Torture in a magical world (Rated R)

[LostSoul]

I think it might work out okay if you tell the PCs that they have obviously been through torture - they have this general impression of unbearable pain and degredation - but they can't remember any of it. Then you get the chance to use the torture session whenever you want as a plot device, not just something to freak out the players.

The first thing that springs to mind for me is a invasive parasitic fungus that slowly transforms the PC into a fungus-guy. Over the weeks and months, he notices strange changes coming over him - pain here and there, fragile bones, thick, sooty urine, fungus growing and spreading over the skin, mushroom-like flutes appearing in his throat/under his arms/between the legs, etc. This kind of disease has a parallel to many real diseases (such as cancer), so any player sensitive to a slow, wasting disease could be hit hard by it.

 

[Crass]

ABBA. 'nuff said.

Haven't I heard YOU play ABBA at some of our campaign sessions, Hong?

 

[hong]

Haven't I heard YOU play ABBA at some of our campaign sessions, Hong?

No fear of that! I've just got the three-CD set, The Essential Bruce Springsteen. I'd forgotten how good The Boss was. That will be on continuous play the next session, oh yes.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

Geas can make them go do something they don't want to do, such as fight dragons naked. BBEG always have some enemies. Maybe two villains have an ongoing game of sending crippled (multiple curses) and dominated heroes to attack each other?

That is simply classy. The variants on a game like this are numerous indeed.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Which brings in things like possession, a player is so weakened, reduced that they are no longer able to withstand being taken over by some evil creature, becoming a prisoner in their own mind and body.

Other ways to torture:

Shock Lizards & Shocking Hands
Ooze - let us just put this small drop of gelatinous cude on you and see how long it takes...Oh, don't worry we will keep its size in check.​

 

[drunkmoogle]

For the record, my players are sick little masochists who, deep down, want to be tortured and tormented to the end of their days . My players were hugely dissapointed when I skipped over the topic, of which I am developing a growing interest due to this thread . Torture is a major turn-off for me, but I want to give the audience what it wants.

With my group, Capture+Torture is always preferable to TPK. Besides, it's a great campaign hook. My PCs had adequete chance of escape and bungled on diplomacy (think an old western standoff that could've ended without a single shot).

I don't want to impose permanant stat loss; I've already screwed them over by stripping them nude and tossing their cursed, naked bodies in a dungeon as a means of escape.

Forgot who suggested it a page ago, but thanks to whoever suggested I bring back the torture as a recurring memory. Oh... I will . And I'll be ready for it...

 

[jessemock]

More importanly, the suggestion that any of this have a psychological effect on the character ('breaking them' as it were) is completely outside the rules.

No; it isn't at all--which is unfortunate: I don't want to disagree with you! I like what you're saying about taking care with the introduction of torture to a group (although I think that everything Monte Cook has to say about this topic has more to do with his effort to convince us that he can be dark, than with genuine concern about appropriateness).

But as to the notion that imposing a psychological effect on PCs is outside of the rules: where do you find that one? I realise that there is a stripe of player who believes that he shouldn't ever have to play any role but the one he chooses, but I don't see that as an approach demanded by the rules.

 

[fourthmensch]

I'm not sure how applicable this is to a fantasy setting, but I remember reading about this in a psychology class and its stuck with me. It was used by the Chinese in POW camps during the Korean War.

Put all the prisoners together. Treat them very well. Good food, courteous treatment, recreational time, and harsh punishments (usually drastic restrictions of activity, but not torture in the traditional sense of the word) for disobedience.

Pick one prisoner at random, maybe one that may be more easily persuaded. Give him better treatment in all ways possible. Better food, special activities (games, women, whatever). Pull him away from the rest of the group for a while, then let him go back to rejoin. Keep doing this until they wonder why he is getting special treatment (this doesn't require special mechanics, I think; the suspicion of the other players will probably grow organically over time). Keep pulling the player out of the room for a chat and let the other players wonder what's going on. These tete-a-tetes with the captors need not be coercive in any way, they are only to breed suspicion.

Have them attend classes, lectures by the BBEG on why his aims are legitimate and beneficial. Make them write essays on why they agree with the BBEG, and how their previous actions opposing him were mistaken (you could even actually make the players do this between sessions). Let them get to know the BBEG and his minions, who turn out to be well-meaning but misunderstood. When the PCs try to escape (and they will, given the lax security; maybe the captors even arrange a fortuitous lapse in security), the BBEG catches them easily. Instead of punishing them, he simply sits them all down and tells them that one of the PCs betrayed his friends (without revealing which one). This need not be true--the BBEG could be using scrying, divination, or whathaveyou; again the purpose is simply to sow suspicion. Then, after a few months or even years (game time, of course ), simply let them go, give their equipment back, and wish them well.

It may not sound all that impressive, but this is a very powerful technique. This method actually resulted in several American POWs renouncing their American citizenship and becoming members of the Chinese communist party.

However it works out, it should drive a serious wedge between the party members and interfere with their cohesiveness (and thus making them less of a threat to the BBEG in question), and perhaps, depending on how persuasive you are, convert them into willing agents of the bad guy.

 

[Endur]

Get the Book of Vile Darkness and the Dungeon module that uses the BOVD.

That's where you guys come in. In your infinite creativity, I beg of you to grant me your boon of knowledge of torture in a fantasy world where healing comes easily.