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Author Topic: Madness
Talan Palaemon
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Member # 89819



posted August 28, 2002 05:24 AM      Profile for Talan Palaemon      Edit/Delete Post
I was wondering what kind of experiences you guys have with the madness system. When you get a madness point every time you Overchannel, doesn´t that make your character completely insane rather quick ? You always have the option of NOT overchanneling off course, but this is the feature that makes the WoT channeling system special, so I think it would be a shame not to use it.
What do you think about changing the rules, so that only FAILED overchanneling results in madness (1d6 perhaps) ? And wouldn´t you get madness points if you hold the source for a long time ?

Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged
Merclaar
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Member # 67223



posted August 28, 2002 05:51 AM      Profile for Merclaar      Edit/Delete Post
Somethink I had in my mind.

Use the Overchanneling/madness rule as it is.
At Level up multiply the dice with x10. (or 5, or 8, or whatever)
Multiply the Madnesstable by the same rate.

Opinions?

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cu

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Merclaar

Registered: Feb 2002  |  IP: Logged
Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch
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posted August 28, 2002 08:20 PM      Profile for Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch   Email Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch    Edit/Delete Post
I am running a game with both male and female channelers in the party. Both male channelers have been doing their darndest to hide their abilities in front of the other characters... So much so that one of the characters did not channel once between achieving 2nd level and reaching 3rd.

As the group are all at 5th or so, and to help them maintain their secret abilities, I have basically not enforced the madness rules as they are (although I have kept a record of their madness score).

Instead I have relied upon the roleplaying abilites of both male characters. One of the characters is becoming increasingly paranoid and distrustful, the other is developing a temper. The information i feed the group and each character is coloured by this fact, therefore my paranoid channlling character has begun to see everyone as distrustful, and the other male channler believes everyone is irritating.

The madness mechanics IMHO are all right as they are. Males already are more powerful then females by gaining bonus weaves, the whole Overchanneling and gain a point of madness is merely a small check on this.

However, I admit this does not really reflect the Black Tower training regime where everyone overchannels all the time. Perhaps a house rule could be something like you can overchannel once per day per level without gaining a madness point, but after that you acquire them as normal. Or your save mechanic could work... in the end you should simply use what your group likes.

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I was once in the Blight, it was there that strange memories came to me of times and places that I could not have possibly experienced.
I went to visit an Aes Sedai to ask what was wrong with me. It was there that I learned the Truth...
That I had in a previous life been Nae'blis'...
Chief Eunuch!

From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Jul 2002  |  IP: Logged
Merclaar
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Member # 67223



posted August 31, 2002 04:35 AM      Profile for Merclaar      Edit/Delete Post
quote:
Originally posted by Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch:
Instead I have relied upon the roleplaying abilites of both male characters. One of the characters is becoming increasingly paranoid and distrustful, the other is developing a temper. The information i feed the group and each character is coloured by this fact, therefore my paranoid channlling character has begun to see everyone as distrustful, and the other male channler believes everyone is irritating.

Cool [Big Grin] sounds great *make a notice*
How do you made it? With handwritten notes? A face to face discussion?

cu

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cu

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Merclaar

Registered: Feb 2002  |  IP: Logged
Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch
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posted September 02, 2002 08:56 PM      Profile for Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch   Email Nae'blis' Chief Eunuch    Edit/Delete Post
In one case, at the start of a session, I gave every character a set of rumours they had heard in the last few days. The noble in the party (gather info +18!) got very detailed info on all rumours in town, mostly concerned with the noble class. The Illian armsmen of the group heard vaguely similiar info but with a more militant and common feel. The wanderer in the group, who also hopes to become a wolf-sister, recieves the same basic infor but again flavoured with a slight wolf pack mentality.

The two channelers info was worded such that whilst they got the same info, the flavour of the text implied their madness induced perception. The paranoid viewed all info as suspect, including the interpretations of his companions. The other channeler simply had a lot of annoying people trying to tell him stuff.

And yes, when necessary a few minutes alone with a character can be very useful. Allowing for players to channel weaves, make madness checks etc.

We also use a basic code for actual channeling in front of the rest of the unsuspecting PCs...

"I grab..." - take hold of the source
"DM how do I feel?" - sense shadow spawn
"I bind his/her wounds as best I can..." - heal weave
"I light my illuminator's flare and aim it at the bad guy..." - weave grenade or fireball as appropriate. (The paranoid channlers is masquerading as a runaway illuminator)

it has been very entertaining and so far successful, although some of the players suspect something is up.

--------------------
I was once in the Blight, it was there that strange memories came to me of times and places that I could not have possibly experienced.
I went to visit an Aes Sedai to ask what was wrong with me. It was there that I learned the Truth...
That I had in a previous life been Nae'blis'...
Chief Eunuch!

From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Jul 2002  |  IP: Logged
RocPhoenix
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Member # 105620



posted September 10, 2002 11:09 PM      Profile for RocPhoenix   Email RocPhoenix    Edit/Delete Post
I love the flavor text idea. If the PC's get into it, it could be quite fun. In my adventure, we are just getting started, but they can't wait to start gaining madness points. Perhaps we do not take it too seriously, but it is pretty funny anyway.
Also, how are they going to handle it when book 10 comes out and Rand has removed the taint? Removal of the madness table???

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Arr MiHardies
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posted September 11, 2002 08:18 AM      Profile for Arr MiHardies   Email Arr MiHardies    Edit/Delete Post
Most seem to see it that any madness points gained will remain, as a permanant flaw on your character. but characters wont gain any more madness unless they fail will saves on madness rolls, then they could still gain more.

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You might be a king...
or a little street sweeper...
but sooner or later...
you dance with the reaper...
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From: Las Vegas, NV | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged
RocPhoenix
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posted September 11, 2002 03:43 PM      Profile for RocPhoenix   Email RocPhoenix    Edit/Delete Post
I guess that it would change getting madness points, too. Not for just channeling but for regular stuff like extreme emotions, substance abuse, etc. Witht eh points staying, it could still be a big factor.
Registered: Sep 2002  |  IP: Logged
Wowbangers the Infinitely Prolonged
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posted September 11, 2002 04:03 PM      Profile for Wowbangers the Infinitely Prolonged   Email Wowbangers the Infinitely Prolonged    Edit/Delete Post
My one character that I play with a different GM, (I'm normally GM) is a male channeler, and is going quite mad. I'm up to 37 thus far, so I feel that it is my obligation to have random outbursts of emotion, or do very stupid things, endangering the group. While they don't appreciate it, it gives understanding to the rest of the group why it is that male channelers are so feared. At times I also use the highest level weave I can cast without overchanneling, and use that rather than what would normally do. Although not the wisest thing, it adds flavor to everything. [Smile]

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I have gone out to look for myself. If I should happen to return before I get back, please tell myself to wait.

From: The middle of nowhere....South Dakota | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
JosephKell
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posted September 11, 2002 06:06 PM      Profile for JosephKell   Email JosephKell    Edit/Delete Post
Obviously your male channeler isn't paranoid, or else he would covet his weaves and use them as needed to get the job done, while still holding back some so that he can use them when everyone betrays him.

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From: California | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
Wowbangers the Infinitely Prolonged
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posted September 11, 2002 08:37 PM      Profile for Wowbangers the Infinitely Prolonged   Email Wowbangers the Infinitely Prolonged    Edit/Delete Post
Yes, but... but, what if i didn't channel enough, they all will get me, they must DIE... Oh, oops. Sorry Bob.

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I have gone out to look for myself. If I should happen to return before I get back, please tell myself to wait.

From: The middle of nowhere....South Dakota | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
JosephKell
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posted September 11, 2002 08:43 PM      Profile for JosephKell   Email JosephKell    Edit/Delete Post
... Overchannel question:

Can someone overchannel a 2nd level weave with no slots left then overchannel it to level 4 or 5?
(like a last ditch effort to Gateway out!)

--------------------
Instant Message me @ JonERPG on the AIMer

Visit AielManSpear

-If you cast Meteor Swarm to avoid wasting your REALLY good spells...
-If your character sheet is longer than the Player's Handbook...
-If you have a magic item that can destroy the world...with four charges left...
-If the God of Destiny asks you what will have next...
...you might be a Munchkin.

From: California | Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
Merclaar
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Member # 67223



posted September 11, 2002 10:21 PM      Profile for Merclaar      Edit/Delete Post
Hmm, you have no slots left?
You need to overchannel to weave a 2 lvl. slot, you can't overchannel a overchanneled weave...

Or missed I something?

cu

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cu

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Merclaar

Registered: Feb 2002  |  IP: Logged


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