Accidental Change and Free Sensing

[yamamura]

I am working on a character (hopefully to play) that has Accidental Change whenever she crosses a magic barrier (the type that keep demons and other magical cratures at bay), then it dawned on me, that this could be used as a way of sensing magical barrier. So is this getting something for nothing?

G

[prestidigitator]

Perhaps it only happens when she notices that she crosses a magical barrier? Also, it seems that such barriers tend to be obvious: a pentagram drawn in blood or silver; a faintly visible barrier that makes your skin tingle when you pass through it; magical runes and patterns painted upon an archway. Even if it were to act like a detect in certain cases, I wouldn't worry too much about it if invisible cases of the barriers are relatively rare in your setting (especially if the Disadvantage is a bad one).

If you are really sweating about it, put together a cheap Detect for the character. I'd say a 3-point Detect with Sense but not Range.

[Supreme Serpent]

I wouldn't worry about it. Do you have to take Detect Magic in order for a Vulnerability to Magic Attacks to take effect? Does Superman have to notice the Kryptonite for his Susceptibility to occur?

[Silbeg]

I wouldn't worry about it. Do you have to take Detect Magic in order for a Vulnerability to Magic Attacks to take effect? Does Superman have to notice the Kryptonite for his Susceptibility to occur?

I would agree. Especially since without being able to sense the barrier, he wouldn't be able to purposely cause the transformation to happen (or avoid it, for that matter).

[Dust Raven]

I am working on a character (hopefully to play) that has Accidental Change whenever she crosses a magic barrier (the type that keep demons and other magical cratures at bay), then it dawned on me, that this could be used as a way of sensing magical barrier. So is this getting something for nothing?

G

If the character a magical creature (I'm assume he is, given what triggers the AC), wouldn't the barrier just affect him if he changes or not? In that case, it's no different that getting shot and realizing someone has a gun.

[Dust Raven]

Does Superman have to notice the Kryptonite for his Susceptibility to occur?

Not to debunk your arguement, but apparently he does. In every single case I've seen (at least recently) he hasn't been affected until that little green rock pops out from somewhere, or he turns the corner and suddenly there it is.

[prestidigitator]

Not to debunk your arguement, but apparently he does. In every single case I've seen (at least recently) he hasn't been affected until that little green rock pops out from somewhere, or he turns the corner and suddenly there it is.
LOL! Good point. With the way it affects him, shouldn't he be able to feel it a mile away and start high-tailing it in the opposite direction? :)

[Dust Raven]

LOL! Good point. With the way it affects him, shouldn't he be able to feel it a mile away and start high-tailing it in the opposite direction? :)

Yeah... Then again, maybe he notices it right away because he realizes it's affecting him, but I've never seen it affect him without being out in the open and completely visible. Might just be a visual for the reader/watcher though.

[Supreme Serpent]

K has to be pretty close to affect Supes. And usually it's kept hidden (inside a lead box, inside Metallo's chest) until it's used on him.

[Sean Waters]

hmmmm....pink underwear, Lois.....hmmmmm.....I'm sorry, what were we talking about?

Back on track...wouldn't tell the character that they have to make a roll to avoid accidental change: I'd do it in secret. If they change, then they'll KNOW they've crossed a magical barrier, but nothing else. If they don't change, then they don't find out: no 'free sensing'.