BlessedWrath said
Not really. I did go to college for a while, but determined that it wasn't my thing. What knowledge I do have has been amassed by experience, targeted study, simple observation or by random chance. I'll get curious about a thing, look it up, theorize about what implications it might have in a science fiction story, etc, etc. The only reason I know how to pick standard pin-and-tumbler locks is because I got curious one day and looked it up.The thing about ARA devices is that they only register changes in the human body. The whole "lie detector" thing has never been conclusively proven to be an effective or reliable technology because of the fact that stress does not only happen when a person lies. If a person worries, for example, that the truth will be perceived as a lie, that stress can trigger the machine. Again, I saw a thing I was curious about and studied it for a day.Anyone can do it, honestly. All you need is an internet connection and an inquisitive mind.
BlessedWrath said
Kirra will have final say over this. My evaluation stands as written. I cannot recommend acceptance based on what I've seen. Empathy and mind-reading carry such powerful implications that they must be separate powers. Having both as a side-effect of a third power is simply too versatile and powerful to be allowed in a one-power roleplay. For example, the power as described would not only tip off your character to a danger of being shot, but literally inform him of when to begin dodging based on the impulses from the brain to the trigger finger. Essentially, it's overpowered. I'll try to give you an example of what I mean: Sam's ability relies on pinging technology with a psionic wave. Through the magic of induced current, she is able to exploit that effect to gain limited control over electronics only. If I were to include mechanical parts, hydraulics, or anything non-electronic in that, it would be a separate power. It's still tech manipulation, and still falls under the Technomind power, but I specifically left it out because that's not how it works.This doesn't even cover the fact that decoding the human brain and entire nervous system in is something even our best analysis technology can't do, let alone a human mind. I will cede that an impulse from the brain to a muscle group should give you information on what physical actions the person is likely to take, but expanding that into two of the most useful telepathic powers in the entire psionics spectrum is, I think, over the line. That, and you'd have about 0.000000000000001 seconds to react to such an impulse.EDIT: I could also see limited ARA potential. Autonomic Response Analysis measures changes in the body due to stimulus. For example, heightened body temperature, galvanic skin response, etc, etc. Detecting changes in the adrenal gland could indicate stress or fear, for example. This is nothing close to mind-reading or true empathy, but is much closer to the effect you're looking for.
BlessedWrath said
I have never heard that term before. I wonder what else I've missed.
BlessedWrath said
FC?
BlessedWrath said
I do? Well, here goes.Your character has been discovered by enemy agents. You have time to grab only one object from the room you're in. What is that object and how does it help you to escape capture?