Re: Darksense at that!

From: David Cake <dave_at_...>
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 12:19:22 +0800

>* Hiding messages or markings. In the dark with torches, humans won't
>pick up on textures well, so uz can make clear signs ("Exit this way,
>bottomless pit the other way") that hoomans can't read. (Hoomans can use
>color to the same effect on uz, but they're too stoopid to figure it
>out). Similarly, a clever uz can cheat like a dickens at cards (if
>there's cards IYG) -- just "rough" the back of the cards in readable
>patterns!;

        Err... presuming the humans never handle the cards, or that they notice the difference in texture but are too stupid to put that together with the Uz robbing them blind.

        Roughened textures would be immediately obvious to a human trying to fan the cards in their hand.

>* Sensing through disguises. Might be a special skill, or only available
>if you have *good* Acute Darksense (e.g., a heavy penalty), but uz don't
>just see skin, they pick up a reading on the bone of the skull as well,
>so surface changes won't help. There's a good Larry Niven "Gil the Arm"
>story that describes this -- "feeling" all the old scars, bone breaks,
>nicks, etc. that you can't see beneath the skin.
>
>* Sensing through masks. Silly duck bandits, masks don't work to hide
>from uz! Similarly, uz are better IMO at spotting through "light
>clutter" like tree leaves, water, rain, snow, dust, etc., since they can
>(to some degree) just "tune it out";

        Depends on the clutter. For clutter of approximately the same sonic properties as the target, the Uz might be worse off (their darksense getting confused by reflection where the humans can see past it).

        What frequency range is Uz darksense at, anyway?

	Cheers
		David