From: duncanj@snoopy.umd.edu (James Duncan)
Subject: GURPS: GURPS FAQ version 2.1 Part 7 of 8
Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 19:09:41 GMT


Part 7 of 8 of GURPS FAQ 

  Horror
  ------
  H1: How do you scare players?
   a) Tim Dunn <tdunn@ecst.csuchico.edu> says:
   Be subtle and work up to the big baddie.  Leave
   hints, clues and minor stuff that serve to give the players knowledge
   of what the critter is, and what it can do to them.  Don't pop it
   on the players first-hand, they will either kill it or be killed, but
   they will have no idea what it is, aside from opposition.

   Aside from that, listen to the players when they talk among themselves.
   More often than not, they will have better ideas than you do.  Don't
   be afraid to change the beast.

   Lastly, good environment helps.  Low light, slightly 'aggravating' music
   and taking other steps to maintain a mood help.  Props (a Lament box
   from Hellraiser, for instance) also help.  Fear is in the mind, so make
   suspension of disbelief easier so the mind has more energy to devote
   to spooking itself.

   b) From various others:
   Creating a scary atmosphere in an RPG just isn't possible. Horror
   flicks don't frighten me and neither do horror RPGs. Concentrate on
   on roleplaying and forget about trying to scare your players. Most
   tactics designed to frighten PCs are either silly or just piss them off. 

 H2: What is chainsaw damage in GURPS? (ala "Texas Chainsaw Massacre")
     (Input from Robert Crawford betel@camelot.bradley.edu on this one)
     According to GURPS Horror, a chainsaw is "Swing +4, cutting
     damage. DX -2." I would add in the "feature" that the damage is
     applied for each subsequent round that the chainsaw is applied.
     Anytime crippling damage is done to a limb with a chainsaw, that
     limb is severed (either partially or fully). Bloodloss would
     probably be pretty bad, so GMs using bloodloss rules should
     assess hefty penalties to survival rolls.

     A related note ...
     Problems with using a chainsaw as a weapon.
     (From Michael Sandy <mehawk@agora.rain.com>) 

     The problem with wielding a chainsaw as a weapon is that you aren't
     going to live long enough to become proficient in it.  Its like this,
     if you hit a steel blade with a chainsaw, the chain will break and
     whip around killing both its wielder and its target.

     That is if you are lucky.  If you are unlucky the chain will trap the
     blade and pull it towards the grip of the chain saw.  This happens when
     some poor fool tries to block an overhead swing with a chainsaw.

     Think of tree spiking.  One industrial strength chain saw, (probably a
     circular saw, but same principle), hits a spike.  Don't try this at
     home kids!

     Of course, wielding your cursed Berserking Adamantine Chainsaw, _some_
     of the deletrious consequences don't happen.

% Illuminti
  ---------
  [Input requested for this section. Have any FAQ appeared for this?
   Am I not seeing it because it of course doesn't exist?]

End of Part 7 of 8 of GURPS FAQ

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