Post from Raban on actions...

From: J Hooten <jhooten@binary.net>
To: PBEM List <pnpgm@abroere.xs4all.nl> References: <597093.71109.qm@web65608.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <597093.71109.qm@web65608.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> X-Authentication-Info: Submitted using SMTP AUTH PLAIN at
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Subject: Re: [pnpgm] Game Update #5

                                                                        
<I personally rate the two differently based on how active they are?
Mana Sensing should always be on and tell you there is magic inside its
reach. It is a passive scanner that does not tell you much. In effect
it is a literal sense. Mana Reading is much more active and thus should
need concentration to use, its a minor issue but one that does make it
harder to Read and cast spells or do other actions. Normally both were
free of cost but I think our GM has some Enl costs and other limits on
Reading because it is quite powerful... One thing I missed many times
before is it never says it tells you WHERE the magic is? Not even a
direction is mentioned, so all you know is its in range. Now that does
not fit the letter of the description in many ways but it does not
contradict it either. So technically its a GM's call as to functionality
of its use. Mechanics can make the abilities quite useful or next to
useless due to 'Noise'. Think about the quantity of magic items the
party may have and how that could flood senses. Think about the more
powerful items masking the weaker onesetc... It is here I would treat the innate user differently from the
spell user. The innate user is more likely to have used it enough to
deal with the noise and understand how to determine which items are
which. But someone with high intelligence, empathy or other 'sense'
abilities, should work it out well enough. Soul Sight is quite powerful
and its cousin Insight as well, as the divine tell you more than the
Arcane magics do. Defenses are basically Immunity items that lower
effective El which reduce ranges or if powerful enough can shut it
off. Detecting a person could use MDV but some aspects should not as
magic should radiate outside the person. Any active power or spell
should be easily detected, unused ones could be protected. Once more
its an area that is not detailed and thus up to the GM to decide.
The rules as written imply no MDV applies to detections but never say
for sure... The Bad Part is defenses have to be greater than the
detector as equal leave El0 which still works if close enough! So its
unlikely to be safe unless its a high powered defense, El5+? Economics
again, better detectors cost more and when prices are in Gold and you
wish quantity its more likely they will use the weaker ones. Thus the
common detectors are likely low El and thus can be blocked, but the
more critical areas will have better ones as will special units.
Fortunately Divine ones should be rare, more likely limited to a rare
few people like Inquisitors. Just guess work, but should be fairly
close ;)

<Raban has Insight to test on people. It has not quite come up in RP yet.
<Arawn or Frema should know a lot about everyone, their magic items and innates. At some point they should have scanned everyone with Mana Reading. They would know they have them though not necessarily what they are?

john haight wrote:
>    Hearing of Z'leyra's intent to possibly spend time within the 
> Citadel during the party's sea voyage Arawn spoke up, adding his own 
> desires during that period.
>  
>    "If Z'leyra desires to remain behind working on items for the group 
> then I will keep her company. I have research that I feel would best 
> be done within the relative safety of the Citadel.
>    As for sensing a being's ability to cast magic, Soul Sight is one 
> way but it is not exclusive. Though the ability to sense mana (Mana 
> Sensing) does not detect potential, only active magic, the ability to 
> read such power (Mana Reading) does enable one to detect a being's 
> potential to cast magic. I think it would be good to determine exactly 
> what the majority of sensors are attuned to, to Sense or to Read."
>  
> OOC: Aside from this, if it is Mana Sensing, unless Scott has a house 
> rule on this, solid barriers block the sensing of mana if using the 
> spell (in the description). There is no mention of this when it is a 
> racial or supernatural attribute ability. Not sure how Scott is 
> running it but if it's the Mana Sensing spell, as written, we should 
> be able to smuggle items in sealed off containers. If not, or if it's 
> innate or an alternate spell, then barriers/containers might not 
> afford any ability to resist magic detection
>    Outside of this, under the descriptions for both abilities it 
> states that - ["When in the presence of mana, or those capable of 
> casting mana, the Character is able to determine its Alignment, 
> Relative Power and, if a spell, basic purpose."]. With this in mind I 
> wonder, other than a shorter range, it seems to indicate that Mana 
> Reading will give the information, even if one doesn't know that there 
> is magic nearby, as long as the person is close. This seems a bit 
> powerful and almost makes Mana Sensing negligible if not for the 
> latter's range. Is this how Mana Reading really should work? I'm 
> thinking that the person should either have to either know magic is 
> present and where or at least be able to target an object or person 
> for detection. 
>    Just something I thought I'd throw out to the group and GM for 
> answers. As for Arawn, he's still more than happy to leave equipment 
> behind for now and pick them up when the adventure gets 'hot'.
>  
>    Scott, I have two IBT's depending on whether Arawn spends most of 
> his time in the Citadel or at sea. Once this situation is resolved I 
> can send the appropriate one.


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