exorcism?

[jammer397]

Working on more parts for my Occult Detective and just found a new can of worms. I want him to be able to do exorcism's. Problem is I really can't find good info on it in any of the hero system books. I'm guessing that an exorcism works like a form of banishment but it info on banishment in the fantasy hero guide it about banishing a summoned creature and it doesn't really seem to be what I'm looking for. Also the info is no well explained. It's on pg 155 and than jumps to 149 for Dispel. I'm confused and need some input.

[Hyper-Man]

I may be off base but isn't an exorcism very similar to a D&D Cleric's ability to 'Turn Undead'?  If so, the easiest way to make this work in HERO is to give the Undead a Disadvantage that makes them particularly vulnerable to PRE attacks from 'Holy' men.  Being a 'Holy' man would be a Perk.  That's the basics at least. 

 

HM

[Cantriped]

The easiest way to represent Exorcisms as I see them used in cinema would be a huge number of dice of Dispel Possession or Dispel Haunting, with "haunting" being a special effect targeted via the appropriate advantage. However really it comes down to how the GM is building effects you are trying to undo with your exorcism. Most of the common effects of hauntings can be represented with Change Environment, Possession, Summon, or Telekinesis.

[jammer397]

I may be off base but isn't an exorcism very similar to a D&D Cleric's ability to 'Turn Undead'?  If so, the easiest way to make this work in HERO is to give the Undead a Disadvantage that makes them particularly vulnerable to PRE attacks from 'Holy' men.  Being a 'Holy' man would be a Perk.  That's the basics at least. 

 

HM

I think that is Smite, which would be a blast I guess but counted as a holy attack doing more damage to undead and demons. Dispel Possession seems like what I'm looking for. I haven't had some many problems creating a character before but it's coming along.

[Lucius]

This will be easier if you're the one running the game.

Otherwise, you will have to consult whoever is running the game about how their world works.

 

You also need to be clear on what you mean by "exorcism." It could mean

 

1. Liberating a subject of possession or influence from the control of whatever force or entity is oppressing them,

2. Purifying an area of undesired spiritual beings or influences,

3. Either or both of the above, or

4. Something else I didn't think of

 

For example, this might work for the first case:

 

Spirit of Evil, Trouble this Innocent Person No More!: (Total: 22 Active Cost, 5 Real Cost) +15 EGO, Usable As Attack (+1/2), Grantor pays the END whenever the power is used, Grantor can only grant the power to others (22 Active Points); Extra Time (20 Minutes, Only to Activate, -1 1/4), Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1), Gestures (Requires both hands; -1/2), Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; -1/4), Concentration (1/2 DCV; -1/4), Incantations (-1/4) (Real Cost: 5)

 

Whether the demon is using Mind Control or the Possession Power from Advanced Player's Guide, boosting the victim's EGO is one good way to kick them out.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary says if worrying about demonic possession is giving you gray hair, treat it with dye-it and exorcise.

[BoloOfEarth]

I think I'd make it a Dispel of some sort.  Probably make it Cumulative, representing the cinematic time it takes to be successful (and the possessed person's attempts to mess with the ritual).

 

How about something like:

 

Dispel 5d6, Variable Effect (any one haunting / possession power or Summoned creature; +1/2), AP (+1/4), Affects Desolidified (+1/2), Cumulative (120 points max; +1), Half END (+1/4);  OAF Arrangement (-1 1/4), Extra Time (Full Phase; -1/2), Limited Range (5m; -1/4), Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4), Requires a Roll (Power: Exorcism; -1/2).  52 AP, 13 RP

[jammer397]

I think I'd make it a Dispel of some sort.  Probably make it Cumulative, representing the cinematic time it takes to be successful (and the possessed person's attempts to mess with the ritual).

 

How about something like:

 

Dispel 5d6, Variable Effect (any one haunting / possession power or Summoned creature; +1/2), AP (+1/4), Affects Desolidified (+1/2), Cumulative (120 points max; +1), Half END (+1/4);  OAF Arrangement (-1 1/4), Extra Time (Full Phase; -1/2), Limited Range (5m; -1/4), Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4), Requires a Roll (Power: Exorcism; -1/2).  52 AP, 13 RP

Awesome! This looks like just what is needed to work.

[BoloOfEarth]

This will be easier if you're the one running the game.

Otherwise, you will have to consult whoever is running the game about how their world works.

 

You also need to be clear on what you mean by "exorcism." It could mean

 

1. Liberating a subject of possession or influence from the control of whatever force or entity is oppressing them,

2. Purifying an area of undesired spiritual beings or influences,

3. Either or both of the above, or

4. Something else I didn't think of

 

For example, this might work for the first case:

 

Spirit of Evil, Trouble this Innocent Person No More!: (Total: 22 Active Cost, 5 Real Cost) +15 EGO, Usable As Attack (+1/2), Grantor pays the END whenever the power is used, Grantor can only grant the power to others (22 Active Points); Extra Time (20 Minutes, Only to Activate, -1 1/4), Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1), Gestures (Requires both hands; -1/2), Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; -1/4), Concentration (1/2 DCV; -1/4), Incantations (-1/4) (Real Cost: 5)

 

That's an excellent idea of another way to handle Possession - helping the victim break free on his own.

 

However, I think I'd go with an Aid (or rather Boost) to EGO rather than Ego Usable By Others (which is what I think you meant instead of Usable As Attack).  Maybe something like:

 

Boost EGO 5d6, Extra Time (20 Minutes, Only to Activate, -1 1/4), Gestures (throughout; -1/2), Costs Half Endurance (to maintain; -1/4), Concentration (1/2 DCV throughout; -1/2), Incantations (throughout; -1/2).  30 AP, 7 RP.  Costs 1 END per Phase the exorcist is keeping the victim's EGO boosted.

[Christopher R Taylor]

Couple ways to do exorcism.  

• You can handwave it and just say its a ritual that you can perform if properly trained and have faith (say, a priest or a minister).
• You can build it as an extradimensional travel attack vs others, banishing them to... well, wherever.
• You can build it as a huge KA that destroys the creature entirely
• You can build it as a big dispel presuming that the creature was somehow summoned.
• You can build it as a mind control and say that the creature only exists as long as it has the will to do so, and enough control can just break that
• You can build it as a presence attack under the same principle as mind control
• You can build it as a transform: ghostly/demonic presence into non presence
• You can use the Bolo* design (boost the target's ego so they can break free on their own from mind control)

 

*Actually Lucius design, but he was possessing Bolo.

[BoloOfEarth]

 

Couple ways to do exorcism.  

• You can use the Bolo Lucius design (boost the target's ego so they can break free on their own from mind control)

 

 

The palindromedary came up with the (excellent, IMO) idea first.  I just wrote a different version.

[jammer397]

Well here's a new one. If I wanted the effect of trapping an evil spirit into something the size of a bottle. How would I write it up? I thought some kind of Barrier write up but I can't get the sizing of the barrier that small. Than I thought entangle but it don't feel right. I'm looking for a long term effect on this too.

[SteelCold]

Christopher Taylor had covered this I believe:

 

Extra Dimensional Movement to one item or container, Usable against others, Affects Desolidfied.

[steriaca]

Well here's a new one. If I wanted the effect of trapping an evil spirit into something the size of a bottle. How would I write it up? I thought some kind of Barrier write up but I can't get the sizing of the barrier that small. Than I thought entangle but it don't feel right. I'm looking for a long term effect on this too.

Extradimentinal Travel, Transdimentinal, Affects Desolid with the special effect of traping the spirit into a bottle. Note: Transdimentinal is not needed if the demon/ghost can only possess beings in the same dimension (and uses Invisible and Clinging to stick to the victim).

 

Opps...forgot Usable By Others (as an Attack) to force it in.

[Greywind]

Watch Supernatural. Lots of exorcisms.

[Lucius]

Couple ways to do exorcism.

• You can use the Bolo design (boost the target's ego so they can break free on their own from mind control)

 

umm

 

The palindromedary came up with the (excellent, IMO) idea first.  I just wrote a different version.

yeah.

 

 

That's an excellent idea of another way to handle Possession - helping the victim break free on his own.

 

However, I think I'd go with an Aid (or rather Boost) to EGO rather than Ego Usable By Others (which is what I think you meant instead of Usable As Attack). .

I'm assuming the subject of possession may not WANT to break out.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary says if you fail to pay the exorcist you can be repossessed

[jammer397]

Constantine the series has a few and that's on CW seed right now. Also have seen The Exorcist. Been a long time since I seen supernatural.

[BenjiBenjamin123]

Constantine the series has a few and that's on CW seed right now. Also have seen The Exorcist. Been a long time since I seen supernatura

 

 

And what you think about The Exorcist? You liked this film?

[Matt the Bruins]

Another possible build would be a Change Environment that forces an EGO Roll on a possessing spirit to remain in its host body.