Possession Rule Modifiers.

[twingle93]

Some modifiers to add to the existing possession rules found in Rifts Conversion Book and Dragons and Gods.

The Act of Possession

A supernatural being is only capable of possessing another living creature when it is in energy form or a psychic energy extension of itself is made (essence fragment) and is adjacent to the victim. Monsters with the ability to possess can try to do so as often as once per melee round.

A possession attempt is an instantaneous battle of wills. Like all combat in the Palladium system, a 20-sided die is rolled by the possessing entity. This is the attack strike of the attacker. The defender, who is the intended victim, gets to roll for a mental block or parry. Again, a 20-sided die is rolled. The high roll wins, the low roll loses, defenders always wins ties. Many characters will have a bonus to save vs possession, giving them an edge in defending against the mental onslaught. If the defender's roll (plus bonuses to save vs possession) is lower than the attacker's roll, the character has failed to defend against the possession attack and is immediately possessed.

Possession Modifiers (all modifiers are cumulative):

Bonuses:
+6 The target of a possession is in a magical circle of protection or otherwise has a supernatural immunity to possession.
+5 The target of a possession is currently within a sanctuary, sacred place that is believed to provide provide protection or is otherwise dramatically opposed to the possessing entity.
+5 The target of possession is extraordinarily strong-willed.
+4 Character has been previously possessed in the past, and successfully fought it off.
+4 The character or ally possesses a weapon, form of magic or bit of lore that has demonstrated to be useful against possession.
+3 The target of a possession knows that if he becomes possessed, he will become a danger to his loved ones.
+3 The target of a possession is surrounded by strong-willed allies who are skilled in defeating possession or knowledgeable about the subject.
+2 The target of a possession knows that if he becomes possessed, he will become a danger to his allies.
+2 Character has been warned that he might become a target of possession.
+2 Character is the opposite alignment as the possessing entity (i.e the entity is evil, and the person is good).
+2 The character is surrounded by friends or allies.
+1 The character is not alone.

Penalties:
-6 The target of a possession is in a coma, catatonic, or brain-dead (i.e an empty shell).
-5 The target of a possession is a genuine willing worshiper, servant or ally to the entity.
-5 The target of a possession is holding or otherwise in direct contact with the entity's former host (person, place or object), and making direct eye contact with it or ingested or been infected by some magical pathogen designed to induce possession in the target.
-4 The target of a possession is standing directly within the center of the entity's place of power, the place where the entity is present and at its strongest (altar, throne room) or where it has been imprisoned.
-4 The target of a possession is extremely weak-willed, has low self-esteem, is clinically depressed, suicidal, or otherwise mentally unbalanced with more than three different insanities.
-4 The target has a phobia of being possessed, or is deathly afraid of possessing entities such as ghosts or demons, and is now being confronted with the prospect of possession.
-4 The character has been in possession of a magic item, bit of lore believed to be sacred to the entity and through which the entity may channel its power, and has repeatedly touched, looked at, examined or otherwise been in frequent contact with it for at least the last 24 hours.
-3 The target of a possession has been offered something valuable by the entity and has been successfully tempted by its promises (not necessarily accepting, but is fascinated and is considering it).
-3 The target of a possession has just seen some especially impressive or horrifying manifestation of the entity and has failed to save vs its awe/horror factor.
-3 The target of a possession is a child.
-3.The target of a possession attempt was in the middle of committing an evil act (murder, rape, desecration) or is an unhallowed or desecrated area and has been calling attention to himself.
-2 The character has recently failed a save vs horror factor within the past 24 hour or in general is frightened or jumpy due to recent events.
-2. The target of a possession attempt is the same general alignment as the possessing entity (I.e both the entity and the person is evil).
-2. The target of a possession has a minor insanity.
-2. The character is distracted, asleep, dazed or hypnotized.
-1. The target of a possession is alone.
-1. The target of a possession attempt is a (non-combatant) woman.
-1 The target has been surprised attacked or otherwise hasn't been forewarned that he might be possessed or that the entity exists.
-1. The target of possession has just seen a minor manifestation of the entity's presence, and while may be surprised, has not failed to save vs its awe/horror factor.

Various. The character is lacking sleep or is exhausted. -1 if the character has gone 12-18 hours without sleep, -2 having gone without 24-36 hours; -3 having gone 48-72 hours without sleep, and -4 having gone 80 hours or longer without sleep.

Various. The character is seriously wounded, tortured or ill: When a character’s Hit Points are down by 50% or more, concentration is difficult (feels weak, tired in pain, etc) and the pain and fatigue are distracting -3 to save vs possession. The penalty worsens to -4 when the character has less than 25% of his Hit Points. Illness, especially fever, can cause similar penalties. Debilitating illness will usually indicate skill penalties ranging from -2 to -4 to save vs possession.

-Various. The target of a possession has been repeatedly the subject of various rituals, drugs, spells or other actions to render him vulnerable to possession over a long duration of time (-3 days, -4 weeks, -5 months, -6 years or since birth). In the alternative, the target has been subjected repeatedly to spells by the entity designed to control their will, and failed to save against them (-1 for each time that this has happened in the last 72 hours).

A successful possession means the creature has inhabited the body of the person (or animal) and completely dominates that body.