Support Persona

What's a support Persona?

A support Persona is a Persona (or Shadow! This is not the domain of Persona-users alone) that specializes in support -- that is, the detection of resonance, or the concealment of resonance -- above combat ability. Their focus also gives them expertise in analysis of combat situations. Due to the nature of their ability, they are considered a different 'class' within PersonaMUSH's combat system, and must be specifically applied for.

Reading of the resonance newsfile is strongly suggested for this file.

What are the types like?

There are two broad types: detection and concealment. For practical purposes, someone hiding (concealment) trumps someone detecting. Other than that distinction, the types are fundamentally identical, save for access to differing abilities. Concealment moves have a chance of a buffing effect, while detection moves have a chance of a debuffing effect.

What's a support Persona's setup like?

Normal starting Persona-users receive two high groups and four discretionaries. Support Personas (and Shadows) may have up to one high group (or two standard) and eight discretionary abilities. Of discretionaries, three of them must be from the support-only move list.

One must be either Total Eclipse (concealment) or Full Analysis (detection) and at least one must be Weakness Scan or Third Eye (detection) or Weakness Jam or Mind Haze (concealment).

There's a list of support-specific moves at the end of this file for ease of review.

How does my character use their abilities? Do I need to have them summon their Persona/turn into Shadowform?

Yes. With the exception of passive resonance sense, to use support abilities the character needs to summon their Persona or transform into their Shadowform.

I understand the combat abilities and resonance stuff, but what else can a character do?

There are a number of RP-oriented abilities that a character may have.

A free ability for support users of either type if they want it is telepathic communication, both sending and receiving psychic speech from designated targets -- the Persona or Shadow acts as a 'receiving tower' for their allies. They must be transformed into Shadow or summoning their Persona to use this. This has a max range of 'a few city blocks', but can grow or shrink in supernatural locations. Telepathic communication is not mind-reading; they cannot read private thoughts.

Characters who take Escape Route may teleport themselves or others to the entrance of 'dungeon' areas (Tartarus, demon nests, Midnight Channel, etc). The only rule is that it needs to be an enclosed place.

Characters who take Automap may visualize the outline of an area in their minds.

All characters may have a unique RP-oriented ability if they choose. These are restricted to RP-effects related to resonance and are non-damaging; consent applies in their application. Examples of this include:

• An awareness of useful items ('treasure') even a room away.
• The ability to enhance (in terms of flavor only) another resonance-oriented character's base detection senses.
• The awareness of environmental hazards in an immediate area, such as pitfalls for example.

What's 'Spotter Equipment'?

Certain factions (NWO, SEES, D4) have special equipment that boosts their support-type users' senses. This is strictly for flavor purposes and provides no combat bonuses.

What are the specific combat/code abilities for support-users?

Full Analysis reveals both weaknesses and resistances (if they are not being veiled from sight) of a particular target, and has a low-odds chance of delivering penalties to defense (Rakunda), attack power (Tarunda) or agility (Sukunda). It may only be taken by characters with the detecting talent.

Total Eclipse obscures both weaknesses and resists of its target, and has a low-odds chance of delivering bonuses to defense (Rakukaja), attack power (Tarukaja) or agility (Sukukaja). It may only be taken by characters with the concealing talent.

Third Eye reveals resistances only, and has a moderate-odds chance of delivering a penalty to agility (Sukunda) and a low-odds chance of a penalty to attack power (Tarunda). It may only be taken by characters with the detecting talent.

Weakness Scan reveals weaknesses only, and has a moderate-odds chance of delivering a penalty to agility (Sukunda) and a low-odds chance of a penalty to defense (Rakunda). It may only be taken by characters with the detecting talent.

Mind Haze blocks resistance scans only, and has a moderate-odds chance of delivering a bonus to agility (Sukukaja) and a low-odds chance of a bonus to attack power (Tarukaja). It may only be taken by characters with the concealing talent.

Weakness Jam blocks weakness scans only, and has a moderate-odds chance of delivering a bonus to agility (Sukukaja) and a low-odds chance of a bonus to defense (Rakukaja). It may only be taken by characters with the concealing talent.

Relaxing Wave regenerates a small amount of SP to an area for a few rounds. It also has a low-odds chance of clearing Mind ailments (Patra).

Healing Wave restores a small amount of HP to an area. It also has a low-odds chance of clearing Nerve ailments (Nervundi).

Automap is a passive ability. It prevents your accuracy from being lowered. It also allows for the mental map ability, as explained earlier.

Escape Route has no coded effect, but its use in RP allows for the user and their allies to return to the entrance of a location via teleportation, as explained earlier. In coded combat, it may be used to signal an complete retreat from battle.