Talk:Guide to RP Possession, Mind Control and Such

Auburn
Arcane schmarcane, according to Aub's standing theories, mindcontrol is most commonly exerted by a female with a low, low neckline. ;)

Excellent work as per usual, Lash, glad someone has the patience to write these things. All I'd add is a minor note about people playing with mindcontrolled/possessed/otherwise externally influenced people. People can do a lot of weird but harmless stuff before anyone attributes their behaviour to anything other than fatigue, drunkenness or just random oddity. On the other hand, normal people who are a danger to themselves or others will get locked up -fast- for the safety of all concerned. This assumption shouldn't change just because of a plot running. If Bernie the bouncer drinks water and not beer tonight, he might be mindcontrolled, but probably he's just feeling a bit delicate after the mother of all hangovers, or staying sober for some female he has his eye on.

Also, the cardinal rule of all plots can never be stressed enough. Anticipate what players might do (several options, preferably), but never hinge the plot on a specific reaction, event or circumstance. For some reason, this gets forgotten a LOT in possession/mindcontrol plots. Honest, nothing is less dramatic than listening to a possessee strangling a victim to death for ten minutes -- and then finally giving it up because "the person who is supposed to come save you is a little late, lol, what do we do now?"

Auburn
I recall lore establishing paladins are actually immune to the Plague. Game mechanics allow us phenomenally higher dps on demons and ghosts, and we have that nifty invulnerability bubble that cancels everything.

To me that suggests that paladins, as trained soldiers against dark forces, should be damn-near impossible to possess agaisnt their will. Rather, they'd have to fall from Light, like Arthras and other death knights did.

Rustine
Impressive guide, I've read all you guides and I really appreciate having something to refer to. It's invaluable.

There is a little detail I'd like clearified, though.

A demon possessing a paladin will not be able (and i mean won't!) force him to kill someone unless the paladin, deep inside him, wishes to do so.

This sounds a little strange to me. Let me give an example, but using a Warrior instead, since Paladin are kinda "special cases", as has been discussed above.

A Warrior, possesed by a strong demon, is out walking in the countryside, maybe Westfall. There, he sees a farmer working in the sun. The demon choose this time to manisfest in the Warrior's mind, and tells him to kill the farmer and take his food and money.

This would of course not be something our Warrior does on a daily basis. But the demon is strong, and has great persuasive power. In this case, according to your hypothesis, it would require that the farmer had been a pain to the Warrior before, for the Warrior to obey the demon. He would not do it if he didn't know the farmer, or the farmer was his friend.

My view is that the neutral option should be enough for an agressive outcome. That is, if the farmer had been a pain, he's toast. If the farmer is some unknown random guy, then sure, what does the Warrior care? He kills people all day, it's his job. This would of course rely on the "alignment" of the Warrior, and the strengh of the demon, but generally speaking, a possessed person doesn't think straight, do they? Only in the friendly case does the demon encounter significant resistance.

As you notice, i have not said the farmar has done anything for the Warrior to want to kill him in his clean state. But the demon would take advantage of small things, wouldn't it? The nature of possesion is that is blurs morality, consideration and rational thought.

To sum it up: I think it should not be nessecary for a posses person to want to kill another man the demon tells him to kill. It should suffice with him not having any particular whish not to kill him, depending on the strengh of the demon.

I'd appreciate a comment.

Alianaarcane
I like the idea that warriors have some restraint but. As a warrior I think we warriors usually kill I mean there are plenty of bored warriors looking for barfight on saterday evening to be amused. If the warrior attacks the farmer is dependent of a lot of thing what is the warrior thinking? Does the warrior want to resist or has he/she given in? I mean when it come to resisting magics I've discovered it really doesn't help being a warrior.

Also I think the weather count's Westfall is hot so the warrior could be aggrovated and simpley give in to blow off steam. Warrios kill people they don't know every day so depends what the warriors view on life has become. Is a life still a life for him/her or is the warrior simpley counting his/her kill trying to increase the body rate when he/she is not possesd.

Is the warrior a thrill seaker? (me) Then the warrior will not attack because the farmer woun't give mutch of a fight (unless ofcourse it's a retired elite guard) then again Aliana would probably rush into a large group of enemies she can't defeat simpley for the thrill of the fight.

Is the warrior a protector simpley fight to protect others then I think your thery would easily hold.