Adv Pattern Physical Touch

[charis]

So Advanced Pattern is an interesting power, you can do a lot of things with it. But, on the very first part of the power tree under Pattern Mindwalking it says "you can touch mind to mind, or even physically."

So, in theory, you could summon up the Pattern lens, go out and find somebody, and instantly engange in mental combat. Or, say, on the other hand, you could find somebody, and then just stab them with a sword! This to me seemed amazingly powerful, so I talked it over with my GM.

We decided that mind to mind would work, but in order to even have a chance you'd have to drop your pattern lens, otherwise you're too busy holding the lens up. Then he decided that the physical thing was too powerful and it couldn't work that way. Which I'm fine with, he's the GM and all!

But, I was just curious what other peoples takes are on it, if they've run into it and had problems with their players doing things like using the lens to go over into chaos, stab that shadow lord bugging them with a sword, while dropping the lens and engaging them in mental combat, giving them the edge at the start? Anyway, just curious on everyone's thoughts!

[RPGPundit]

Take note of the fact that the rules for Advanced Pattern state that it takes enormous concentration to maintain the pattern image in your mind (its the equivalent of walking the pattern), and that any distraction can cause you to lose it.  So yes, you can reach out mind to mind, or physically, but if you do so for more than a few moments, or especially in any kind of combat, you'll lose the pattern lens.  

And the moment you drop the pattern lens, you lose the mental and/or physical contact.

RPGPundit

[charis]

Ohhh, that's a good point! I guess even if you have mind to mind if the thing keeping that going isn't up anymore, the contact breaks.

[RPGPundit]

Exactly.  So advanced pattern is far less useful for that sort of thing than trump.

RPGPundit