Insanity

Dipsomania: This mild insanity form manifests itself periodically. About once per week, or whenever near large quantities of alcoholic beverages, the afflicted will begin drinking excessive quantities of ale, beer, wine, or like spirituous liquors. Such drinking will continue until the character passes out. It is 50% likely that the dipsomania will continue when he or she awakens if anywhere near alcohol, 10% likely otherwise (in which case the individual will seek to find drink and become violent if denied).

Kleptomania: This is another mild insanity form which manifests itself in an ardent desire, in this case an uncontrollable urge to steal any small object available. The afflicted will furtively pocket small items, regardless of their worth, whenever the opportunity presents itself, and he or she will usually seek out such opportunities. There is a 90% probability of being seen stealing if the character is being observed. This desire to take things is absolutely uncontrollable, and the individual will lie to avoid being prevented the opportunity, or when caught. Kleptomaniac thieves or assassins have a -10% on their stealing ability due to the overpowering urge to immediately steal an item.

Schizoid: This rather mild insanity form manifests its effects in a personality loss. The afflicted has no personality of his or her own, so he or she will select a role model and make every attempt possible to become like that character. Selection will be based upon as different a person as is possible with regard to the insane character. Thus an insane magic-user will begin to follow the habits of a fighter, for example, dressing and speaking like that character and seeking to be like him or her in all ways.

Pathological Liar: This form of insanity is evident after conversing with the individual for o short period of time. The afflicted character will begin making outrageous statements regarding his or her abilities, possessions, experiences, or events. Whenever anything important or meaningful is discussed or in question, the afflicted can not tell the truth, and not only will he or she lie, but do so with the utmost conviction, absolutely convinced that the prevarication is truth.

Monomania: This character will seem absolutely normal until presented with an idea, goal, or similar project which seems promising or purposeful to him or her. As of then, the character will become obsessed with the accomplishment of the purpose. He or she will think of nothing else, talk of nothing else, plan and act to accomplish nothing save the fixed end. The monomaniac will brook no swerving from any friend or associate, and he or she will insist that such individuals serve the “cause” with the same devotion that the afflicted character shows. (Hostility and violence could result, and certainly not a little suspicion and mistrust if co-operation is not heartfelt. . . ) Once the desired end has been accomplished, the insane character will manifest symptoms of dementia praecox (6., below) until a new purpose is found.

Dementia Praecox: The afflicted character will be quite uninterested in any undertaking when suffering from this form of madness. Nothing will seem worthwhile, and the individual will be continually filled with lassitude and a tremendous feeling of ennui. No matter how important the situation, it is 25% probable that the afflicted will choose to ignore it as meaningless to him or her.

Melancholia: Similar to dementia praecox, this malady makes the afflicted given to black moods, fits of brooding, and feelings of hopelessness. The afflicted will be 50% likely to ignore any given situation due to a fit of melancholia coming upon him or her.

Megalomania: With this condition, the insane character will be absolutely convinced that he or she is the best at everything the smartest, wisest, strongest, fastest, handsomest, and most powerful character of his or her profession. The afflicted will take immediate umbrage at any suggestion to the contrary, and he or she will demand the right to lead, perform any important act, make all decisions, etc. (This one is VERY dangerous.)

Delusional Insanity: Similar to megalomania, in this state the deluded will be convinced that he or she is a famous figure a monarch, demi-god, or similar personage. Those who “fail” to recognize the afflicted as such will incur great hostility. In normal affairs, this individual will seem quite sane, but the afflicted will act appropriate to a station which he or she does not actually have and tend to order around actual and imaginary creatures, draw upon monies and items which do not exist, and so on.

Schizophrenia: This form of insanity has the well-known “split personality” trait. From 1 to 4 separate and distinct personalities can exist in the afflicted - base the number upon the severity of the insanity. Likewise, the difference from one personality to the next should reflect the severity of the affliction. Each ”new” personality will be different in alignment, goals, and preferences. (A very severe case might have a different class also but without coincidental possession, the new personality emerging will not have the actual abilities he or she may think that he or she possesses.) The onset of schizophrenia is random, 1-in-6 per day, with a like chance of a new (or return to the old) personality emerging. However, whenever a stress situation - decision, attack, etc. - arises, the 1-in-6 chance of schizophrenia striking must be checked every round in which the stress continues.

Mania: Somewhat like schizophrenia, this form of insanity strikes suddenly (1-in-6 chance per turn, lasts 2-12 turns, then 1-in-6 chance per turn of return to normalcy) and violently. The afflicted will become hysterical, enraged, or completely maniacal (d6 for determination, equal chances). The insane character will shriek, rave, and behave in a violent manner, possessing an 18/50, 18/75, or 18/00 Strength according to the state he or she is in. (Note that a female can possess 18/00 Strength when afflicted, as can non-human races otherwise limited to lesser Strengths.) The maniac is unreasoning when spoken to, but he or she will possess great cunning. The afflicted will desire to avoid or to do something according, but not necessarily appropriate, to the situation at hand. When the maniacal state passes, the afflicted will not remember his or her insane actions and will not believe that he or she is insane.

Lunacy: This violent and often homicidal state occurs whenever the moon is full, or nearly full. The afflicted character will generally behave as one in a maniacal state, with paranoid (q.v.), hallucinatory (q.v.), or homicidal (q.v.) tendencies. When the moon is absent or in its first or last quarters, the afflicted will be melancholic. At other times, he or she will be relatively normal - perhaps a bit suspicious and irascible.

Paranoia: At the onset of this derangement, the afflicted becomes convinced that “they” are plotting against him or her, spying, listening, and always nearby. As the affliction develops over several days, the insane character will become convinced that everyone around is part of this plot. Conversations are about him or her, laughter is directed at him or her, and every action of former friends is aimed at deluding him or her so as to fulfill the “plot”. The paranoid will be principally concerned about position or goods first, but as the insanity advances, he or she will “realize” that the plotters are actually after his or her life. The paranoid will evidence signs of increasing suspicion, toke elaborate precautions with locks, guards, devices, and food and drink. In the later stages of the affliction, he or she will evidence highly irrational behavior, hire assassins to do away with “plotters”, and even become homicidal in order to “protect” his or her life. Paranoids will trust absolutely no one when the affliction has advanced, regarding their former close associates and friends as their worst enemies.

Manic—Depressive: This alternating insanity form causes the afflicted to swing from one state to the other in 1 to 4 day intervals. When excited, the afflicted is 90% likely to become maniacal (11., above), and, when disappointed or frustrated, is 90% likely to become highly melancholic. Thus, in addition to the usual 1 to 4 day cycle of mania-depression,  he or she can jump from one state to the other depending on outside stimuli.

Hallucinatory Insanity: This form of malady causes the afflicted to see, hear, and otherwise sense things which do not exist. The more exciting or stressful the situation, the more likely the individual is to hallucinate. Common delusions are: ordinary objects which do not exist, people nearby or passing when there are none, voices giving the afflicted information or instructions, abilities or form which the character does not really have (strength, sex, wings, etc.), threatening creatures appearing from nowhere, etc. It is 50% likely that the insane individual will behave normally until stimulated or under stress. Hallucinations will then commence and continue for 1 to 20 turns after the excitement/stress passes.

Sado—Masochism: This form of insanity is coupled with maniacal urges and behavior. The afflicted individual is equally likely to be in a sadistic or masochistic phase. In the former, he or she will have an obsessive desire to inflict pain (and probably death) upon any living thing encountered. However, after so doing, the insane character will return to a relatively normal state for 1 to 3 days. likewise, when in a masochistic state the afflicted individual will have an overwhelming urge to be hurt and will act accordingly. After so doing, normalcy returns for 1 to 3 days. Note that friends and associates do not matter to the afflicted individual, nor do enemies.

Homicidal Mania: The individual afflicted with this form of insanity appears absolutely normal. He or she will behave with what seems to be complete rationality, and nothing unusual will be noted regarding the individual - except that he or she will occasionally manifest an unique interest in weapons, poisons, and other lethal devices. The insanity form causes the afflicted to be obsessed with the desire to kill. This desire must be fulfilled periodically - 1 to 4 day intervals. The victim must be human (or of the same race as the character if nonhuman). If prevented from killing, the frustrated individual will become uncontrollably maniacal and attack the first person he or she encounters, wildly seeking to slay. After such an occurrence, however, the afflicted will fall into a fit of melancholia for 1-6 days before returning to a homicidal state once again.

Hebephrenia: When afflicted by this form of insanity, the character will evidence a withdrawal from the real world. He or she will wander aimlessly, talk to himself or herself, giggle and mutter, and act childishly - sometimes even reverting to such a state as to desire to play childish games with others. This insanity is constant, but if sufficiently irritated by someone nearby, the afflicted is 75% likely to become enraged and maniacal, attacking the offender fiercely. If the insane individual does not become so enraged, he or she will become catatonic for 1-6 hours and then revert to hebephrenic behavior once again.

Suicidal Mania: This form of insanity causes the afflicted character to have overwhelming urges to destroy himself or herself whenever means is presented - a perilous situation, a weapon, or anything else. The more dangerous the situation or item, the more likely the individual is to react self-destructively. Use a scale of 10% to 80% probability, and if the afflicted does not react suicidally, then he or she will become melancholic for 1 to 6 days. If he or she is frustrated in suicidal attempts, then the character will become maniacal for 2 to 8 turns, and then fall into melancholy for 2 to 12 days.

Catatonia: When struck with this form of insanity, the character completely withdraws from reality. He or she will sit staring and unmoving, will not react to any outside stimuli, and will eventually die of dehydration if left alone. The catatonic individual can be moved, led around, fed, and so forth; but he or she will do nothing personally. If continually provoked and irritated in order to get a response, there is a 1% cumulative chance per round that the insane individual will react with homicidal mania. Once provocation ceases, catatonia returns.