Stealth

Properties

Category: Trait
Usage: gen(act) -> chk|sv= +M
◊ autoset -> PC= 10 +M
◊ sneak(w/move-act) -> set(PC)= 8 +M
Aspect-Usage: autoaspects -> B | S
Description: A trait skill that tests whether you can successfully conceal yourself and your activities from enemies. (B) when concerning your own body, or (S) when concerning any skilled actions, such as those through Investigation or Deception.

Definition

A passive check on the Stealth skill sets the Perception Challenge (PC) that you present to your opponents.

Until you place ranks on this skill, you can be considered as practicing both autoaspects of this skill.

Upon placing the first rank on this skill you must select which autoaspect (Stealth+B or Stealth+S) that you will be practicing.

From this point on, your have two modifiers in the skill:

1. one that includes the ranks for when you are using the skill in your chosen autoaspect
2. another without those ranks, for when you must use the skill outside of your chosen autoaspect.

Just what kind of PC, you present depends on the autoaspect that you are using.

• The B autoaspect means that Stealth is your ability to move silently and hide in shadows. The skill is associated with acts of Stealth with your body as you slink past guards, slip away without being noticed, or sneak up on someone without being seen or heard. This autoaspect of this skill is the default.
• The S autoaspect means that Stealth is your ability to blend into a crowd, make yourself look like you're supposed to be there, or when conversing with someone, make yourself forgettable. The skill is associated with the art of blending-in. You play a confidence trick on all observers in that while they do see you, you do not appear out of place. This might mean that you have just enough personality so that you remain wholly unremarkable and so not memorable.

You may select both autoaspects by spending an additional rank on this skill.

This skill can also be used to set a PC in the course of carrying out another activity. For example, if you are making sure that the person you are following hasn't realised that you're following them, then you use the Stealth+S autoaspect as an outcome of performing an action with the Surveillance (Investigate) technique:

tail(min+) -> chk(C)= +M(Surveillance) -> set(PC)= 8 +M(Stealth+S)

Clarifications

You use Stealth's Body aspect, when you need to hide from your enemies in a physical sense. The circumstances dictate how easy it may be to do this. In a cluttered room, that's dark, with lots of nooks or crannies, hiding is easy. Similarly, if you are walking on sand at a beach with crashing waves, your footfalls are hard for anyone to hear.

If you are in a hallway and there are lots of onlookers, you are wearing a clown's outfit at an accountacy conference, it really isn't possible to physically hide. If you could ditch the clown's suit, it may be possible to use the Stealth+S autoaspect to be seen, but not really noticed or remembered.

If however you are on a motorbike and you are travelling through a crowded city, you can't use your Stealth+B autoaspect, because your body is stuck on the back of a motorcycle. Similarly, you can't just use the Stealth+S autoaspect, as a confidence trick, because you can't just act natural on a motorcycle. In this case, you must use your Vcl-Ground qualifier as an aspect on Stealth.

concealed-move(min+) -> chk(C)= +M(Stealth+S) + Vcl-Ground

Using the Skill aspect you are perhaps using the terrain as camouflage, or performing some kind of confidence trick, by positioning yourself in a place that your opponent does not expect. It may be used to hide evidence of your passage, by covering or concealing tracks, laying down various forms of distraction, or performing misdirections. This is a good example for determining the success of your getaway manoeuvring.