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Posted by: czarcasm Jul 17 2010, 07:21 PM

I know that an activated focus is pretty obvious when viewed from astral space. What about a deactivated focus? Are they still obviously foci to people who are assensing them?

Also, if an activated focus is in a cyberware smuggling compartment or a skin pocket, what penalty (if any) would you apply to an observer who assenses the player to see the focus?

Posted by: Deadmannumberone Jul 17 2010, 11:11 PM

One hit on an Assensing test will tell you if it is a focus or not, two will tell you what kind of focus, three will give a comparison to your magic attribute, and four will tell you exactly what force it is.



The astral form of the person would be brighter than normal, but without an assensing test, the reason would be unknown.

Posted by: Mordinvan Jul 17 2010, 11:58 PM

I doubt even that much. If the focus is stored out of sight, then it would be no more visible then looking at it thought a wall.

Posted by: Yerameyahu Jul 18 2010, 12:02 AM

What, like when using Palming? This isn't a wholly cut-and-dried question. Are foci visible through clothing? Does a cyberlimb or skin pocket act like clothing, or a wall? Can you astrally hide a focus in an armpit or 'body cavity'?

Posted by: Mordinvan Jul 18 2010, 12:04 AM

If the focus is inactive, then I would say 'yes'.

Posted by: Yerameyahu Jul 18 2010, 12:05 AM

No, all questions were regarding active ones, per previous poster.

Posted by: Lanlaorn Jul 18 2010, 12:07 AM

It wouldn't have an astral form when deactivated, you'd need to "astrally observe in detail" aka assense it to tell it's enchanted.

pg 199 SR4a,

Implying that a deactivated foci has no astral form. So no need to worry about that at all.

Regarding active foci, clothing shouldn't be enough since clothing doesn't stop you from seeing (and targeting) a person. Otherwise someone in full body armor would be immune to mana spells?

Posted by: Yerameyahu Jul 18 2010, 12:09 AM

Right.

So, are those things like clothing, or are they like walls? I say neither: they're part of a person, so they're just astral form. You can hide things behind an astral form, but only because the one 'in front' distracts you.

Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2010, 12:39 AM

Actually... If you look at the original Post... He states the obvious about ACTIVE Foci... The Immediate Question Following concerns an Inactive Focus.

Just thought that I would point that out...

Answer: Inactive Foci do not have an Astral Form, so they do not register as Foci when assensed... That is how I would do it anyway.

Posted by: Yerameyahu Jul 18 2010, 12:54 AM

If you look at other posts, you'll see that I was responding to something else. Thankyouverymuch.

Posted by: Saint Sithney Jul 18 2010, 01:00 AM

Ruling that inactives stand out on the astral just means that a guy's got to waste time and energy making little FAB-II pouches. It's a minor annoyance at most.

Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2010, 01:01 AM

Heheheh.... Yeah, Well, Point taken... Not so touchy there Yerameyahu...

Posted by: Traul Jul 18 2010, 01:37 AM

I am not sure this is relevant: the rules for targetting through a millspec armor are the same whether using astral perception or not. I think it has more to do with the clothes being part of oneself (which also conveniently implies that a mage projects with his clothes).

Anyway, clothes ARE opaque in the astral. I don't want to deal with pervert projecting mages lurking outside highschools

Posted by: Yerameyahu Jul 18 2010, 01:43 AM

Well, there's opaque and then there's opaque. Clothing, including all armor, does not block your aura. As we all know. So it's not like a wall, which is aura-opaque.

Posted by: Lanlaorn Jul 18 2010, 01:48 AM

You'd be better off oggling a barbie or ken doll for your pornography, too. Astral forms have"little detail". There's a reason you take a -2 modifier to any physical action you try.

Posted by: Mordinvan Jul 18 2010, 02:08 AM

I thought the -2 was due to difficulties in concentrating on using your astral sight and trying to do something at the sametime?

Posted by: Lanlaorn Jul 18 2010, 02:37 AM

I doubt it's concentration since you can still cast spells with no penalty. The examples in the book are shooting a gun and driving a car, for what that's worth.

Posted by: Mordinvan Jul 18 2010, 02:24 PM

You may well be right, but that is how I had always thought about it. To me it seemed like trying to multitask. A good way to find out. Do ghouls suffer the -2 or not?
edit: whoops, forgot, innately dual natured creatures don't have that penalty.

Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2010, 02:26 PM

They Do Not...
No inherently Dual Natured Being suffers the penalty...

Posted by: Mordinvan Jul 18 2010, 02:35 PM

Ya I just remembered that part.

Posted by: Tymeaus Jalynsfein Jul 18 2010, 02:50 PM

Null Perspiration Omae...