Terror (Active +0%), effects of Will and Telepathic Talent

[muranternet]

A new-to-GURPS player wants a psi character in a 150CP campaign I'm prepping and I'm helping her on character building. One of the (few) powers taken is Terror with the Active (+0%) modifier from Powers and Telepathic (-10%), so a telepathy-based single target 10 yard range quick contest of Will between the PC and the target to determine the penalty on a Fright Check. All well and good. However:

• Does fearlessness count for the target in the Quick Contest? (I'd guess either flat yes, or else as an adjustment on the fright check after losing.)
• Does Telepathic Talent give a + to the contest of Wills, seeing as it's a telepathic power that doesn't actually require a skill check but a Will roll?
• Why would you bother buying up the -1 to Will saves at 10/level base if you can do the same thing (up to 16) through Telepathic Talent, or even Strong Will?

Thanks.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by muranternet

Does fearlessness count for the target in the Quick Contest? (I'd guess either flat yes, or else as an adjustment on the fright check after losing.)

Looking at the description I would say that RAW implies it will only apply to the Fright Check after losing.

Originally Posted by muranternet

Does Telepathic Talent give a + to the contest of Wills, seeing as it's a telepathic power that doesn't actually require a skill check but a Will roll?

Powers specifically says yes on page 84.

I, personally, don't think that sounds right.

[muranternet]

Originally Posted by lexington

Powers specifically says yes on page 84.

I, personally, don't think that sounds right.

Not sure how I missed that part, thanks.

[cccwebs]

Why would you bother buying up the -1 to Will saves at 10/level base if you can do the same thing (up to 16) through Telepathic Talent, or even Strong Will?

You use the 10/level to help reduce the victim's Will in regards to the Rule of 16. The attacker uses Talent/Will to get to 16 and then also reduces the defenders Will. It's a way to "get around" the Rule of 16 and increase the chances the target will actually be in terror.

[cccwebs]

Does fearlessness count for the target in the Quick Contest? (I'd guess either flat yes, or else as an adjustment on the fright check after losing.)

Fearlessness (and any other related advantage) apply to the Quick Contest. The reason is that with the Active enhancement, the Quick Contest is the Fright Check. The roll for the result from the Fright Check Table is then modified by the Margin of Success from the Quick Contest.

[muranternet]

One more question about active terror, or terror in general; in the section of Basic regarding Fright Checks (can't remember the page right now), there is a +5 modifier to Will on a standard Fright Check if the target is in the heat of combat at the time that the frightening thing occurs. I'd imagine this is applicable in the case of seeing Cthulhu rise from the swimming pool while you're engaged in a mortal swordfight with a bunch of ninjas, but for Active Terror it (a) doesn't seem to fit with the narrative idea of the power and (b) makes it effectively useless except for scaring randome people on the street one at a time. Any RAW ruling I missed here regarding this, or house rules?

[The Resistance]

What is "Strong Will"? I have never seen it in any of my books.

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by The Resistance

What is "Strong Will"? I have never seen it in any of my books.

It's a reference to 3E: to modify your Will, you'd buy levels of Strong or Weak Will. Some of us still call a bonus to Will "Strong Will." We shouldn't, as it confuses people. But, we're old and set in our ways.

;-P

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Mark Skarr

It's a reference to 3E: to modify your Will, you'd buy levels of Strong or Weak Will. Some of us still call a bonus to Will "Strong Will." We shouldn't, as it confuses people. But, we're old and set in our ways.

Harumph... We keep the superfluous word, and LIKE it! The extra syllable makes you stronger :<

Darn kids!