Detect Magic/Detect Lie

[Zydana]

lets use detect magic for the example..

Currently how this works is that a player will tell whoever is running the plot that they are going to detect magic. The GM will then announce if it is or not and everyone around can hear the answer. What if the person detecting the magic does not wish the results to be known?

Fred and Jody are walking along a path and Jody spots a sword on the side of the road. Fred can detect magic but Jody can't. Fred senses this sword is magical and tells Jody that it's just a normal sword. Fred then takes the sword claiming he could use a sword and may serve him well after it's been polished up a bit. Jody doesn't really care if Fred keeps it because it's just a regular sword.

Now, the GM would of blurted out that it was magical and Jody would of known it was magical spoiling Fred's plan.
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Detect Lie

I really don't like Bill. Bill is accused of killing off a herd of the villiger's prized sheep. I can also detect lie. Bill stands trial over the sheep and I have been asked to make sure Bill tells the truth. Bill says he didn't kill the sheep (he's telling the truth from my detect lie ability) and I shout out, "He's lying!" The next morning, Bill is hanged (that might be drastic, but you get the idea).

Again, I would of asked had to ask bill if he was lying and he'd say no and then I'd turn around and say yes he was lying and everyone around would know I was the one lying.


It it possible to have a way so that everyone in earshot that doesn't have the ability to not know until the person with the ability wishes to tell them?

[Atrum Draconus]

You always have the option of whispering your question and having the answer whispered back to you. The NPC's will normally do that anyway and if you ask they will, atleast from what I have seen. PC's should do the same, but I am not sure that they are bound to do so.

[GM_Chris]

Good Question!!!

We have not thought of an answer, but if you ask me I will make sure to talk softly into your ear.

I promise no wet willies

[Zydana]

Perhaps whispering should become common practice as to not arouse suspision when all of a sudden a PC starts whispering things dealing with Magic and Lies when they don't normally.

[cole45]

I know this adds more junk to the game, but you could have detected lie tags, and detect magic tags. If they check the GM hands them the tag. No questions asked. Then it's up to the player to reveal the answer.


I know it's not practical, and you guys have twenty kinds of junk to lug around now.

[Zydana]

Every GM has an index card that says Yes and one that says No. The GM passes the player the card, the player opens it, reads it and passes it back to the GM. That would work nicely, but what about PC vs PC detect lies?

[cole45]

With PC's it's going to be very difficult. You ask the GM, who asks the player. The player tells the GM.

The problem is the player knows you detected lie. And you can't go straight to the gm, because it is possible to resist a detected lie.

That's a sticky wicket.

[GM_Chris]

The skills were written so people know what you are doing. Forexample I dont believe it says you can detect things from across the room. YTYou need to be in meditation for 1 minute in close proximetly.

[cole45]

Detect lie doesn't say anything like that. Just a lifepoint.

[Zydana]

Yep, it seems detect lie is instantanious upon spending a life point and detect magic takes 15 seconds of studying a specific object.

[GM_Chris]

Interesting..perhaps we need to ad a description to th skill, because I cant have a person across a room walking up and asking because then you get STUPID STUPID STUPID crap like..Im ooc for 20 seconds to ask my quesion while I cross the room.

[WayneO42]

I think we should KILL the detect lie skill as it is. It causes too much OOG crap and detracts from the game. It allows a player to solve a mystery using a skill rather than good old fashion Role-Playing. I think the skill should be written like:

Interrogator Level 2: Know Truth

It takes 5 minutes per LP to interrogate a person or monster (you must be able to communicate with the Target). Time equal to the target's max life must be spent. Thus a target with a maximum of 10 life points would take 50 minutes to interrogate. At this point the target is at 0 life points. The interrogator may determine if any statements the target makes while they are in this state are true or false. The target is not compelled to answer any questions. The target may spend a hero point to go unconscious. If the interrogator also has the Healer's Torture skill, then it takes only 1 minute per life point to interrogate the target.

[cole45]

What about the spy's Total confidence? Change it so when you use it, you may lie as though you were telling the truth?

[WayneO42]

I am thinking the spy skill would be re worded as such:

Spy Level 3: Total Confidence

At this level the spy has learned to have total faith in his abilities of misdirection, and may project this calm with surgical precision. This allows him to mask the ticks and tells of his conscience whenever lying. The spy may resist the "Know Truth" skill and does not need to declare they are doing so; however, after the scene they must explain to a Game Master in private they have done so.

[cole45]

Removing the life point cost is good. It's not like this is an oft used skill.