I had an idea for a character that was completely different to any that has gone before. By any I mean any official ones, I apologise if there is something similar here already, I have not done an exhaustive search.

The idea I had was to have a character that has only one real function, that is to "take" another character.

This lead me to thinking about playing a spirit that possesses a character. A quick search on the internet found : Dybbuk

The word "dybbuk" is derived from Hebrew , meaning "attachment"; the dybbuk attaches itself to the body of a living person and inhabits the flesh. According to belief, a soul that has been unable to fulfill its function during its lifetime is given another opportunity to do so in dybbuk form. It supposedly leaves the host body once it has accomplished its goal, sometimes after being helped.

I think it would add some interesting dynamic. Especially if you drew it as a replacement character later in the game.

So if anyone is interested in play-testing or changing, feel free. I don't get to actually play much so just theory from me.

Dybbuk

Strength: 0
Craft: 7
Fate: 4
Lives: 1
Gold: 0
Start: Sentinal
Alignment: Evil

Abilities:

You have no physical form and so cannot engage in Battle. You automatically evade.

You may not carry any objects, nor gold, nor have any followers.

You may choose to engage in Psychic Combat

You begin the game with 2 spells.

If you defeat a player in Psychic Combat, you may choose to possess the character you have defeated.
You now play as this character. Any spells, fate and lives that you had as the Dybbuk are added to your new character.
The possessed player rolls a die, on a 1-2 they become a Dybbuk but start from the current space, otherwise they draw a new character if allowed.

Possible modifications:

Starting: Wanted to avoid generic graveyard. I thought maybe you are the soul of a previous adventurer killed by the Sentinal.

Always have X spells.

Starting Craft: I originally put 8 but thought it might be just too over-gunned at start of play. Needed to be strong enough to be able to cope as a replacement character though.

Possessed character becoming Dybbuk: This was a late addition, I think I like the idea, a 33% chance was pretty much a guess though. Maybe compulsary?

Name: The Dybbuk came up as a result of a search, I am not Jewish so I don't know if it is offensive at all. I don't think so from what I have seen. Was looking for something more "classical" but could not think of anything... JC.... any ideas ??

In general, I find it interesting. But it would definitely be disliked. If played, it will become an instant spell magnet... if not having people actual seeking a ruling for the Priest and the use of the Cross to destroy this character outright. Here's another thought...

Keep everything you have but possibly only allow it to possess Enemies... Strength based ones. It does a mock Psychic combat with the Enemy's Strength used as Craft. If it succeeds, it gains no trophy and takes the Enemy as its body. But it may gain no Strength tokens through Strength Trophies; it must use addons and freebie gained tokens for additional Strength. If it changes bodies by seizing another Enemy (once its Craft elevates), it may still keep Strength tokens "gained". If it ever loses a body, reverting to just a spirit, it must discard all addons (objects, magic objects, followers) but may keep Strength tokens (skill points) for use when it acquires another body. And thereby it must have a body to weild the Crown of Command.

This is going to be a troublesome character to work out so that players don't reject it outright or gang up to slaughter it the minute it comes into play. And the majority of them will outright reject a character that can directly steal a character from them.

As to the name, all references I can find are very "demonized" by Christian influences versus the true folklore of this entity. They are either utterly inaccurate or not worth using. It should also be noted that once that one unfinished business it has is completed, it dissipates and is gone forever. And that business is never something trivial or something that cannot be fulfilled. I'm not sure that seeking the Crown of Command to rule the land qualifies.

I found no good synonyms for this very specific term, which is actually a Polish transliteration of the original Yiddish (pronounced like "dih-book"; coming from the Yiddish or Aramaic "dahbaq" - to cleave to/to cling). You might be better off with something real generic, like "Possessor".

There are undead precursors to the modern Vampire (in other words the original real vampires), which were demonic earthly spirits (upir, uper) who seized the bodies of the recently dead in order to invade villages and absorb life energy. But that's too far off the mark.

There is also the High Revenant (by various cultural terms), which is the physical return of the deceased in order to fulfill a task of great personal importance that was left unfinished because of a sudden demise. Revenge or power were never the cause of a High Revenant's return to the living world, however seeking justice for a wrong was sometimes the cause. Of course then one has to look at different cultures for what was considered justice.

That's about all I can offer at this point.

Some interesting ideas there JC, I knew I could rely on you.

Not so comfortable about Craft vs Strength in a mock battle - perhaps there is an alternative

My original inspirations were to have a completely different character and also to have a way of putting fear into an established character

and encourage a bit of CvC or PvP

Maybe it is a bit too overpowered. I originally envisigned it only taking over the character if you took the last life but thought that the Dybbuk would not last long enough to be able to do that. That when I bumped up the spells it also needed to be interesting enough that someone would enjoy playing it.

I think I like the idea of playing a "spirit searching for a body" though. More thought required.