Are there any ways to self-inflict stress damage without also taking lethal damage?

Question

I am building a character that will capitalize on the Spookbusters "Prudence" feat chain, but until I get the supremacy feat, I will need a way to self inflict stress damage.

Attack gadgets specifically forbid stress as the damage type, and I can't think of another way.

I have thought about using All or Nothing on an R&R check to increase the chance of an error, but that's kind of a toss up. The other possibility is using Manipulate/Harass Skill check gadgets on myself.

Apart from that, nothing really comes to mind. Are there any other ways of inflicting stress on yourself that isn't effect of lethal damage?

Answer 1

There are ways to deal yourself stress damage

None will be very dignified.

• Go skydiving (pp. 108-9). Accumulate all the stress damage you need via failure; accumulate significantly less on a success.
• Spray yourself with a flamethrower's igniter fluid (pp. 313-4). Pro Tip: Do not do so near an open flame.
• Get blinded and stunned by a flash/bang grenade (pp. 252, 334, 338). Not only is it among the game's best weapons, but also if you set one off and don't throw it—surprise!—that's stressful.

Note that although the trick Flail from the feat Prudence Moves (Spookbusters 12) says...

You may add any stress damage you’re currently suffering as lethal damage when you hit with an unarmed attack.

...the usual cap of a +4 to +6 bonus should apply (in the same way such a cap should apply to the Rhino Lift trick from the feat Club Moves (World on Fire 139), for example). In a game as tightly wound as Spycraft 2.0, the system's liable to snap, for example, if the agent makes a few carefully monitored untrained skydiving checks, doesn't die, becomes a bundle of anxiety, and nervously punches folks with his +20 or whatever bonus to damage with unarmed attacks.