Changelings Should be Exempt from Brainwashing and Zombie Directives
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 7:21 pm
I would like to apologize in advance for tearing a hole in the nice and simple flowchart we currently have.
Flavorwise, it makes sense that changelings would be exempt from these directives. They are biological monsters that should have the ability to manipulate their own body with ease. They already can’t be borged and don’t need a brain, so these directives are being applied to a brain that isn’t actually being used.
Mechanically, changelings have multiple methods to immediately cure themselves of both conditions while also being inherent to and built into their status as a changeling, and it feels really weird for them to be unable to use any of them. Anatomic panacea cures traumas (curing the brainwashing) and causes them to spit out the tumor (curing the zombification). Alternatively they can use last resort to become a headslug. Those aren’t available? You can just cut your head off. You don’t need a head to live as a changeling, so decapitation doesn’t kill you but does remove any brain or tumor.
I believe changelings should be free to ignore those antag directives if they wish - They're already antagonists so it's not like this deprives them of options. They still have the freedom to follow them for the hell of it, they just aren't obligated to do so. Aside from these two directives (And I guess maybe obsession, even though that's not really relevant) nothing is changed, and changelings are still obligated to follow higher directives such as revs or cult.
Flavorwise, it makes sense that changelings would be exempt from these directives. They are biological monsters that should have the ability to manipulate their own body with ease. They already can’t be borged and don’t need a brain, so these directives are being applied to a brain that isn’t actually being used.
Mechanically, changelings have multiple methods to immediately cure themselves of both conditions while also being inherent to and built into their status as a changeling, and it feels really weird for them to be unable to use any of them. Anatomic panacea cures traumas (curing the brainwashing) and causes them to spit out the tumor (curing the zombification). Alternatively they can use last resort to become a headslug. Those aren’t available? You can just cut your head off. You don’t need a head to live as a changeling, so decapitation doesn’t kill you but does remove any brain or tumor.
I believe changelings should be free to ignore those antag directives if they wish - They're already antagonists so it's not like this deprives them of options. They still have the freedom to follow them for the hell of it, they just aren't obligated to do so. Aside from these two directives (And I guess maybe obsession, even though that's not really relevant) nothing is changed, and changelings are still obligated to follow higher directives such as revs or cult.