Noticing Attacks
Noticing Attacks
All characters understand that gunshots and bolts of flame are dangerous, but not all attacks are violent or obvious. Subtle attacks often go unnoticed and Mental/Social attacks often provoke non-violent responses. For example, a police officer who realizes that you’re trying to fast-talk your way past him won’t be pleased, but he’s unlikely to try and shoot you. Note that failing to notice an attack doesn’t prevent you from resisting it, but it does stop you from retaliating.
Physical Attacks
Everyone notices Physical attacks within line of sight and/or hearing range. Most Brawl and Melee attacks can only be noticed by characters with a line of sight, unless the combatants are making a lot of noise. All Firearms attacks will be noticed by characters within earshot, unless those attacks are modified by some form of mechanical or magical silence.
Mental/Social Attacks
If you fail a Mental or Social attack, the target and everyone who witnesses it will realize what happened within the limits of their understanding. For example, if you try to flirt your way past a bouncer and fail, everyone will realize what’s happened (flirting isn’t difficult to understand). If you fail while attempting to use Entrancement, the same bouncer and most people will feel a brief chill and think that you’re a bit weird. A mortal who understands vampires (like a ghoul or a hunter) would realize that you tried to use a supernatural power, but might not know which one, unless she has the appropriate lore or experience. A fellow vampire would realize that you attempted to use a power and would likely be able to guess which one, if she has the appropriate lore or experience.
A character with the Awareness skill may attempt to notice nearby Mental and Social attacks even if the attacker succeeds on her test. If you are looking at someone who successfully uses a power or at the power’s target (or if you are the power’s target), you may make an opposed challenge using your Mental attribute + Awareness versus the target’s Mental attribute + Willpower or Mental attribute + Subterfuge (target’s choice) to determine if you understand what happened.
If the source of a supernatural power isn’t within line of sight, characters who notice the power will know what direction the power came from. For example, if someone hiding on a nearby rooftop successfully uses a Mental power on the Prince, any character with the Awareness skill who is looking at the Prince when the challenge takes place has the opportunity to notice the attack.
Chapter 4: Introduction to Core Systems
