06-18-2009, 09:04 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nashville, TN
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[Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
I want to build a power for disciples of a law-oriented deity that works as follows:
It places a visible aura of white light around the subject, but the light will change to red if the subject utters any statement that he or she knows to be false. The "light of the truth" requires that the subject be touched. It is possible to resist this power, but a willing subject can waive that right. A canny subject can carefully parse and tell a half-truth, but the aura will only detect an out-and-out lie. (It is possible that more advanced casters could Link this with Affliction: Truthfulness, to make it more difficult to tell a smooth half-truth, but that's not what I'm looking for). The Detect trait works for this I suppose, but the special effect is a little odd. I'm also not sure what frequency of occurence to give to an abstract quantity like "lies". Functionally, I'd like it to work more like an affliction -- it should not be easy to put the "light of the truth" on someone who does not wish it. It should be resisisted like a Malediction, I think. It's almost like what I want to do is afflict some souped-up version of "Easy to Read", and I may, in fact, do just that. Call it a Divine Curse, build an affliction and be done with it. I am curious how others would build this power, though. I'd also take any other input about other potential powers for a law-themed god, too.
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I didn't realize who I was until I stopped being who I wasn't. Formerly known as Bookman- forum name changed 1/3/2018. |
06-18-2009, 09:26 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
I'm getting more and more leery of trying to define objective lies meaningfully for English speakers - the lines can get blurry in lots of surprising ways that don't necessarily even involve intent to deceive (we infer lots of background that isn't stated explicitly from statements in isolation). But I think Afflicting some variant of Truthfulness or Easy To Read is a good way to do it. Just figure out where you're drawing your lines, guesstimate a point value for the pseudo-disad, and use Affliction with Malediction.
Last edited by transmetahuman; 06-18-2009 at 09:48 AM. |
06-18-2009, 09:28 AM | #3 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
Summonable Ally (Wisp of Truth).
The Wisp is loyal to the summoner, and possesses Empathy (+100% NDRR, -??% - only to detect lies) and Insubstantial. Feature: Wisp changes color when it detects lies. |
06-18-2009, 10:12 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Massachusetts
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
Afflict beneficial enhancement: accessory (white light) and accessory (red light) (only while telling a lie).
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06-18-2009, 10:16 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nashville, TN
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
Quote:
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I didn't realize who I was until I stopped being who I wasn't. Formerly known as Bookman- forum name changed 1/3/2018. |
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06-18-2009, 10:19 AM | #6 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nashville, TN
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
Quote:
First, I personally find abilities built on summonable allies that aren't actually summonable allies to be lame. Sorry, nothing personal. Second, since Detect Lies is an opposed roll, NDRR isn't appropriate.
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I didn't realize who I was until I stopped being who I wasn't. Formerly known as Bookman- forum name changed 1/3/2018. |
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06-18-2009, 10:42 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Nashville, TN
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
Quote:
Light of Truth: Affliction 1 (Disadvantage: Divine Curse (Subject glows when telling lies), +25%; Malediction, +100%; Touch-Based, -20%; Divine, -10%; Costs 2 FP, -10%; Requires Concentration, -15%) [10]
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I didn't realize who I was until I stopped being who I wasn't. Formerly known as Bookman- forum name changed 1/3/2018. |
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06-18-2009, 12:02 PM | #8 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
But Empathy works with an unresisted roll, and can detect lies among other things.
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06-18-2009, 12:10 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
Thats good for a "Valdemar" style truth spell. Another option (though I like the "curse" one) is to afflict "truthfulness" on the target. The glowing is just a 0 point feature.
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06-18-2009, 12:26 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: [Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability
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