Smells like Duplication

[SAW]

For the more highly advanced Discriminatory Senses (like smell for example) is there any difference between a base character and his duplicates or between the duplicates themselves? Or is there no way short of Telepathy to tell the difference?

SAW

[Steve Long]

Unless special effects or some Limitation on the Duplication indicates otherwise, Duplicates are, per 5ER 154, “exactly the same” as the original character. That means they seem identical to all Senses (including Mental Group Senses), even if those Senses are Discriminatory. At the GM’s option, a Sense with Analyze can differentiate between a Duplicate and the original character, or a Duplicate and another Duplicate.

However, this “sameness” only applies when the Duplicates are created and for so long as conditions among them remain the same. Once they start to take Actions, the odds are they’ll reveal themselves quickly. A Duplicate who exerts himself begins to sweat, and thus smells different from one who does nothing; one exerting himself to a greater degree than another sweats more and thus smells differently. A Duplicate who takes an injury is visually, tactilely, and olfactorily different from another Duplicate/original character who remains unharmed. As Duplicates act, they think different thoughts, quickly becoming distinct to Telepathy and the like. As always, it’s an issue the GM should address based on the circumstances, special effects, common sense, dramatic sense, game balance, and similar factors.