freeze confrontation

[Thomas]

That's always been my philosophy.  I know whether a punch lands or a spell works, I think I'd also know whether my detection ability was resisted or not.

[Ricky]

Well hell... if I know my ability has been resisted, then why would I stop attempting to detect until I was fully successful?  And if we're just going to repeat detection attempts infinitely, why have a defense at all?  

Perhaps this is one of those abilities that is better balanced when you don't think about it too hard.  Sorry, I'm bored at work and can't wait for the weekend!

Edit: To further paint the analogy.... you just got home from work and you're trying to use your nose to "Detect Dinner".  When you don't smell anything, do you assume the oven resisted your detection attempt, or do you assume there's nothing cooking?

[Jeri]

It is possible that there is dinner cooking, but your oven is lined with those nifty seal and lock in smell bags with the stay fresh liner.  Thus preventing your detect dinner sense from flipping a success.

Then again, there might not be an oven.

Which pill did you take again?  The red one or the blue one?

[joecolton]

take the both pill

[Thomas]

I think it's more like a magic 8 ball.  You get a yes sometimes, you get a no sometimes, but if it's resisted, you just get a "reply hazy"

[ruby]

Well hell... if I know my ability has been resisted, then why would I stop attempting to detect until I was fully successful?  And if we're just going to repeat detection attempts infinitely, why have a defense at all?  

Because you risk making that Vampire Lord/Fairy/MIB irritated. In this case, as in life, there is nothing stopping you from endless attempts to violate another's privacy except social decorum and fear of repercussion.

[John/Omar]

hmmmm...now that would be a fun thing...replace the quarters with magic 8 balls. "Ask again later" means your power fails and can't be used again for say 15 minutes. The scary thing is my mind really does think it'd be a hoot to play dark con with magic 8 balls...

[Joe]

Well hell... if I know my ability has been resisted, then why would I stop attempting to detect until I was fully successful?  And if we're just going to repeat detection attempts infinitely, why have a defense at all?  

Because you risk making that Vampire Lord/Fairy/MIB irritated. In this case, as in life, there is nothing stopping you from endless attempts to violate another's privacy except social decorum and fear of repercussion.

In case anyone missed ruby's excellent point, I wanted to re-iterate it. Detect Creature is a Hidden Confrontation - so the person you are using it on is very much aware of the fact that you are doing it. And because it is a hidden confrontation, they can choose to react in anyway that they see fit - up to and including taking out a gun and shooting you in the face.