Adept Power: Magic Sense, Do you need Spellcasting to make it work? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[HappyDaze]

The Magic Sense adept power sounds pretty interesting, but it's written as:

Magic Sense
Cost: .5
This power grants the adept extra sensitivity to the ebbs and flows of mana in his vicinity. The adept can sense magical activity on the same plane within (Magic x 10) meters of his person. This power will detect active foci, spells, mana barriers, dual-natured beings, and mana anomalies; on the astral it will also detect astral forms. Treat this power as the Detect Magic spell (p. 199, SR4), with a Force equal to the adept’s Magic.

The Detect Magic spell from SR4 words things a bit differently on what it can detect, but this appears to be based on the idea that the spell is not limited to the same plane (despite the general casting rules) allowing a totally non-astral magician to detect an astral form spirit. Magic Sense can't do this. OK, no problems here.

However, since Detect Magic is an Active detection spell, it requires a Magic + Spellcasting roll (resisted). The problem is that (non-mystic) adepts can't get Spellcasting and it seems against the spirit of the rules to require it for the Magic Sense power. Should it be replaced with another skill (Perception?) or possibly just use Magic x 2 in a way similar to the many magical effects that use Force x 2?

Also, since this is treated as a spell, does it cause drain? Can it be sustained?