[Powers] Detect (Lies) Ability

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Bookman

I don't agree with that interpretation. If it were the case, what would be the point of giving a bonus to the detect lies skill?

How I interpret it is:
Ordinary Joe: Default for Detecting Lies is Per-6, opposed by the target's IQ, acting or fast-talk. May improve this by purchasing the the Detect Lies Skill.

Low-Level Empathy Joe: Default for Detecting Lies is IQ-3, opposed by the target's IQ, acting or fast-talk. May improve this by purchasing the the Detect Lies Skill, with which he gets a +1.

Full Empathy Joe: Default for Detecting Lies is IQ, opposed by the target's IQ, acting or fast-talk. May improve this by purchasing the the Detect Lies Skill, with which he gets a +3.

It's fine with me if you're working with a different interpretation and want to consider mine a House Rule. In any case, this isn't the solution that I'm leaning towards for this ability, but I do genuinely appreciate the input. :)

Judging by the note that

Originally Posted by B51

You can also use it to determine
whether someone is lying . . . not what
the truth is, but just whether they are
being truthful with you.

it seems that Empathy is quite separate from Detect Lies. So that seems to indicate that a full-empathy person can either roll IQ to sense lies, or use Detect Lies at +3 (which might be above IQ, and can be used in situations where Empathy doesn't apply). I'm kind of leery of Empathy for this reason, but it's a very expensive Advantage that is very hard to use otherwise.

BTW, Detect Lies defaults to Per-6, so it's unlikely to have it at IQ after a +3 bonus (unless Per-IQ==+3, of course).

[SimonAce]

Originally Posted by Molokh

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.

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.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Bookman

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".

The TV show "Lie To Me" appears, based on the first episode at least (I've recorded the 2nd but haven't watched it yet), to be filled with statistics factoids along the lines of "the average person tells 3 lies per 10 minutes".

Maybe some such kind of pop psychology factoid could be used as a guideline, even if it is almost certainly not scientifically valid?