I'm considering making a video essay series on madness in ttrpgs, and I have a bunch of games to look at, but I was wondering if there were any I've missed - I'm particularly interested in any pre-Call of Cthulhu examples, if they exist. So, anyone know of some interesting madness in games? - ThreadSky

hdithmer.bsky.social • 34 days ago

I'm considering making a video essay series on madness in ttrpgs, and I have a bunch of games to look at, but I was wondering if there were any I've missed - I'm particularly interested in any pre-Call of Cthulhu examples, if they exist.

So, anyone know of some interesting madness in games?

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stan-fresh.bsky.social•34 days ago

Vampire: the Masqurade, which lets you play different types of vampires, has the Malkavians as one of them. The specifics vary with many editions the game has had, but they're basically vampires who have a mental illness, and also sometimes get mystic insights from a psychic network of madness.

stan-fresh.bsky.social•34 days ago

One of the core elements of Unknown Armies are the sanity meters, which chronicle your exposure and response to various trauma: violence, the unnatural, etc.

stan-fresh.bsky.social•34 days ago

Mage: the Ascension has one minor adversary faction called the Marauders, who are basically mad wizards linked to a cosmic entity of change and, well, madness.

guyintheblackhat.bsky.social•34 days ago

I would argue that "morale," a vital component of early D&D combat, is one of our initial barometers of mental health in TTRPGs. Its role in combat notably diminishes starting already with AD&D in the 1980s.

paperanddice.bsky.social•34 days ago

Don't Rest Your Head uses madness as one of three main resources, representing moving further from mundane reality. You can add up to 6 madness dice to any action, but if madness rolls highest you succumb to fear and lose control temporarily. Lose control too many times, and you become a monster.

mapcrow.bsky.social•34 days ago

I would love to watch videos from you!!

hdithmer.bsky.social•34 days ago

I've made one video so far, but I definitely want to make some a bit more regularly

https://youtu.be/nxQzrkKbDa4?si=3nnFU5am_iUq9K-V

mapcrow.bsky.social•34 days ago

Oh heck yeah!! So glad there is already one to watch!!

mapcrow.bsky.social•34 days ago

If you squint, you might propose that madness has its mechanical roots in spells effecting agency, like geas, charm, and terror. It’s a mechanical invitation (if not demand) to make characters behave in ways that unaltered roleplay might ignore for the sake of victory and optimization.

stan-fresh.bsky.social•34 days ago

Might be interesting to compare more goal-oriented games (kill everything in this dungeon) with more vibes-based games (woe is me, for I am a monster with cool powers) in that regard.

floaker.bsky.social•34 days ago

Games I'd look to on things effecting your perception of events:

Don't Rest Your Head
Lacuna pt1
Blades in the Dark
Dread
Unknown Armies

floaker.bsky.social•34 days ago

* Affecting

stopthatadam.bsky.social•34 days ago

Palladium Fantasy
Amazing Adventures

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