From:	"Dark Thought Publications." <JEK5313@*****.TAMU.EDU>
Subject:	More on paranormal PCs. . ..
Date:	Thu, 28 Jan 93 17:20:53 CET

Chris Siebenmann:
] Problems/questions for the dual natured:
]- what about wards? What happens when a dual natured being hits one?

>>>>>[Bang, I suppose. Like any other, though they _might_ see if it if
they
are looking for something out of the ordinary, but only then, I
think.]<<<<<

]- how does something that sees the True World all the time act? What is it
] like to read emotions clearly?

>>>>>[Not really all that different than humans, necessarily. Just because
they think that humans, as a whole, are vision-impaired doesn't mean that they
can't recognize that, sometimes humans work better. But, they'll be damned if
they'll admit it, which is why I, being the self-appointed mouthpiece that I
am, have to do it for them.]<<<<<

]- what is it like in background count areas when one *has* to see them?

>>>>>[Something like entering a really bright room, or having a light
shining
directly in your face, I would imagine. Your vision adjusts after awhile, but
it means that it's still harder to catch variations like spells, wards,
barriers, etc.]<<<<<

]- how does one check the 'portable dowsing rod' aspect of dual natured
] beings as a GM?
] [bias: I don't like people poking around in the True World at the drop
] of a hat.]

>>>>>[Poking around??? They have lived there for longer than puny humans
have
been upright. It's as much their world, as is the physical. If you want some
really interesting True World info, try asking a Sasquatch Tribal Shaman, or
Elder. If you can get by the fact that what you want from him is so mundane
that he probably overlooked it, you'll be surprised how much they see, but take
for granted.]<<<<<

]Re: regeneration restoring mental track damage as well:
] ew. ew ew ew.
] Not in games I run. Not at all if I can help it.

>>>>>[It can be nasty, but then that's why things with regen make such
great
NPCs. You try running against a cadre of Aztech Jaguar Shapeshifter Commandos
in Aztlan. Yucko!!! Used as PCs, they should be _very_ rare. I never allow
more than one of any odd variant into a campaign at any one time, and I always,
_always_, follow a couple of guidelines:

1) Make the character justify the difference to you-- make sure
that the character isn't trying to MUNCHKIN on you, and really
just wants to try something new and different. The difference
will be easily seen in the amount of writing the person is
willing to do for the character's background.
2) Hit 'em on their blind side-- a shapeshifter, for example, can
show the tendency of getting a little too cocky. So, hit them
with something they don't expect. Encourage shamans to play
their totem, tease a vamp street pizza with something that can
stop him but (of course) can't really kill him. Put them in a
strictly role-playing situation where there can be no combat.
Basically, you can make any corrections that you need to
character attitude through roleplaying.

That's all, folks. Oh-so-verbose-Flare, signing off]<<<<<
--Flare <NULLSIG COURTESY OF DOOM>

Dark Thought Publications & Doom Technologies, Inc.
>>> Working on solutions best left in the dark.