The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Assorted questions
g33k:
--- Quote from: nadia.skylark on January 27, 2020, 11:06:59 PM --- I meant something like lycanthropes are, where they have a spirit inside them but don't transform. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
... and I need to give it something besides speed powers or it will take out my wizard apprentice way too easily (she doesn't know combat evocation yet, and isn't supposed to learn it for a while, so I'm trying to avoid her getting into too many direct fights). But the praying mantis needs some combat stuff (and also can't have guns, because this encounter is the first time she uses her shield spell in combat, so she's not going to be fast or good enough to block gunfire). Strength powers don't feel quite right, though, so I'm looking for something that has a "praying mantis"-like feel to it.
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So, not physical shapeshifting, but just the human body empowered by a "mantis-spirit"?
Hmm. You're right, I didn't understand! Thanks for clarifying this.
Further thoughts, then...
IIRC, those spirits don't actually grant "powers" in any supernatural manner, just a "limits off" physicality, "hysterical strength" or the like. And, of course, the mind-set of the spirit.
The real-life mantis is a stalk-and-strike ambush hunter, using a strike-and-hold immobilization. It usually then begins feeding... often without even bothering to kill the prey! A wizard could have a unique advantage vs. such a mantis-spirit, in that they don't need to move to take effective action, "immobilized" but still effective!
I'm also thinking of "mantis-style" kung fu; maybe a practitioner of the martial art got into some weird occult state, and got possessed, or maybe that's just how a mantis-spirit inhabits a body -- maybe it's even the Dresdenverse origin of Mantis Kung Fu!
nadia.skylark:
--- Quote ---I'm also thinking of "mantis-style" kung fu; maybe a practitioner of the martial art got into some weird occult state, and got possessed, or maybe that's just how a mantis-spirit inhabits a body -- maybe it's even the Dresdenverse origin of Mantis Kung Fu!
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This is an awesome idea! Thanks.
--- Quote ---How would you build the spear of longinus? The artifact that pierced christs side and was bathed in its blood.
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Well, the spear of Longinus is supposed to ensure victory for the one who has it. So, maybe a modified Righteousness where you define a single victory condition instead of a "Divinely-inspired purpose" and also apply that instead of the "when a friend, ally, or innocent victim is taken out etc" for the desperate hour portion (so it reads: "any time you are required to take a severe or extreme consequence to avoid being taken out, or something happens to directly and substantially threaten your ability to meet your stated victory condition..." (ex if your stated victory condition is "kill or capture all the vampires" and one of them runs away)).
Also, it should probably have True Aim.
You could also justify giving it "All creatures are equal before god" on the basis that if it can hurt Jesus, it should be able to hurt anyone, but that might make it to similar to the Swords of the Cross.
g33k:
--- Quote from: nadia.skylark on January 28, 2020, 05:15:33 PM --- ... You could also justify giving it "All creatures are equal before god" on the basis that if it can hurt Jesus, it should be able to hurt anyone, but that might make it to similar to the Swords of the Cross.
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Good call... I agree that it's too much like the Swords that way!
Also, it ignores the fact that Jesus was SUPPOSED to suffer and die there: rather than some sort of "OMG it can even hurt God" feature, there's some sort of Holy Sacrifice thing going on.
There should be no direct benefit to the wielder, though maybe something for allies in the scene? Dunno... it feels like any sort of "tactical advantage" element is off-theme here...
nadia.skylark:
--- Quote ---Also, it ignores the fact that Jesus was SUPPOSED to suffer and die there: rather than some sort of "OMG it can even hurt God" feature, there's some sort of Holy Sacrifice thing going on.
There should be no direct benefit to the wielder, though maybe something for allies in the scene? Dunno... it feels like any sort of "tactical advantage" element is off-theme here...
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Maybe something like if the wielder uses the spear to cut themselves and bleeds on someone, any current injuries that person has heal as if they have inhuman recovery? Or something like if the person wielding the spear has to take a consequence in a fight, all their friends, allies, and any innocents involved get armor:1 for the rest of the scene?
g33k:
--- Quote from: nadia.skylark on January 28, 2020, 05:45:02 PM --- Maybe something like if the wielder uses the spear to cut themselves and bleeds on someone, any current injuries that person has heal as if they have inhuman recovery? Or something like if the person wielding the spear has to take a consequence in a fight, all their friends, allies, and any innocents involved get armor:1 for the rest of the scene?
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Jesus died for your sins. The sacrifice needs to be bigger than any one person's benefit (not bigger than the total/aggregate benefit!); but as I said, any tactical advantages seem off-theme.
How about if all of the friends/family/allies/etc of everyone fighting on the side of the Longinus-wielder (that is to say, everyone NOT in the scene but connected to anyone who IS in the scene) get an immediate Recovery: the most-severe Consequence moves one step less-severe, including Mild consequences just going away. No tactical advantage in-scene, but a pretty vast & sweeping benefit (potentially to hundreds of people) out-of-scene. People at death's door become merely "very ill," etc.
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