Torturing PCs for Info

[iwatt]

I'm currently running a d20 Modern campaign, and the MI-6 character of one of my PCs just had his cover blown. There's a better than even chance he'll be captured and torture Gestapo style. I was wondering if anybody had any house rules . If not, does anybody have any idea how to handle this?

Thanx in advance

 

[kreynolds]

Actually, I've been working on some for a little while now (couple weeks). I was left wanting after checking out the torture rules in the BoVD. The problem there is that they assume torture is only being used to get information, rather than simply because it's just that much frickin' fun.

But, if information extraction type torture is what you're lookin' for, the BoVD works fine. It's just basic.

 

[DonaldRumsfeldsTofu]

The rules for torture listen in the Stronghold Builder's Guide; It's a simple Intimidate check that gives the torturer a +1 bonus (+2 if he or she has a torture chamber) and deals 1d3 points of temporary constitution damage every hour. (If constitution of victim reaches 0, he or she dies)

I'm sure BoVD goes into more detail, but I don't own it.

 

[kreynolds]

I'm sure BoVD goes into more detail, but I don't own it.

Not by much. It details instruments and equipment to aid in torture (they give bonuses to the Intimidate check), but that's pretty much it.

 

[Nifft]

To torture PCs, make them watch helplessly as you Sunder their shiny new magic items.

-- Nifft

PS: "Do what you want to me, but leave the sword alone!"

 

[DonaldRumsfeldsTofu]

Oh yes, there is psychological torture.

 

[iwatt]

But can you retry torture attempts? because in the skill description it says you can't attempt to intimidate someone again, which makes sense when youre trying to scare someone, but doesn't apply too much to: Ha you already used your lighter on my nads and I was not affected, your torture has no effect on me!

 

[clark411]

Interrogations and torture sessions work because usually there is one guy getting the torture, and multiple shifts administering it, not because of it's lethality.

Shift A will do the work for 5 hours, then spend the remaining hours of its work day filling out paper work and relaxing before going home to the family. Shift B picks up the next 5 hours. Shift C does so as well, and Shift D does the next 5 hours, and Shift D does 4 hours. All of these shifts relay to each other what is working and what has failed, and what the interrogated/tortured has said / how much he's been tortured.

Researching the CIA guide to torture/questioning is probably a good bet (although keeping the practices in your time frame would mean not using all of their methods). One of the key points of the book is that a subject is far more likely to break simply from seeing the torture implements for extended periods. The moment the subject actually gets hurt, he achieves an awareness of the pain caused by it and can adapt if he is stubborn to it. This adaptation is a victory for the subject, and that gives him hope or fuel to bear the torture. Torture and interrogation is very much about denying all hope and all chance of winning to the subject.

Personally, based on all that, I'd have shifts using psychological torture on the PC. This can mean Profession (torturer) checks opposed by Will Saves. If your guys are simply torturing him for the whimsy of whomever has captured him (ala "I want to hear his screams all day, for the rest of the month. Muahaha I'm so EEEEVIL. MUAHAHAHA") then just break out the BOVD and have their torture checks reduce the Con damage with high results. Retries are a definite.. over time the subject recieves penalties while the torturers, in shifts, do not.


Also, by doing it slowly you actually give the other PCs a chance to do try a rescue. Based upon how long it takes them to get him out, the character can suffer from all sorts of phobias etc, or gain a new hatred for the gestapo. Call of Chththehthnuml has all sorts of rules for making Sanity checks. Definitely think anyone tortured for long deserves to make a few.

 

[kreynolds]

But can you retry torture attempts? because in the skill description it says you can't attempt to intimidate someone again...

Torture, when using torture devices, does not follow the standard rules for the intimidate skill.

BoVD, page 38...

"When using a torture device, a torturer can attempt multiple Intimidate checks to attempt to gain the same information, unlike the standard use of the Intimidate skill."

In other words, you can just keep torturing someone until you get what you want.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Unless your players specificly signed up for a game where their PCs get tourtured, I would recommend... not. Just don't do it. Make vauge threats and leave the PC locked up with no food or water to "reduce their resistance" until the other's get there. Or declare the PC effectively dead and let the player make up a new character. Their old PC "lost". Frankly, there is no percentage in actually playing out the tourture of a PC. It takes all control away from the player, it reduces the character to a state where it is often no longer playable, and there no hard and fast reason to believe the opposition will actually get any useful info out of it.

If your players are explicitly on board with that sort of thing, do it however you want. There are no rules that can "accurately" represent torture, so make some random rolls.

(actually, indimidate seems like a bad mechanic. I'd use sucessive fort saves to represent physical resistance followed by will saves to keep your loyalty regardless. And the chance that you will just say what they seem to want to hear, regardless of the truth. Tourture really isn't for obtaining info, ya know.)

Kahuna Burger