Report 649

Report #649
Skillset: Dreamweaving Skill: Possess
 Org: Hartstone Status: Completed Sept 2011
Furies' Decision:
We dislike changing possess to a simple force command for RP historical reasons
and also would make it unjustifiable as a trans skill; though, we don't mind
giving them a command skill as described (which would be a mid level skill). We
will investigate the possibility of Solution 2.
Problem: As is, Possess goes unused because of a few main issues: Applicable
targets are already locked down and you have better things to do (that cost
less), there isn't much you can do to the target while possessing them, you die
when they die if you are possessing them
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Prefered: Remove the current possession concept. Make
 possess 1-2 power, useable in either corporeal or
 dreambody. When used, the dreamweaver extends their
 psyche into the mind of the possessed, the target
 notices this. The dreamweaver then has a short (10
 seconds or so) period where they get ONE (1) order,
 pooka style. Require some level of tiredness for this
 effect to be possible, falure loses no power.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Change current possess so that the dreamweaver does
 not die as a result of victim death. Additionally,
 remove the dreamweaver as a target for violet for the
 duration of a possession.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: Add an additional syntax to the current possess to
 incorporate solutions one and two, including removing
 the violet vunerability during full possess.
Player Comments:
---[Raeri on 9/6 @ 08:52 writes]:
I'd suggest just changing it so that the possessor does not die if the host
dies. That would turn it into a pseudo inquisition of sorts, which might work. I
think it'd be a pity to remove/rework the skill completely, given how much it
ties in to the Histories/etc. At most, I'd support an extra syntax for the
proposed solution on top of the current functionality. The dying thing sounds
more like a bug than anything else, but is the limiting factor on its use in
groups in my view
---[Enyalida on 9/7 @ 02:34 writes]:
Hold your horses, I'm getting to putting up more solutions. That is one of them,
though it will be a better option in light of possible future changes.
---[Enyalida on 9/8 @ 20:33 writes]:
Two more solutions up. I'd like to mention that I far would prefer the first, as
it would be used far more often, for more then simple tomfoolery, it would also
give druids access to some method of domination (which mages have the option of,
in telepathy). It seems simple to explain possession as being less of a total
control, as we are not as skilled at it as Ladantine, and only project a part of
our will on theirs. I feel that a rework is called for here, as changes to the
skill will make it either severly overpowered, and sure death, or leave it how
it is - unusable.
---[Enyalida on 9/10 @ 23:10 writes]:
I assumed that remaining a target for violet while possessing was a bug, but was
told otherwise. I'd like to point out that while possessing, the dreamweaver has
no way of healing themselves from violet damage (they normally can healthleech
with dreamweaver sap), they have no way of moving as they usually do (cannot
command movement on possessed target last I checked), and have no way of even
knowing their own health totals (prompt and SCORE both reveal only the vitals of
the victim). Along with the other restrictions on possess, the high cost, and
the difficulty to pull off, this seems unacceptable to me. In light of that bug
report, I have added addendums to solutions 2 and 3 to remove this feature of
violet and possess.
---[Shedrin on 9/14 @ 21:46 writes]:
I support solution 1. Solution 2 would seem to give give an opportunity for
ensured death if an ally can triple sleep the target. This can happen now, but
it's generally not done because of the cost in doing so. Solution 1 would give
Dreamweavers a method around metawake.