New Class Template

[DMS]

Hey all,

Before the getting to the brass tacks:  I'm new here.  Granted this isn't a high school lunch room, I've still been lurking a bit before posting, but I thought I'd introduce myself now as well.  So:  Hi to one and all. 

Brass tacking:  Our group is reasonably new to DFRPG (which is a bloody long acronym, now that I've typed it).  I've run one adventure before, to good success, and one of our players was present for that.  Now that I've got the hang of the very basics, I thought I'd start tinkering the whole mess of things and pouring chemicals together (in this metaphor, the DFRPG is a chemistry set).

For this adventure, I concocted a new class that I based somewhat off of a hybrid RC-I and WCV template.  The differences are that they don't have the high refresh of a WCV or RC-I, are much more stealth/deception based, and are very "in canon" for the adventure.

Whisper-Tainted Template

(click to show/hide)

Whisper-Tainted
When Warden Freya Lengaardi arrived in Minneapolis, her first order of business was tobutt heads with a demon-worshipping sorcerer cult.  The cult had gotten a hold of bad mojo on a serious level, and had used it to conjure up an Outsider.  Freya torched the cult, expediently made with the metaphysical slice and dice for which Wardens are most famous, and dispatched the Outsider as best as she knew how.  Instead of successfully banishing the demon though, she shattered its consciousness.  Over time, that fractured consciousness has settled into vulnerable mortals of the region, granting them morsels of the demonic power that had been intended for the members of the sorcerer cult.

As always, power is a trade off.  This one is transmitted through circumstance, psychic attack and/or ritual (see below).  Some might think of it as a curse.  It amplifies people’s tendencies, their impulses, highlighting the violent nature of human.  As people make more and more violent choices, the call to do more gets stronger and stronger until people are consumed by this power.  Choice is paramount here.  This power is temptation. 

It can be increased physical strength and speed, as needed.  It sharpens the senses, such as hearing, sight, and taste in particular.  It manifests differently in different people, and can change over time.  Psychic powers are not uncommon, especially the ability to increase the emotions of nearby victims to be more receptive to the user’s desires.  Reaction time is increased.  One of the many costs is increased fatigue.  It draws on the stores of the body, burning energy at an alarming rate.  Frequent users of power are typically gaunt and appear underfed.  Also, it is sentient, to a degree.  It whispers to the user, drawing them toward violent means.  It heals injuries in quick order, using the body stores to do so.

A person’s control over her temptation is somewhat limited due to her ability to concentrate on resistance.  Physical deprivation will lead to reduced control, and since intense caloric consumption is a byproduct of using the Whisper, decreased control over one’s temptations is a side effect of power usage.

Violence does not imply wanton destruction.  It could be sexual violence or oppression.  Mostly what the power users are tempted toward is exerting their will over those less powerful than themselves.  Political manipulation, etc.  As this goes on, more and more control and choice is ceded to the parasite power-giver.

Vulnerable victims/recipients of the demon-parasite power might include coma victims, the chronically ill, trauma victims, or recent victims of psychic trauma.

Musts:
Marked by Power [-1], p. 169
Cloak of Shadows [-1], p. 169
Domination [-2], p. 170
Incite Emotion [-1], p. 170

Feeding Dependency [+1], p.190


Options: Whisper-tainted may use a variety of inhuman powers at the cost of exhausting their hunger track.  The more an ability is used, the more difficult it become for the Whisper-tainted to ignore the commands from their inner impulses or parasite.  Their hunger manifests itself as an increased metabolism, so they don’t feel the need to eat anything repulsive or evil, but it’s best to not let them get caught without a Burger King nearby.


Inhuman Speed[-2], p. 178; OR Inhuman Strength [-2], p. 183;

Depending on the power-level of the game, Whisper-tainted may increase any of the supernatural abilities (Inhuman to Supernatural, etc.), depending on the consent of the GM.



Important Skills: Deceit (p.126), Discipline (p. 127), Stealth (p. 142), Intimidation (p. 132), Presence (p. 136),

Minimum Refresh Cost: [-4]

I've tried to format things just the way that Evil Hat did with the source books, so hopefully things make sense with the descriptions. 

Here are my questions: 
Question the First: I'm working with an Up to the Waist difficulty.  Does anyone see this class being over-powered or under-powered?  I realize that the Refresh system is a very good cap on both of those things (as customization makes up for an inherently "weaker" class).

Second:  Working within the constraints of the [-7] Refresh cap, is there a good way to manifest the Inhuman Strength/Speed/Toughness at particular times?  I'm thinking of allowing these PCs to spend hunger stress to temporarily manifest Strength or Speed or whatever. 

Penny for your thoughts? 

[Tedronai]

I'd advise against having Domination as a Must if you intend this template to be useable for PCs.
The power is incredibly restricted in when it can be used, but also incredible potent when it is used properly, a combination that makes it quite troublesome  both for and in the hands of PCs.


I would advise specifying the type or types of emotions typically incited by these creatures, as well as the subject of their feeding dependancy, in the Powers section.



I suggest you take a look at the Limitation custom power located in the Custom Power Master List (found in the thread of the same name) on this board, for a possible solution to your 'sometimes' Str&Spd boosts.  It would provide the mechanical portion of that, anyway, though you'd still need the narrative trigger.

[bobjob]

I really dig the idea. Like Tedronai, I would advise against Domination... incite Emotion with the potential to upgrade should be able to give you what you want. Also, what type of emotion would they be able to incite? I would also probably put Cloak of Shadows as a Feeding Dependency power. That seems like something the parasite would grant if you draw on it.

[Sanctaphrax]

Echoes Of The Beast might also be appropriate.

PS: Would you like me to add this to the Template list?

[narphoenix]

Do keep in mind that, since this is power from an Outsider, the Wardens will come for snicker snack. The people with these powers may also have to take Lawbreaker 7th. If you want to circumvent that issue, you could easily say it was a big bad demon lord that granted the powers instead. Same result minus grey cloaks and naked swords.

[DMS]

Do keep in mind that, since this is power from an Outsider, the Wardens will come for snicker snack. The people with these powers may also have to take Lawbreaker 7th.

Sort of.  To me, the Laws are about choice.  The act of killing someone with magic isn't intrinsically evil, but rather making the choice to kill someone with magic is.  Similarly, someone afflicted with this taint wouldn't have chosen to have the power, so in my estimation, they wouldn't fall into the Lawbreaker category. As Harry says, magic is about belief, and believing that you should be able to do evil things predates doing the evil things.

Now, a zealous Warden (is that redundant?) might not care for that semantical argument, but to me as GM, it is extremely important.

Also, trying to find out what caused this taint is a very central part of the adventure plot, so I don't want to change things around too much.

Echoes Of The Beast might also be appropriate.

I've thought about that, but it looked to reflect more of a fauna quality than a demonic one.  I also want to keep refresh low, so I ended up cutting it.

PS: Would you like me to add this to the Template list?

Yes, but I'd like to submit a more complete version.  Could I PM you when I've got that worked out?  Thank you, by the way.

RE: Domination:  I haven't played with it before, so I will probably go with the fan favorite on this one. 

Thank you all for your input.  I will update in a day or so when I've had some time to go over revision, and I would appreciate any further opinions you all might have.  Thanks again.

[Sanctaphrax]

Sure, you can PM me whenever. I'm not going anywhere.