Bug Swarm Senses

[Corebrute23]

I'm working on a character with a power similair to Humbug, who can use his powers over insects to search large areas at will, by coordinating with the numerous cockroaches wasps etc around there.

How would you build such a power? Extended range? If I want to cover a miles, how many ranks would I need for that? Would it be correct to call this a mental sense? do I need to include Radius sight?

I'm not sure what kind of senses bugs would have, but smell would probably be a good one. What other senses should be covered? Microscopic vision, since they are so small?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[kenseido]

Sounds like ESP with a Medium (Insects) Flaw.

As for senses it would cover, well not sure. Since it is a mental effect, it can be rationalized that you can only perceive what you would sense if you were there.

[Corebrute23]

Perfect! I didn't even think of ESP, thank you.

[FuzzyBoots]

As for senses it would cover, well not sure. Since it is a mental effect, it can be rationalized that you can only perceive what you would sense if you were there.

*shrug* Since ESP requires you to specify senses, you can pretty much pick which senses. Sight and Scent sound good to me.

[Doctor Devious]

You could consider some form of linked sensory-quickness such that you can you can actually interpret the information in a reasonable time frame.

[cochramd]

I checked Ultimate Power. If your descriptors match what is outlined here, then I'm happy for you. But if you want to look through the eyes of the bugs themselves and get all the same sensory input they do, Sensory Link is on page 187. The base price is 2 points per rank, and limiting yourself to bugs is a -2 modifier. The catch is not only do they bugs have to be in extended range, but you have to either know them or perceive them accurately. Of course, the text implicated that you only saw what one person was seeing, so some talking with the GM will be required anyways.

The Medium flaw for ESP irritates me. In Teleport it's defined as 'You can only teleport from and to locations where your medium exists'. And that makes meta-sense for teleport, because you're really just travelling a different path that happens to take an extraordinarily small amount of time. The medium is either the gateway at both ends of the path or the actual path itself, depending on descriptors. But for ESP, it's 'You can only perceive locations where your chosen medium exists.' And I can see that working with the proper mediums and descriptors. But in my experience, most medium-dependent ESPs in fiction have the medium on the opposite side entirely (the gypsy fortuneteller with her crystal ball, and powerful magic users that can turn a body of still water into a scrying pool) or more analogous to Teleport's medium. It bugs me that there are no options for these....then I remember rule zero, but then it still bugs me that there are no official options for these.

[kenseido]

Crystal Balls and scrying pools are not mediums. They are descriptors.

Medium (Security cameras) allows you to see areas that have security cameras.

Medium (Insects) allows you to only see areas where there are insects. Obviously, that doesn't sound like a -1 Flaw, but think about it.

"I want to see in this room. There in roaches in the building." Okay, you see inside the walls. Maybe some limited visibility outside for the one or two that happen to be in the room at the time, but not full on ESP where you automatcially see the whole room.

[cochramd]

I disagree.

The fortuneteller needs a crystal ball....any old crystal ball will do, so long as it fits a certain number of criteria, and she cannot use her power without it. The crystal ball is not a descriptor since it imposes clear mechanical effects, nor is it a device, since not just anyone can pick up her crystal ball and gain her powers. It's a mundane object that is necessary to utilize her inherent powers. You're right that it's technically not the Medium flaw, but the 'Limited: Only when character has access to particular type of mundane object' is of equivalent pricing, rending the point moot.

[kenseido]

But is only a Flaw if it falls under the Half the time rule. How hard is it for her to get one if she is without? That determines whether is a a Limited Flaw (Only works half the time) or a Power Loss drawback.

Same with using a body of water to scry. Even if they are Flaws and they give the same point break as the Medium Flaw, they are still not Mediums. Focii at best.

[cochramd]

That would depend on many, many circumstances, but as far as mundane objects go, it seems to me that big, perfectly round and well-colored crystal balls are some of the harder ones to get. She probably keeps it hidden somewhere safe, and thus would not always have it on hand, but you never know with those gypsy fortunetellers...

[kenseido]

Sure, the more requirements you put on it, that harder to get, the more likely it is a flaw rather than a drawback.

[Umbral Reaver]

Do you have to be able to accurately sense your medium to be able to use ESP on it?

For example, you can ESP through mirrors. You see a house over there but don't know where any mirrors are inside, if there are any at all. Can you still try? If so, what size area do you need to specify to ping for a medium? Can you look at an apartment block and say 'I want to ESP in there'?

Same deal with teleport mediums.

[kenseido]

Well given the ranges in question for ESP and long distance Teleports, I would say "accurately perceive them" might really restrict them beyond a -1 Flaw. I mean anything over a few ranks of ESP would be wasted if you had to accurately perceive them.

[Umbral Reaver]

What I mean is, presuming you don't need to sense it accurately, how do you aim the ESP? Do you keep attempting on each five foot square of the house until you tag one that's got a mirror in it? That could take a while. Do you automatically know where all mirrors in range are?

[kenseido]

Well I would think you would target a specific area, and if there is your medium in that defined space - within reason - you see it. Its kind of nebulous, and I really haven't search the ORQ forum on this.

I have only had a Mediums flaw on ESP needing Electronics, and used it a few times in places where there obviously was. As for Teleport, I basically ask the GM, can I get there from here, and they answer yes or no. Other GMs may have you jump in the medium and you come out as close as you can get.