Use of Alter Aura

[darthauthor]

Player and I as a GM asking about rare cases of in which the Psionic Power of Alter Aura might be used.

I read in one of the Vampire Books about the Aura of a Vampire.

Questions:

1. Can a player or NPC make their Aura like that of a Vampire?
Black Void I guess.

2. With a Aura Altered to that of a Vampire's can they make themselves invisible in the reflection of a mirror?

3. With the Aura of a Vampire with the player character or NPC be detectable as a supernatural Evil by psionics and Dog Boys and Psi-Slayers who can detect such things?

So basically, I am asking if you walk around with the Aura of a Vampire will other sense or detect you as a vampire?

4. Will other vampires mistake you for a vampire?

5. IF vampires are too smart for that, what about zombies or such?
With a Vampire's Aura, will stupid zombies treat the character like another undead (dismiss or ignore with indifference)?

[ShadowLogan]

1. As a Vampire could qualify as being possessed (due to the essence fragment), if it was possible it would cost more (last bullet point in RUE pg166-7).

2. If an Altered Aura was all one needed to alter their physical reflection, then a Vampire could overcome this by use of "Alter Aura" and/or "Mind Block" which is another method of altering aura (per "See Aura" in RUE, under Saving Throws it mentions Mind Block will hide aspects) but AFAIK the Vampire can't "cheat" this way, so why would a non-vampire? (Note Psionic Invisibility-like/illusion powers do exist, megaversally, that could mimic the no-reflection, but much more expansive than that, so a psychic might "pull punch" with such a power to limit the scope, but there are no rules for this AFAIK).

3. It would come down to how one thinks the Sense Evil/SN works, does it work via the Aura or something else (ex: a form of telepathic signalling)? I think the fact the Sense Evil (140ft) has a longer range of detection than See Aura (60ft) would lead me that it works by something else (note telepathy has a range of 140ft for comm, 60ft for reading surface thoughts, so subconscious broadcasting telepathy might be a good candidate).

4. It isn't clear AFAIK how Vampires can recognize each other just that they can. AFAIK they don't have See Aura, so altering one's aura might not be a factor against another Vampire (or Zombie) though might be of use against a thrall.

5. What makes you think that Zombies will be able to notice the Aura?

[darthauthor]

As for #5, I think that there was a magic spell of invocation called "Aura of Death" or something like that, the effects make it so undead and such see the character as one of their own are at least non-living so they don't try to kill them.

[ShadowLogan]

Okay, but is that an inherent ability that is "true" aura based or some function of the spell in question? The aura has other impacts too, which include carrion eaters thinking the subject can be their next meal (and they don't See Aura psi-power).

I'm also not sure if the Aura in question for "Aura of Death" counts as a "true" aura, since based on the description it comes across (at least to me) as visible to even those who can't see aura. "surrounds the spell caster as nimbus of flickering, purplish black flames."-BoM pg104. In some respects its similar to the "Charismatic Aura" (pg99, increase to PB and MA) or "Aura of Doom" (pg126, which is clearly described as visible "flickering black aura").

PERSONALLY I think it is not an inherent ability but a function of the spell. That doesn't mean Alter Aura could not attempt to replicate the effect, but it likely would not be automatic like the spell (as for an on-the-fly chance I'd likely call it a Performance or Seduction or Trust/Intimidate or Charm/Impress Check, if none are possessed they do it at base level for the skills or 1 level less than 16 for T/I or C/I which ever would be higher).

[darthauthor]

I ask the question.

I do not insist that it is.

I am exploring the limits and possibilities of the psionic power of "Alter Aura." A power which appears unique to the powers of psionics.

I read a spell. It has the word Aura in it's title and description.

As a player or GM, is such a power game breaking or OP, if it means that the undead or zombies cease attacking a player character or NPC?

Or what if a PC wanted to hide amongst the dead or undead?

Say a Necromancer or a PC who wants to hide from a Necromancer?

It the description of the power, "Alter Aura," began and ended with "IT is ONLY to fool the SEE AURA," I would have no questions.

[ShadowLogan]

The thing is conceptually there are a few different ways to interpret the word "Aura". "Alter Aura" has a specific use case in mind for the word aura, but is that the same intended use case for "Charismatic Aura", "Aura of Doom", "Aura of Death"?

AA is for your actual aura, but CA or the AoDs seem to imply something other than one's actual aura. Take CA for example, it alters one's attributes (PB and MA), but that isn't something that you can do with AA as a cited example so it is really one's aura being altered or something else? The CoDs are another examples in that you have something that is perceivable to even non-psychics or psychics w/o using "See Aura" implying that the aura here is not the same as the aura AA works on.

[Grazzik]

AA is for your actual aura, but CA or the AoDs seem to imply something other than one's actual aura. ...

Good explanation, SL. Again, confusion caused from use of the same word for different (but highly related) contexts. It is an example where folks need to really consider carefully the overall context and not get hung up on a single word.

I also find that with magic and psionics, while both of a supernatural/paranormal nature where extraordinary things can be achieved, the descriptions can't be assumed to be equivalent or comparable without digging into the context beyond keywords.

Otherwise, what would be the difference beyond PPE vs ISP... (tho let's not talk about those psychic powers that cross over into PPE... )

[darthauthor]

Question:

Is the purpose of "Alter Aura" only to FOOL "See Aura?"

Nothing more

[Grazzik]

Okay, looked into this a little closer... and I found the spell "Aura of Undeath" (MoM pg 85)!

Here it says that new vamps and low intelligence undead can be fooled by changing the char's actual aura. HOWEVER, no different than any other disguise, the char would have to play along like a vamp or zombie, like shuffling around. Start bleeding and it breaks the disguise. Presumably reflections, acting like they're alive by eating a garlic sandwich, taking showers, etc. would ruin it too. The point is though that it is clear that the actual aura is ONE way (not the only way) that undead tell each other from the living.

To use Alter Aura to achieve the same outcome would be quite the combination of changes, so as the spell is 12 PPE, I'd house rule the combination of aura alterations would take 24 ISP (1 PPE is usually the equivalent of 2 ISP).

That said, the purpose of alter aura is to change the information that can be gleaned from the aura - the mystical energy field around all things. So if there is something that reads auras for the info to cause something to happen (like set off an alarm), the secondary effect (like breaking into a vault with aura sensors) is the real objective and altering the aura is just the means.

Alter aura is also applicable to self only. However, I'd house rule a super psionic power that can manipulate the aura of other people or things. Not quite an illusion, as anyone reading the target's aura would see the same false info. So consider a TW tk-rifle that physically looks like a broken laser rifle but the psi-sensitive can see the amount of mystic energy charge left in it. Or a TW display shows how many tk shots left. Use the super alter aura and you could make someone or the display think the rifle is empty when there's actually a shot or two left.

I'd also consider natural abilities to see aura impacted by alter aura as the change is being effected on the aura itself, not the ability to see/read it. Though abilities like that of a Diviner to read palms (BTS2 pg 41), while similar, is not reading the aura and would not be affected by alter aura.

[ShadowLogan]

Yes I do think the intent of the Psionic power of "Alter Aura" is intended to counter "See Aura" (power, spell, natural ability), in fact its in the description of the power:

The altered aura sends the wrong message to those humanoids and supernatural beings who can see auras and use the information they glean from them to assess an opponent or find a kindred"

The altered aura will send the wrong message to those who can see auras."

Now that isn't to say that AA couldn't be used as part of a larger deception involving skills and/or other preparations (disguises), but on its own the power is limited in its ability to deceive. It can potentially mimic certain aspects of the spell(s) in question if they fall w/n the established range of what AA can do, but it will not mimic all aspects of the spell(s) in question (while the spell description might have an "aura" effect, other aspects might be a result of the spell IMHO and not actual aura, especially if those w/o See Aura can perceive it).

Not to keep beating this dead horse, but a more expansive look at simply allowing the AA power to work duplicating anything that involves "auras" in Palladium's Megaverse can be potentially breaking when you consider some of the other "Aura" abilities out there (and this is by no means a complete list, just skimming through a few books for about 20-30minutes):
-WB6 pg112 Flame Panther RCC has a "Flame Aura" (10 ISP)
-WB6 pg135 Pogtalian Dragon Slayer (also in WB30 pg157) abilities include "Energy Aura" (no cost listed)
-WB9 pg142 Serpentoid has "Aura of Fear" (based on their nature, but no reason the basic concept could not be re-used, 20 ISP)
-WB12 pg 49-50 (also in RMB pg103 and RUE pg140) Burster's "Flame Burst" ability provides a "Fiery body Protection" that is aura in nature per text (4 ISP, its armor also regenerates)
-WB12 pg 81 Zapper has an "Electrical Aura" (5 ISP, its armor also regenerates)
-WB14 pg98-9 Psi-Slinger their "Energy Conversion" (no ISP cost) ability isn't clearly understood but is worth noting since "isn't sure how he does this. It could be his unique aura or some unconscious fear response"
-WB14 pg128 Fennodi (also WB30 pg84) psionic power of "Protective Energy Aura" (no cost is listed)
-WB30 pg122 Loak's ability of Psionic Void (no ISP cost) involves its aura, implies that the Nega-Psychic and Psi-Nullifier might also use Auras (which isn't really mentioned in WB12, but they do spend ISP) potentially adding to the list
-WB30 pg20 Amana have "Aura of Life" (10PPE per melee round) which radiates a HF to enemies and healing/bonuses to allies
-RUE pg226's List of Magic Invocations has "Aura of Power (4), Charismatic Aura (10), Aura of Doom (40), Aura of Death (12)

So now for the low-low price of 2 ISP one can mimic psionic powers that generally cost more (and are generally Super Category if not class abilities, not mundane Physical, with class abilities generally being "cheaper" more powerful versions) or spells that cost more in PPE (at the rate of 1 PPE = 2 ISP). You have the potential for "cheap" protective armor type powers (Flame Panther) usually 30 ISP or "Empathic Transmission" (Serpentoid) or "Radiate Horror Factor" (Serpentoid, Amana) for 6 and 8 ISP respectively or even offensive damage (Zapper, Flame Panther) with varying costs. Then there are the abilities w/o any true comparison like negating ISP/PPE expenditure (Loak, which implies Psi-Nullifer and Nega Psychic belong here) or the Amana who also heals anyone in a radius (plus other effects) or converts MD laser blasts into a weaker form (if the Psi-Slinger's Aura is actually involved, this would be GM call). Now per the AA description in RUE one can enhance it for 6ISP for a specific use case, but still...

Just fun tid bit I found while quickly skimming in WB30 the Slurmph race (pg192) can naturally see auras.

[Plane]

I forgot the reflection thing, do you think that could be linked to the Mirrorwall in TTGD ? Not sure how else to explain it.