Torturing a PC (a bit)

[Melhaic]

Make it a skill drawback and benefit, something on the order of a +2 to Intimidate and a -2 to Diplomacy forever after. A great character hook, an in-game effect, and something that doesn't strike at the core of the character.

Used that exact thing on the tortured druid (boilig oil on face). Also had his left (offhand) ring finger cut off. I didn't worry about a permanent penalty: I play rugby with a guy with a missing ring finger, and he doesn't have any problems.

He liked him ecarred up and scary.

 

[Quartz]

Think about the other players: this session isn't going to be fun for them, so how about sorting it out beforehand, either by email or by talking to the player? Perhaps he will want to do a Samson?

 

[Darklone]

General advice with torture: Let the player decide. Tell him about it and let him/her tell the story about how they torture his char and what happens.

And let him make proposals about mutilations and whether they have semi-permanent or no effects.

 

[MongooseFamiliar]

How about something painful, cosmetic, and curable?

Bugs or an ooze that burns and infests the skin would be my choice. Put a couple drops on his chest or belly, let him watch as it starts creeping across his skin, burning, eating his nerve endings. He gets the physical pain and the mental torture of seeing it move closer to his face and other parts he doesn't want deformed.

If/when he gets away, a properly motivated cleric could probably cure the damage. Maybe make him go on a quest or something as payment.

 

[Felix]

Use a mix of Fortitude and Will saves for him to resist the torture, so he can feel like his character actually did the resisting. And if he gives in right off the bat, well, that's an unexpected bit of character development, and he'll have to work with that.

As for what kind of nasty they'll inflict on him: one of them is a pirate. Have him flogged. He'll have scars on his back, but no mechanical effects. The other is a cleric of a water deity; you can fill volumes on the uses of water for torture, from holding their head underwater while you punch their stomach, to the Machine from The Princess Bride. And none of them have to be maiming or lethal.

The best result from this torture scenario would be one where the PC held out as long as he could but broke in the end, the player was happy with how long he did in the face of your descriptions, and the character suffered no permanent ill effect.

Good luck!

 

[carborundum]

General advice with torture: Let the player decide. Tell him about it and let him/her tell the story about how they torture his char and what happens.

And let him make proposals about mutilations and whether they have semi-permanent or no effects.

Now that's a good idea

... As for what kind of nasty they'll inflict on him: one of them is a pirate. Have him flogged. He'll have scars on his back, but no mechanical effects. The other is a cleric of a water deity; you can fill volumes on the uses of water for torture, from holding their head underwater while you punch their stomach, to the Machine from The Princess Bride. And none of them have to be maiming or lethal.

The best result from this torture scenario would be one where the PC held out as long as he could but broke in the end, the player was happy with how long he did in the face of your descriptions, and the character suffered no permanent ill effect.

Thanks!

He has indeed been captured and that's where we left it. We've got two weeks to sort it out.

 

[Mallus]

Has anyone any other ideas for slightly mutilating a 4th level fighter?

Will the PC's be able to undo the damage anytime soon? If so, then maim away. Having digits/limbs replaced by crude, less functional prostheses is eminently piratical. Also funny. Used in conjunction with something like castration, it approaches the laugh-riot stage.

(err, how kid-friendly do you need to be?)

Seriously though, I wouldn't be afraid to impose what amounts to a temporary mechanical penalty. It adds character. As long as the PC's are close to having the resources to repair the damage, or better yet, soon encounter a cool fix that results in a lasting benefit to the PC.