Weird Pulp plot seed

[Captain Obvious]

I'm pretty sure someone on this board brought this up once, but I've been unable to find it, so here it is (again?).

In 1933, Hungarian composer Reszo Seress wrote a song called "Gloomy Sunday", which, supposedly, became linked with a number of suicides over the years. By the mid-30s, the song had been translated into English and brought to America.

http://www.qsl.net/w5www/gloomy.html

Was the suicide-inducing nature of the song intentional? Was it some odd sort of psychological weapon? Or maybe a medium of sacrifice to some Jazz Age Demon-God?

MP3s of the song are available here and there on the internet. The Billie Holliday version would be best for a pulp game.

[AlHazred]

Specifically, here.

"Gloomy Sunday": Mind Control 14d6 (Human class of minds) (70 Active Points); Extra Time (3 Minute, 10 Segments, -1 1/2), OAF (instruments; -1), Only To Alter/Inflict Sadness (see UNTIL Superpowers Database Revised, page 83; -1), Incantations (; -1/2), Requires A PS: Singer Roll (-1/2), Limited Range (15", "hearing range"; -1/4), Limited Effectiveness Against Targets With Hearing Group Flash Defense (remove two dice per point of Hearing Group Flash Defense; -1/4) Real cost: 12 points.

For added fun, consider using the Sticky Advantage to allow people to afflict others with depression by humming a few bars...

[Steve Long]

2 XP to Captain Obvious for coining the phrase "Jazz Age demon-god."

[austenandrews]

Cool idea.

[Captain Obvious]

2 XP to Captain Obvious for coining the phrase "Jazz Age demon-god."

Woohoo! I'm spending them on Teleport!

[Flames]

I think it's more of a PRE attack with a lot of limitations piled on. Or perhaps it's an RKA based on EGO that does BODY damage, but is limited in that the victim has to be able to inflict the damage on himself.

This is the kind of stuff that should be discussed in a podcast. What Hero System player wouldn't like to ride to work every day listening to a couple of people discuss these things?

[austenandrews]

Or perhaps it's an RKA based on EGO that does BODY damage, but is limited in that the victim has to be able to inflict the damage on himself.

That's a morbidly appealing build.

[psm]

I'm assuming the only defense against the song would be Monty Pythons', Funniest Joke in the World.

Nothing like obscure references.

[Mentor]

Trebuchet and Blackjack, forget that you ever read this thread!

Great use of a totally unusual plot line.