Worm in your head?

[Narthon]

So, I've been reading some of my Lovecraft and Lovecraft inspired works, and now I have a character I want to make, but I'm at a loss as to how to do it.

 

The idea is a worm creature with psionic powers. The creature likes to stay in a human host, which it uses for protection, and slowly consumes. Every few weeks, the host will die and become unsuitable.

 

I;m not sure at all how to do this body swaping power. Esencially, the worm will keep the mental stats of itself, and use the physical stats of the host.

 

I gues it would be some kind of mind control linked to a slow body drain, but I'm not sure at all.

 

Any ideas?

[Guest bblackmoor]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

I;m not sure at all how to do this body swaping power. Esencially' date=' the worm will keep the mental stats of itself, and use the physical stats of the host.[/quote']

 

Just write up the character as you would any other. The fact the character changes appearance every few weeks is just a schtick. It doesn't cost points.

[Lord Liaden]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

If the worm actually takes possession of an unwilling host body, the most common power writeup for that ability is Mental Transform: Target to Target With Possessor's Mind. I'd suggest adding a Side Effect of a Physical Limitation: Possessed Body Slowly Decays, or maybe a Susceptibility to being possessed (if removing the worm will stop the process).

 

If that doesn't suit what you had in mind, please clarify and we'll see what we can do.

[Dynamo]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Side Effect that slowly kills the host plus Reincarnation-only Healing?

[Jhamin]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Mental transform: human into a slave coupled with a Body drain bought way down the time chart will give the worm a host that follows orders and dies after a while.

 

If you want the worm to "drive" as is were, try a large VPP to buy the stats & skills, with a limit "only to buy the host's abilites".

 

You may also be able to buy enough mind control dice to always force the victim to do what you say.

[Acroyear]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

If it's an NPC, I typically ignore mechanics like that. Worm does this, host suffers that. The end. Saves a lot of work.

 

Otherwise, these other suggestions are definitely in the ballpark.

[humantorch101]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Reminds me in a way of the classic x-man villain Proteus or "mutant X" as he was called.

 

similar effect, mental control and use of body as the host dies and a new host must be found.

 

rgds

Torch

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Ok, the mental transform may work. This is for a PC, so I do need an actual writeup for the character. The problems I see are that I don't want the power to cost so much that the character can't do anything else, so the mind control option is a bit iffy. I considered the VPP option as well. Since the worm would usually infect normals, it wouldnt be too expensive.

 

There is also the problem of being able to change hosts during combt, which should be possible, but kind of hard.

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to tinker around with hero designer.

[Vorsch]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

40 80 Desolidification only to pass through flesh -1, 0 end, persis ( note physically vulnerable so does not need +2 affects real world )

10 20 clinging str 20, only to grip target,

100 200 mind control 16d6, telepathic,0 end, persis, no range, target host only -1/2

20 Naked advantage 60pts of skills UBO, target host only-1/2

30 small size, shrinking or whatever 5th uses for this

 

 

Framework to taste

[Guest bblackmoor]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

The Overcomplication Complex strikes again.

[freakboy6117]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

would dupliction with altered duplicates, only one duplicate at a time and OIF suitable host work? alternativly you could do recombination as when the previous host dies. and then the worm continues in the new form.

[Doug McCrae]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

These are my thoughts on the whole worm that crawls in your head and eats your brain concept:

 

Eeeeeewwwwwwww!

[JmOz]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Does the character retain the brains? Maybe someform of shape shift with imitation linked to a RKA...

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Shapeshift would work, but shapeshift has been banned for all time by our GM.

 

Really bad abuse at one point.

[Badger]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Just curious what kind of campaign this is for? This is kind of an evil character as it essentially kills sentients to keep going essentially. Hard to see it playing out as a good guy is all. Now if you playing some kind of villain type campaign this is truly perfect.

 

Also how would it move from one host to another. Does this thing have to crawl out of the former host and go looking for a new one (leaving itself extremely vulnerable) or through skin contact, etc.

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Well, we tend to play pretty dark games, with lots of characters who arn't really good. At the begining of the game, no one would know about the worm, and think the character was just a psionicist with some kind of disguise/cosmetic transform ability. Once they do figure out how he operates, it will probably be to the point where they "need" to keep him around and apreciate that he does more good than harm.

 

Or they would kill it and I'd make a new character. That works too.

 

Yes, I would like it to require some time and risk for the worm to change bodies, with it being exposed while switching, and the posibility of it being stuck without a host for long periods of time.

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

ok, here is at basic attempt at the worm character

 

The Worm from Beyond

 

Player:

 

Val**	Char***	Cost
1**	STR	-9
23**	DEX	39
10**	CON	0
4**	BODY	-12
30**	INT	20
40**	EGO	60
30**	PRE	20
1**	COM	-4
	*
0**	PD	0
2**	ED	0
5**	SPD	17
2**	REC	0
20**	END	0
10**	STUN	0

*3"**RUN-62"**SWIM03"**LEAP3Characteristics Cost: 128

 

Cost**	Power	END
35**	Body Stealing: Variable Power Pool, 30 base + 5 control cost (45 Active Points); Limited Class Of Powers Available (only to gain stats of host body) Very Limited (-1), VPP Powers Can Be Changed Only In Given Circumstance (Host body must be unconcious or mind controled) (-1/2), IAF Durable (Focus (Host body of opertunity); -1/2), Side Effects (Host body loses 2 body per day, can not be healed in any way) (Side Effect does a predefined amount of damage -1/4)*
70**	Mental Powers: Multipower, 70-point reserve*
7u**	1) Ego Attack 3 1/2d6, Does BODY (+1) (70 Active Points) (uses Personal END)*	7
7u**	2) Mental Illusions 7d6, Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1) (70 Active Points) (uses Personal END)*	7
7u**	3) Mind Control 6d6, Telepathic (+1/4), Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1) (67 Active Points) (uses Personal END)*	7
7u**	4) Telepathy 7d6, Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1) (70 Active Points) (uses Personal END)*	7
7u**	5) Mind Scan 7d6, Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1) (70 Active Points) (uses Personal END)*	7
**	*
17**	+12 Mental Defense (20 points total), Hardened (+1/4) (17 Active Points)*
15**	Mental Endurence: Endurance Reserve (50 END, 10 REC) (15 Active Points)*
5**	Life Support , Longevity: Immortal*
7**	Perception rolls reduced due to size: Concealment (15 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (only when not in host body) (-1) 21-*

Powers Cost: 184

 

 

Cost**	Skill
20**	+6 with DCV (30 Active Points); Conditional Power Power does not work in Common Circumstances (-1/2)*
3**	Climbing 14-*
3**	Language: English (fluent conversation; literate)*
3**	KS (INT-based) 15-*
3**	KS (INT-based) 15-*
3**	PS (EGO-based) 17-*

Skills Cost: 35

 

Cost**	Perk
3**	Anonymity*

Perks Cost: 3

 

 

 

Total Character Cost: 350

 

Val**	Disadvantages
20**	Distinctive Features: Is a Disgusting Worm from Between the Stars: (Concealable; Extreme Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)*
10**	Physical Limitation: Inconvenient Size (6 inches long) (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)*
20**	Psychological Limitation: Uncomprehending of human emotions (Very Common; Strong)*
20**	Susceptibility: Damaged by sunlight 1d6 damage, per Phase (Common)*
20**	Hunted: Shogoths 11- (Mo Pow; Harshly Punish)*
10**	Physical Limitation: No manipulators outside of host (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)*

Disadvantage Points: 100

 

Base Points: 250

Experience Required: 0

Total Experience Available: 0

Experience Unspent: 0

 

the two KS are Occult and Lovecraft Mythos

the PS is Psychic Surgery

 

I hate how hero designer doesn't list that

All of the mental powers affect human class minds

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

the multipower uses the end reserve, not personal end

[Doug McCrae]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Once they do figure out how he operates' date=' it will probably be to the point where they "need" to keep him around and apreciate that he does more good than harm.[/quote']He's going to have to do a LOT of good to outweigh the whole brain eating thing.

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Well, yes. He will probably mostly be used as an occasinal character when I visit my old group once a month or so, so hopefully it will take a while for them to find out.

 

In his defence, he will tend to eat the brains of the undesierable.

[nexus]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

Shapeshift would work, but shapeshift has been banned for all time by our GM.

 

Really bad abuse at one point.

 

I know this is off topic, but I'm really curious. Can you relate how Shapeshifting was so abused it was banned for all time?

 

What can I say? I love horror stories...

[Guest bblackmoor]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

I know this is off topic' date=' but I'm really curious. Can you relate how Shapeshifting was so abused it was banned for all time?[/quote']

 

I'm curious, as well: how can a GM possibly handle Shapeshift so badly that she just bans it rather than correcting her mistake?

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

I'm sorry, it wasn't shape shift which was banned, but multiform.

 

I wasn't playing with the group at the time (I guess it was about 12 years ago now) I think the problem was, the character was made that could do anything. If it was me, I'd just have banned a lot of the effectiveness of the character, and left it for other people to use.

 

Shape shift is still legal, but it only allows for a +/-10% change in size, which doensn't cover the effect of a six inch worm taking over a six foot man. I guess it could be linked to growth, but I think the VPP version I did works a bit better.

[Narthon]

Update Re: Worm in your head?

 

In don't know if anyone cares of wants this, but after a little talk with the GM, I got some good news and some bad news. The good news it that the point total I had for the game was wrong, it is actually 300/120 (Yes, high powered) Countering that VPP is banned, so I have to use a shapechange and linking system.

 

Here is the new writeup, any comments are more than welcome.

 

The Worm from Beyond

 

Player: Z. Stewart

 

Val**	Char***	Cost
10**	STR	-9
20**	DEX	30
10**	CON	0
14**	BODY	-12
30**	INT	20
40**	EGO	60
30**	PRE	20
1**	COM	-4
	*
2/7**	PD	0
2/7**	ED	0
6**	SPD	30
4**	REC	0
20**	END	0
30**	STUN	0

*3"**RUN-62"**SWIM05"**LEAP3Characteristics Cost: 132

 

Cost**	Power	END
67**	Mental Powers: Multipower, 100-point reserve, all slots: (100 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2)*
7u**	1) Insanity Inducer: Drain Ego 2 1/2d6, Based On EGO Combat Value (Mental Defense; +1), Delayed Return Rate (points return at the rate of 5 per Month) (+2) (100 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2) (uses END Reserve)*	10
7u**	2) Ego Attack 10d6 (100 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2) (uses END Reserve)*	10
6u**	3) Killing Attack - Ranged 2d6 (vs. ED), Based On EGO Combat Value (Mental Defense; +1), Does BODY (+1) (90 Active Points) (uses END Reserve)*	9
6u**	4) Mental Illusions 13d6, Invisible Power Effects (Mental Group; +1/2) (97 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2) (uses END Reserve)*	10
6u**	5) Mind Control 11d6, Telepathic (+1/4), Invisible Power Effects (Mental Group; +1/2) (96 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2) (uses END Reserve)*	10
6u**	6) Telepathy 13d6, Invisible Power Effects (Mental Group; +1/2) (97 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2) (uses END Reserve)*	10
7u**	7) Mind Scan 13d6, +1 ECV, Invisible Power Effects (Mental Group; +1/2) (100 Active Points); Extra Time Full Phase (-1/2) (uses END Reserve)*	10
**	*
23**	+17 Mental Defense (25 points total), Hardened (+1/4) (23 Active Points)*
28**	Mental Endurence: Endurance Reserve (80 END, 20 REC) (28 Active Points)*
5**	Life Support , Longevity: Immortal*
7**	Perception rolls reduced due to size: Concealment (15 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about half of its effectiveness (only when not in host body) (-1) 21-*
15**	Damage Resistance (25 Mental Def.), Hardened (+1/4) (15 Active Points)*
19**	Body Stealing: Shapeshift (Sight Group; Additional Sense Group: Hearing Group, Additional Sense Group: Smell/Taste Group, Additional Sense Group: Touch Group, Cellular, Imitation, Variety of Shapes: Limited Group of Shapes), Costs END Only To Change Shape (+1/4) (61 Active Points); Only to change into avalible host Power loses about half of its effectiveness (-1), IAF Durable (Focus (Body of opertunity); -1/2), Host muct be unconcious or mind controled to change Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (-1/2), Side Effects (Host takes 2 body damage per day) (Side Effect does a predefined amount of damage -1/4) (uses Personal END)*	5
7**	"Body" armor: Armor (5 PD/5 ED) (15 Active Points); IAF (Focus Host Body of Opertunity; -1/2), Linked to Body Stealing (-1/2), Lesser Power can only be used when character uses greater Power at full value (-1/4), Greater Power is Constant or in use most or all of the time (+1/4)*
2**	+5 STUN (5 Active Points); Linked to Body Stealing (-1/2), Lesser Power can only be used when character uses greater Power at full value (-1/4), Greater Power is Constant or in use most or all of the time (+1/4), IAF Durable (Focus host body of opertunity; -1/2)*
4**	+9 STR (9 Active Points); IAF (Focus (Host Body of Opertunity); -1/2), Linked to Body Stealing (-1/2), Lesser Power can only be used when character uses greater Power at full value (-1/4), Greater Power is Constant or in use most or all of the time (+1/4) (uses Personal END)*	1
10**	+10 BODY (20 Active Points); IAF Durable (Focus (Host body of opertunity); -1/2), Linked to Body Stealing (-1/2), Lesser Power can only be used when character uses greater Power at full value (-1/4), Greater Power is Constant or in use most or all of the time (+1/4)*

Powers Cost: 232

 

 

Cost**	Skill
20**	+6 with DCV (30 Active Points); Conditional Power Power does not work in Common Circumstances (-1/2)*
3**	Climbing 13-*
3**	Language: English (fluent conversation; literate)*
3**	KS (INT-based) 15-*
3**	KS (INT-based) 15-*
3**	PS (EGO-based) 17-*
10**	+2 with DCV*

Skills Cost: 45

 

Cost**	Perk
3**	Anonymity*

Perks Cost: 3

 

Cost**	Talent
3**	Absolute Time Sense*
5**	Eidetic Memory*

Talents Cost: 8

 

 

Total Character Cost: 420

 

Val**	Disadvantages
20**	Distinctive Features: Is a Disgusting Worm from Between the Stars: (Concealable; Extreme Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)*
10**	Physical Limitation: Inconvenient Size (6 inches long) (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)*
20**	Psychological Limitation: Uncomprehending of human emotions (Very Common; Strong)*
20**	Susceptibility: Damaged by sunlight 1d6 damage, per Phase (Common)*
20**	Hunted: Shoggoths 11- (Mo Pow; Harshly Punish)*
10**	Physical Limitation: No manipulators outside of host (Frequently; Slightly Impairing)*
10**	Distinctive Features: Open wounds slowly appear over time (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)*
5**	Dependence: BRAINS! Powers Gain 11- Activation Roll (Easy To Obtain; 6 Hours)*
5**	Accidental Change: Called shot to head of host body 8- (Uncommon)*

Disadvantage Points: 120

 

Base Points: 300

Experience Required: 0

Total Experience Available: 0

Experience Unspent: 0

[Narthon]

Re: Worm in your head?

 

I'm curious' date=' as well: how can a GM possibly handle Shapeshift so badly that she just bans it rather than correcting her mistake?[/quote']

 

 

I think it was a character with one form that was a ball of spikes linked to leaping who did a 12d killing attack, and another form a affected by magic desol with a 3? die ego killing attack. I don't see why this should cause banning of the power, but it did. I think he basicly made each attack a form instead of using a multipower or something. I wasn't in that game.