Multiple Personality Disorder Character. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Multiple Personality Disorder Character.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
james_sate
Jul 08, 2008 0:23:42 I've been toying with the idea of running a character with a personality disorder. Without boring you all as to why my character is this way, here's what I've been toying with. Keep in mind this is for a 4e character.

The main character, who we'll call "Steve" would be class A, I was thinking rogue. Their split personality, who we'll call "Dave" would be class B, probably a warlock.

I've come up with some ideas as to how there personalities would work play wise. Either whenever Steve becomes bloodied, Dave would have a 50% chance of taking over, and therefore switching my play style on the fly, which I can handle. Another option I considered would be every morning when my character wakes up there is a 50% chance they would wake up as the other personality. The final option I considered is any time my character was forced to make a saving throw vs death and made it, they would switch.

My DM is reluctant to let me try my idea because he questions why a group would travel with someone with two personalities. I replied to him that groups have adventured with stranger partners I'm sure, and besides if both personalities get a long with everyone, than what's the harm? The character could just be the "kookie" group member.
#2
yesterdays_fate
Jul 08, 2008 0:37:41 I've actually thought about doing something like this myself before (though usually for as a DM, for an NPC.)

You don't have too bad of an idea set-up for it I don't think.

The one thing I will add though is, if your DM lets you do this, and, say, "Steve" is the main character; remember that he most likely would not be aware of anything that "Dave" does, or, may not be aware of him at all (depending on his past and whether or not anyone close to him has ever seen the change and has recognized what's going on.)

As for telling your DM why a group would want to adventure with someone with multiple personalities? Well, if "Steve" doesn't know about it, and he joins the party as "Steve", they'd have no idea that he had multiple personalities until "Dave" took over. Even then though, they may not notice at first. Being as such, it'd be up to the players/characters AFTER they realize what's going on with "Steve" that they'd be faced with this question. With this; if "Steve" is the Rogue of the group, and, thusly the group scout and trap detector, they may feel as if they NEED to keep him around at first. Or, they may feel sorry for him and want to give him a chance. Or, they may not see any problem with it at all.

If anything, I'd probably say to ask your DM to leave the choice up to the players and the characters whether or not they're ok with the idea. Though, with that, be prepared for the characters to find "Steve" more of an inconvenience (possibly depending on how "Dave" acts) than a help and to be kicked out of the group if your DM allows you to gauge your idea this way.
#3
james_sate
Jul 08, 2008 0:57:43 What I had figured would happen in regards to issues of one half recognizing the other is that they would recognize any events that have happened in the campaign as though the events happened to that particular personality.

For example; Steve helps to solve a puzzle using some manner of rogue ability or skill. Should Dave happen to take over in the near future, he would remember the event, but would remember solving it using a warlock power. They share a singular continuity of events (to makes the DM and party's job easier of not having to explain everything twice), but remembers it each in their own twisted way.

If players ever confront Dave/Steve and say, "Why are you two people?" or "What's up with the split personality? then the currently 'active' personality would dismiss the ideas as bizarre and unimportant. If further pressed to a break point, Dave/Steve would admit that perhaps there is something wrong, although he has no recollection of the issue, and if it's not currently hindering their adventuring, then they should press on and worry about it later, perhaps when at a big city so as to get it looked at by doctors or something.

Both characters would have seperate opinions of people, but share the same memories. So for Dave's relation to party member X, he remembers sharing his wine with him, and did so reluctantly, whereas Steve remembers sharing his wine with party member X because they are best buds.

I also devised a way for the party members to know who's currently "in charge", and that would be a change of eye color. One would have brilliant green eyes, and the other would have brilliant blue eyes. Both purposefully striking so as to let party members know, in case Dave/Steve is unable to talk, for any number of reasons.
#4
candin
Jul 08, 2008 1:04:29 I would recommend talking about the idea with anybody who will be playing the game, if you're going to take a mental disorder.

We know an awful lot of people, and there's a decent (if not good) chance that one of the gamers might know someone with a similar disability. And it might not be kosher with them for you to roleplay it.
#5
james_sate
Jul 08, 2008 1:21:24 While it's a good suggestion, I've played with these guys for a LONG time. I'm pretty sure I know their 1st grade report card marks.

While it's always tricky to play a character with a disability, Multiple Personality Disorder rarely, if ever manifests it self in a way that produces two totally whole and function personalities, despite what Hollywood teaches us. It's unlikely, but certainly not impossible.

Heck I've played characters with all manners of disabilites and afflictions, and addictions. Playing heroic super heros who are immune to the vices and unfortunatcies (new word maybe?) of real people makes them dull, in my little opinion. Flawed characters are easier to associate with, and thus to RP.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 james_sate Jul 08, 2008 0:23:42	I've been toying with the idea of running a character with a personality disorder. Without boring you all as to why my character is this way, here's what I've been toying with. Keep in mind this is for a 4e character. The main character, who we'll call "Steve" would be class A, I was thinking rogue. Their split personality, who we'll call "Dave" would be class B, probably a warlock. I've come up with some ideas as to how there personalities would work play wise. Either whenever Steve becomes bloodied, Dave would have a 50% chance of taking over, and therefore switching my play style on the fly, which I can handle. Another option I considered would be every morning when my character wakes up there is a 50% chance they would wake up as the other personality. The final option I considered is any time my character was forced to make a saving throw vs death and made it, they would switch. My DM is reluctant to let me try my idea because he questions why a group would travel with someone with two personalities. I replied to him that groups have adventured with stranger partners I'm sure, and besides if both personalities get a long with everyone, than what's the harm? The character could just be the "kookie" group member.
#2 yesterdays_fate Jul 08, 2008 0:37:41	I've actually thought about doing something like this myself before (though usually for as a DM, for an NPC.) You don't have too bad of an idea set-up for it I don't think. The one thing I will add though is, if your DM lets you do this, and, say, "Steve" is the main character; remember that he most likely would not be aware of anything that "Dave" does, or, may not be aware of him at all (depending on his past and whether or not anyone close to him has ever seen the change and has recognized what's going on.) As for telling your DM why a group would want to adventure with someone with multiple personalities? Well, if "Steve" doesn't know about it, and he joins the party as "Steve", they'd have no idea that he had multiple personalities until "Dave" took over. Even then though, they may not notice at first. Being as such, it'd be up to the players/characters AFTER they realize what's going on with "Steve" that they'd be faced with this question. With this; if "Steve" is the Rogue of the group, and, thusly the group scout and trap detector, they may feel as if they NEED to keep him around at first. Or, they may feel sorry for him and want to give him a chance. Or, they may not see any problem with it at all. If anything, I'd probably say to ask your DM to leave the choice up to the players and the characters whether or not they're ok with the idea. Though, with that, be prepared for the characters to find "Steve" more of an inconvenience (possibly depending on how "Dave" acts) than a help and to be kicked out of the group if your DM allows you to gauge your idea this way.
#3 james_sate Jul 08, 2008 0:57:43	What I had figured would happen in regards to issues of one half recognizing the other is that they would recognize any events that have happened in the campaign as though the events happened to that particular personality. For example; Steve helps to solve a puzzle using some manner of rogue ability or skill. Should Dave happen to take over in the near future, he would remember the event, but would remember solving it using a warlock power. They share a singular continuity of events (to makes the DM and party's job easier of not having to explain everything twice), but remembers it each in their own twisted way. If players ever confront Dave/Steve and say, "Why are you two people?" or "What's up with the split personality? then the currently 'active' personality would dismiss the ideas as bizarre and unimportant. If further pressed to a break point, Dave/Steve would admit that perhaps there is something wrong, although he has no recollection of the issue, and if it's not currently hindering their adventuring, then they should press on and worry about it later, perhaps when at a big city so as to get it looked at by doctors or something. Both characters would have seperate opinions of people, but share the same memories. So for Dave's relation to party member X, he remembers sharing his wine with him, and did so reluctantly, whereas Steve remembers sharing his wine with party member X because they are best buds. I also devised a way for the party members to know who's currently "in charge", and that would be a change of eye color. One would have brilliant green eyes, and the other would have brilliant blue eyes. Both purposefully striking so as to let party members know, in case Dave/Steve is unable to talk, for any number of reasons.
#4 candin Jul 08, 2008 1:04:29	I would recommend talking about the idea with anybody who will be playing the game, if you're going to take a mental disorder. We know an awful lot of people, and there's a decent (if not good) chance that one of the gamers might know someone with a similar disability. And it might not be kosher with them for you to roleplay it.
#5 james_sate Jul 08, 2008 1:21:24	While it's a good suggestion, I've played with these guys for a LONG time. I'm pretty sure I know their 1st grade report card marks. While it's always tricky to play a character with a disability, Multiple Personality Disorder rarely, if ever manifests it self in a way that produces two totally whole and function personalities, despite what Hollywood teaches us. It's unlikely, but certainly not impossible. Heck I've played characters with all manners of disabilites and afflictions, and addictions. Playing heroic super heros who are immune to the vices and unfortunatcies (new word maybe?) of real people makes them dull, in my little opinion. Flawed characters are easier to associate with, and thus to RP.