Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HermitIX 01-30-08, 04:39 PM	One of my players asked me a question that I don’t know the answer to. Here's my question. The psionics rules state somewhere that a power's display can be suppressed with a Concentration check. If such display is suppressed, is the recipient still able to identify the origin of the power? For example. Imagine an elder statesman is giving a speech. During the speech, a psion type character in the audience decides it would be funny to ego whip him down to 0 charisma, and does so - while successfully suppressing the display on every use of the power. Assuming that no one is detecting psionics or detecting magic at the time, will anyone be able to identify the source of the trauma in time to try and stop the psion type character?
flamepheonix182 01-30-08, 04:46 PM	Hmm I would say no. Though maybe if the politician makes one of his saves and therefore knows someone manifested on him, then maybe a spot check to see the psion in the crowd in deep concentration, trying to stare a hole through him
AntiDjinn 01-30-08, 05:23 PM	The section on suppressing displays does not say: "and when you do this, everyone around you becomes stupid." Just because you are not shooting out a visible ray does not mean your target or bystanders think the even was natural, was not an attack, or can't figure out by reasoning that you are the responsible party. If your PC gets hit with an Energy Ball with the display hidden, you will still try to figure out who manifest it. If there is only one unfamiliar person present, it won't be a hard guess, if there are more you might have to deduce who it is using more than game mechanics. This being the case, never assume that NPC's will do any less. Having been blasted with a power with display hidden they are not simply going to shrug and figure it is beyond them to ever figure out who attacked them.
HermitIX 01-30-08, 06:31 PM	The section on suppressing displays does not say: "and when you do this, everyone around you becomes stupid." Just because you are not shooting out a visible ray does not mean your target or bystanders think the even was natural, was not an attack, or can't figure out by reasoning that you are the responsible party. If your PC gets hit with an Energy Ball with the display hidden, you will still try to figure out who manifest it. If there is only one unfamiliar person present, it won't be a hard guess, if there are more you might have to deduce who it is using more than game mechanics. This being the case, never assume that NPC's will do any less. Having been blasted with a power with display hidden they are not simply going to shrug and figure it is beyond them to ever figure out who attacked them. So what you are saying is, unless some one takes exceptional measures like using “Detect Psionics” there wouldn’t be a way to tell who manifested Ego Whip, but the target would know that some one had mentally attacked him?
AntiDjinn 01-30-08, 06:50 PM	Yes, he doesn't just think its normal for his Cha to be 1d4 points lower. If he fails the save vs. a mind-affecting power then he doesn't know he has been affected by a power. But he knows something just happened, he knows it is something bad (if you loose hit points or stat points you don't need to make a roll to realize this is a step in a bad direction). Hiding displays means you dispense with obvious power effects that could be easily detected, but the power still has an effect. In terms of how likely they are to identify a manifester, the order from most to least likely should be: 1) Using an active power (Detect Psionics, similar) and specifically watching that individual (or reading his mind). 2) Using a detecting power, and casually observing the area. 3) Have ranks in psicraft, experiencing or witnessing a power's display or effect, and making the roll. 4) Have ranks in psicraft, missing the roll (should still count for more than the guy who doesn't have a single rank). You may still know a power was used, but you can't ID it. 5) Threatening the subject when it manifests, unless it can do so without triggering an AoO. This actually only tells you that it was concentrating or otherwise not paying attention to its immediate peril, but if it coincides with someone's head detonating across the room, there should be a good chance you figure out the guy you just took a swing at did it. 6) Schmo with no ranks in psicraft, no active detection, not close enough for AoO, and not particularly paying attention. In this case only the subject's deductive ability will help after the fact. He may never figure out exactly what went down, but may realize it was supernatural. For most commoners, realizing something is supernatural and dangerous is more than enough info; the specifics are beyond their comprehension or interest.
Wizard Random 01-31-08, 04:29 AM	Yes, he doesn't just think its normal for his Cha to be 1d4 points lower. LOL