Duration for Astral Sword psionic power?

[Plane]

Originally Posted by Deathwindfr

not sure about the duration for the Astral Sword psionic power (Psionic Powers p28).

The description lists no duration. It is based on Innate Attack advantage which does not list a duration.

So basically Astral Sword Power is always "on"?

I can't see that as the intention since it says from the outset "can manifest" so obviously there is a non-manifested state here.

There is a clear visual aspect to brandishing a weapon for intimidation purposes which I think should have a distinct existence.

Originally Posted by Varyon

I don't have the relevant book to check exactly how that one is built, but in general, I believe melee Innate Attacks simply exist when you use them and don't when you aren't using them - that is, they can essentially be turned on and off as you use it, rather than needing a moment.

Innate Attack (Melee) stuff AFAIK aren't always-on, they're weapons which you can manifest as a free action when you plan to use them. That might cause a few issues when parrying surprise attacks when you haven't manifested your weapon (free actions are done at the start of your turn, not during another's) but otherwise wouldn't matter.

Maybe it could be treated like having Reflexive +40% (you get to roll a power dodge at +4 to turn it on as needed?) but only for the purposes of turning it on for doing emergency-parries?

I do like the idea of there being some benefit to keeping the weapon manifested pre-emptively, such as not needing to make such a roll for emergency parries - otherwise does it make sense to have it as a defensive intimidation tactic if it doesn't aid in the defensive preparation at all to have it out?

Maybe if we're ignoring a Power-Dodge to turn on a Reflexive power then at least something like a "doing two things at once, -2" skill penalty resulting in a -1 parry penalty if a non-manifested Innate Attack (Melee) is being used to parry on that first turn the weapon's not kept visibly out? Seems fair to me and of little impact - it'd explain why people would keep the power on, to avoid that -1 to "quick-drawing parries" ... so to speak.

Another reason I guess would be if you're using rules involving Armed Grappling with such weapons, particularly with the new "Weapon Bind" options Cole introduced in Fantastic Dungeon Grappling.

I'd imagine that's moreso with ST-based physical weapons though, I don't know if grappling w/ Burning Attack (Melee) would make sense, for example - for stuff like lightsabers I have to assume that's only possibly via a physical component (the magnetic aura) or via special energy-on-energy options.

Originally Posted by Deathwindfr

Compare to ranged Innate Attacks - you simply shoot eye beams or whatever the round you use them, and aside from that they don't exist. "Attacks – notably Affliction (p. 35), Binding (p. 40), and Innate Attack (p. 61) – are only “on” while you are attacking. An advantage like this requires a one-second Attack maneuver to use; you cannot switch it on continuously without a special enhancement" (B34). The Melee Attack Limitation doesn't say anything to contradict this, although the "only "on" while you are attacking" bit doesn't quite follow considering such can, by default, be used to Parry.

That's one thing which could benefit from having more options - how often is it we see in comics of heroes just standing around with their hands glowing in preparation for throwing energy blasts - it screams like a sort of switchable innate attack capacity that gives ongoing visual cues even when not attempting damage.

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

there is a possible contradiction because Selectivity by default assumes all enhancements are 'on', which might put No Signature in conflict with 'appear as any kind of weapon'. To resolve the inconsistency, I suppose we could say 'appear as any kind of weapon' in conjunction with No Signature includes an undetectable one.

That enhancement has been a strange one considering the name - like shouldn't it be called "Astral Weapon" ?

The 'any sort' is also odd - it doesn't even have to be a bladed weapon that can do a cutting attack? It can look like a gun? Feels like it should have been "any sort of bladed weapon" in the enhancement phrasing and maybe "Astral Blade" instead of "Astral Sword" as the technique name.

There's no contradiction because No Signature +20% has two types and I believe this is meant to be this version:

"utterly undetectable by normal means, but leaves a magical or psionic trace."

There's 3 conditions specified in the opening after all:
on the astral plane
to astral beings
to those using Astral Sight

The +5% is an aesthetic to influence those perceiving it that way.