Tutorial #15: Perception

Perception measures an elohim’s ability to notice details about the world and other beings around them. It also measures their ability to hinder others from perceiving them. Perception is not an Attribute written down and is only increased above a flat Perception of 0 by being an elohim of the Messenger Order, being a Messenger Disciplines, or by equipping an Item.

Single-Order Messengers gain a +7 to Perception. Multi-Order Messengers gain +3 to Perception. These bonuses are from an ability called Situational Awareness and they increase as the Messenger increases in Tier.

Regarding Items, Perception bonuses are split into two different considerations. Some Items increase an elohim’s Checks when Perceiving. Other Items help the elohim versus being Perceived. Of course, some Items may do both.

There are two kinds of Perception Checks. These are Incidental Perception and Intentional Perception. Incidental Perception deals with noticing something the elohim is not aware of or actively making an attempt to Perceive. Most often this will be the presence of other elohim. It is also often some detail the Host knows is important, but the players do not know to look for. Intentional Perception deals with an elohim’s attempts to perceive specific information. This could be information about another elohim’s Attributes, what Spiritual Effect is being used on another elohim, or what another elohim is Standing Ready to do. Perception is not limited to the spiritual realm but can also be used to notice things about the material realm as well.

Messengers have an ability called Trained Eye which they can use to gain an advantage versus an Intentionally Perceived Target. By keeping a focused, watchful eye on the Target, the Messenger can ignore any Guard the Target may have from Defensive Stance and gains Adjustments when defending against a Strike by the Target or making a Resist Check versus the Target.

Perception Checks can be affected by modifiers. These modifiers come from details such as distance or how difficult something is to Perceive. Be creative with Perception Checks. Information is a powerful tool and Messengers especially should be using Perception to gain an advantage. Even things that might not readily seem perceptible, can actually be Perceived by a keen observer.

All Perception Checks except Trained Eye are rolled by the Host and not shown to the Players. Any Adjustments the elohim would get, the Host makes in their favor. This adds to suspense and realism. If an elohim has a horrible Perception Check and would Perceive wrong information, it breaks the realism if the player knows the Perception Check was especially bad. They will find it hard to believe the false information. Secret Perception Checks can create some interesting situations and interactions.

Like all Checks in Allies of Majesty, Perception Checks results are interpreted by finding the number of uncancelled Passes after all Adjustments have been made. Remember that Perception is a number of Adjustments, not a number that needs translated into Adjustments like Precision vs. Guard or Resist Checks. At least 3 Passes will Perceive the desired information. At least 7 Passes will Perceive the desired information plus some extra information as a bonus. At least 12 Passes will Perceive the desired plus a lot of extra information. 1 or 2 Passes may Perceive some partial, uncertain information. At least 3 uncanceled Fails may Perceive false information.

This concludes Tutorial #15: Perception. In the next Tutorial we will talk about Social Checks.