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I’ve got a confession to make: I like running Monty Hall campaigns. I just love giving out magic items when I DM (dungeon master). I like making them and passing them out like candy … and I tend to introduce gods to a campaign way too early.
Too Much Power syndrome.
But it’s so much fun. Strangely, this doesn’t translate over to my writing much. I mean, sure, in flashes where there isn’t going to be a day-in day-out, multi-sequel build – hit god-level all I want (which, again, isn’t often – the I am Prophecy series being the exception which proves the rule). I also prefer science fiction in my writing and avoid fantasy, but when I roleplay I like the fantasy games and not the science fiction.
Anyway, I would like to focus on the Too Much Power issue today – which A.J. Hartley (a living embodiment of TMP in real life as a NY Times best-selling writer and the Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare at UNC Charlotte) talks about in Wrestling the TMP on Magical Words.
In my present campaign, I have let the warlock have his demon be a mouse he carries around in his pocket during the initial session. TMP from the get-go. I used it to bring a character back from the dead during the third or fourth session. The party was second level at that point. Do you have a headache yet – because I’ve just set up a huge issue with TMP in the campaign.
The only way to reign things in was limit the power. The resurrected character paid dearly for being brought back – with some interesting bonuses thrown in, but he won’t be risking his life on another round trip anytime soon. And the warlock also is unsure about the cost he had to pay to survive the consequences of bothering his patreon.
The comment section of the Magical Word post goes on about Costs and Limitations when a TMP is introduced. (Be sure to read it.) Maybe I can’t back out of my Monty Hall actions, but the TMP benefits can be modified.
The ability to modify is something to keep in mind should I ever write an Urban Fantasy serial. So many expand beyond reasonable too quickly, increasing the costs of the TMP may the way to go. And it can add some interesting plot twists as well. I can’t (or at least shouldn’t) change cannon, but what isn’t discussed yet is open season.
Again, the link for Dr. Hartley’s post and related comments is:
READING EXERCISE: Think about a television show, movie, or book – even your own work-in-progress – which has a TMP person or object. How did the writers work around it? Did they randomly shut it down (like the example Dr. Hartley provided) or was there a “leash” built into the power? How did the TMP help or hinder the storyline?
(Additional comment: Superhero stories are rife with the TMP syndrome, but for the villains and the heroes.)
With most of her time consumed by the Corps and random stationing for her and her husband around the world, her few times at a keyboard are focused on short stories; her published works have appeared in 
