Psychological Effects

[CRMcNeill]

How do you roleplay psychological effects? A character or NPC can be afraid or angry or confused, but how does that translate into actual game effects? I know Warhammer 40K used to have mandatory action rules, where if a character was subject to a psychological effect, they behaved in a certain manner until the effect wore off. Have any of you ever tried something like this, and how did it work out?
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

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[ZzaphodD]

As my gaming group is rather paranoid to begin with I havnt had the need to enforce any psychological rules. Apart from the Dark Side taking control of characters I dont feel the need for any mechanically controlling rules (the DS can however make the character fear something).
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[CRMcNeill]

[garhkal]

well, we see there is a D penalty associated with Intimidation, so there is some 'precedence' for fear imposing a penalty. BUT what of PTSD? Paranoia?
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[CRMcNeill]

[Fallon Kell]

The Game Chambers of Questal had rules for characters suffering the effects of artificially generated fear.
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[CRMcNeill]

[garhkal]

Gha.. Its a sparks specific ruling, but i think they did get it from somewhere.
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[CRMcNeill]

[CRMcNeill]

Well, simply as a starting point, here is an on-the-fly conversion of the Psychology rules from Warhammer 40K 1E.

Summary
Characters resist Psychological effects with the Willpower skill, rolled as always against either a set Difficulty level or an opposed dice roll. Failure results in the character being affected by the psychological effect, for good or for ill. Unless otherwise noted, a character suffering from a psychological effect is immune to other psychological effects.

Remember that your character can still feel fear, confusion, hatred, etc, without being controlled by it. These rules represent rules for characters who have been so overcome by a strong emotion that it temporarily dictates their actions.

Causing Psychological Effects:
Psychological effects can come from a variety of possible sources:
-Some weapons may inflict psychological effects through gases or energy fields.
-Some creatures or beings may cause them, either by presence or an attack of some kind.
-Force users may use Affect Mind to induce them.
-Characters may use Intimidation or Persuasion to cause a desired effect.

Types of Psychological Effects
Confusion
Represents mental feebleness, general incompetence, mild delusions, or intoxication. Confused characters suffer from the following:
-1D to all skills
May not use Force powers
Move reduced by 50% (Rounded up)

Fear
Character cannot approach the source of the fear, and must move away if attacked.

Frenzy
Basically a Berserker rage, normally possible only to aliens that are particularly volatile or short-tempered. Humans can't achieve this on their own without training or assistance.
+2D to all Combat and Reaction skills
Cannot perform other skills (including Mechanical)
Character must make a minimum High Speed Move towards the nearest enemy and engage it in combat with either Brawling or Melee Combat (or a ranged weapon if it is out of close combat range)
Character can not attempt to moderate damage, and must inflict full normal damage with any weapon, regardless of the consequences.
Character stays in Frenzy unless, at the end of the round, he is not in close combat, and there is no enemy within range for him to charge (at High Speed move).

Hatred
Covers all forms of inter-racial animosity, traditional rivalries and grudges, or simple innate aggression.
Characters must make a normal move (Cruising speed minimum) towards the object of their hatred, and must attempt some form of attack. Unlike frenzy, characters may attempt to moderate the damage they inflict, using normal rules.

Ending Psychological Effects:
While under the influence of a Psychological effect, characters may make a Willpower roll to end the effect, with appropriate difficulty levels and penalties.


This is just a start with a bare bones idea, which obviously needs work and filler. There are room for other emotional and psychological effects, as well as rules clarification. Thoughts?
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[garhkal]

[CRMcNeill]

[Esoomian]

I'd go with a 2D penalty (or perhaps no reaction skills at all) but by the same token I'd have a frenzied character ignore stun results and not be knocked down by being wounded/wounded twice.
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[garhkal]

I could see the 'ignoring stun effects.. but the ignoring knockdowns imo is a little much.. perhaps instead, while frenzied they ignore wound penalties.
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[CRMcNeill]