How to make a voodoo doll?

[Lucian]

Im wondering how it would be possible to make a voodoo doll in the hero system. You would need a personal item of the target like a lock of hair or a favorite comb. This would then be used in the magical ritual to construct the wax doll. After that, damage (or whatever you choose to do to the doll) could be applied to the target, even if they are half a world away.

I realise that this is powerful but it is a common staple of some types of magical fantasy. I must admit Im stumped as to how it could be modeled in Hero. Ideas anyone?

[Pteryx]

You mean you missed the picture of the voodoo doll on the same two-page spread as Indirect, Invisible Power Effects, and Megascale? :D

But seriously, those three advantages on Energy Blasts, RKAs, and perhaps Telekinesis or limited Mind Control (for posing a person by posing the doll) would be a start. -- Pteryx

[Lucian]

My biggest problem is how to target the thing if you never have to actually see the target.

[Ben Seeman]

Originally posted by Pteryx
You mean you missed the picture of the voodoo doll on the same two-page spread as Indirect, Invisible Power Effects, and Megascale? :D

But seriously, those three advantages on Energy Blasts, RKAs, and perhaps Telekinesis or limited Mind Control (for posing a person by posing the doll) would be a start. -- Pteryx
You should also write up an END Reserve to represent the ritual that "charges" the doll. Give it Extra Time, Never Recovers and Must Have Personal Item of Victim modifiers. Once you used all the "magic" in the END Reserve, another ritual will need to be performed to make it work again.

If you wanted to just throw the ritual out, give it 0 END and go nuts. :)

[Ben Seeman]

Originally posted by Lucian
My biggest problem is how to target the thing if you never have to actually see the target.
Give the doll Mental Awareness, Targeting, Megascaled. With that the doll can target anyone, anywhere mentally and still do physical attacks.

[Lucian]

Originally posted by Ben Seeman
Give the doll Mental Awareness, Targeting, Megascaled. With that the doll can target anyone, anywhere mentally and still do physical attacks.

Cool! never thought of that. It even means that people with mental defences will be resistant to targeting, which sort of makes sense. Thanks for the help.

[SirViss]

Originally posted by Ben Seeman
Give the doll Mental Awareness, Targeting, Megascaled. With that the doll can target anyone, anywhere mentally and still do physical attacks.

Shouldn't that be Mind Scan, not Mental Awarness? Mental Awarness just allows you to see the use of mental powers.

[Lucian]

If thats true (and I think it is) it wouldnt be so good.

If the target were far away, the number of minds to scan would be huge, making the mind scan really difficult. It shouldnt matter how many minds are in the area or how far away the target is since it is keyed to the particular person via the personal effect or whatever.

Are there any other options besides mind scan to target the thing?

[Zed-F]

Detect Minds (with appropriate adders) works.