Unconscious Breakout Rolls

[bigdamnhero]

6e1 p298 describes using Telepathy against unconscious or sleeping targets, but doesn't mention Breakout Rolls. Normally a target always gets one (but only one) Breakout Roll before they suffer the effects of a Mental Power (6e1 p149). So I assume the target gets at least one normal Breakout Roll despite being out? Does the unconscious/sleeping character get any modifiers to their Breakout Roll for being unconscious? If the target is out for more than a Turn and the mentalist continues the telepathic probe, does the target continue to get subsequent Breakout Rolls normally?

 

How does it work if the target wakes up in the middle of the continuing-effect telepathic probe? Do they immediately get another Breakout Roll or any bonuses? Does the mentalist have to make another attack roll now that the target is not at 0 MCV? 

 

The picture gets a little murkier with the other continuing-effect mental powers. Say a sleeping/unconscious character is hit with Mind Control, and in going to be out for more than a Turn or two. Do they get their normal Breakout Rolls at 1 Phase, 1 Turn, etc? Since they can't act on the command until they wake up, that technically violates the "one and only one Breakout Roll before suffering the effects" rule. Or do they get their first Breakout Roll when they wake up, their 2nd a Turn later, etc? Are there any bonuses or penalties applied either way?

 

Lastly: I've used sleeping/unconscious interchangeably here, but is there any difference in effect here, other than as spelled out on 6e1 p298? Thanks,

[Steve Long]

For purposes of this discussion, a character who’s used a continuing-effect Mental Power is the “mentalist”; the character he’s used it on is the “target.” 

 

A sleeping or Knocked Out character generally cannot make Breakout Rolls to avoid the effects of Mental Powers. However, when the target awakens, he immediately gets to make a Breakout Roll (with any positive modifiers for the passage of time since the mentalist used the power on him, if applicable). 

 

The GM may, of course, rule otherwise based on how Mental Powers work in his campaign. For example, in a “Psi Hero” campaign, characters’ minds may be strong enough and aware enough that they get Breakout Rolls while still asleep. Or in the case of using Mental Illusions to affect a sleeping character’s dreams, perhaps the character gets to make a Breakout Roll as soon as something happens in the dream that makes him suspicious (or otherwise seems unusual).

 

If a mentalist uses a continuing-effect Mental Power on a sleeping/unconscious target (who by definition is at DMCV 0), and has somehow “maintained” the power (for example, to keep “talking” to him using Telepathy, or to pay END so the power doesn’t deteriorate), the mentalist does not have to make a new Mental Attack Roll if the target wakes up and now has his normal DMCV. However, if the mentalist has not maintained contact and wants to re-establish contact for some reason, he of course has to succeed with a Mental Attack Roll against the target’s normal/awak DMCV to do so.

 

“Sleeping” and “Knocked Out” are the same for the purposes of these rules, but as you point out, some differences between the two in regards to Telepathy are listed on 6E1 298.

 

I think that covers all of your questions, but if not please post a follow-up.