Samloyal23
Adventurer
Looking at the rules for drugs in BOVD and thinking they could be adapted to other types of afflictions like shopping, gambling, or sex addictions. How would you modify the rules for addictive activities instead of substances?
Non-Drug Addictions?
- Thread starter Samloyal23
- Start date
Samloyal23
Adventurer
No comments? I think a character could get addicted to fighting, adventuring, gambling, or other risky activities and end up having crunchable consequences to suffer through.
Herobizkit
Adventurer
Considering that drugs is a chemical dependence and the latter are psychological (compulsive behaviors), there should (?) already be rules for minor/major forms of insanity in BOVD.
If not, crib your Insanity chart of choice and start doing some Will saves, or maybe even treat them like a minor curse or charm effect.
If not, crib your Insanity chart of choice and start doing some Will saves, or maybe even treat them like a minor curse or charm effect.
Samloyal23
Adventurer
I am thinking an addiction to an activity would be like a drug addiction that damages Wisdom. I am just not sure about DCs and other side effects.
nijineko
Explorer
pyschological addictions DO have a chemical component... your own brain's production of hormones and other neuro-chemicals.
For example: exposure to pornography and other sexually addictive activities cause severe spikes in dopamine and a few other neuro-chemicals, which deal with, among other things, the brain's reward mechanic for social interactions. The feeling of friendship and the feelings of closeness to the one that is loved are all sub-functions of this. Repeated exposure to the extreme spikes causes the brain to reset its homeostasis for those chemicals to a higher level, or in other words, develop perceived need for constant elevated levels thereof, and a resistance to said neuro-chemicals, which increases the more often exposure takes place. As a result, normal social interactions, and even the normally more powerful interactions between lovers, no longer feel rewarding - there is a sensation of disconnect that grows and increases the more exposure to the spikes occur. This in turn generally results in the afflicted individual seeking out different and stronger sources of stimulus, as well as feeling isolated from those with whom they previously associated and those around them in general. It also tends to cause those who don't provide direct or indirect stimulus to be perceived as unimportant, meaningless, and inconsequential to the one so afflicted. One's own brain manufactures the drug of choice, all one has to do is find something increasingly stimulating to look at, touch, or do.
(this is a minimal, cut-down example - lots of details have been left out.)
For example: exposure to pornography and other sexually addictive activities cause severe spikes in dopamine and a few other neuro-chemicals, which deal with, among other things, the brain's reward mechanic for social interactions. The feeling of friendship and the feelings of closeness to the one that is loved are all sub-functions of this. Repeated exposure to the extreme spikes causes the brain to reset its homeostasis for those chemicals to a higher level, or in other words, develop perceived need for constant elevated levels thereof, and a resistance to said neuro-chemicals, which increases the more often exposure takes place. As a result, normal social interactions, and even the normally more powerful interactions between lovers, no longer feel rewarding - there is a sensation of disconnect that grows and increases the more exposure to the spikes occur. This in turn generally results in the afflicted individual seeking out different and stronger sources of stimulus, as well as feeling isolated from those with whom they previously associated and those around them in general. It also tends to cause those who don't provide direct or indirect stimulus to be perceived as unimportant, meaningless, and inconsequential to the one so afflicted. One's own brain manufactures the drug of choice, all one has to do is find something increasingly stimulating to look at, touch, or do.
(this is a minimal, cut-down example - lots of details have been left out.)
Last edited:
Samloyal23
Adventurer
Developing my ideas...
A casino owner has studied gambling addiction and tries to intentionally induce it.
A seductress has developed a sexual technique that is addictive, her lovers who succumb to it will try to have sex even if it kills them.
A daredevil finds taking risks addictive and must resist the urge to take certain types of risks even if it is in the middle of combat or other tense situations.
What checks would apply and how would you set the DCs for these situations?
A casino owner has studied gambling addiction and tries to intentionally induce it.
A seductress has developed a sexual technique that is addictive, her lovers who succumb to it will try to have sex even if it kills them.
A daredevil finds taking risks addictive and must resist the urge to take certain types of risks even if it is in the middle of combat or other tense situations.
What checks would apply and how would you set the DCs for these situations?
Herobizkit
Adventurer
I'd look to other games for examples.
Take GURPS, fr'ex. They have a whole list of Compulsive addictions (Carousing, Gambling, Generosity, Lying, Spending, Vowing, Debating) and in most cases, the player has to made an average to hard Will roll to avoid the behavior when presented the possibility.
I'd still treat it the same way that BOVD treats insanity... or check this link here.
Take GURPS, fr'ex. They have a whole list of Compulsive addictions (Carousing, Gambling, Generosity, Lying, Spending, Vowing, Debating) and in most cases, the player has to made an average to hard Will roll to avoid the behavior when presented the possibility.
I'd still treat it the same way that BOVD treats insanity... or check this link here.
Similar Threads
