Perception:

A New Attribute for Palladium Characters

(Modified from the original version in Protoculture Addicts #3)
(Revised version by Stanley Bundy, minor editing done by Brett Hegr)

[ Written by Stan Bundy | Return to GM Section ]

The original article brought up several interesting points concerning characters' awareness of their surroundings when outside a mecha, power armor, robot vehicle, etc. The Danger Sense ability isn't quite the sixth sense psionic ability, and for that reason is perfectly playable. However, the idea that a high Perception would give a bonus to strike is ludicrous. After all, Perception is supposed to be about awareness, not accuracy. Therefore, I propose instead a bonus for high Perception apply to initiative, not strike rolls, which is more in line with the Danger Sense sub-ability; low Perception results in initiative penalties. Regardless, these modifiers always apply, even in mecha or robot combat.

Danger Sense - What it does:

Making a successful Danger Sense check allows the character to dodge, parry or roll with an attack that normally would have been a surprise attack (with no defense). A roll gained this way would be a straight dice roll, with the character's total initiative modifier added to the roll (normal P/D/R bonuses don't apply). Optionally, the character can opt to do a simultaneous return attack instead of avoiding the attack, but again, gets no bonuses other than what is normally his bonus to initiative rolls. Negative Modifiers for low perception: this works the exact opposite way as normal checks. The character must make the Danger Sense check or SUFFER the penalty. Therefore, a person with a 4 Perception has a -2 to initiative 96% of the time, but can avoid it by rolling 4 or less on the Danger Sense check.

 
 Perception Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+
 Danger Sense (%) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
 Initiative Mod.  |-5 |-4 |-3 |-2 |-1 |   |   |   |   |    |    |    |    |

-- No initiative bonus or penalty for a score between 6 and 15. The Danger 
   Sense ability is 10% for this range.

 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----
 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 75 | 78
 +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +5

 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45
----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----
 80 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98
 +6 | +6 | +6 | +7 | +7 | +7 | +8 | +8 | +8 | +9 | +9 | +9 |+10 |+10 |+10

Dice Rolls For Perception - By Race:

Note: P.P. and Perception initiative bonuses are cumulative. Most races, such as humans, roll 3d6 for perception, gaining an additional 1d6 for a natural 16-18.

Races with enhanced senses may get an additional 1d6 on top of the normal roll (an extra die is gained for a dice score of 21-24).

Characters with outstanding senses or with sense-related powers (a mutant with super hearing or extraordinary P.P., juicers, etc.), get an additional 2d6 to their Perception roll.

If a race has a natural initiative bonus, check the P.P. range for the race. If the P.P. range is not sufficient to produce the initiative bonus, then the bonus must come from Perception. Example: A demon has a +6 to initiative, and a P.P. under 30. Therefore, it either has Sixth Sense or a Perception over 30.

Combining Sixth Sense with Perception: Danger Sense only applies when sixth sense cannot pick up the threat (due to range, mind block, lack of I.S.P.^tm, etc.). Initiative bonuses are cumulative. Also note that a Danger Sense roll can be made during combat (at half normal chance) to notice a new danger's approach, unlike sixth sense, whose bonuses apply only in the first round. After sixth sense ends, Perception bonuses continue normally.

Combining Martial Arts Techniques with Perception: Zanshin gives the character an additional 3D6 to his or her Perception score at all times, but the Zanshin initiative bonuses only apply when the character is actually using his Martial Arts form. The Iai-Jutsu (fast-draw) technique is cumulative with all other initiative bonuses.

Combining Perception with Robot Vehicle/Mecha Use: Danger Sense only applies against threats that don't appear on the vehicle's sensors. In power armors (including Cyclones), there are no penalties to the Danger Sense roll, but the chance is halved in robot vehicles, Veritechs, Battloids and Destroids. Of course, if a vehicle loses its radar, Danger Sense may be the only warning of an attack from behind. In a way, this type of Danger Sense use is based in intuition, not senses. Initiative bonuses still apply in these war machines, in that the character can more easily take in the action on the battlefield, and adjust attacks accordingly.

Suggested Rolling methods for Perception (note: this list is a year old):

[ Please forgive the lazy editor for not adding the necessary Rs and
 TMs. You know that most of this stuff is trademarked by Palladium. ]

   d6s  |
 Rolled | Origin/Races
--------+----------------------------------------------------------------
    2   | PRPG/Rifts - Goblins(normal), Orcs, Ogres, Gigantes
        | BtS/Rifts - Dimensional Ghouls, Entities(all), Gargoyles,
        | Gurgoyles, Gargoylites, Grave Ghouls, Gremlins, Elementals(all)
        | Robotech - Worker & Blue Bioroids, Bioroid Terminators,
        | Stage 1-3 Invid, Karbarrans, Spherisians
    3   | PRPG/Rifts - Changelings, Dwarves, Goblin Cobblers, Trolls,
        | Bug Bears, Giants(all but Gigantes), Faerie Folk(all),
        | Lizard Men, Maxpary
        | BtS/Rifts - Banshees, Boschala, Gargoyle Lords & Mages,
        | Spider Demons
        | Robotech - Tyroleans(all), Stage 4-5 Invid, Perytonians
    4   | PRPG/Rifts - Canines(all), Elves, Bearmen, Centaurs, Demigods,
        | Hatchling Dragons, All remaining predatory & supernatural
        | types, up to minor demons/devils.
        | BtS/Rifts - Dybbuk, Dar'ota, Hell Hounds, Malignous, Sowki,
        | Werebeasts(all)
        | Robotech - Praxians, Garudans, Haydonites, Perytonians
    5   | PRPG/Rifts - Adult Dragons, Major Demons/Devils, Godlings
        | BtS/Rifts - Goqua, Mindolar, Spirits of Light
        | Robotech - Invid Regent & Regis
    6   | All - Ancient Dragons, Supernatural Intelligences, Gods