| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dennis |
Posted - 11 Aug 2011 : 20:09:25
I'm planning to introduce a character with multiple personalities in my new series. However, I don't know yet how exactly to go about it. I only know one character of note---Sensui, from the animated show Yu Yu Hakusho. After he watched the tape that showed the atrocities of men, which contradicted everything he believed in as a Ghostfighter, he compartmentalized his emotions and beliefs, and eventually developed mutiple personality.
Are there people in the Realms, famous or otherwise, who have multiple personalities (other than Manshoon)? Is it acquired or were they born with it? |
| 27 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 14 Aug 2011 : 07:31:02
I stumbled upon some difficulty when trying to make a MPD-inflicted character psionic. It sounds implausible in relation to the cast I've assembled so far. So, despite that part of me wants him to be a psionicist, I'm exploring other options. |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 14 Aug 2011 : 01:09:58
I, for one, would love to see the Invisible Art get a lot more coverage in the Realms. I really liked House of Serpents and Magadon from Paul Kemp's books. A BA psionic villain is frighteningly misunderstood and depending on the Psi rule-set you prefer, potentially devastating to an unprepared party of ignorant adventurers.
Bruce Cordell, among others, has been extremely prolific with his writing over the years. I was also very upset when the Mind's Eye over at Wizards was discontinued. My psi file has more material in it, hand's down, than any other class. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 18:36:30
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The problem is that most fantasy readers associate psionicists with bad literature
Actually, there is a tendency to associate psionics more with sci-fi than fantasy, for some folks. Psionics has had a place in fantasy, but it's nowhere near as iconic as shifty rogues, swordswingers, and spellslingers.
Vampires were never that popular two decades ago. But look at them now. Every year there's at least a couple of dozens of vampire-centric novels released. The psionicists will have their time someday. It would just take a brave soul (like Ann Rice and Stephenie Meyer) to feature them in the most interesting and provocative ways.
Actually, Anne Rice kicked off the vampire craze, and has since walked away from it. I don't think they're all that much more popular now; with more books and movies being released now than 20 years ago, of course there's going to be more that focus on vampires. Especially with the trend of seeing one big thing and trying to cash in on it. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 15:32:40
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The problem is that most fantasy readers associate psionicists with bad literature
Actually, there is a tendency to associate psionics more with sci-fi than fantasy, for some folks. Psionics has had a place in fantasy, but it's nowhere near as iconic as shifty rogues, swordswingers, and spellslingers.
Vampires were never that popular two decades ago. But look at them now. Every year there's at least a couple of dozens of vampire-centric novels released. The psionicists will have their time someday. It would just take a brave soul (like Ann Rice and Stephenie Meyer) to feature them in the most interesting and provocative ways. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 15:06:46
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The problem is that most fantasy readers associate psionicists with bad literature
Actually, there is a tendency to associate psionics more with sci-fi than fantasy, for some folks. Psionics has had a place in fantasy, but it's nowhere near as iconic as shifty rogues, swordswingers, and spellslingers.
Agreed.
And I think Lisa Smedman's "House of Serpents" trilogy works well in re-establishing a suitable fantasy-base for the Invisible Art in the Realms. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 14:27:27
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The problem is that most fantasy readers associate psionicists with bad literature
Actually, there is a tendency to associate psionics more with sci-fi than fantasy, for some folks. Psionics has had a place in fantasy, but it's nowhere near as iconic as shifty rogues, swordswingers, and spellslingers. |
| Quale |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 11:06:12
There's also http://www.planewalker.com/encyclopedia/farrow
For me Faces of Sigil is worth buying more than any novel. The best sourcebook in history. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 08:14:17
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
That's quite a short info, though. Any sources with more detailed background?
I'm not entirely sure, as it's been a while since I've looked up this stuff. I think that's it, though.
quote:
Did he appear in any of the Mystara novels? I found Dragonmage of Mystara in a used bookstore but didn't buy it...
No. Farrow's largely been a developed character for the PLANESCAPE setting. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 07:49:23
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The wearer of the Highfire Crown could easily develop the disorder, or the moonblades that have the shadow power
That sounds good. Was there any actual occurrence of MPD?
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The problem is that most fantasy readers associate psionicists with bad literature
I don't know about that. I've read (and heard of) a number of NY Bestsellers which have psionicists as central figures. So I don't think that's a general rule. It all boils down to one thing: good story-telling. |
| Kno |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 07:43:18
The problem is that most fantasy readers associate psionicists with bad literature |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 07:37:22
All right, Arik and Fellfire, I'll take note of your suggestions. My editor once suggested that I avoid bringing psionicists in the limelight in this series because I've already done it before... But then again, if I could see it work, then why not?! Besides, she never has any complaint about my recurrent use of wizards... If I could use wizards infinitely, why not psionicists as well, right?! Anyway, I'll see how I could go about this... I have the entire month to brainstorm about him and a few other characters. Unfortunately, my Book Club, whose members usually help me with my brainstorming, won't resume until the last week of August. |
| Kno |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 07:30:50
The wearer of the Highfire Crown could easily develop the disorder, or the moonblades that have the shadow power |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 07:24:00
I agree with Arik. Multiple personalities with differing psionic disciplines would, I think, make for a very memorable villain. I'm thinking an even more extreme case of Phoenix/Dark Phoenix from the Marvel Universe. Psychotic Schizophrenic Psionicists, hoorah! |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 07:17:44
I'm not saying that psionicists can't be villains---I used some before. It's just that I find it too unlikely that they can get insane, unless they're mentally assaulted by fellow psionicists. Which I don't really prefer---I'd like my character's multiple personality disorder to have an internal cause. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 06:57:56
I'm not sure your point about psionicists is necessarily valid. Although it is certainly logical. Consider just how many magic users join the Dark Side, even those who have seemingly incorruptible morals and intentions, even those who practice extreme diligence and vigilance in their discipline, even those who really should know better than to play with storms and fire, demons and darkness, oblivion and insanity.
Perhaps some firsthand experience with insanity, with some variety of insanities, is a necessary component in passing thresholds of psychic enlightenment. Perhaps a little bit of controlled insanity is what allows pure thought to bend and defy hard reality, or it might be the fuel burned in every incomprehensible telepathic assault. Perhaps every psionicist maintains an irretrievably insane compartment of his mind in rubber-padded mental isolation, whether it be a reservoir of raw mental energy he can carefully tap and cork or even just a trash bin where he sweeps all his distracting mental clutter. Self-organizing, learning, sapient systems (like human minds) are wonderfully complex and buggy, built from every mental shortcut our ancestors took over millions of years, full of surprises and mysteries not even an immortal supergenius psionicist can ever know.
Sanity is really just a matter of bias and opinion. I happen to personally prefer my villains insane. Or at least unsane. It's a large part of what makes them great and memorable. You can always make it easier on yourself by decorating your villain with disfiguring injuries (or cool evil prosthetics) to make it plain that he's suffered from some serious brain injury.
Insanity breeds insanity, and the line which divides insanity from genius is measured only by success. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 04:55:45
Thanks, Saer Cormaeril. I've got a year and two months to write this novel, so I'm taking my time... This particular character is just one of the "minor" villains, but important nonetheless, because he would help shape one of the darkest ages in history.
I first thought of making him a psionicist, making his growing powers the cause of his multiple personalities. But I also thought that psionicists are too clever and intelligent to permanently fall under such a grim fate. |
| Saer Cormaeril |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 04:42:50
Cool, just like Drizz't in "The Dark Elf Trilogy", with his ultra-ranger 'Hunter' personality.
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Thelonius
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
2+ different people in one body. I guess I'd prefer each personality to be unaware of the others, except one, the most dominant of them. Sensui's case is very uncanny, because all the personalities are quite aware of each other and would even converse in times of crisis.
Was your character born with that "disorder"?
I would suggest the fact that each of them do one thing. In psychological disorders each personality has a function; in severe ones at least. I mean if one person uses to avoid conflict one personality is just for protecting the subject or facing problems, but it doesn't know about the other or the others thoughtsor deeds, and even in some cases it can't talk, as it is not its duty. Each personality from a multi personality disorder is uni-dimensional, one talk, the other fights, the other lies, ... That could give you a quite complicated yet kaleodoscopicc character. The fact they discuss each other could reveal the "insanity" of the charcater pretty soon though it could spur some interesting and funny situations too
I'm almost done brainstorming. My character is an erudite wizard who finds his sensibility somehow hinder his rise to power, seeing it more as a weakness than strength, and devises means to isolate that part of him at times of need... More to come, when I'm no longer inebriate.
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| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 04:14:03
Thanks, Sage.
That's quite a short info, though. Any sources with more detailed background?
Did he appear in any of the Mystara novels? I found Dragonmage of Mystara in a used bookstore but didn't buy it... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 04:08:52
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Thalynsar of Ch'chitl transformed himself into an ulitharid-illithlich-elder brain hybrid. Suffers from multiple personality disorder and possibly megalomania.
Farrow, a shadow elf from Faces of Sigil has 15 personalities. Each time his abilities change and cause of the ring of disguise, his appearance.
Sounds interesting, specially Farrow. A shift in appearance matching a change in personality. Hmm...
Farrow was a particualrly fascinating PLANESCAPE character. And, of course, he originally came from the MYSTARA setting, so that's another cool factor for him.
You can find further [unofficial] information about Farrow and his personalities [and MYSTARA as well], here. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 03:19:15
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Thalynsar of Ch'chitl transformed himself into an ulitharid-illithlich-elder brain hybrid. Suffers from multiple personality disorder and possibly megalomania.
Farrow, a shadow elf from Faces of Sigil has 15 personalities. Each time his abilities change and cause of the ring of disguise, his appearance.
Sounds interesting, specially Farrow. A shift in appearance matching a change in personality. Hmm...
quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Asmodeus
How realistically do you want to do this? In reality, people with multiple personalities aren't aware of said personalities(at least not until after they've been diagnosed) and the personalities (known as alters) are extremely one deminsional; they serve a specific function as a coping mechanism. Some aren't even capable of speech.
It's a fantasy novel, so I would entertain any plausible suggestions. |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 12 Aug 2011 : 20:31:12
How realistically do you want to do this? In reality, people with multiple personalities aren't aware of said personalities(at least not until after they've been diagnosed) and the personalities (known as alters) are extremely one deminsional; they serve a specific function as a coping mechanism. Some aren't even capable of speech. |
| Quale |
Posted - 12 Aug 2011 : 19:28:18
Thalynsar of Ch'chitl transformed himself into an ulitharid-illithlich-elder brain hybrid. Suffers from multiple personality disorder and possibly megalomania.
Farrow, a shadow elf from Faces of Sigil has 15 personalities. Each time his abilities change and cause of the ring of disguise, his appearance.
Araevin could also develop the disorder
|
| Dennis |
Posted - 12 Aug 2011 : 18:16:36
quote:
Originally posted by Thelonius
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
2+ different people in one body. I guess I'd prefer each personality to be unaware of the others, except one, the most dominant of them. Sensui's case is very uncanny, because all the personalities are quite aware of each other and would even converse in times of crisis.
Was your character born with that "disorder"?
I would suggest the fact that each of them do one thing. In psychological disorders each personality has a function; in severe ones at least. I mean if one person uses to avoid conflict one personality is just for protecting the subject or facing problems, but it doesn't know about the other or the others thoughtsor deeds, and even in some cases it can't talk, as it is not its duty. Each personality from a multi personality disorder is uni-dimensional, one talk, the other fights, the other lies, ... That could give you a quite complicated yet kaleodoscopicc character. The fact they discuss each other could reveal the "insanity" of the charcater pretty soon though it could spur some interesting and funny situations too
I'm almost done brainstorming. My character is an erudite wizard who finds his sensibility somehow hinder his rise to power, seeing it more as a weakness than strength, and devises means to isolate that part of him at times of need... More to come, when I'm no longer inebriate. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 12 Aug 2011 : 08:17:35
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking for, Dennis. Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder) has been grossly misrepresented by popular media ... "multiple personality" to most people has about as much grounding in real fact as "psychopath" and "mutant". It seems to me you need to decide whether you want an answer based on the technically correct term or on the popularly entertaining term, research can be easily done in books about abnormal psychology or in television soap operas. |
| Thelonius |
Posted - 11 Aug 2011 : 20:39:54
quote:
Originally posted by Thelonius
[quote]Originally posted by Dennis
2+ different people in one body. I guess I'd prefer each personality to be unaware of the others, except one, the most dominant of them. Sensui's case is very uncanny, because all the personalities are quite aware of each other and would even converse in times of crisis.
Was your character born with that "disorder"?
I would suggest the fact that each of them do one thing. In psychological disorders each personality has a function; in severe ones at least. I mean if one person uses to avoid conflict one personality is just for protecting the subject or facing problems, but it doesn't know about the other or the others thoughtsor deeds, and even in some cases it can't talk, as it is not its duty. Each personality from a multi personality disorder is uni-dimensional, one talk, the other fights, the other lies, ... That could give you a quite complicated yet kaleodoscopicc character. The fact they discuss each other could reveal the "insanity" of the charcater pretty soon though it could spur some interesting and funny situations too
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| Dennis |
Posted - 11 Aug 2011 : 20:24:19
2+ different people in one body. I guess I'd prefer each personality to be unaware of the others, except one, the most dominant of them. Sensui's case is very uncanny, because all the personalities are quite aware of each other and would even converse in times of crisis.
Was your character born with that "disorder"? |
| Erik Scott de Bie |
Posted - 11 Aug 2011 : 20:17:50
When you say multiple personalities, do you mean 2+ different people in one body, or just that he shifts mood extremely radically but is still the same person?
Also, to answer: A character in my novel Depths of Madness has multiple personalities (i.e. disassociative identity disorder), one of which is aware of the other (though not vice versa).
Cheers |
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