn:
That's what I was asking about, how do you keep things in a measured response during game play? I assume that with cursed NPC's you can really cook up some nasty ideas, but what's the proper balance for PC's?
And if I was rude by using the word "ruin", please accept my apologies, it wasn't my intent.
skakid:
--- Quote from: Morraeon on January 12, 2009, 11:11:46 PM ---Mm, think of Harry's mother putting the death curse on Raith... talk about a fate worse than death, ow. That and unless there's a "perma-death" for the character, the death curse might be a moot point.
--- End quote ---
Exactly. That's the type of thing that would probably get an auto stamp of approval by me, because it's so creative.
Harlan Quinn:
--- Quote from: Morraeon on January 12, 2009, 11:11:46 PM ---Mm, think of Harry's mother putting the death curse on Raith... talk about a fate worse than death, ow. That and unless there's a "perma-death" for the character, the death curse might be a moot point.
--- End quote ---
That's one of things I was thinking about: fates worth than death.
Example:An cursed NPC called "The Monk"
Back in 1592, a mad cleric kills a wizard for possessing knowledge of the "Dark Arts" The wizard's death curse is that the cleric will not be able to die until he learns all the knowledge of mankind.
My questions are as follows:
1. Would a death curse keep him alive until he learns everything? The Monk trips down a flight of stairs and breaks his neck. Does the curse reanimate him? Plus, is his neck still broken or is it healed?
2. Knowledge is constantly expanding - What determines how this or other curses are fufilled? Would the Monk still be alive in 2009? ( I understand he would be by GM fiat, but am curious how it would be explained in game terms.)
skakid:
wow. . . that's an awesome game idea!
I'd think it be a crazy powerful wizard that cleric ganked, but since it's happening to an NPC I'd just deal with it as either a template change, (similar to the way a Changeling would go to either full fae or full human) if a process exists or I'd roll a new sheet for the NPC and trash the old one.
1. I'd deal with him the way they have other immortals. If he breaks his neck I'd have him stay alive, but have the neck broken for an indeterminate ammount of time, but it would eventually heal. (click to show/hide)Similar to Harry's hand
2. I'd rule it based on a couple of things, how specific the cursing wizard got as to when that curse is fufilled (think the Wish spell from D&D, but limited based off the cursing wizard's power). Would he still be alive? In my mind he would, because that's too good of an adventure idea to give up!
cranialspasm:
--- Quote from: Harlan Quinn on January 14, 2009, 01:59:51 AM ---
That's one of things I was thinking about: fates worth than death.
Example:An cursed NPC called "The Monk"
Back in 1592, a mad cleric kills a wizard for possessing knowledge of the "Dark Arts" The wizard's death curse is that the cleric will not be able to die until he learns all the knowledge of mankind.
My questions are as follows:
1. Would a death curse keep him alive until he learns everything? The Monk trips down a flight of stairs and breaks his neck. Does the curse reanimate him? Plus, is his neck still broken or is it healed?
2. Knowledge is constantly expanding - What determines how this or other curses are fufilled? Would the Monk still be alive in 2009? ( I understand he would be by GM fiat, but am curious how it would be explained in game terms.)
--- End quote ---
That's definitely an interesting idea, but if the wizard is that powerful, how did the Monk/Cleric end up killling him?
That death curse would be ideal for a mad cleric. He'd be able to exist and wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world. No matter how horrible the wizard, there is no way they would ever want their killer to be alive forever.
Also, does he age? Does it cap off somewhere or is he still spry and young. You're giving the cleric the ability to take out anyone he believes is bad, in his skewed brainpan. He could've been the catalyst in the Salem witch trials. No wizard would want something like that for their kind.
In the show, Bob was cursed to live in his own skull forever because of his law breakings. While this is an interesting take on the subject, what would that purpose be for the one putting him there?
Maybe a better curse would be to trap him in the veil between reality and the nevernever. Unable to cross into either, he is forced to observe each side.
Sorry... I got on a rant. Would that be a player character, or an NPC? 'Cause I'm of the mindset that the GM gets a lil bit of creative freedom.
I have done nothing to offer any insight at all... Have I? No.
Okay!
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