Difference between revisions of "Resonance"

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=Overview=
 
  
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The ability to call a Persona to battle is not the only benefit of being a Persona-user. Persona-users are also able to discover a wide spread of secondary psychic powers stemming from their ability. The most basic explanation for all of them is that Personae call out to each other, and for this reason, experienced Persona-users and Persona-studying scientists alike refer to the phenomenon as "resonance." The most basic of these abilities is easy for even a freshly-awakened Persona-user to discover; the most advanced often only become apparent over years of living the life of the awakened. That said, resonance is a subtle thing; even the easiest manifestations often need to be pointed out to a neophyte Persona-user.
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The ability to summon a Persona or make use of a Shadow is not the only benefit these people may possess. Called resonance, it is a sort of sixth sense that can be parsed in a number of ways by other Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed... or not, sometimes, as the case may be. In some cases, even civilians can glean a bit of this sense from a Shadow-Possessed or Persona-user, but it isn't common. Some Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users gain additional powers from their understanding and manipulation of their resonance; these are all covered under [[Support Persona]].
  
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==Reading==
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This file intends to address the nature of resonance, how it can be detected, and how it can be concealed.
  
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The simplest form of resonance, and the easiest for even the most novice Persona-user to discover, is that Persona-users can sense each other... to a point. For most Persona-users, this is merely the vague knowledge that a presence is very close by; unless the target is well and truly alone, it can be difficult to pinpoint, and even then, unless the user is a very talented "spotter" or the target is a very strong Persona-user, it can be missed. Two average Persona users will quite likely not notice one another in the least.
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==Resonance==
  
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There are factors that make sensing a target easier, however. The more pitched a situation is, the more likely one is to sense something, as well; one's sixth sense, like the other five, is more acute in the face of known imminent danger. The more intimately one knows the target, the more likely one is to sense a resonance, as well; as a result, one often needs to know at least a modest amount about a person to begin sensing the resonance of their Persona.
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Resonance at its most basic level is a marker of a person or being that possesses supernatural powers. Civilians do not possess any resonance whatsoever. While demons and Shadows possess resonance, though, theirs cannot be detected by anyone other that those characters discussed in [[Support Persona]]. It's much easier, but by no means a certain thing, between Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users, as the Shadows or Personas call out to one another. It comes in a variety of ways, and is typically felt to fall under the broad 'five senses' by those detecting it.
  
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Complete strangers will likely miss each other entirely, unless they are both tremendous talents; some sort of relationship, whether it's teacher to student, friend to friend, or even long-time enemy to enemy, will make this much easier. Even more esoteric relationships can sometimes have an effect; those whose Personas are mythologically connected in some significant way (or in rare cases, are the very same figure) are much more likely to sense one another immediately, for good or ill.
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==Detecting and Hiding Resonance==
  
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==Restrictions==
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Detecting resonance is easy. The character receives a vague feeling, often colored by one of the five senses, of some aspect of the character's resonance. For example, a character who describes their resonance as feeling like 'a lamp at night' may give the impression of brightness, or may smell like ozone or night air. The possibilities are endless.
  
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Support-type Personae, colloquially "spotters," are the best at detecting resonance, and those with fully-powered combative Personae will generally enjoy fairly minimal sensing abilities. Those with great experience or strong natural facility for Persona use may resonate more strongly, but as a general rule, spotters are spotters and combat Personae are combat Personae. Perhaps troublingly to some, however, it should be noted that the Shadow-Posssessed function with resonance exactly as do more conventional Persona-users.
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For most Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed, this is merely the vague knowledge or feeling that a presence is very close by; unless the target is well and truly alone, it can be difficult to pinpoint, and even then, unless the user is a very talented "spotter" or the target is a very strong Persona-user, it can be missed. Two average Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed will quite likely not notice one another in the least.
  
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Resonance is consent-based, and while there are some doors that resonance opens in play, it closes many as well; please be respectful of other people's wishes regarding resonance. Do not simply assume that you can sense that an individual is a Persona-user or a Shadow-Possessed; this is exceptionally rude, doubly so if one arbitrarily declares how the target's resonance feels without any discussion. The IC reason someone wouldn't be detected is up to the individuals at the scene, but resonance is not a sure thing, and so it's perfectly natural for someone not to notice another Persona-user without a compelling reason to do so.
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There are factors that make sensing a target easier, of course. The more immediately dangerous a situation is, the more likely one is to sense something; one's sixth sense, like the other five, is more acute in the face of known imminent danger. The more intimately one knows the target, the more likely one is to sense a resonance; as a result, one often needs to know at least a modest amount about a person to begin sensing the resonance of their Persona or Shadow.
  
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Those wanting more advanced resonance-related abilities must note this in the application, or a subsequent request; significant ability to feel or mask resonance will more often than not come with somewhat diminished combat capacities, and are often also modeled by unique abilities on a Persona's ability list. Almost everyone who possesses resonance, however, has the ability to dampen theirs from the senses of 'normal' persona-users--and there exist those who can even hide from actively-searching spotters. This last, however, requires as much power in reverse (and thus as much investment) as a full spotter-type Persona-user.
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Thus, complete strangers will likely miss each other entirely, unless they are both tremendous talents; some sort of relationship, whether it's teacher to student, friend to friend, or even long-time enemy to enemy, will make this much easier. Even more esoteric relationships can sometimes have an effect; those whose Personas or Shadows are mythologically connected in some significant way (or in rare cases, are the very same figure) are much more likely to sense one another immediately, for good or ill.
  
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=Resonance FAQ=
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Detecting resonance is consent-based, as is reacting to resonance. Not everyone has the talent, for one thing, and it is possible for another party to hide their resonance. Only detection-oriented support types, as detailed in [[Support Persona]], can override 'hidden resonance' of this type, and even they are overriden in turn by those of the obfuscation-type of their talent.
  
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Civilians may at times pick up on aspects of a character's resonance. This always translates as 'a feeling about that person' rather than the more colorful results Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users receive. While this can be beneficial in some cases--someone with a relaxing resonance may find people around her pick up on her 'constant sense of calm'--it can be detrimental. Someone with a fearsome warrior-like resonance will have a hard time being a salesman.
  
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*Q: What is Resonance?
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Hiding resonance is similarly easy. A character only has to focus on 'obscuring' themselves for a moment or two to rein in that aspect of their psyche. They simply fall off the radar completely for the vast majority of characters trying to seek them out. This, as mentioned, can be overcome by detection-oriented characters.
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**A: Resonance is a sixth sense of Persona-users which allows them to, under certain circumstances, sense things about others. It is not tied to other senses, nor is it 'always on,' as a general rule.
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*Q: How can I use it?
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==Additional Notes==
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**A:  Resonance primarily allows one to sense those with whom one already has some modest degree of intimacy or at least knowledge.
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*Q: I'm a spotter! Do I get more out of this?
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* As implied by this file, Shadow-Posssessed function with resonance exactly as do more conventional Persona-users.
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**A:  You sure do. Spotters have the easiest time of using resonance; generally they can 'do more with less' -- a spotter can locate a person based only on general knowledge in supernatural spaces like the Dark Hour or the TV World, and can keep exceptional track of those they are close with and their surroundings.
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*Q: I can mask my resonance! How does this work?
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* There is nothing about a particular character's resonance that labels them as specifically Persona-users or specifically Shadow-Possessed. Their status cannot be determined in this way.
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**A: Anyone can do this, actually; it's as simple as 'trying to be careful.' A person attempting to hide themselves will naturally also dim their resonance, as their Persona responds to their intent similarly to making attacks. Someone aware enough of resonance to actively sense it can also /just/ mask that. Typically, it requires a person of spotter-level abilities actively sensing for someone (that is, with their Persona out) to pierce this level of masking. A higher level, which blocks out all resonance in a small area around the Persona-user, is available and even beats spotter-level abilities, but is itself a special power that requires application.
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*Q: How do I get higher-powered resonance-related abilities?
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* Resonance is consent-based. Please be respectful of other people's wishes regarding resonance. Do not simply assume that you can sense that an individual is a Persona-user or a Shadow-Possessed; this is exceptionally rude, doubly so if one arbitrarily declares how the target's resonance feels without any discussion. The IC reason someone wouldn't be detected is up to the individuals at the scene, but resonance is not a sure thing, and so it's perfectly natural for someone not to notice another Persona-user or Shadow-Possessed without a compelling reason to do so.
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**A:  Ask at character creation, or if it's something you've built to IC, toss a request! This may require you to give up some more conventional combative Persona powers.
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* Only support-oriented characters may have additional resonance abilities outside potentially detecting other Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users, and hiding their own resonance. Please see [[Support Persona]] for what this entails for these characters and [[Support_Persona#RP-Oriented_Abilities|RP abilities]] through [[Support_Persona#Combat-Oriented_Abilities|combat abilities]] what powers they may possess.
  
 
[[Category: Newsfiles]]
 
[[Category: Newsfiles]]
 
[[Category: IC]]
 
[[Category: IC]]

Revision as of 22:58, 25 August 2012

The ability to summon a Persona or make use of a Shadow is not the only benefit these people may possess. Called resonance, it is a sort of sixth sense that can be parsed in a number of ways by other Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed... or not, sometimes, as the case may be. In some cases, even civilians can glean a bit of this sense from a Shadow-Possessed or Persona-user, but it isn't common. Some Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users gain additional powers from their understanding and manipulation of their resonance; these are all covered under Support Persona.

This file intends to address the nature of resonance, how it can be detected, and how it can be concealed.

Resonance

Resonance at its most basic level is a marker of a person or being that possesses supernatural powers. Civilians do not possess any resonance whatsoever. While demons and Shadows possess resonance, though, theirs cannot be detected by anyone other that those characters discussed in Support Persona. It's much easier, but by no means a certain thing, between Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users, as the Shadows or Personas call out to one another. It comes in a variety of ways, and is typically felt to fall under the broad 'five senses' by those detecting it.

Detecting and Hiding Resonance

Detecting resonance is easy. The character receives a vague feeling, often colored by one of the five senses, of some aspect of the character's resonance. For example, a character who describes their resonance as feeling like 'a lamp at night' may give the impression of brightness, or may smell like ozone or night air. The possibilities are endless.

For most Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed, this is merely the vague knowledge or feeling that a presence is very close by; unless the target is well and truly alone, it can be difficult to pinpoint, and even then, unless the user is a very talented "spotter" or the target is a very strong Persona-user, it can be missed. Two average Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed will quite likely not notice one another in the least.

There are factors that make sensing a target easier, of course. The more immediately dangerous a situation is, the more likely one is to sense something; one's sixth sense, like the other five, is more acute in the face of known imminent danger. The more intimately one knows the target, the more likely one is to sense a resonance; as a result, one often needs to know at least a modest amount about a person to begin sensing the resonance of their Persona or Shadow.

Thus, complete strangers will likely miss each other entirely, unless they are both tremendous talents; some sort of relationship, whether it's teacher to student, friend to friend, or even long-time enemy to enemy, will make this much easier. Even more esoteric relationships can sometimes have an effect; those whose Personas or Shadows are mythologically connected in some significant way (or in rare cases, are the very same figure) are much more likely to sense one another immediately, for good or ill.

Detecting resonance is consent-based, as is reacting to resonance. Not everyone has the talent, for one thing, and it is possible for another party to hide their resonance. Only detection-oriented support types, as detailed in Support Persona, can override 'hidden resonance' of this type, and even they are overriden in turn by those of the obfuscation-type of their talent.

Civilians may at times pick up on aspects of a character's resonance. This always translates as 'a feeling about that person' rather than the more colorful results Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users receive. While this can be beneficial in some cases--someone with a relaxing resonance may find people around her pick up on her 'constant sense of calm'--it can be detrimental. Someone with a fearsome warrior-like resonance will have a hard time being a salesman.

Hiding resonance is similarly easy. A character only has to focus on 'obscuring' themselves for a moment or two to rein in that aspect of their psyche. They simply fall off the radar completely for the vast majority of characters trying to seek them out. This, as mentioned, can be overcome by detection-oriented characters.

Additional Notes

* As implied by this file, Shadow-Posssessed function with resonance exactly as do more conventional Persona-users.

* There is nothing about a particular character's resonance that labels them as specifically Persona-users or specifically Shadow-Possessed. Their status cannot be determined in this way.

* Resonance is consent-based. Please be respectful of other people's wishes regarding resonance. Do not simply assume that you can sense that an individual is a Persona-user or a Shadow-Possessed; this is exceptionally rude, doubly so if one arbitrarily declares how the target's resonance feels without any discussion. The IC reason someone wouldn't be detected is up to the individuals at the scene, but resonance is not a sure thing, and so it's perfectly natural for someone not to notice another Persona-user or Shadow-Possessed without a compelling reason to do so.

* Only support-oriented characters may have additional resonance abilities outside potentially detecting other Shadow-Possessed or Persona-users, and hiding their own resonance. Please see Support Persona for what this entails for these characters and RP abilities through combat abilities what powers they may possess.

Retrieved from "http://www.mysterymeep.net/mw/index.php?title=Resonance&oldid=9672"
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