Dementation Devotions

[Seidmadr]

So. I have been working on 2e Requiem Dementation. It's basically themed around mad revelation, for both the user and others, and eventually beginning to re-shape the world according to those revelations. But I realized that this kind of stuff isn't for all characters, so I decided to create a Devotion with Dementation, and each other Discipline.
I'm far from done with the mechanics, but I wanted to throw out the ideas I had thus far, to see what you think about them.

I didn't include the physical disciplines, because I don't know if I should add any Devotions to those. It's hard to figure out any that'd work. But if you can come up with some, I'd love to hear it.

Animalism: (fourth dot) Adds a lingering Madness condition to all those bitten by the animals.
Auspex: (fourth dot) Something, something, telepathic network between all Afflicted? Not sure how this one would work
Dominate: (third dot) Delay the madness outbreak, based on chosen trigger
Majesty: (first dot) Basically oVampire Voice of Madness
Nightmare: No idea here. Ideas welcome.
Obfuscate: (fifth dot) Remove an object from reality for a short while.
Protean: (third dot) Shapeshift into some kind of Lovecraftian madness-monster. Not sure about the mechanics though.

What do y'all think?

[Pale_Crusader]

Very interesting.

I would say combining Face of the Beast with a level of Dementation that reveals a mad revelation that is terrifying would be a natural combo. What's a summary of your levels of Dementation? Also perhaps the later level of Dementation that has the ability to reshape reality could be combined with Waking Nightmare to leave trace evidence that the illusion was real, like in many pieces of fiction there is a mark on the body or some small token that convinces the dreamer that they were not dreaming, or that the dream was real.

[Seidmadr]

Very interesting.

I would say combining Face of the Beast with a level of Dementation that reveals a mad revelation that is terrifying would be a natural combo. What's a summary of your levels of Dementation? Also perhaps the later level of Dementation that has the ability to reshape reality could be combined with Waking Nightmare to leave trace evidence that the illusion was real, like in many pieces of fiction there is a mark on the body or some small token that convinces the dreamer that they were not dreaming, or that the dream was real.

...How did I ever make that post without posting Dementation itself? I can be pretty dense at times.


Anyhow, I base it around a new condition, which I call Delusion, which is pretty much what it is. A Paranoid Delusion that all Malkavians carry as a Persistent condition (can be Resolved like Addiction and so on, which puts it into remission for a while).
The themes are based on spreading your view of the world with those around you, and it's mechanically based on the Dementation of the Ventrue book.

• Whispers of Insanity
Give everyone near the Afflicted, the Afflicted included, either bonuses or penalties to resist mind-affecting powers.

•• The Gift
Share your madness with someone, either give it to them subtly (the Delusion Condition), or overtly (Frenzy checks for vampires, Breaking Point rolls for mortals)

••• The Insight
Give someone with the Delusion condition either intuitive understanding of the situation around them, or prophetic visions.

•••• The Fractured Mind
Re-arrange the mental and social attribute dots of someone with Delusion.

••••• Horrors Made Real
Twist reality. The more people with Delusion there are in the area, the greater the changes that are possible.

[Pale_Crusader]

I really like your ideas.

Some things I would point out:

Nightmare gives the ability to grant another the Delusion Condition on the third not, not the second, if you want to compare power creep.

I really like the third level, and think that it could be dropped to level 2 since it has the limiting factor that it is a positive affect only usable on those suffering a negative condition.

Also for its offensive uses I would move The Gift to the third dot, and remove the frenzy and just make overt madness into a breaking point regardless of victim type. That'd make it more mind breaking and less fear, hunger or anger based, which don't really fall into the "madness" theme. (they're more instinctual reactions which may or may not be appropriate but are not "mad")

Fractured mind seem incredibly over-powered for a 4 dot discipline. I can not think of anything that grants the ability to re-write someone else's stats, even temporarily. I think give the target the choice of either Fugue condition, Madness Condition, or Broken Condition, without a breaking point would be more appropriate.

I like Horrors Made Real if it functions as a form of mass hysteria that has the people with the delusions subconsciously re-arranging the scene to fit the delusion, like how the main character's in Occulus did, thus more people equals more manpower to re-arrange the scene. If it is just an ad hoc "warp reality" aka "magically change stuff because I say so" it is seriously overreaching both its theme, and the power level of 5th dot disciplines.


With the suggestions I made here is how I would change the devotions:

Animalism: (Fourth dot) Perfect as you wrote it.
Auspex: (Second dot) Grants the target uncanny perception without vitae cost, but the story teller flips a coin for each successful check and on tails tell the player the opposite of the correct answer. Each question may only be asked once per subject.
Dominate: (third dot) Delay the delusion or breaking, based on chosen trigger
Majesty: (first dot) Lead Lunatic, all those with the follow conditions: Madness, Broken, Fugue, Delusion gain the swooning condition in regards to the user of this devotion
Nightmare 5: The participants now can be forced into self-damaging and murderous actions to create the scene, and additionally are all terrified of the scene once they come to their senses and exposure to makes them Frightened. Additionally they suffer from breaking points as appropriate for their actions during the mass hysteria. Supernatural being get a clash of wills each turn.
Obfuscate: (fifth dot) Objects can be passed off into a crowd of by-standards and the object will delivered to a location you designate as people subconsciously pass it from one to another forgetting as they do so, going to far as it being passed along through delivery services without being marked or counted.
Protean: (third dot) The animal shape you take causes witnesses to craft strange and insane musings about it and its abilities. If a raven they assign prophetic meaning to your caws, a wolf they may assume you've come from hell to devour them for their sins, a cat, they may believe they killed you and you've returned from the grave and other such horrible fantasies. They gain the Delusion condition concerning your animal shape, drawn from their own imaginations.

[Seidmadr]

...Delusional existed! How the hell did I miss that one? (Possibly because I have never read Nightmare too closely.) Thanks for pointing that out to me. I'll have to re-write some stuff here now. Thanks!

[Pale_Crusader]

Thanks for pointing that out to me. I'll have to re-write some stuff here now. Thanks!

You're very welcome. I am interested in seeing what you write up.

[stylanski]

One of the biggest challenges with Dementation (post-2e), is differentiating it substantially from Auspex, Nightmare, and other vanilla disciplines. I've come up with something, though I'm still not satisfied and feel that it's missing refinement.

The Daemon's Voice - Always on, free devotion gained when the vampire first becomes one of the Afflicted. The Malkavian's vitae infects her Beast, altering it (or altogether replacing it) into becoming a Daemon. Daemons warn their hosts of impending threats and sources of frenzy, which the vampire is not aware of. It does so through whispers, wails, or screams.

Manipulate Passion - Incoherent sentences uttered by the Daemon try to inform the vampire of his victim's emotional range. With this information, the vampire is able to change, amplify, or deaden these emotions. While doing so, the Malkavian stares at his victim in a manner disturbing for onlookers. (Auspex 1, Nightmare 2)

Omens of Doom - The Malkavian sends her Daemon after a target, to assume the form of an omen of impending death or tragedy. For example, it may appear to the target as an owl (Roman legends), a black dog, or deceased loved ones inviting the victim to join them (modern Greece). The experience is unnerving to say the least, slowly inspiring paranoia and despair in the target's mind. (Nightmare 3)

Open the Codex - Mentally access and modify the Codex Malkavia. (Auspex 3, Dominate 1)

Walk the Void - The vampire enters a delusional state, using the Daemon's guidance to discern patterns and truths hidden deep inside it. While a dangerous power, the revelations that may arise by far surpass (in depth as well as importance) those revealed through Auspex. (Nightmare 3, Auspex 2)

Phobos Visage - This power allows the vampire to alter her physical form, becoming a material manifestation of her victim's darkest fears and nightmares. Without needing further activation rolls (or Vitae expenditure), the mere sight of the vampire's new form is enough to incite in her targets effects similar to those of the Nightmare discipline. (Nightmare 2 or 4, Protean 2)

I will probably do two more, one for Dominate (I really like the idea of mental timebombs) and Majesty (causing victims to obsess over someone or something).