[phydaux42]

In the books and at the table I have heard people say that, when a magically active person looks at a heavily cybered person, they will see "Dark pits in the aura where their eyes should be" or "Black lines running down their spine, arms and legs."  Oooo, spooky...

Other times I have heard people say that the only thing the magically active person will see is either a bright, dim, or dark aura, based on how much essence the person has left.

Is there an official word on what they see?

[Michael Chandra]

There's an official assessing table stating what you detect, it's up to the GM to then describe it.

[Shinobi Killfist]

In other words, nope.  The mechanics are described but they were not very detailed at describing what the astral looks/feels like in this edition.  This puts in the GMs hands which is good/bad depending on how you game. Good for pure home table groups IMO, bad for missions players who will get a different feel from every GM which can be confusing.  What inanimate objects look like and how visible they are varies greatly from GM to GM.  I use the early novels as my reference when I GM so cyber is balckened parts with a sick stench to it, inamimate objects look like they do in reality but black and white or greyscaled etc. Basically the Secrets of power trillogy with twist, never deal with a dragon being the one has a good going astral sequence IMO.   

[mtfeeney = Baron]

The first part is correct, the second isn't.  Michael's answer is correct.  The table on p.191 shows what you see based on the number of hits you got in your Assensing test.  It can show the presence and location of cyberware/bioware, it can show exact essence/Force/Magic levels, etc.

[Valashar]

The new SR novella, Neat, also includes some soft descriptions of astral perception in the way the main character perceives magic, spells, spirits, and the like. And there's a story in Spells & Chrome that describes a mage who smells things instead of seeing them.

In my games, I've always gone with the aspect that how one interacts with mana and magic is largely based on the mage. So I ask players with Awakened or Emergent characters loosely how they want their senses to interpret things like assensing, shifts in local mana/resonance or background count, and the like.

[SpatulaODoom]

In my games, I've always gone with the aspect that how one interacts with mana and magic is largely based on the mage. So I ask players with Awakened or Emergent characters loosely how they want their senses to interpret things like assensing, shifts in local mana/resonance or background count, and the like.

This guy here has it.
Magic is great because it doesn't have to have a uniform consistent way of doing things. Why? Because it's Magic *hand waggling* As long as you're not unintentionally mucking about with game mechanics, describe the fluff, or let the player do so, however you like. The rule of cool is in full effect.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

I think people are interpreting his question differently.  The 2 options are:

1) Does an assensing mage see just a general aura indicating essence level, or does he see where implants are?
2) What color is astral perception?

1 has been answered.  That's what Michael and I did.
2 has been answered, I guess.  That's what the rest of you are talking about.

[CanRay]

Thousands of Watcher Spirits advertising and shilling Talismonger Shops.  I swear, some places are worse than a Spam Zone in AR. 

[SpatulaODoom]

Well I was answering the OP's question.

[mtfeeney = Baron]

Thousands of Watcher Spirits advertising and shilling Talismonger Shops.  I swear, some places are worse than a Spam Zone in AR. 

Are they(the watcher spirits) smart enough to actually do that, CanRay?  With such short lifespans and limitations on summoning, wouldn't that require thousands of magicians to summon them?

[CanRay]

Thousands of Watcher Spirits advertising and shilling Talismonger Shops.  I swear, some places are worse than a Spam Zone in AR. 

Are they(the watcher spirits) smart enough to actually do that, CanRay?  With such short lifespans and limitations on summoning, wouldn't that require thousands of magicians to summon them?

Low-Powered Magicians need jobs as well. 

[Warmachinez]

Thousands of Watcher Spirits advertising and shilling Talismonger Shops.  I swear, some places are worse than a Spam Zone in AR. 

Are they(the watcher spirits) smart enough to actually do that, CanRay?  With such short lifespans and limitations on summoning, wouldn't that require thousands of magicians to summon them?

Low-Powered Magicians need jobs as well. 

Specialised Marketing Mages

[ChromeZephyr]

Specialised Marketing Mages

See, now there's the reason for the "geek the mage" rule.  Forget the guy chucking fireballs, it's the ones with a Ph.D in Voodoo Economics that are the scary ones.

[Valashar]

Specialised Marketing Mages

See, now there's the reason for the "geek the mage" rule.  Forget the guy chucking fireballs, it's the ones with a Ph.D in Voodoo Economics that are the scary ones.

This. Both of this.

[CanRay]

And with one more sarcastic, yet honest, remark I crank up the dystopia.