Author Topic: The world according to a credenza  (Read 5790 times)

Offline devonapple

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #15 on: March 07, 2011, 07:30:11 PM »
Now I want to play in a game as a were-house...

Reminds me of the episode of "Invader Zim" when GIR's "mind" got uploaded to Zim's house AI, and the whole house went on walkabout looking for tacos.
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Offline bitterpill

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2011, 07:32:28 PM »
I suppose with true Shapshifting you could play a giant robot (in disguise).
"Apathetic bloody planet, I've no sympathy at all"  Vogon Captain

Offline devonapple

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #17 on: March 07, 2011, 07:33:38 PM »
I suppose with true Shapshifting you could play a giant robot (in disguise).

Oooh! What powers could a True Shapeshifter character get for free as a Giant Robot?
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets

Offline Ren

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2011, 07:36:55 PM »
That could be a boring game Bruce...
"So what are you doing now?"
"Devaluing myself before the tax Assessor gets here..."

I am of the thought that true Shapeshifting should really have Modular Abilities built-in; i.e. you can add more points to it to allow custom alterations of form. The base cost would be kind of Prohibitive as stacked they would be a total of [-6]! But with automatic Skill Shuffle and tack on a few other abilities (HUman Form and/or Item of Power?) you might be able to squeeze a few other points into it.

Now for fun you could have a version that limits you to one category; Chairs only, Lamps only etc...add on "Human Form; Uncontrollable" so the character turns into different types of Chairs when Scared...8)
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Offline Ren

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2011, 07:38:14 PM »
oooh...how about a House-Were? A Possessed house that likes to turn into people and go walking around?
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Offline bitterpill

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #20 on: March 07, 2011, 07:38:59 PM »
Oooh! What powers could a True Shapeshifter character get for free as a Giant Robot?

Magitec Missiles from beyond infinity.
"Apathetic bloody planet, I've no sympathy at all"  Vogon Captain

Offline Hal

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #21 on: March 07, 2011, 08:24:20 PM »
I am of the thought that true Shapeshifting should really have Modular Abilities built-in; i.e. you can add more points to it to allow custom alterations of form. The base cost would be kind of Prohibitive as stacked they would be a total of [-6]! But with automatic Skill Shuffle and tack on a few other abilities (HUman Form and/or Item of Power?) you might be able to squeeze a few other points into it.

Now for fun you could have a version that limits you to one category; Chairs only, Lamps only etc...add on "Human Form; Uncontrollable" so the character turns into different types of Chairs when Scared...8)

My understanding of True Shapeshifting was that the base ability got you form, not function; to get the abilities, you had to put a minimum of three points into Modular Abilities, 2 + whatever ability you want to use.  So, at 3 points of modular abilities, you could change forms to take advantage of 1 refresh abilities like Claws or Supernatural Senses.

In any case, one of my players took True Shapeshifting, and I'm just trying to figure out how to deal with it.  Let's say he wants to spy on someone and he turns into a chair . . . is he aware of the person, or is it more like a turtle hiding in its shell?  Will getting smacked cause him to take stress?  Revert to his default form?  Will someone wonder why the chair started bleeding?
My campaign, set in St. Louis:  <a href="http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/gateway-to-darkness">Gateway to Darkness</a>

Offline devonapple

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #22 on: March 07, 2011, 08:48:35 PM »
In any case, one of my players took True Shapeshifting, and I'm just trying to figure out how to deal with it.  Let's say he wants to spy on someone and he turns into a chair . . . is he aware of the person, or is it more like a turtle hiding in its shell?  Will getting smacked cause him to take stress?  Revert to his default form?  Will someone wonder why the chair started bleeding?

In my opinion:
1) the Shapeshifter would be able to make normal Alertness/Investigation rolls in its form
2) getting smacked will deal physical stress but not force a shapechange
2b) if the Shapeshifter is being smacked because someone is trying to deduce if it is a shapeshifter, then I would make it a contested roll, like Might/Weapons/Fists  versus the Shapeshifter's Deceit (+4 per the True Shapeshifting Power, modified however else you want)
3) once the Shapeshifter starts taking consequences, I would make it start making rolls to maintain the deception and not show bleeding or whatever else made sense
4) the Shapeshifter probably won't revert to normal until a) it is Taken Out or Concedes, or b) if someone manages to bully or trick it into giving itself away
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets

Offline Bruce Coulson

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2011, 09:05:03 PM »
But being a were-house could be the most awesome support character ever!

Where do the bad guys store their illicit goods?  In a were-house.

Where does the planning for dastardly deeds take place?  In a were-house.

Often, where do a lot of the battles take place?  In a were-house.

With a high Resources and Contacts to know demolition firms, a were-house could entrap so many villains...
You're the spirit of a nation, all right.  But it's NOT America.

Offline devonapple

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #24 on: March 07, 2011, 09:07:21 PM »
But being a were-house could be the most awesome support character ever!
Where do the bad guys store their illicit goods?  In a were-house.
Where does the planning for dastardly deeds take place?  In a were-house.
Often, where do a lot of the battles take place?  In a were-house.
With a high Resources and Contacts to know demolition firms, a were-house could entrap so many villains...

Ai ya, Mental Stress! Third Law! Third Law! I Concede.  ;)
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets

Offline Ren

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #25 on: March 07, 2011, 09:20:48 PM »
Hmmm a House-Were could explain Baba-Yagas house...one explanation anyway...8)
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Offline Richard_Chilton

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #26 on: March 07, 2011, 09:30:55 PM »
There have been some short stories about wizards who change shape - then are trapped that way because they can't say the word to change themselves back...

Of course in DV, they could get away with just thinking the word (and probably taking a consequence because they can't tag "used the magic word").  So if the wizard turns himself into a credenza that can think then he'll be able to change himself back.

Richard

Offline Team8Mum

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #27 on: March 07, 2011, 09:35:30 PM »
Another 'issue' with the house-were, when he changes into a human- where does all the furniture go?

(The Tv is playing th south park episode where Cartman eats the fake gold and ..errr.. passes it in great pain)
I would HATE to be a character in one of the stories I write -
and then there are the days when it looks too much like I AM!

Offline devonapple

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #28 on: March 07, 2011, 09:39:11 PM »
There have been some short stories about wizards who change shape - then are trapped that way because they can't say the word to change themselves back...

I'll buy that. Though I would argue that such peccadilloes are intended to serve as cautionary tales with a moral/behavioral message about the importance of thinking things through, or how power is not always everything. That sort of a "gotcha" move in DFRPG is more appropriate as an Aspect Compel for shoddy spellcasting than a feature of the power itself.
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets

Offline Ren

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Re: The world according to a credenza
« Reply #29 on: March 08, 2011, 02:26:11 AM »
Another 'issue' with the house-were, when he changes into a human- where does all the furniture go?

Why it transforms into clothing as desired of course! The bigger the house the more fashion choices are available. Also makes for a handy mobile home!
"Brain Makes My Math Hurt" - me

"Eeyore is my Totem Animal" - me

"Pants are overrated!" - me