Horror, Fear, and Games

[Steveman]

BESM (a system I know VERY well) calls it psyche
Ego has a tradition within dungeon fantasy for being the strength of one's character to fend off mental influence (or to influence others)
Sanity will work if you want to push for a Call of Cthulhu feel.
I prefer Humanity, if only for my time with Cyberpunk. It probably wouldn't fit because of, you know, nonhuman races.

[MedievalMan]

Will would probably work out pretty well as a name.

[SmootRK]

Will would probably work out pretty well as a name.

I am still on Sanity SAN. We are talking about horror elements.

But another good name would be Psyche PSY... which might have some value later adapting some sort of Psionic effects or rules to some games. Psyche Ability check initiates a mental power, takes Psyche Damage maintaining the power or initiating power again... gets harder to pull off over time until a rest period can renew PSY. Any character might have a Psioinic power, but only those with reasonable PSY scores will be very successful with it. Certain monsters/magics/powers might be able to damage PSY directly.

So, the new Ability Score can be used for either or both mechanics.

But, if you are just wanting the Horror Angle, I would still go with Sanity SAN... I think it sounds and feels right for Horror. If you are going the psionic route, or a combination of ideas using a Mental Strength, then perhaps PSY Psyche (or one of the other ideas mentioned above) would be a better choice.

[MedievalMan]

Alright SAN it is then.

As an aside I am going to write-up a haunted house using one of two maps I have. Anyone have any suggestions for rooms or creepy happenings? I am trying to avoid a combat heavy adventure in favor of a more mystery/exploration style.

[MedievalMan]

Alright so work progresses on Saffron House, but I have run into a bit of a snag, and its a big one.

How the heck do you get the characters inside? And keep them inside without resorting to such lovable (IE tired) gimmicks as "the doors won't open" and "the windows can't be broken".

[Dimirag]

1.1-Mystery invitation.
1.2-They where lured there with promises of adventure and money/treasure (the house owner wants to contract the group for some expedition/adventure)
1.3-They need rest and its the only place with vacant rooms.
1.4-They are persecuting a thief (who probably stole something from a PC).
1.5-Searching for a missing relative/friend/etc

2.1-The door/window opens/can be destroyed but when cross it they appear at another room or the same room but empty (with windows/doors fully repaired), or they end on a desert-like place with gigantic worms (Beetlegeuse)...

[MedievalMan]

I actually came up with a way to get them inside and keep them inside. Tell me how this sounds. The PC's are traveling through a forested area when they are attacked by a strange figure clad in red, which conceals his features. After a few rounds of combat it evident that they can't hurt him and smartly flee. He chases them deeper into the woods where they come upon the house and enter (hopefully, weak point). Once inside they realize that the figure in red won't approach within 100 yards of the house and watches them from the tree-line attacking them if they try to flee.

Sort of ham-fisted but I like the mental image of the PC's peering out the window and seeing this guy just watching them from just beyond the edge of the woods. Its creepy, at least to me.

[Dimirag]

Sounds like Sleepy Hollow when the town's inside the church and the rider awaits outside...
Could work, just try to cover every corner...
If the house has a garden probably the PC will stand there, and if something "bad" happens inside the house they'll probably spent a great time outside the house but inside the "safe range" from the red warrior

[MedievalMan]

True, need a better more subtle way to get them inside. I like the idea of them seeking shelter. Maybe an incredibly violent dangerous storm blows up? Or thick fog "leads" the PC's to the house?

In the setting where the house appears (at least in passing) its located in a nasty swamp and people are drawn to it when they become lost in the fen.

[MedievalMan]

3:04 Whew alright ground floor is done. Only the 2nd floor, 3rd floor and basement left to do!

EDIT

4:52 Second floor completed, mentally exhausted. Saffron House has a very complex design to try and replicate.

EDIT

6:50 Have remained the structure to Sunset House and have begun to develop a few personalities to inhabit it.

EDIT

7:32 Have begun third floor and will start basement level soon. Things going smoothly. Behind the walls it creeps and crawls...

EDIT

8:34 Sunset House is complete.

EDIT

This thing scared the hell out of me as a kid. Still scares me to this day. Good inspiration though.