Trepanation!

[Dog Moon]

I need trepanation like I need another hole in the head.

Booo! Booo!

 

[Nebulous]

I need trepanation like I need another hole in the head.

Aw, i liked that!

 

[Anti-Sean]

I need trepanation like I need another hole in the head.

damn... beaten to it!

 

[VirgilCaine]

In the first adventure I used them, some minor insectoid demons had taken over the more important guild members of a town by becoming insubstantial and flying into their skulls and mind-controlling them. Since they were afraid of light, it was possible to banish them through trepanation. Some people had already figured that out, and the PCs were intially hired to deal with that "evil cult" which "kidnapped people and drilled holes into their heads.

I gotta use that as a hook in my contemporary GURPS Horror game...

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I gotta use that as a hook in my contemporary GURPS Horror game...

In that case, you should really buy Delta Green: Countdown.

Spoiler

Since that's the whole point of the PISCES/Army of the Third Eye chapter. Basically, a group of Shan/Insects of Shaggai have taken over a major British Intelligence Agency, and only a ragtag bunch of people with holes in their skulls stand in their way...

Seriously, get the book. It is brilliant in more ways than one.

 

[adwyn]

Precise, localized trepanation plays havoc with the phrenologists.

 

[Thunderfoot]

What is truly amazing about this "procedure" is that you can do it anywhere and it doesn't take a lot of skill to do it. You wouldn't believe the number of 911 calls that are created every year by trepanation in the US. Most of them done in kitchens or bathrooms by ordinary people. No anesthetic, no cauterization, just a flat drill and alot of screaming; oh and a bandage.

Personally, I can't imagine walking around with my brain exposed for even a little bit. Yeuck!

 

[VirgilCaine]

In that case, you should really buy Delta Green: Countdown.

Seriously, get the book. It is brilliant in more ways than one.

If I wanted to see government agents being heroic, I could take my pick of action and detective TV shows and movies. No thanks.

What is truly amazing about this "procedure" is that you can do it anywhere and it doesn't take a lot of skill to do it. You wouldn't believe the number of 911 calls that are created every year by trepanation in the US.

No, it does take skill--to do it right. But I think I would believe it...I've seen enough episodes of COPS and Psychic Hotline commercials to believe whatever number it is.

 

[Aaron L]

A reason for trepanation other than getting rid of shans, huh?

I couls see a possible use with psionics, since I read about people doing it to "improve oxygen flow to the brain" or something. Maybe a trade of a temporary increase in power points for some fairly hefty "hole in the head" damage, but only as long as you have keep the damage.

 

[Aaron L]

If I wanted to see government agents being heroic, I could take my pick of action and detective TV shows and movies. No thanks.

Well, if thats all Delta Green was about... but thats actually a pretty poor description of the setting. Try illegal government conspiracy fights the minions of the Great Old Ones, organized crime cults, undead Nazis, and a US government being manipulated by Majestic 12, who are in turn being manipulated by aliens.