FLIPPER IS DEAD Original HTML conversion: Henrik Sebring
If starting empathy is 3 or less, the character is abnormal. There is a 10% chance that the body will compensate for this lack of empathy by increasing INT. The mind tries to rationalise the actions of those around it by studying them.
For these characters, INT+EMP=12.
If their Int is too low to complete this, add points to Int till INT+EMP=12 this CAN give Ints of 11, abnormal genius's with IQ's of 200+ (a rough guide is INT x 20 =IQ). These people can choose INT based Expert
Example= Dr Hannibal Lector Ph.D.
Empathy 1 Int 11 Cool 10 Expert=Human perception 10, psychoanalysis 10.
Only He knows whats going on inside his head.
Basic Initiative Ref +6 +D10 using emp and cool mods.
EMPATHY DAMAGE
Doing things to yourself and other people can Damage your Empathy.
Cybernetics
The Trauma of implants is Real. Even minor cosmetic surgery nowadays can cause psychological breakdown of peaple with personality defects. The Current CP2020 system doesn't take into account the circumstances of the implantation. having your leg sawn off by mad bikers or having a screen put under the skin of your wrist are taken in the same way.
New System
The New system uses a Cool roll to Cope with the alterations, reducing the humanity cost.
The system is a REPLACEMENT base Difficulty 20
The System is an ADDITION base difficulty 10
MODIFIERS (take the highest one)
Volentary +0
Accidental loss +5 Involentry implantation +10
Making a killing machine +5
(This covers any 'Anti-Social' additions like blades, a gun or armour. This represents the fact that anyone who wants to become a killer so much they have the weapons built in is already psycho.)
Attempt to roll the difficulty on Cool +d10.
Pass and you take the MINIMUM Humanity Loss
Fail and you take H.L. as normal
KILLING PEOPLE
Whenever the character kills someone, they roll D10. Is it LOWER than their Empathy they feel guilty about it (or let them RP it out. This is a game mechanic to force some empathic feeling). To work out the Difficulty for the Cool roll to cope with the Humanity Loss (minimum HL if pass) and work out the HL itself; Ask the player to justify the killing to themselves, and rate that on the chart below:
"Why Did You Kill?"
Difficulty 25
The Pleasure of killing my fellow Man. No reason at all.
"Cus I'm a Psycho"
Difficulty 20
They had something I wanted.
They were in My way.
They were an inconvenience.
Difficulty 15
They were a threat.
Revenge.
Honour.
Upholding the law. (cops)
Duty. (soldiers and spies use this)
Difficulty 10
Saving my own life.
Protecting the lives of others.
Protecting something you hold dear.
HUMANITY LOSS FROM KILLING
Range 1 can't see them at all
D3 Dots from the top of a ferris wheel(Watch the Third man)
D6 can see the expression on their face(es)
2D6 close up
3D6 hand to hand / touch range
This should take into account time with the victim as well. Killing someone
and walking away distances yourself from the horror of it.
The Victim is a...
Total Stranger -D6. Never seen them before
Enemy you HATE +0 "Give yourself over to the dark side Luke"
Known To You +0 The guy in the street you see everyday, your neighbour
across the street, the victim you just spent two weeks following.
A Close Friend Or Lover +D6
Someone you trust or trusts you, anyone you feel emotional towards.
TIME TO DIE ("wake up, time to die"-Leon, Bladerunner) Instantanious/Quick -D6
Head shot, explosion, some poisons
Slow +0
Gunshot wound, shock and then death, slow poisons
Long and painful +D6
Tortured to death, bleeding to death, crushed slowly
EXAMPLE
Torturing your Lover to death for Pleasure (a very sick thing to do)
Would be Diff 25 to avoid 5D6 H.L.
Blowing up some strangers with a bomb while blocks away for the greater
good of your political/religious beliefs would be Diff15 H.L.1
TYPE OF EMPATHY LOSS
Ask the player what they- in character- feel about this. If they delight in the pain and death of it. or if they accept it as part of their nature:
HL as normal
If they feel guilt, remorce,sadness or some other emotion. If they didn't want to kill, or did it in anger, or can pin the blame onto a cause (like a Religion, or the army/police force):
HL is 'supressed' only
SUPPRESSED EMPATHY
This is a temporary supression, a survival measure to help you stay alive. The Empathy stat now is listed as TWO values, Normal and Supressed You Use your Suppressed Empathy in combat to determine initiative. But you use your Normal Empathy in Every day life. Seems like the best of both worlds?
The Trouble is that you can switch from normal to suppressed in everyday life by failing a Cool (Diff 10) roll when under stress. You 'snap' and lash out with suppressed empathy. you may do anything from shout in anger at someone you care for, smash something, cause a fight, anything up to killing someone.
A Potential timebomb.
To control this, you need a release valve of some sort:
Councelling.
Slow and pretty useless. 50% chance of +1 humanity being unsuppressed per week of councelling.
Psychoanalysis.
Still barely understood, analysing the brain and trying to find what is causing the guilt and fear can help. analysts INT+Skill vs 15 per week. Every point over 15 is one point of humanity unsupressed.
Drug use.
Especially depressants, but all drugs can be used to cope with the trauma. Depressants (heroin) take the nasty world away. Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines)give you the energy to cope. Hallucinagens will alter the way the world looks, making it more bearable. Addiction is permanant and you cannot do 'cold turkey' until the trauma has been removed.then, its easy to quit...unless you've got a PHYSIOLOGICAL addiction now, from taking to much of the drugs.
Willpower/self help.
Something you beleive in or something you do holds you together. This becomes an obsession, and can be anything from sports to philosophy and inner contemplation. Every point in this skill will hold D6 HL suppressed without the risk of 'snapping' THIS CANNOT BE A COMBAT SKILL. No zenning out over your guns, that doesn't heal you.
Friends support.
Based on Friends EMPATHY spending a night out with friends can help control supressed points=friends Emp Per Night per Week. So 3 nights with Emp 5 friend controls Humanity=15 for that week Death of the friend is traumatising and will cause an immediate 2D6 emp suppression and a SNAP. Revenge is Hot Blooded and sweet.
Lovers Support.
Based on Lovers Empathy+CMPR*
Spending Time with a lover help control your suppressed empathy Roll Emp+CMPR+D10 each time. as long as pass, controls EMP+CMPR points for D6 days. Cumulative, so staying with your lover day in- day out will control a Lot.
Death of lover is Very traumatic, suppressing 1 Emp straight off and causing a SNAP.
Support group.
This is basically a lot of 'Friends'. This could be your Gang/family/ Religion/organisation/police bowling club. All that matters is that you feel part of a group. Even the hardest solo's like the hang around with like minds. As 'Friends Support' but harder to lose and Uses the groups Average empathy (usually 6)
* CMPR is a NEW SKILL
The old skill seduction has been split into SEDUCTION-picking people up.
(stat Base...this is a tricky one. Use one of INT, ATTR, BOD, LUCK EMP, COOL. each works a different way)
CMPR-conduct meaningful personal relationship (EMP BASED)
Staying in a relationship with someone is normaly Easy, but can go all the way to Very Difficult depending on the couple.
SEXUAL TECHNIQUE-the physical act itself (TECH? INT? REF?its a GM call)
Nymph perfume and Subliminals (voxbox add-on)Effect seduction, Mr Studd/Midnight Lady add to Sexual Technique.
The lowering of the empathy stat is not good for you. Empathy is the 'Herd instinct in the individual'. It controls your reactions to other people, your respect for their lives, possesions and property, the way you act. Without empathy you cannot get on with Anyone. You think only of yourself, and do whatever you want. Everyone else is someone to watch and be wary of, as they may try and take what you have. All that stops them is their COOL. They have to make Cool rolls to act 'normally'.
(In Freudian terms, the Empathy stat is the SuperEgo.)
When empathy is lowered, the Amount it has been lowered is important. Going from Emp 10 to 1 is a lot worse than emp 3 to 1. The Number of empathy points lost is the 'trauma level'. Roll D10 vs trauma level whenever the player acts empathically, like helping people, acting with respect or feeling emotion. If you roll over trauma level, then they can. Equal or less than that, and they cannot FEEL what they have just done. Alienate them, let them misjudge peoples expressions, give them paranoid feelings, let them hear voices.
=) I Love causing pain and confusion.
THIS HAS BEEN PLAY TESTED AND WORKS, BUT ANY COMMENTS ARE WELCOME! This system was devised with the express purpose of making game mechanics to control bad roleplayers and to put The EMP stat to good use. The Basic idea was to fit the traumatising effects to violence onto the emp stat, with space for insanity and psychotics
cm5323@ccub.wlv.ac.uk Thanks to James Webster And Michael Slade for the Inspiration.
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