[HOE] Plot Device...

["Ray C." <r_a_c_@hotmail.com>]

>The message below got me thinking (run and hide if you want
>to...). What would
>happen if someone with multiple personality disorder died and
>became harrowed?
>Everyone get creative with this one, I'm thinking of using it as
>a plot device.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>--Dirk

What is it with me and my remarks creating wicked ideas...  The last time 
this happened, we got into the whole "Las Diablas" thing (If you don't 
know...  Female Los Diablos, and what would happen if you drink their 
milk.).

As for this, I think me and my group have it covered in spades...  When I 
play (I Marshal Deadlands), most of my characters are a bit...  Touched.  In 
Parinoia and Cyberpunk, this isn't too evident (Who isn't in those games), 
but it's telling in Star Wars.  (In Star Trek, they wouldn't get into 
Starfleet, so I can't do it there.).

In Deadlands, another player is currently playing an "Extention" of a player 
he started in Deadladns:  Weird West...  And, boy, is he *EVER* touched!!!  
We didn't even try to name the type of insanity he has, and just put it down 
as a 5-Point Loco (Aside from not even knowing his name, he thinks he's 
Batman, a Snake Oil Salesman, a driver for Elliot Ness, a WWF Star, and a 
few other things.).  We usually just call him "Baldy", and I will have him 
down as "The Syker With No Name" on my Webpage when I get it updated.  (Ya, 
we're all Clint fans as well...).

MPS folks, however, usually have different mannerisms for each personality.  
While the voice may stay somewhat the same ('Less said person has a vocal 
range for voices, which may allow each to have a different voice.), the 
speech patterns (Why he/she speaks, word choice, ect.), movement, emotions, 
ect. change.

It's pretty easy to see that "Norm" is a ticked off fellow until he gets his 
Coffee, but that "Mick" is an OK guy, 'long as you keep him away from 
Muties, and that you could easily tell the difference between them, just by 
waving the Posse's Doomsayer around him.  :-)

Now, for the Manitou...  MPS folks don't talk to each other in the head, 
usually (They know each other exists, but they don't communicate directly.  
Most keep diaries for each other to check out.  IIRC, there have been 
exceptions known, however), but the Manitou would be able to talk to all of 
them at once...  Try to convert 'em and all that...

Now, here's the hard part for it.  If *ALL* the folks inside the head figure 
out that it's a big meanie, and decide to take over, you got a war on 
NUMEROUS fronts!!!  Bad News.  Each Peronality, while different "People" 
should get their own "Spirit" rating.  (In all honesty, they should each get 
their own ENTIRE Mental Stats, but that would make for one crowded character 
sheet!!!), while the Manitou would only have one.

On the bright side, it'd be easier to convince the "People" that it's just 
another "Person" in the same body, who just figured out how to talk to each 
of 'em (Perhaps claiming to be the "Main" being!!!  The original person, who 
just came back from the dark place!), and offer to be a "Mail Man" for the 
rest...  Of course miscommunicating the messages on occasion, so that each 
other fights...

One way of doing this may be to have a "Communal" character.  One that 
changes personalities every game (Or when he/she goes Bust on a Spirit 
roll.), and have each Player with a Personality to run (And two or three for 
the Marshal.).  Then, dole out the Manitou Personality to a person (If you 
can trust a Player with it, do so.  If not, it's yours!).  Randomly select a 
Personality per Adventure (Or have a "Round Robbin" deal.), and have it as 
thus, with one Player running two folks for a bit.  This could be a good 
idea to have a group "Work Together"...  Trying not to hurt the communal 
character, as EVERYONE looses if he/she dies!!!

This really has merit!!!  Thanks folks!!!

Ray.

PS:  MPS with a Manitou Legion...  Now *THAT* is a scarry idea!!!  Army of 
Human Minds...  Army of Manitou...  One Brain.

Headache larger than an Earth Syker trying to blow up a tank!!!

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