This is a great question. I would ask you to keep in mind that the Caul says the following:



So I would rule that, with the stillness key, Anne's body would literally become shadowlike-- darker, transparent, and thin. So if you do it in front of Mortals, they will see it and react accordingly. However, if you do this out of sight and then approach a mortal, there would be no issue.

Conversely, the Shroud states the following:



So I would read this one as she would just start subtlety fading from any mortal onlooker's minds.


Does this help? We can discuss more if you like and anyone else is free to express their opinions. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:12, Thu 02 June 2022.

Oh yes it does help a lot. Caul is off the table in this case. And while I continue to doubt it is making up in difference for whatever it might call in cost - I guess she'll have that little whisper and will use the Shroud to conceal her eavesdropping and looking closer.

So I will roll Resolve + Stealth + 1 as an activation roll and spend 1 plasm (how does one get plasm back?), followed by a Dexterity + Stealth (+ 1; if activation was successful). Right?

I would read the section on Plasm in the Geist core book (page 81-83) this will answer your question as well as telling you what else you can use plasm for.

You're correct about what to roll. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:05, Thu 02 June 2022.

Manifestations are... weird and generally nowhere near as powerful as abilities in the other W/CoD genres... excepting for Hunters (and maybe others, I can't remember/never was arsed to bother reading some of them) which is slightly 'weaker' than Sin-Eaters.  But then Sin-Eaters are meant to generally be facing off against ghosts and mortals and having a rough time of it, not be 'super-hero' goths or furries (Vamp and Werewolf) or flat out gods (Mage), so the power settings are probably appropriate.

I've never played a long-term-enough game to know for myself, but I've been told that most WoD start at the power level they'll have for their whole lives, but Geists have an enormous curve that they move along as they gain XP.

Yeah, it went full steam towards the bin tray now, but the power level was never my concern. The trying out went badly, not sure when Anne will take offered help again ;)

Maybe in a PbP.  But in a sit-down (o LAPR) where exp flows freely, the power ramps up quite well in most of the genres (excepting a non-powered Hunters game, they just get more skilled, cautious, and knowledgeable).


All the genres have a ramp up.  Take the Domination power from Vampire, it starts small with simple one word commands (that require eye contact) and ramps all the way up to full conditioning and possession (the later being they will do what you say, and continue to follow your orders even if you're gone).


And actually rereading old 1e Vampire, yeah, Sin-Eaters can get tot he same sort of "power levels", just in completely different arenas.  It's Mages that are demi-gods once they really get rolling.

In reply to Juste l'Requete (msg # 126):

Partial disagree there Juste. Some Manifestations can get very broken very fast. Not even bothering to go deep into the collection of Manifestations Industrial Boneyard at rank 5 is "spend 5 plasm. Over a several mile radius you can send your senses anywhere within range and telekenetically manipulate all non-living objects in that area." While that's an extreme example of what they can do that's also not something that it needs a lot of xp to get to, isn't readily counterable since the Sin-Eater doesn't need to be near to their intended target and there's no Paradox as Mages would have to deal with for doing something that gaudy (and would also need multiple Spheres/Arcarnum to pull off) though any Mage who decides to go that route rather than the many alternatives they have is being silly.

It's not a combat trick since before quite high Psyche it takes multiple turns to do, it's a high Plasm cost but it's undeniably effective. If you're lucky enough to get to use it in a trainyard or harbour expect hilarity to follow.

I can't say Sin Eaters are as powerful in raw mechanics as Vampires, Changelings or Werewolves in this iteration, partially because their relative amounts of splats. Not even going to try to claim they get close to Mages. Depending on your Keys and Manifestations you might be of limited uses but I can't call them the weakest. You're definitely right though in saying that they're usually facing ghosts and mortals and their powers reflect that.

Hans - I think there's a few big curve things for them, which I agree with mechanically because another way of doing it would be silly. While unless I misremember you can only be using one version of a Manifestation at a time as it goes up you get it for every Key you have. And every time you acquire a new Key you immediately get access to your existing Manifestations at their current rank with that Key. So Geist tends to have moments where when new Keys are obtained and suddenly that Geist gets an entirely new set of tools to use which tends to feel like a bigger leap than most splats going up a rank in a specific Discipline or similar.

Yeah, a lot of Manifestations can get quite crazy at the 4th and 5th dot. But it does require some XP to get there since we only start with 3 dots in them :)

In reply to Sandra Alvarez (msg # 131):

True. I'm honestly torn on a mechanical perspective whether the min maxer route for Sin Eaters is a wide spread of Manifestations or maxing one out, think it depends heavily on the desired build and the Keys in use. Don't really play enough WoD to know for sure and far too singed from the Jubilee stuff so far to bother trying to do the maths.

Luckily I didn't think much about that for building Malcolm. I wanted Stigmatic Boneyard because it fit. Not even properly though about future Manifestations yet.

I went with three manifestations, thought that might be best fitted for incremental learning on my side. And yes, the matrix enhancements (up in manifestation is an up in all keys, up in keys is an up in all manifestations) sounds crazy and I am looking very much forward to it ;)

In reply to Anne Reed (msg # 133):

Makes sense. Also don't think I'd heard matrix enhancements outside of a business context before, nice use.

I would humbly also like to add a single sin eater could F*** up a whole lot of vampires at once: Boneyard at 5 dots and Pyre-Flame key. BBQ!

Also, you have to remember the merits that Sin-Eaters can get. Imagine having a trove of ghost spies... Not to mention that a SE can potentially keep pace with a werewolf if they have enough plasm and the right stats? That doesn't even take into account the Shroud or any broken Caul manifestations! And I don't even have to mention Curse/rage... ;p

Also, Anne, (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but if your roll is 6 die to activate your manifestation, since we're not in combat, you can try 6 times max per scene. As long as you pay the plasm, of course. You do not need to lower your roll by one die each time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:40, Fri 03 June 2022.

Pssst, ST, no need to put pics in a spoiler tag, the pic does not hide away, the text will, but not the pic.  Spoiler tags don't quite work right on RPoL.

Lol yes, sadly i have noticed this too late.

Awesome!  Take the time you need, I'll still be here.



Unfortunately, my schedule fits more in the "can check and post for a few minutes in the morning and evenings" and not "has several free hours on any given day".

Congratulations on the new job!

That being said, I put a lot of weight on long-term narratives and character trajectories, so I'm not that interested in slowly finishing a scene with a brand-new PC knowing that the game is essentially over.

When you're in a place where you can run a Chronicle, though, I'll still be around.  Take whatever time you need!  I'll send you a PM.

Understood, Hans! No problem. Honestly, the less work for me right now, the better haha.

And No problem, Juste! I totally understand. :)

Congratulations on the new job GM. Best of luck with the move and everything else.

I'm in a similar boat to Juste in terms of not really being able to make several hours, even more so given I'm in the UK so my schedule tends not to line up with all the world. I would say in general you're probably better not trying to force a wrapup of scenes if you're hoping to revive the game at some point, as you will likely find it easier to get them going again than start everything anew should you return.

Thanks, Malcolm! The scenes you are all in were planned to be shorter so i don't mind finishing the ones we are in. juste made it clear she didn't want that and I know Linda is busy too but I can at least finish the 2 other scenes if the parties are interested.

No, that was Hans, though since we replied close enough together in time I can see how that confusion could occur.  All I made clear is "take all the time you need, I'm not going anywhere" and "my schedule isn't Discord live chat friendly".

Though, having said that, I'm also fine waiting for you to get settled and hopefully Linda's time issues will be settled by then as well.

I am fine with finishing up as well as letting it sleep until you have time again to pick it up.

I'll be here, discord is an option I haven't yet considered. I haven't had time for synchronous RP since my eldest was born nearly 10 years ago. Work and family life are in balance but leaving little room for other parts of life.

Linda is still here. I'm willing to sacrifice sleep to play geist - but only if there is a perspective.

That said, life is changeable. At least you didn't ghost us (which I've seen happening before)

In reply to Juste l'Requete (msg # 144):

Ah, forgive me.


Actually, yes.the only time we could schedule the movers was a lot earlier than expected so i currently don’t have a computer (on my phone now). It seems i won’t be able to continue until after I’ve gotten settled which could take about a month. I will try to resume them. Thank you all. :)