Feng Shui Sorcery/Creature Powers: no Telepathy?
From: Master_Kiero Posted on: 4/28/2003 9:07 am
To: ALL
Message: 199.1
Now admittedly, this may be a little subtle for the action movie genre, since you can't actually see anything when it's done. But I've always been intrigued as to why the Influence schtick of Sorcery allows you to play with people's thoughts and emotions, yet not read them. Sometimes merely knowing what a persons thoughts or motivations are is enough for a canny bugger to simply use old-fashioned non-magical words to do what they want.

So should Probe or Telepathy be another Influence effect?

Same goes for the Creature Power Dominate. Surely another effect within this (or perhaps an entirely separate effect?) should be Telepathy? Many a demon can read people's thoughts, especially the charming or seductive variety.

Anyone with me?
Kiero

From: Queex Posted on: 4/29/2003 5:24 am
To: Master_Kiero
Message: 199.2
in reply to: 199.1
Maybe. You could let players buy it as an additional effect the same way as for Blast (3XP). However, there are enough ways to twist information out of someone (Detective, The Holmes Touch, Police, Intimidation, Seduction, Journalist, Influence, Blood Drain) without it. I think Telepathy was deliberately left out as it isn't nearly showy enough. But there's nothing to stop a GM putting it back in.
From: Sensei Posted on: 4/29/2003 5:04 pm
To: Master_Kiero
Message: 199.3
in reply to: 199.1
This is another deal I'd give GMCs, I think. I've played in other games where the use of ESP or telepathy ran amuck, cuz really, it's easy to abuse unless it's very difficult to do (and if it's very dificult, who's gonna bother?)

But I certainly think it'd make a cool effect for a demon or an evil sorcerer. Especially if the effects were more dramatic and -could- be seen; such as, when a person's thoughts get read, the person receives pain (demons would like this) or loses memory temporarily. The pain could give them an Impairment of 1 for a few shots or a sequence, and the memory wipe could last a day or so wherein they'd have to make a INT check to recall (dramatically) useful info.

I'd see this as another Influence schtick effect, bought separately, as someone else suggested.