Microscopic Detect

[Armitage]

If the target of a Detect is defined as something that is always extremely small, is the Microscopic Adder needed or is it trumped by the ability to Detect the target in the first place?

e.g. Detect Nanobots or Detect Ants. Could these detect an individual nanobot or ant without penalty? Or would they be limited to man-sized swarms unless Microscopic was applied?

[Steve Long]

Re: Microscopic Detect

 

Ultimately this is up to the GM based on his campaign standards, common sense, dramatic sense, and so on, but as a general rule of thumb if something is too small to be perceived with standard Senses, a character must apply Microscopic to a Sense intended to perceive it even if that Sense is a Detect bought specifically to perceive that thing. As a vague sort of guideline, think of it this way — if a character could see whatever it is with the unaided eye, Microscopic probably isn’t needed. Thus, Detect Nanobots requires Microscopic, but Detect Ants does not.