Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Rules and such => Topic started by: VajraSupremus on <12-07-12/1144:48>
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I need answers on the logistics for these two things. Anyone wanna help? Which one is better, if they even are unmatched?
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I'm assuming this is for a Mystic Adept?
If it's one or the other, I'd take Commanding Voice. No Drain, works on multiple targets, is a very cheap Power... no contest really IMHO. Though Influence has other (non-combat) applications.
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Commanding Voice is amazing in the short term, but has no real long-term application. Influence is probably not that great short-term, but excellent in the medium-term.
The difference, as one of my players described it to me in a somewhat gross fashion, is as follows:
If someone with Commanding Voice tells you to go to the toilet, you piss your pants. If someone with Influence does so, you give yourself an aneurysm straining to take a dump.
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I'm actually confused by that analogy, so I apologize in advance.
So far I've gleaned the pro's and con's of both.
Commanding Voice is cheap, Drain free, and works on multiple targets, just like emsquared said. Con's include the resistance built up to those already affected by it within the last 24 hours, and also the 5 words/must speak target's language/must be heard limitations. Not a subtle power all the time.
Influence has no resistances(unless your target is asked to commit an action they would not do under normal circumstances, like suicide, or taking lethal action against a loved one), does not have the requirements CV needs to be used at all, and has as long a range as your senses go for. Con's include being able to counterspelled, Drain(though relatively minor), and wards blocking it.
Both seem good to have, with CV simple things, while the heavier stuff is left to Influence.
CV seems to be the Charm Person to Influence's Dominate Person.
Addendum: Influence works on critters(non-sapient), whereas CV does not.
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Commanding voice gives a simple command with an impetus to obey it - but only for the target's next action. Influence is similar to a post-hypnotic suggestion. The former is better for things like combat, hostage situations, and other tense confrontations, while the latter is better for subtle manipulations, in support of information gathering or infiltration activities. Which is better depends on the character's role - combat (which can include roles such as bodyguard or high stakes infiltrator), or stealth/espionage. Both are fairly cheap. Influence is a single spell, while commanding voice only costs 0.25 power points.
For a mystic adept, having both would probably be the ideal approach. Commanding voice has one advantage for a mystic adept - the dice pool has nothing to do with magic, nor is it limited in any other way by the Magic rating, so a mystic adept's mage/adept split is not a disadvantage in this case.
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Commanding voice gives a simple command with an impetus to obey it - but only for the target's next action. Influence is similar to a post-hypnotic suggestion. The former is better for things like combat, hostage situations, and other tense confrontations, while the latter is better for subtle manipulations, in support of information gathering or infiltration activities. Which is better depends on the character's role - combat (which can include roles such as bodyguard or high stakes infiltrator), or stealth/espionage. Both are fairly cheap. Influence is a single spell, while commanding voice only costs 0.25 power points.
For a mystic adept, having both would probably be the ideal approach. Commanding voice has one advantage for a mystic adept - the dice pool has nothing to do with magic, nor is it limited in any other way by the Magic rating, so a mystic adept's mage/adept split is not a disadvantage in this case.
Ultimately I agree with your points. Thank you for your input.