diminish senses

In general, I like the concept of this change but have some concerns/questions.

Does the Mettle skill action roll take any time or is it a “free” skill roll?

I think every 6 ticks is probably a little often. It needs a way to break it but it needs to last long enough to be effective (and I’m not sure 6 ticks is long enough).

A cleaner idea if using Mettle.

“Affected targets may attempt to break free with a successful Complex Mettle (Re) Skill Action roll against the caster’s passive Arcanum value…”

I thought about trivial or simple, but they can be combined with another action, or done separately (rending the duration pointless).

you know i look back at my reply and realize i miss read what i was replying to, if the spell is stays for whole scene then i think every 12 ticks the effected should get the roll to regain, that way just about everyone could get a crack at the guy before he breaks free thus being quite effective yet still allowing a chance to break free, alternatively maybe just have the spell last 12-24 ticks. everyone still gets a shot but then the spell is done and over with for that particular caster for that particular person, ultimately i do agree that 6 ticks may be a little fast for this particular spell

You also need to remember that they can’t attempt it until their next clock as well. If timed right, the minimum duration could be over 12 ticks anyway (big Martial Technique attack of 6-10 ticks; Push effect of 2-4 ticks; then the Skill Action of 4 ticks).

Having it be for ‘free’ in the same situation can result in *no effect* to the target at all.

maybe its just me but i’m kinda lost at what your getting at here

not true from the time the pc is hit with the spell he is suffering…

milky film
that covers the eyes and causes Blindness; if Hearing, then the eardrums of the Target pop, causing Deafness; if Taste, then the Target’s taste buds dull until not even the spiciest of foods can be detected, etc.

so if eyes are effected the pc is blind which mean as per the core books

Blinded characters grant a Tactical Edge to all opponents and all opponents are considered to have Total Concealment against that character.

the total concealment means that when the blinded pc attempts to attack he does so at a -6 while the attacking npc enjoys a +2 do to TE. in this case the npcs enjoy a bonus in one form or another for at least 6 ticks either to their defense if you are of the mind to add the 6 to the npc defense or if they are attacking they get the +2. or maybe i’m still missing what your getting at

Example:
Tick 1: PC attacks (Spd: 5)
Tick 2: PC hit by Diminish Senses
Tick 3: PC hit by Push 2
Tick 7: PC makes ‘free’ Mettle skill check and removes effect
Tick 8: PC attacks again (having suffered no penalty).

Except your working like a team…..

though I am starting to see the merit of making it 8 ticks…

or making it a push 2 action to resist… but if I do that you can have someone hit the target with a push effect and keep the target blinded longer

One thought to keep in mind is that someone’s passive Arcanum is always maxed out at “combat grade” while the victim’s mettle is often a less than combat grade. Most people will have less than a 50% chance to shrug the blindness off each time they role. At higher tiers maybe a lot less.

I also agree with making the mettle roll should cost ticks instead of a freebie. I think a standard/complex action is not too expensive But I worry a little about my above thought … instead I would suggest making it a simple action (and am perfectly fine with blinded characters combining that action stumbling around trying to do things … that’s comedy gold) BUT also be clear that you don’t get your sight back till your whole raft of actions launched at that tick is resolved.