How would you guys handle this?

[Iconik]

This is GREAT stuff. I think I'll be using this. You've help settle something that I've been pouring over for several adventures. Thank you SO much.

 

[NotAYakk]

The bribe system sounds good.

I'd grab spellscarred powers from Forgotton Realms Players guide, print out a bunch of cards (using the homebrew settings of the character builder), and bribe him with a one-off use of an encounter utility, daily utility, encounter attack or daily attack power (in order of increasing coolness) in exchange for having a flare up that gets in the way.

After each combat encounter where the bribed power isn't used, roll a d6 -- on a 6, it goes away (use it, or eventually lose it). Pick powers that represent the arm "doing something" in the fight or situation.

Note that this is a spotlight focusing effect (even the penalties are spotlight focusing). So think up ways to shine the spotlight on other PCs as well.

 

[jimmifett]

I would think that the Jenga mechanic i heard about from some other game would be neat for determing when/how the arm flares up.

DM figure's out what the arm responds to around it, and whenever a player/enemy/environment does something to agitate the arm, roll vs will or endurance. If success, have a minor negative effect; if failure, minor effect AND remove a jenga piece. When the tower falls, the arm goes crazier than a psycho ex-gf and tries to take over the player or something else nasty. After that is resolved, reset the tower.

Probably wise to put the jenga tower on a seperate table.