Detect and Ranged Attacks

[Engurrand]

Originally Posted by Refplace

A Detect with Precise is functionally equivalent to Vision for a hum except your using something other than light to be aware of the target.
Cover penalties may apply regardless.
Unless purchased with Vision-Based or something similar it is as separate a new sense as say hearing or smell.

I have seen this interpretation expressed on these forums. I'm going to call it the Refplace Interpretation.

Under this interpretation, you would be using Detect to 'spot' the enemy by their [whatever you Detect] characteristic--in the case of Telescan, it would be their mind. Once you've spotted them you could then shoot them, since you know where they are. If they move, you might lose sight of them and have to require, but only if you weren't paying attention. Detect is not subject to darkness or cover penalties, so there should be no reason you would suffer those penalties once you'd successfully spotted an opponent.

It seems like it is a valid interpretation of the text in Basic, and I know players who argue for it strenuously. But the text of Telescan in Psionic Powers, as well as the rest of Detect-derived powers in PP, state or at least strongly imply a very different and incompatible interpretation: Detect is not a passive sense at all, but only occurs with concentrate maneuvers that _momentarily_ reveal the direction (or with Precise, the direction and distance) to the target. This I'm going to call the Anaraxes Interpretation. Under the Anaraxes Interpretation,

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

The target could move in between the ping and the shot. To be useful in combat, the sense would need to be either Reflexive (working automatically all the time, like most human senses), or at least have enough Reduced Time that you can use it actively as a free action. (Unless you've got Compartmentalized Mind or ATR to take two Maneuvers back to back, of course.)

If anybody could point me to any clarifying resource, Kromm quote, or precedent, I would appreciate it with big love.

At this point, I am inclined to agree with Anaraxes Interpretation, although admittedly that might be because that was how I thought it worked when I started this thread.

The bit about the Targeting enhancement was ultimately a red herring. Interesting, but consistent with either interpretation, so not helpful in deciding between them. Sorry if my meandering OP didn't quite make clear what I was asking... I think I'm only now getting to the heart of my confusion.