Sanity points related to Ego Score - Call of Cthulu type scenarios

[Bolon]

Just curious and wondering if there is a Hero variation or alternative rule that uses Ego Score or rolls to create a situation like the sanity points in Call of Cthulu type games and genre? I would like to incorporate more of this aspect into a Dark Champions or even a Steampunk game. It would make it much more interesting to throw the curve ball of the supernatural in. Anyone see anything like that?

[tancred]

Re: Sanity points related to Ego Score - Call of Cthulu type scenarios

 

I've seen a mechanic like that in the old Horror Hero, which was for 4th Edition IIRC.

I've also seen writeups where your character gets hit with a Drain EGO but gets to make an EGO Roll to take no damage.

I'd personally go with that last one, just because it's easy and doesn't require any rules modifications.

[Lucius]

Re: Sanity points related to Ego Score - Call of Cthulu type scenarios

 

It will drive you mad! MAD!!:

(Total: 40 Active Cost, 16 Real Cost) Severe Transform 0 1/2d6 (Person into insane person), Works vs EGO not BOD (+0), Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4), Persistent (+1/4), Personal Immunity (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Partial Transform (+1/2), Constant (+1/2), MegaScale (1m = 1 km; +1), Cannot alter scale (-1/4) (40 Active Points); Attack Versus Alternate Defense (See notes; All Or Nothing; -1/2), Limited Power Must be exposed to the horror ((Someone 4 km away is in the radius but if they don't have binoculars they may not see the thing clearly enough to be effected.); -1/2), Always On (-1/2) (Real Cost: 16)

 

PRE as a Defense: The monster, phenomenon, etc must beat the character's PRE or EGO by 10 with a PRE attack.

Familiarity as a Defense: After first exposure, do not apply again unless situation changes (more monsters appear, the demon breaks the circle, character badly wounded, etc.)

Other Defenses: at discretion of Game Operations Director.

 

Transformation effects at:

At 1/2 EGO: Cosmetic Transform. Those with psychic ability or Analyze: Mental State or Sci: Psychology etc may notice the character is "under stress."

At 1X EGO: Minor Transform. -2 to Interaction Skills as everyone can tell the character is "not quite right." Maybe other effects such as a minor (5 or 10 pts) Complication.

At 1 1/2 X EGO: Major Transform. Acquire 20 pts worth of Complications.

At 2X EGO: Severe Transform. Hopelessly mad, no longer a playable character (unless healed.)

Healing from the Transform: Left as an exercise for the Game Operations Director.

 

Note that effects are not cumulative; at 1.5 EGO the character loses the -2 to PRE based Skills and may have a deceptively calm and reasonable demeanor.

 

An option to consider: Rather than a Mental Transform that must beat 2XEGO to take full effect, create a SANity score by adding EGO and PRE and letting characters mark off Transformation Points as "damage" to that total. Inflict appropriate penalties at 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, and 0 SAN.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

You encounter a strange beast with the appearance of a camel save that impossibly, obscenely, it appears to have no hindquarters, only a second forequarters, twisting another freakishly long neck around to leer at you with a second ugly bestial face. Take 1d3 SAN blast.