Page 286 - Chronicles of Darkness

Effect: The character can’t take any actions until the Tilt
INSANE is resolved. He can apply Defense to incoming attacks, and
if he takes any damage from an attack, he’s knocked free of
whatever fogged his brain.
Personal Causing the Tilt: Several supernatural powers can leave
Description: The character suffers from a panic attack, their victim in a trance-like state of heightened emotion,
sudden imbalance, or a full-on psychotic break. Her pulse whether a vampire’s mind-affecting tricks, or the pants-
races, her mind cannot focus on what she wants. The world’s shitting terror of witnessing a werewolf take on an inhuman
an unstable place, and she’s unable to keep her balance. form. A truly heroic amount of alcohol or a hallucinogenic
Effect: Someone suffering a psychotic break isn’t the sort drug might have similar effects; administering such a drug is
of person to go down without a fight. Her stated intent might a Dexterity + Weaponry attack, which suffers a -1 modifier
be irrational or just plain impossible, and she might have fewer for the improvised weapon.
ethical problems with using extreme violence to get what she Ending the Tilt: The Tilt wears off at the end of the scene.
wants. The character gains a +1 bonus to all combat rolls, but The victim can spend a point of Willpower before then to
takes actions after everyone else (if two characters suffer from the act normally for one turn. A successful attack will also end
Insane Tilt, both act after everyone else but compare Initiative the Tilt. If a character has been knocked insensible by drugs,
as normal). A character suffering from this Tilt cannot spend then when this Tilt ends it is replaced with the Drugged Tilt.
Willpower in combat, and suffers a -3 penalty to all Social rolls.
Causing the Tilt: Faced with extraordinary circumstances, KNOCKED DOWN
any character with an appropriate Condition may acquire
the Insane Tilt. The Storyteller can call for a Resolve +
Composure roll to resist a general anxiety that gnaws at the Personal
character’s mind; if the character fails, he gains the Tilt. If Description: Something knocks the character to the
the character witnesses something truly horrific — a daughter floor, either toppling her with a powerful blow to the chest
watches her father walk to the end of the garden and shoot or taking one of her legs out from under her.
himself in the head, smiling all the while; a man stumbles Effect: The character is knocked off her feet. If she hasn’t
into the wrong office at work and sees his coworkers feasting already acted this turn, she loses her action. Once she’s on
on the intern’s organs; a solder sees her unit gunned down the ground, a character is considered prone. The character
by a sniper while she can do nothing — the Storyteller can can still apply Defense against incoming attacks, and can
rule that the Tilt is unavoidable. attempt to attack from the ground at a -2 penalty.
A character can work to inspire another character’s mad- Causing the Tilt: A melee weapon with a damage modi-
ness in order to cause this Tilt. She could orchestrate events fier of +2 or greater, or a firearm with a damage modifier of
that she hopes will provoke a psychotic break, but that’s +3 or more can be used to knock a character down with the
amateur hour. A professional swaps out her victim’s meds, force of the blow. Alternatively, a melee weapon or unarmed
giving stimulants just as his bipolar cycle ticks into mania, or attack can knock an opponent down with a targeted attack
dosing a paranoid schizophrenic with hallucinogenic drugs. against the legs (-2 modifier). The attacker declares that he
Some supernatural creatures possess mind-affecting pow- wants to knock his opponent down, and halves the total
ers that can apply this Tilt, even to characters who do not damage done (rounding down). On a successful attack, the
have an appropriate Condition. target is knocked down.
Ending the Tilt: The specific effects of this Tilt don’t Ending the Tilt: The easiest way to end this Tilt is to
normally last beyond the end of the scene. A character can stand up, which takes an action. A character who hasn’t
try to force her mind to a state of balance, but it’s not easy. yet acted can make a Dexterity + Athletics roll, minus any
She must sit and focus on blocking out the craziness. She rolls weapon modifier, instead of her normal action. If successful,
Resolve + Composure as an instant action, contested by a dice she avoids the effects of this Tilt altogether. On a failure, she
pool of (10 - her Willpower). She can’t take any other actions falls over and the Tilt applies as normal.
that turn, and doesn’t apply Defense against any attacks.
LEG WRACK
INSENSATE

Personal
Personal Description: Your leg feels like it’s going to snap clean off
Description: The character shuts down, either due to whenever you move; when you stop moving you feel a burning
extreme fear or sudden pleasure. He may huddle in a corner, numbness that encourages you to avoid action.
cringe away from sudden noises, or stare into space as waves Effect: If your leg is broken, sprained, or dislocated,
of pleasure lap over him. halve your Speed and suffer a -2 penalty on Physical rolls
that require movement (and Defense). If both of your legs are

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