[Sorcerer] Possessor in a corpse - how to

[Per Fischer]

Hi there,

I am prepping for our next Sorcerer game, based on my Unforgiven-inspired one-sheet Las Cruces http://darkplaces.squarespace.com/downloads/lascrucesonesheet.pdf.

We have characters and starting demons, minus finalised Kickers, and it's all looking peachy, with 2 engaged and enthusiastic players.

Now, one of the player's demons were originally a Passer looking like the character's dead brother. When I mentioned to the player (Peter) that he should be aware it was a Passer and not actually the character's brother, Peter changed his mind. He now has a Possessor in his player character's brother's decomposing body, which I happily allowed.

But then I got thinking. Is that possible using the basic Sorcerer rules? I've tried to search this forum for answers and also had a glance at the demon tweaks in Sorcerer's Soul, but didn't find anything.

My basic question, I guess, is: what ability is the demon using to keep the corpse moving around? Transport?

Thanks,
Per

[Alan]

Hi Per,

I would say don't sweat trying to simulate the "actual" status of the zombie. Are you famliar with the concept of "special effects" from HERO Games? For example, a 10 dice blast can be water, fire, gravity, thought energy, whatever it was defined as.

In Sorcerer, you can declare the demon a Passer for mechanical purposes, but define it as the actual body of the dead brother animated by an alien spirit as the "special effect." (Rotting would be a nice Telltale.)

I would only use Possessor if you expect that the demon could be banished and resummoned in a different corpse or if it can Hop. In this case, I'd say that the demon doesn't need a power to animate the corpse, it's just another special effect.

[Per Fischer]

Thx, Alan, that was more or less what I had planned/thought before I got cold feet.

I think it is a big deal to the player, that this is actually his dead brother's body, and I foresee that it might be thematic for the game that Peter via his character will want to lay the brother to rest "for real" after having had his vengeance.

Cheers,
Per

[Ron Edwards]

Mechanically, what you're looking for is a Possessor with the Vitality ability, defined (in addition to its dice/damage effects) as animating the corpse.

Best, Ron

[Alan]

Of course! Vitality makes perfect sense -- it would give the animated corpse the ability to recover from nasty damage.

My only attempt at something undead was for Charnel Gods -- but that was a demon posing as a resurrected loved one. Stats are here:

http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=5940.0