Defilers/Mindbenders and the general information

[Tailong]

Since we are jumping forward in the timeline, what will the general knowledge be of Defilers, and especially mindbenders in this jump?

I know things were relaxed toward the end of the last timeline, but going in to Seasons it would be nice to have these 'general knowledge' fleshed out. What will we know at start? Has mindbenders become more common knowledge now?

[Riev]

Mindbenders don't exist. They're just scary stories your mom tells you to scare you into going to bed on time.
Similarly, its a 'catch all' for "enemy of the state but I have no proof".

*nervous laugh* Because REALLY, if mindworms DID exist, you think the Highlord wouldn't have enslaved them to do his bidding like he did those filthy witches? The thought of a person ACTUALLY influencing your mind that ISN'T Highlord Tektolnes HIM-SELF is blasphemy.

I'm going to go tell on you to the nearest colored robe I find.

[dumbstruck]

I feel kinda the opposite. The entire 'enemy state' has been coopted by them, disappearing people and causing refugees for so long. I don't think it's fair to have 2 kings ages of 'listless' as an on running plotline and it not affect how real the world believes psionicists are. Especially when everyone has /some/ telepathy. That'd be like denying witches exist when everyone's a little touched. Like. Nah, there's objectively hard proof of it, a large amount of it.

That said, I don't think the average person would automatically know that a psionics fail on them is psionics, and I feel like this could be balanced to a degree by having staff from time to time just sending PCs echoes that mimic failed psionics, both for the vnpc population, but also so that it wouldn't stick out so much when it's a PC failing it. Fool the player, fool the character.

[Lizzie]

I'm basically with Riev on this, from an IC perspective. Your character might know they exist - but they'd never discuss that knowledge. They'd never acknowledge that they know, to other people. Templars know. Nobles know. But commoners knowing, and discussing that knowledge, is tantamount to blasphemy. Same thing with knowing the difference between a sorcerer who gathers from himself and one that gathers from the land. Your character *might* know. But they'd never discuss that knowledge openly. They wouldn't explain it to their VBFF, because they're also superstitious enough to believe that the Templars KNOW when these things are being discussed, and you WILL get caught. Whether that's true or not is irrelevant. Your character knows, that the common society knows, that these things are myths. And your character, if he has any sense of self-preservation, will respect that.

[Riev]

My actual belief is this:

You certainly can know that mindbenders exist. ICly.
You don't necessarily know that some echo YOU didn't expect is immediately a mindbender.
You also should at least understand that ICly, a creature that you think can read minds and make you do stuff ... PROBABLY won't like that you "know about them".

[Eurynomos]

Since we are jumping forward in the timeline, what will the general knowledge be of Defilers, and especially mindbenders in this jump?

I know things were relaxed toward the end of the last timeline, but going in to Seasons it would be nice to have these 'general knowledge' fleshed out. What will we know at start? Has mindbenders become more common knowledge now?

https://www.armageddon.org/help/view/Roleplay%20with%20psionicists

This is still pretty relevant and helpful in interactions.

I don't think anything significant has changed in regards to general knowledge about mindbenders. Most Commoners would know they exist, like the bogeyman. I don't think they have become 'more common knowledge', or their abilities have become more of a known quantity. Nothing that happened in the intervening 50 year history suggests events that would support more knowledge of Psionicists becoming better known.

[Halaster]

I'm gonna One-Up Eurynomos here and post the contents of that helpfile as they are still the current documentation and expectation:


Here is some guidance on how players are expected to handle (potential) interaction with Psionicists. This is an incredibly challenging aspect of role-playing as it requires conscious effort to not meta-play by using Out-of-Character knowledge and to potentially have your character do things that you, the player, may know are not in their best interest.

    If your character experiences something 'odd' that you may think you know (or simply suspect) is the result of a Psionicist - do not, even as a player, assume that is. It could very well be (and often is) actually the result of Staff interaction. The best bet in these scenarios is to assume it IS Staff and respond according to that.
    If your character experiences something odd that you did not input and you think you know (or simply suspect) it is the result of a Psionicist - your character should not and would not necessarily know. This applies to ALL characters at ALL levels of society (one particular sect excluded, they know who they are) unless they have had some serious In-Character training on the subject. Your character is unlikely to know the difference in most cases and there is an expectation for you to go along with it realistically. This does not necessarily mean total compliance, it could also mean inner turmoil, confusion, questioning sanity or any number of other responses that are not 'mindbender attack'.
    If your character experiences things such as odd sensations or weird symptoms (again, OOC'ly this could be Staff or a number of other things), your character would not and should not immediately think 'mindbender'. Psionicists are rare abominations, they are the boogeymen under the bed, they are not something your average commoner is thinking about. Most characters should assume literally anything else before they assume a 'Psionicist' (I'm sick, I ate something funny, I'm stressed, it sure is hot today, etc).
    You should not be responding to the above by doing that thing you think protects you from Psionicists. You should be roleplaying according to the information you receive from the game.
    If your character seems subject to frequent attacks that would damage their mental health and/or well-being, then those who are educated might start to become suspicious and seek counsel/help, those who aren't might become concerned about their own well-being and seek help, advice and education. Again, it's unlikely they would jump straight to 'Psionicist' over 'I'm unwell'.
    If another character tells yours about any 'weird scenarios', please think very carefully about what your character would and should know, based on the above, before reacting. Try to avoid inadvertantly using out-of-character knowledge.
    If a Psionicist has outed themselves to your character, you should try to roleplay according to cultural documentation (extreme fear, stress, anxiety, paranoia, disgust etc). These abominations are the absolute worst of the worst with unknown breadth to their power. Imagine if you found out in real life that your spouse/lover/person you met in the street was in actuality a serial killer - would you remain loyal to them? How would you feel? Would you turn them in?
    If you think your character is being bothered by a Psionicist, then you are in for a proper roleplaying challenge (and probably a fun ride!). At that point it would be a good idea to start submitting character reports so Staff can help and you can ask questions if you're unsure about how something should be handled.
    Likewise, if you are ever unsure about how your character should handle a complicated scenario and you are in the midst of it and totally stuck - do wish up for further assistance.

[Trevalyan]

It's entirely reasonable to have personally met mindbenders (my last character met at least three), but most characters aren't likely to know what they are, much less the full scope of their capabilities.

If your character starts feeling "unusual" emotions or thoughts, don't be so quick to immediately dismiss them as the work of a mindbender who's in your room. Aside from personal convictions or social pressure, there are major powers in the world whose influence might be guiding you away from- or towards- dangerous thoughts. When your character starts having ideas that didn't come from your own keyboard, run with it. You might discover some very special opportunities that way.

[Lizzie]

It's entirely reasonable to have personally met mindbenders (my last character met at least three), but most characters aren't likely to know what they are, much less the full scope of their capabilities.

If your character starts feeling "unusual" emotions or thoughts, don't be so quick to immediately dismiss them as the work of a mindbender who's in your room. Aside from personal convictions or social pressure, there are major powers in the world whose influence might be guiding you away from- or towards- dangerous thoughts. When your character starts having ideas that didn't come from your own keyboard, run with it. You might discover some very special opportunities that way.

In addition, consider believability. In real life, you will have random thoughts throughout the day and you'll never wonder if a mindbender is sending them to you.  You might be reading this post, and suddenly the color red will flash in your mind. Or you'll get an itch on your leg, but there's nothing touching it. Or a brief moment of tinnitus will hiss through your ears. Or you might just suddenly notice that your house has sound (the fridge, the electricals, the A/C, the clock faintly humming on the nightstand, a twig falling on the roof, a lizard crawling on the window screen), and you wonder why you're suddenly noticing this, even though it's been happening around you all day.

No mindbenders needed. It IS all in your head. So just roll with it.

[Tailong]

Okay, guys this isn't about 'my character' or 'your character' and how they perceive psionic 'attacks' or how they should behave. 

The help file doesn't even answer my question, staff.

So, I will ask again:  Knowing things were relaxed toward the end of the last timeline (meaning IC events and the lack of enforcement on the term 'mindbinders') , but going in to Seasons it would be nice to have these 'general knowledge' fleshed out. What will we know at start? Has mindbenders become more common knowledge now? Meaning the population at whole, not how we should be roleplaying contact with them.

[Krath]

Safest bet to OPs request, citizens would treat them like the Lochness Monster, Bigfoot and Aliens.

[RheaGhe]

Okay, guys this isn't about 'my character' or 'your character' and how they perceive psionic 'attacks' or how they should behave. 

The help file doesn't even answer my question, staff.

So, I will ask again:  Knowing things were relaxed toward the end of the last timeline (meaning IC events and the lack of enforcement on the term 'mindbinders') , but going in to Seasons it would be nice to have these 'general knowledge' fleshed out. What will we know at start? Has mindbenders become more common knowledge now? Meaning the population at whole, not how we should be roleplaying contact with them.

They did answer your question though.

I don't think anything significant has changed in regards to general knowledge about mindbenders. Most Commoners would know they exist, like the bogeyman. I don't think they have become 'more common knowledge', or their abilities have become more of a known quantity. Nothing that happened in the intervening 50 year history suggests events that would support more knowledge of Psionicists becoming better known.

[Halaster]

Okay, guys this isn't about 'my character' or 'your character' and how they perceive psionic 'attacks' or how they should behave. 

The help file doesn't even answer my question, staff.

So, I will ask again:  Knowing things were relaxed toward the end of the last timeline (meaning IC events and the lack of enforcement on the term 'mindbinders') , but going in to Seasons it would be nice to have these 'general knowledge' fleshed out. What will we know at start? Has mindbenders become more common knowledge now? Meaning the population at whole, not how we should be roleplaying contact with them.

I'm not really sure where you're getting this "relaxed" thing, we never let up on the expectations of how to play around them, nor did we have more than normal.  Your experience may have been different, maybe someone was throwing that term around too much, I don't know.  But there was not a staff directive nor intention to "relax" the lore regarding mindbenders.

What I'm saying is our stance has not changed OOC or IC.  There is nothing changed IC about psionicists.  They are no more common than they were before.  What is described in the helpfiles is still relevant and accurate.

This line is still accurate:

"    If your character experiences something odd that you did not input and you think you know (or simply suspect) it is the result of a Psionicist - your character should not and would not necessarily know. This applies to ALL characters at ALL levels of society (one particular sect excluded, they know who they are) unless they have had some serious In-Character training on the subject. Your character is unlikely to know the difference in most cases and there is an expectation for you to go along with it realistically. This does not necessarily mean total compliance, it could also mean inner turmoil, confusion, questioning sanity or any number of other responses that are not 'mindbender attack'."

Does that clear it up?

[Tailong]

What I'm saying is our stance has not changed OOC or IC.  There is nothing changed IC about psionicists.  They are no more common than they were before.  What is described in the helpfiles is still relevant and accurate.


Does that clear it up?

Yes, thank you. That is what I was seeking.