The Monster Within - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bawylie Oct 17, 2014 13:11:44	The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is probably our most well-known allegory on the nature of Good and Evil and the duality of humankind. It's a description of our struggle between our better natures and our base desires, asking "What does it mean to be human? To be good? Who are we? Why do we go wrong?" At the time of its writing, it was a gripping tale, and addressed complex philosophical question in a way readers could easily grasp.
#2 Shasarak Oct 17, 2014 13:53:41	bawylie wrote:
(Reply to #2) bawylie	Doesn't have to. Say we have a fight with a werewolf and you get scratched. Maybe you even think you made the save. But one morning, you wake up naked, covered in blood. Now that first time, that's used as an adventure hook, and I may well determine what happened. But the NEXT time, there's no value to withholding that information. The NEXT time, we get a good transformation seen and we see what happens. How people react. Where you go and what you do. Then you wake again the next morning. I don't have to control from then out. I just have to occasionally remind you that your wolf wants out. That it's hungry - but not for flesh - for destruction. And then find a situation wherein you might be tempted to let it out voluntarily. Maybe an overwhelming encounter? Maybe to save someone? Idk. But after the hook, I don't need to control anything.
#4 bawylie Oct 17, 2014 14:20:26	On the flip side, say your monster within is more like Heisenberg in that it's coming out as a series of (im/a)moral decisions you're making. I don't control that either, and have no need to. And the transformation is metaphorical, as your reputation spreads. Until you look back and go "oh, f--- I'm the villain."
#5 Fralex Oct 17, 2014 14:23:28	Actually, having a battle-of-wills sort of thing with the DM for control over your character could be interesting, as long as you only had it happen, like, once and during a climactic battle. Every few rounds you'd need to pass a Wisdom save or fall under the DM's control for a round. During the rounds in between, you'd be desperately trying to find ways to prove, maybe only to yourself, that the inner beast is not who you are. Because doing that would grant inspiration you could use to boost your save and keep control over your inner demons. It could work!
#6 bawylie Oct 17, 2014 14:36:05	That could work. I think I'd not do it unless the player was alright with it. I think the whole thing has greater meaning when the player role plays both sides and determines what they want the relationship to be.
(Reply to #2) Mechatarrasque	Shasarak wrote:
#8 bawylie Oct 17, 2014 14:50:50	Hadn't thought of attuned/intelligent items. That's an interesting point.
#9 Mechatarrasque Oct 17, 2014 14:51:07	Fralex wrote:
#10 Shasarak Oct 17, 2014 16:56:11	bawylie wrote:
#11 sleypy Oct 17, 2014 17:05:31	Shasarak wrote:

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

bawylie

Oct 17, 2014 13:11:44

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde is probably our most well-known allegory on the nature of Good and Evil and the duality of humankind. It's a description of our struggle between our better natures and our base desires, asking "What does it mean to be human? To be good? Who are we? Why do we go wrong?" At the time of its writing, it was a gripping tale, and addressed complex philosophical question in a way readers could easily grasp.

Shasarak

Oct 17, 2014 13:53:41

bawylie wrote:

(Reply to #2)

bawylie

Doesn't have to.

Say we have a fight with a werewolf and you get scratched. Maybe you even think you made the save. But one morning, you wake up naked, covered in blood.

Now that first time, that's used as an adventure hook, and I may well determine what happened. But the NEXT time, there's no value to withholding that information. The NEXT time, we get a good transformation seen and we see what happens. How people react. Where you go and what you do. Then you wake again the next morning.

I don't have to control from then out. I just have to occasionally remind you that your wolf wants out. That it's hungry - but not for flesh - for destruction. And then find a situation wherein you might be tempted to let it out voluntarily. Maybe an overwhelming encounter? Maybe to save someone? Idk. But after the hook, I don't need to control anything.

bawylie

Oct 17, 2014 14:20:26

On the flip side, say your monster within is more like Heisenberg in that it's coming out as a series of (im/a)moral decisions you're making. I don't control that either, and have no need to.

And the transformation is metaphorical, as your reputation spreads. Until you look back and go "oh, f--- I'm the villain."

Fralex

Oct 17, 2014 14:23:28

Actually, having a battle-of-wills sort of thing with the DM for control over your character could be interesting, as long as you only had it happen, like, once and during a climactic battle. Every few rounds you'd need to pass a Wisdom save or fall under the DM's control for a round. During the rounds in between, you'd be desperately trying to find ways to prove, maybe only to yourself, that the inner beast is not who you are. Because doing that would grant inspiration you could use to boost your save and keep control over your inner demons. It could work!

bawylie

Oct 17, 2014 14:36:05

That could work. I think I'd not do it unless the player was alright with it. I think the whole thing has greater meaning when the player role plays both sides and determines what they want the relationship to be.

(Reply to #2)

Mechatarrasque

Shasarak wrote:

bawylie

Oct 17, 2014 14:50:50

Hadn't thought of attuned/intelligent items. That's an interesting point.

Mechatarrasque

Oct 17, 2014 14:51:07

Fralex wrote:

#10

Shasarak

Oct 17, 2014 16:56:11

bawylie wrote:

#11

sleypy

Oct 17, 2014 17:05:31

Shasarak wrote: