Techno-Wizard devices and radiating magic

[Tor]

Page 126-127 of RUE discusses a "fourth advantage" being that they "do not often appear" to be magical. I could read that a couple ways... it could be discussing that some items always appear magical and other items do not... or it might be discussing that all TWs appear magical sometimes and non-magical other times... dunno.

We're told that TW stuff doesn't radiate magical energy when not in use... because it isn't currently powered.

This seems straightforward enough for some items. On page 137 the 'Flaming Sword' in the left column or the 'Lightning Rod' for example. You pump in PPE, it does its thing for a limited duration, and then it ends.

Some items work differently though. They offer ammo options besides 'pump and go at the moment of need'. The various TK weapons appear to have indefinite periods of charge, the shots stay in the weapon, the PPE/ISP put in there remaining, until you actually use the shots up...

Shouldn't those weapons, since they are actually storing the magical energy, actually radiate magic? Much like one would expect a Talisman or Scroll to do so? In the case of Flaming/Lightning swords, it is the spellcaster storing that PPE and the weapon being an empty conduit, but in the case of these TK weapons, they are storing energy so a mage/psychic completely at 0 in their energy pool could still use those charges to fight with.

[Tor]

One good note though is that Psi-Stalkers have different ranges depending on whether a mage is passive (just sitting on the PPE) or active (casting a spell, or maybe also if a spell is active on them like armor/invisibility, probz both).

They need to be closer-up to detect people just sitting on PPE so if they can detect storage-allowing TW stuff it should be at that lower range.

Some TW stuff (Deathbringer sword for example) incorporate that MD-weapon enchanting thing from FoM. I get the impression they might always radiate magic... wouldn't any weapon enchanted by that spell do so?

[drewkitty ~..~]

TW magic stuff is not detectible by those that can sense magic only when they 1) Are not in use and 2) Are not charged with mystical energies.

Read the Text C A R E F U L L Y. The 2nd line of that paragraph was written most carefully. And don't forget to 'read the whole thing.'

As to the 4th advantage is more "They blend in with the rest of the Tech around them." sort of camouflage when they are not displaying a magical aura.

NF you misquoted by the omission of the most important phrase in that paragraph.

This not being able to detect a TW item when it is not charged or in active use did not change from the the RMB and RUE.
-----------------------
comments about TW magic items....

If inspected at close range (within 3') or by handling it, or by taking it apart, then it's nature can be seen/sensed. The former needing a perception roll but the latter two need no prec. roll.

To make the detection at close range harder a TW would need to avoid changing the external casings of common weapons she converts and to not making any external engravings. Even so, this would just raise the difficulty of the prec. roll for the observer, not negate it. There will always "be something" that is wrong with it when inspected at close range that could be spotted.

PS's and DB's (along with other psions) will intuitively know what they are just by handling the item.

[Tor]

TW magic stuff is not detectible by those that can sense magic only when they 1) Are not in use and 2) Are not charged with mystical energies.

I'm already aware of point 1, that much is clear from the above. It is point 2 I am inquiring about.

Read the Text C A R E F U L L Y. The 2nd line of that paragraph was written most carefully. And don't forget to 'read the whole thing.'

By 2nd line do you mean what NF wrote as:

"Whenever the device is not in use, it does not radiate magic."

from paragraph 5?

This only addresses point 1 in a clear manner. Whether or not being charged with mystical energies for ammo storage qualifies as being 'in use' is a bit unclear.

Also, in double-checking the book, this is not the full sentence. NF appears to have left off the end, it actually concludes:

"it does not radiate magic, because it is not currently empowered by magic."

The issue is, does something need to be 'in use' to be 'empoweerd by magic' or does holding PPE/stored shots qualify as being magically empowered? It seems that there is more than just being 'in use' which could have something empowered, is basically my point.

If inspected at close range (within 3') or by handling it, or by taking it apart, then it's nature can be seen/sensed. The former needing a perception roll but the latter two need no prec. roll.

I would like to review the text pertaining to this 3ft range and perception rolls, haven't heard of it, am unable to find it, is it later in the TW OCC?

[drewkitty ~..~]

By 2nd line do you mean what NF wrote as:

"Whenever the device is not in use, it does not radiate magic."

Note my calling NF out about misquoting that line by omission because he didn't quote ALL of the sentence?
To the point that he left out the most important phrase of that sentence?

..., because it is not currently empowered by magic.

[Tor]

Ah, I had some inclination that might've been what you were talking about but since it wasn't posted directly, figured would do it

[Tinker Dragoon]

Shouldn't those weapons, since they are actually storing the magical energy, actually radiate magic? Much like one would expect a Talisman or Scroll to do so? In the case of Flaming/Lightning swords, it is the spellcaster storing that PPE and the weapon being an empty conduit, but in the case of these TK weapons, they are storing energy so a mage/psychic completely at 0 in their energy pool could still use those charges to fight with.

They won't necessarily be detected as magic, but they would be detected as P.P.E. sources. Not all beings who can sense one can sense the other.

[Tor]

Do you think it might differ with those where you pump raw PPE and those which are spell-locked and require you to cast energy bolt or blinding flash or whatev?

[drewkitty ~..~]

Do you think it might differ with those where you pump raw PPE and those which are spell-locked and require you to cast energy bolt or blinding flash or whatev?

No, it only matters if the TW thing is active or or is empowered with PPE.

[Tinker Dragoon]

I suppose if the P.P.E. storage is achieved through the use of a Talisman spell, then it would be detectable as magical, because there is a constantly active spell effect, but if I recall correctly, standard P.P.E. clips are just wires and crystals; no spells required.

[grandmaster z0b]

I'm not even sure how some of the TW weapons listed in RUE actually store the energy. The rules specifically state you need a diamond or emerald to store PPE however none of the TK weapons have those gems.

[drewkitty ~..~]

I'm not even sure how some of the TW weapons listed in RUE actually store the energy. The rules specifically state you need a diamond or emerald to store PPE however none of the TK weapons have those gems.

The rules say that diamonds and emeralds store PPE easily. Not that they are the only gems that can store PPE.

[grandmaster z0b]

I'm not even sure how some of the TW weapons listed in RUE actually store the energy. The rules specifically state you need a diamond or emerald to store PPE however none of the TK weapons have those gems.

The rules say that diamonds and emeralds store PPE easily. Not that they are the only gems that can store PPE.

An Emerald can hold up to 10 PPE per carat, while a Diamond can hold up to 20 PPE per carat. See the Gem TW Reference List for more information on the gems (diamonds and emeralds) required to store PPE.

In the Gem TW Reference List they are they only two gems that state "Can also be used to store PPE".

[Galroth]

I'm not even sure how some of the TW weapons listed in RUE actually store the energy. The rules specifically state you need a diamond or emerald to store PPE however none of the TK weapons have those gems.

The rules say that diamonds and emeralds store PPE easily. Not that they are the only gems that can store PPE.

An Emerald can hold up to 10 PPE per carat, while a Diamond can hold up to 20 PPE per carat. See the Gem TW Reference List for more information on the gems (diamonds and emeralds) required to store PPE.

In the Gem TW Reference List they are they only two gems that state "Can also be used to store PPE".

However Energy Sphere and Talisman make use of different gems. Diamonds and emeralds can store PPE without added spell knowledge. If you know the right spells you can (in my opinion) can use the cheaper gems.

[drewkitty ~..~]

The Talisman spell is not limited to gems and a mage make use of just about anything as a PPE battery.

[grandmaster z0b]

Talisman is not used in the construction of those weapons, the rules are pretty clear: you need to use either a diamond or an emerald unless your using a spell like talisman.

[Galroth]

Talisman is not used in the construction of those weapons, the rules are pretty clear: you need to use either a diamond or an emerald unless your using a spell like talisman.

The easy answer on the TK weapons is that they aren't holding PPE. They are holding "TK Rounds". Items that hold PPE can be drained by Techno-wizards and have PPE batteries listed in their description. If as a GM you don't want items holding charges forever, just add a rule saying the "TK Rounds" dissipate after the duration of a TK spell, either at the level of the creator or the user.

[grandmaster z0b]

Talisman is not used in the construction of those weapons, the rules are pretty clear: you need to use either a diamond or an emerald unless your using a spell like talisman.

The easy answer on the TK weapons is that they aren't holding PPE. They are holding "TK Rounds". Items that hold PPE can be drained by Techno-wizards and have PPE batteries listed in their description. If as a GM you don't want items holding charges forever, just add a rule saying the "TK Rounds" dissipate after the duration of a TK spell, either at the level of the creator or the user.

Yeah I was thinking that might be the case, you can pump PPE into it for a certain amount of rounds that's more or less equal to one charge. Storing PPE must refer to devices that have PPE clips or something.