How to make Mind Controllers fun & a threat?

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 12:15 pm

So my question, that I have in general gameplay for ANY role-playing game that has a mind, emotion, suggestion type controlly type villain...

Powers like
MIND CONTROL:
"You can completely take over another person’s mind, thus forcing
them to do whatever you want, by succeeding mental attacks
against them. ... Once you fail (in a Mind contest), you cannot successfully command that target again for the rest of the issue."

How do you make that FUN in game-play. Generally, in my experience:
a. players hate hate hate it, more hating the rules than the in-game threat/villain
b. its a very one-trick pony, you either control... or not.

Other than the obvious = Mind Control, then making the heroes attack each other or do villainous deeds, etc...

HOW can you take a villain like Batman's MAD HATTER and make him work? Fun to be a villain, but a threat too... even for low level heroes like Robin - if he can't get the Mind Control, he's NO threat in game terms generally.
So how can you make the many many Mind Controllers or the like (that generally have weak or no other powers) a threat? Or interesting??

Are there creative suggestions to use with their mind control abilities? Are there interesting power links or stunts they can do?

any ideas?

Saker · Post by **Saker** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:37 pm

A couple of ideas off the top of my head:

1. Adventure in an alternate reality. They only find out toward the end of the adventure that they've been mind controlled when they break out and one-shot the villain in real-life... or at least Batman did

2. As opposed to taking complete control, just start lying to them about reality, such that the Mind Control distorts their reality. Potentially, different players have different versions of reality creating conflict on which one is correct. They may actually know that the Mind Controller is at work, but no one knows who has been affected. They find at the end of the issue.

cheers

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:32 pm

Saker wrote:A couple of ideas off the top of my head:

1. Adventure in an alternate reality. They only find out toward the end of the adventure that they've been mind controlled when they break out and one-shot the villain in real-life... or at least Batman did

2. As opposed to taking complete control, just start lying to them about reality, such that the Mind Control distorts their reality. Potentially, different players have different versions of reality creating conflict on which one is correct. They may actually know that the Mind Controller is at work, but no one knows who has been affected. They find at the end of the issue.

cheers

Very great suggestions. Here's my ideas:

... Ahhh

... Ummm. I got nothing... but that last one would be great to use on a hero with the Relationship disadvantage as he is trying to puzzle out why his fiancé slapped him after he kissed her and is now calling the police!

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:47 pm

Saker wrote:A couple of ideas off the top of my head:

1. Adventure in an alternate reality. They only find out toward the end of the adventure that they've been mind controlled when they break out and one-shot the villain in real-life... or at least Batman did

2. As opposed to taking complete control, just start lying to them about reality, such that the Mind Control distorts their reality. Potentially, different players have different versions of reality creating conflict on which one is correct. They may actually know that the Mind Controller is at work, but no one knows who has been affected. They find at the end of the issue.

cheers

Yes, good ideas.
I've thoughts about doing a thing in battles where (I make sure to have a copy of all the PCs character stats) and describe battle with "the now powered" mind controller as a tough fight for some reason, and noting attack-hits and damage as a PC attacks... but then moving to the next PC. THEN, instead of applying hits/damage from the ACTUAL NPC-mind controller, just give the Defense/Soak rolls with targets for what the first PC roll.
Simulating that the mind controller (not really in battle at all) has made the others think they're attacking HIM, when in reality they're attacking each other. Whether it be direct illusion to make the PCs "see" the mind controller in place of the other PC, or from pure emotion rage, etc... whatever the style of control.
PC v PC without the players knowing it.

Then... also, in my case...
[which is 3rd season of YoungJustice campaign: Robin & Raven have busted into the Penguin's "lawyer's" office to find none other than THE MADHATTER, and secretly behind his work is PSYCHO PIRATE, the emotion controller controlling the mind controller!]
The PCs have just busted in on MadHatter, with PsychoPirate hidden (by an emotional illusion simulating invisibility). Currently PsychoPirate's emotional control has been pushing ALL the Team and even many of the Leaguers. Robin is ANGRY and OBSESSIVE in looking for Cassie (WonderGirl's) killer (who is Darkseid!) and in the mix of this battle EMOTION will get to him... PychoPirate (not knowing the intense emotion he's already pushing higher) I plan to set MadHatter (and/or his Tweetle Dee/Dum henchmen) HITS to 50 more than they actually have... Robin will "see" that he's fighting them... but they WON'T go down!!
When in reality, once he takes them past their normal HITS ... they truly are down on the ground, up against the wall, etc... and he's literally beating them to death - but seeing them fighting on with his emotional rage.
Creating an issue of drama when Raven sees what he's doing. Then trick in HER own emotional whammy of her "Dark Raven" being pushed....!

So clearly... I'm asking about a (couple) mind controllers with very VERY little other power or ability. Hence trying to think of neat new creative ways to make someone weak pathetic insane crook like Mad Hatter a threat to a near ninja master Robin.

Any other ideas?

WaylanderPK · Post by **WaylanderPK** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 1:51 am

Madhatter and othe mind controllers imho work better as behind the scenes types. You can use other mind control classics like a horde of mind controlled normals/police. Which the PC's have to be careful to too hurt. NPC's doing things out of character and really sell the mystery angle of the encounter.