Trying both sites with this:
Similar to the previous (necromancy/demonology) threads I made. What books/games have freaky body altering powers and/or monsters? The ones that comes to mind is the necroscope RPG and books with the wamphyri (evil nightmare fuel made manifest o_o). Which is the inspiration for the Tzimisce in vampire the masquerade. There is also the body modification powers in the other white wolf line like the prometheans (and pandoras) and the exalted lunar cast(especially the CHIMERA).
others I can think of the movie the thing (1980’s version and remake/prequel), eating and replacing/infecting people. Then changing body parts to create monsters, even chopping off body parts/blood was not enough since the body parts became independent monsters. There is also the game ‘prototype’ which allowed the character to absorb/assimilate the people he killed and become them, or create claws, body armour..etc.
There are also genetic alterations like the splicers RPG from palladium books, especially some from the rifter books.
So, anything in those categories that comes to mind?
-------------------------------------------
I am still busy, but I want to do a quick compile of everything I have seen from this and other sites, suggestions, etc. Thanks for all the input everyone. I also want to add that it does not have to be limited to rpg games, it can be any other media (books, movies, etc) which has some good references or ideas are welcomed as well. It also does not have to be limited to just magic; science, alien, etc is all fair game also. *going to copy/paste this part to save retyping it over for other threads)
Lets see what we have so far:
RPG:
wamphyri RPG
Vampire the masquerade - Tzimisce, which were based off wamphryi
Species RPG, based off the movies and uses the same system as wamphyri RPG
Prometheans, had some flesh changing weird powers
Pandora’s, supplement to prometheans and has some super freaky powers
Splicers RPG
Nightbane - had fleshcrafting powers and cybermages who could fuse flesh/creatures/technology together.
Exaltud - luna clan of shapeshifters and especially the CHIMERA class
AD&D - mimic, the doppelganger and the pennangalan
Earthdawn
Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium
Aberrant
Don't Rest Your Head and don’t lose your mind supplement
Savage world rippers
Unknown Armies
Levian the tempest (fan made project)
Movies/TV:
The Thing (80s version and the new prequel)
Species
Night Breed
Video Game:
Prototype 1 + 2
In AD&D we got the mimic, the doppelganger and the pennangalan, just off the top of my head (as it were).
I caught you on that other site w/ your Necromancy question.
;) Earthdawn has some of this too, mostly in NPC/enemy form (Horror Powers, etc). But, the Nethermancers, as those who use darkness to defeat darkness, have some pretty sick magic based on studying the Horrors.
The Onionblood, SkinShift (or "Shift Skin"), Alter Life, Unnatural Life, and Shatter Pattern spells really get nasty. Most PCs are glad that they are Circle 8+ spells.
IIRC, Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium, has some abilities players can use that alter their bodies in the process (though not permanently). Not sure if Spite (the sequel game) does.
While not a horror game, Aberrant characters could have their body altered by acquiring too much taint, or as a side effect of some of their powers.
Palladium's Nightbane RPG had a magic book (Through The Glass Darkly, IIRC) which had Cyber Mage (less William Gibson and more Clive Barker, despite the name) and Flesh Sculptor classes.
Updated Top
Once again, White Wolf comes through with freaky things: Exalted Lunars are crazy shapeshifters, and Werewolf is nothing but.
Exalted Fair Folk are weird enough to list separately, because choosing and manipulating shape is the entire game. I'd love to see it done well, but am not sure I'm able to do so myself. Freaking Borgstromancy.
I've heard good things about Nobilis, but I've never even read it personally.
DnD 3/3.5 has most things you could want, depending what you're actually looking for. There are graft rules scattered throughout various books (I recall the Fiend Folio and Lords of Madness specifically, but there were at least two more). Polymorph is a fun time. Wildshape too. There's also Magic Jar shenanigans, and a race from Lords of Madness which vaguely duplicates them (Tzochar?) which are vaguely similar to shape changing. The necromantic cyst line of spells deserves extra special mention for body horror, even though it's not specifically shapeshifting. Pretty sure there's a PC race that's less awesome doppelgangers too.
Pretty sure Mage works too, but Mage always works.
QuotePretty sure Mage works too, but Mage always works
Yeah, especially in MtAw where it's codified more. The Abyssmal Path that is laid out can definitely give you some whacky ideas. Or VtM with the Sabbat and Tzimcie (sp). Or the KotE the Asian vampires have whole disciplines of fleshcrafting.
movies - Human Centipede
:-)
Quote from: pspahn;557579movies - Human Centipede
:-)
And its associated South Park episode.
Fading Suns, the entire Symbiont race/civilization. Check Fading Suns: Lifeweb. Basically ecoterrorists that get infected by a weird creature that gives them shapeshifting symbiotic powers and how a spacefaring civilization grows up from that.
Kult, you're eventual morphing into your "demonic or angelic" state before you meet your antithesis and attempt apotheosis to escape the 'reality trap' created by the Demiurge. Very Hellraiser-esque in body morph conception.
In Nomine. Bodies on earth are just vessels, often to be molded by Songs for moments of greater utility. Wings, tongues, tentacles, horns, tails, haloes, etc. Forms in dream worlds are even more elastic.
Call of Cthulhu. Sorta surprised hasn't been mentioned yet. A few spells IIRC, and well, dangerously close encounters with mythos.
Been ages, but IIRC Deadlands had a few spells for Hucksters, Shaman magic, and I believe rules for playing... husks? revenants?... basically undead PCs. And then there's Deadlands: Hell on Earth, because nuclear ghost rock is essentially fairy dust on bad speed.
Legend of the Five Rings, anything dealing with the Shadowlands. From bog hags stealing humans' skins, unwittingly bargaining with oni, to the twisted nature of the land itself. That and ninja were routinely at threat of falling to the lure of the shadow. A lot of this was PC based, like oni bargaining or maho, bloodspeaker, and/or ninja magic. Then animal spirits and Naga...
You sir have just proven I am in fact senile. Deadlands, Kult, Unknown Armies and similar are my favorite games. I should just shoot myself from pure embarrassment.
Wanted to do a quick update, I found another great body horror in tribe 8 with the z'bri.
Rpg
Tribe 8 - Liked the body horror aspect, but also liked how the z'bri had atmosphere (effect area with their personality), could capture souls and have the souls reincarnate over and over again. Some great ideas.