How does ultrasound work, in game mechanics terms? 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+

[Ranger]

Ultrasound is described as being "...perfect to “see” textures, calculate exact distances, and pick up things otherwise invisible to the naked eye (like people cloaked by an Invisibility spell)..." (SR4A, 333). Descriptively, this makes it sound like you can walk around with your eyes closed or in a completely dark room without any problem. It also sounds like you can detect any invisible person without a problem.

However, the Visibility Table on page 152 of SR4A includes dice pool penalties for ultrasound when you are in less-than-ideal lighting conditions, which implies that ultrasound does not let you see perfectly in total darkness, or even partial darkness for that matter, and by extension implies that you also wouldn't be able to see invisible people with perfect clarity.

So, just how well does ultrasound allow you to "see"? Can you see invisible people without making a Perception Test if they aren't otherwise trying to hide? If you can see invisible people, do you suffer any penalty to hit them in combat, including needing to use Intuition instead of Agility ("Blind Fire", SR4A, 150-151)?