Obvious/Inobvious

[Outsider]

Obvious Foci can be easily identified as the source of a power. Examples given in the rules : Most weapons, a magic ring that glows while in use, a shield.

Inobvious Foci can't be easily identified as the source of a power. Examples given in the rules : Disguised or concealed weapons, a magic ring that doesnt give any indication of its powers.


Now, it seems to me that the 'glowing-magic-ring' Obvious Focus isnt as limiting as the 'look-he's-got-a-gun' Obvious Focus. The ringbearer's focus doesnt advertise the nature of the power that it is a focus for, and is effectively inobvious until that power is used, even if no effort at concealing it is made ("Look... he's wearing a ring!" "So what?") A gun-bearer's focus, however, does advertise the nature of the power that it is a focus for even when it is not in use, and is often difficult to conceal as well (("Look, he's got some sort of weapon!" "Yipes! Be alert! Don't let him in with it!")


Similarly, some Inobvious Foci are less Inobvious than others. Sure, a cane-gun is inobvious while you're just walking around, but once you start shooting people with it, its a lot more obvious than the non-glowing-even-when-in-use magic ring.

So...

What I am proposing (and I'm sure someone has proposed this before, but my search-fu wasn't up to finding it) is that a third and intermediate level of obviousness be introduced for Foci that are inobvious when not in use.

Inobvious at all times/Inaccessible = -1/4
Inobvious only when not in use/Inaccessible = -1/2
Inobvious only when not in use/Accessible = -3/4
Obvious at all times/Accessible = -1

Any thoughts or comments?

[casualplayer]

There was a thread with the same title even about three months ago. How do you link threads?

Edit: I guess this'll work. Is there a more elegant way? http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54873

[Outsider]

Thanks!

My search-fu is weak.. I initially tried 'obvious' and got 1000 results, then "obvious when in use" and got none.

[schir1964]

There was a thread with the same title even about three months ago. How do you link threads?

Edit: I guess this'll work. Is there a more elegant way? http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54873

Obvious/Inobvious

Obvious/Inobvious

- Christopher Mullins

[JmOz]

my solution, for what it is worth, and this goes for most concealed weapons is to have them buy plusses to there concealment skill with a -1 lim only to conceal _______

[Zorak1003]

I think you have to assume the Obvious/Inobvious part of the Focus Limitation refers to "in-use only", simply because not everyone might know your gun is a weapon- A bunch of australopithicenes are not going to be afraid of your little metal thing until it goes BANG and one of them drops dead.

On the other hand, you bring your innocent walking stick to some magical fantasy realm where all wizards carry wands and staves of power, the peasants all assume it's a weapon.

The question for the ring is, does the power CLEARLY EMANATE from the ring, like the Green Lantern's does? (Obvious) Or does the ring just sit there, glowing or not, all the time, like, say, the One Ring. (Inobvious)