MGT Only: Why does the Tactical Awareness skill only detect foes?

[l_c_jackson]

The Mongoose Core Rulebook V1 (2008) introduces a new psionic skill for the Clairvoyant talent called "Tactical Awareness" (copied below) that is not listed in the MegaTraveller Players Manual. The same description (below) appears in both "Spacecraft and Worlds" 2017, and the "Core Rulebook Update 2022" (so it's obviously not a typo).

1. Why does the name oversell the ability (as per question 2)? If the current description is to stand then the skill name would more accurately be "Foe detection".

2. Why does the skill not reveal both allies, nor bystanders? To live up to the skill name surely it should cover both of these.

3. Minor quibble, what happens if an enemy changes sides? Under the current description I assume that they would just disappear from clairvoyant view.

4. And finally, is the assessment of a sophont as "hostile" possible without also using telepathy? I can see how a hybrid skill requiring two different psionic talents could become complicated!


TACTICAL AWARENESS

With this ability, the character can perceive dangers and foes around him using his clairvoyant abilities. This enhanced spatial perception allows him to ignore the effects of darkness, smoke, fog or other environmental effects that impede vision. He may also detect hidden foes within range. The Effect of the check how long the enhanced awareness lasts in rounds.

 

[Ash]

I would rule that it would detect everyone and kind of "filter" foes and potential foes.

Otherwise the power is useless and superceeded by life detection which has longer range and is easier in the normal time frame of life detect (1d6 x 10 sec), but could be made the same speed as Tactical awareness (1d6 sec) with normal penalties that brings it inline with the same difficulty.