Guide 2: Sanity, Morale and Taboos

[Thrilby]

Sanity, Morale and Taboos
An essay on crazy in Paranoid

by

Thrilby

Surely you have noticed, that thing up there on the logo. Rated M for Mature 17+. I am not saying that you do not belong here if you do not account for that particular age (although if you are under 15 you should probably not be here at all), after all, we all have watched/watch porn, which is 18+. Natural curiousity, indeed, but murder and depravity on the level that this site provides (especially from my end) isn't natural. Which is why I am here to remind you why we are so fascinated by it. As well as some rules for Sanity-loss. Read on, but beware that the following text might contain material not appropriate for people not chronologically and mentally beyond 17 years of age.

So why are we fascinated by murder, gore and horror? Why is it that when we see gross or grevious images that we cover our eyes, yet leave a slit to see? The answer is as old as humanity. We have a fascination for the forbidden fruits that are the morale vices, such as stealing, murder, incest, bestiality, pornography and general degeneration of the mind and soul. Yeah, you heard me, incest and bestiality was there too. Even though we find it (TRULY) disgusting, we still want to know why. Just as with the murderers we see on the news and read about in books and magazines, we wonder why they would do such a thing. The step between wondering and actually doing is thankfully both long and heavy, otherwise we would all be hillbillies (oh yes, I went there, Billy-Bob, sell a pig and buy a plane ticket to Sweden if you feel like it).

Killing, torture, horror, we better accept that these things are becoming commonplace in our entertainment. We like to be scared, we like that heart stopping horror of seeing human suffering and are fascinated by murder... in fiction. As a guy who have actually experienced things like this as a soldier, I can say that I never want to experience it again. But in fiction, it serves as a hook, pulling us into another world. There is nothing to be ashamed of, liking movies, books and games about these things. BUT, one must have a clear line between fiction and reality, otherwise you deserve the chair they'll strap you into, the cell where you will spend the rest of your life.

There is one thing however that I can never accept in media, and all those who have or know someone who have experienced it will agree. Explicit depictions of rape. Knowing someone who have been raped is bad enough. Having seen it without the power or authority to do anything about it (as I have in my military days) is worse, being raped is worst! Mentioning rape is fine, it can give a dramatic tension to a story, but depiction of it is in poor taste. God help you if I ever find you doing that on this here my site.

Hurting or killing the helpless (pets, children, cripples) is heinous, but something that a player might do (willingly, forcibly or by acciedent). In these cases

Playing a killer or playing descent into madness can be hard, outlandish. But I have some tips for you:

• Immersing yourself into the character is tough, but with the right inspiration it's a bit simpler. Read up on real serial killers, take in some fiction ones and try to channel what you find into your roleplaying. I'll will post some good ones in another thread later. Just remember to leave it on the site once you log off.
  
• Think logically. If your character closes to the oblivion of derangement, act it out accordingly, but don't go on a rampage the first thing you do! Likewise, don't go doing things that can expose you as the killer.
  
• Hurting or killing the helpless (pets, children, cripples) is heinous, but something that a player might do (willingly, forcibly or by acciedent). In these cases your character should become frantic with grief unless below 4 in Sanity (unless you are the killer, in which case you should at least fake it a bit =p).
  
• Don't fall into the trap of cliché. Leave the liver and fava-bean in the fridge and smash that chianti against a rock.
  
• Spooking others is fine, scaring even better, but don't overdo it.
  
• Too much murder and gore will only be goofy. Watch Evil Dead on your own time.
  
• Don't worry about the Sanity-points, once the game is over your character is sane again.
  

Character Sanity
Every player starts out with 10 Sanity (except the killer) which will the lowered accordingly by certain situations:

Situation - Sanity Loss
Seeing a murder scene - 1
Seeing a horrifying murder scene - 2
Witnessing the murder - 3
Being forced to commit heinous act - 4
Killing an innocent - 5

Here are some guideline to the change in personality (CIS) according to Sanity Level.

Sanity - CIS
10 - No change
9 - Suffers a minor breakdown (crying, naucea) every now and then
8 - "This might happen to me..."
7 - Panic (crying loudly, vomiting, irrational thought-process)
6 - Becoming colder, a normal murder scene have no effect anymore
5 - Paranoia sets in
4 - Severe paranoia, violent outbursts
3 - Suicidal thoughts, extreme paranoia and isolation
2 - "Must survive, whatever the cost!", seeing horrifying murder scene have no effect anymore
1 - Catatonic, feral when cornered
0 - "I... must... want to... kill them all!"


And that is my short essay on Sanity. As usual I will answer any questions you post or send me. Next time I'll give you some tips on inspirational fiction



//Thrilby, Administrator