Emotional Metamorphosis for third edition

In this post I’m gonna present my ideas for adapting the Emotional Metamorphoses mechanics from Chronicle of the Awakenings (p56-8) to the d20 system in Nephilim: Revelation, with some ideas taken from Ex Oculis.

In the NR core rules

In NR, Metamorphosis Transformations are noted with adverbs from Not (1) to Very (5) like other Characteristics. The associated adjective is Hidden: Not Hidden to Very Hidden. Mortals who encounter the Nephilim test their Solar-Ka against Hidden on the Universal Resolution Table (hereafter URT) to glimpse the Metamorphosis. 

These Characteristics have associated “bullets”, a line of 10 per level.  When the Characteristic overflows with "bullets," then any these are erased and Hidden increases by a level. When the line is empty and loses "bullets", then the Hidden decreases by a level. The characters gains bullets for acting against his elemental nature, thus becoming more Hidden, and loses bullets for acting in accordance with his elemental nature, thus becoming less Hidden.

The baseline average values of the Metamorphosis Transformations are based on the Nephilim's Initiated (Dominant Ka) level and "bullets" (Not Initiated = Very Hidden, Little Initiated = Hidden, Enough Initiated = Enough Hidden, Initiated = Little Hidden, Very Initiated = Not Hidden). If Dominant Ka increases, then so do all the Transformations. At character creation the player may swap one level between a pair of Transformations, up to twice total as there are only two possible pairs. 

Example: If the Nephilim is Enough Initiated, then all his Transformations start at Enough Hidden. The player may swap one level between one pair to start at Hidden, Enough, Enough, Enough and Little. The player may swap another level between the remaining pair to start at Hidden, Hidden, Enough, Little and Little.

By default the Transformations are purely cosmetic, but I previously shared some official and house rules for that.

Adapting Personality Traits

Initially I considered adapting Emotional Metamorphoses by pairing the Personality Traits (hereafter referred to as "Passions") inversely with the corresponding Hidden Characteristics, but in retrospect that sounds pretty complicated. Now I'd probably take a page from 5e and assign the characters a single Hidden Characteristic or Occult Curiosity Potential to abstract all that away. 

Passions I would keep as roleplaying aids for the players. These are rated from Not Emotional to Very Emotional, with "bullets" gained or lost based on how the player roleplays the character. The character gains "bullets" for acting in accordance with the Passions, but loses "bullets" for acting against it. The number of "bullets" gained or lost varies based on the severity of the action.

Passions interact with the Nephilim's Degenerations too (inspired by this house rule). A Nephilim who performs a magical action (i.e. an Initiated test) in opposition to a Passion gains Khaiba "bullets" equal to the Passion "bullets" lost. A Nephilim who performs a mundane action (i.e. a physical or social Characteristic test) in opposition to a Passion gains Shouit "bullets" equal to the Passion "bullets" lost. Suppressing the metamorphosis to appear mundane can inflict Khaiba and/or Shouit, reflecting the gradual dissociation between the solar and elemental natures.

The associated Transformations are Ka-constructs, but may be physically expressed. These may be utilized in the following ways:

  • Approaches: The Nephilim may use their Passion to boost a relevant action, just like any other Approach. This applies a circumstantial bonus to the d20 roll’s target number, equal to the current Emotional level (+1 at Not, +2 at Low, +3 at Enough, +4 at “…”, +5 at Very). This may be applied to both mundane and magical actions. However, at that moment the Transformation is Not Hidden. 
  • Physical Effects: Certain transformations have distinct game effects at the Very Emotional level, typically two per Metamorphosis archetype. An Angel grows wings, a Snake grows venomous fangs, a Jinn becomes a living flamethrower, etc. These are treated like Maneuvers or Spells, not bonuses. I leave the details up to the GM for now.
  • Directing: Once per Passion per incarnation, the player may note situations in which the Passion strongly applies. When directed towards such, the Passion is considered one level higher. This may temporarily grant the use of game effects if raised to the Very Emotional level. Once chosen, a Direction is fixed until reincarnation.
  • Fulfilling: When the Nephilim encounters a scene in which their Passion is especially appropriate, then they may extend the duration of the Approach to apply to all relevant actions taken until the scene ends. The Nephilim is ruled by that emotion for the scene and may act against other Passions without deducting "bullets." Only one Passion may be fulfilled at a time.

If the group desires, then Passions have another drawback:

  • Resisting the Urge: If the Nephilim suppresses a Passion in a situation where it strongly applies, the GM may ask the player to confront the character's Solar-Ka against the Passion. On a Success, the Nephilim behaves as he pleases. On a Failure, the Nephilim caves and acts according to that emotion. The GM should be prudent in asking this, and it should never be used to micromanage or interfere with fun.

Ka Level and Personality Traits

As noted earlier, the average Personality Trait level is generally equal to the Nephilim's Ka level. When Ka increases, in level or "bullets", so too does the average Personality Trait. 

While you do gain AP (Agartha Points, or occult XP) for roleplaying your metamorphosis, it seems a bit odd to me that the Personality Traits will passively increase along with Ka level. If desired, then the GM may rule that the player cannot raise the PC's Ka level beyond the current average of the Personality Traits based on roleplaying. In order to increase their Initiation into the mysteries, the Nephilim must not only understand occult knowledge but also their own elemental passions.

Visibility of Metamorphoses

In my campaigns, the Transformations are spiritual in nature rather than material but still have physical effects. While muggles can glimpse Transformations, they won't understand what they're perceiving and will interpret it as something mundane like perfume, disease, etc. Transformations don't appear in recordings unless special occult equipment is used; such is normally only constructed and deployed by the Chariot and some secret societies. Particularly extreme mismatches may result in low quality recordings of cryptids and UFOs by even mundane equipment, but never any evidence that definitively proves the paranormal. 

The High Priestess, the Chariot and the Tower all debate over what is responsible for this "Veil of Maya" that conceals Ka from the masses. The Tower claims it is their creation through a millennia-long misinformation campaign to manipulate the collective unconscious, convincing the muggle masses to ignore evidence of real magic for the protection of the Nephilim. The Chariot points out flaws in this explanation, so nobody knows for sure what the truth is.

And those are my ideas so far. I'll probably adjust these in the future...

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