[Ryo]

There's this interesting spell in the Digital Grimoire called [Sense] Link, which I'm a bit curious about.

[Sense] Link (Active, Psychic)
Type: M • Range: T • Duration: S • DV: (F ÷ 2) – 1
This variation of the Mindlink spell (p. 199, SR4) allows the caster to tap into one of the target’s senses. Each spell variant of [Sense] Link is designed to target a specific sense (ie. Sight Link, Astral Perception Link, Thermographic Vision Link, etc.) defined by the spell formula itself.

I'll go ahead and quote Mindlink as well for reference sake.

Mindlink (Active, Psychic)
Type: M • Range: T • Duration: S • DV: (F ÷ 2) + 1
Mindlink allows the caster and one voluntary subject to communicate mentally, exchanging conversation, emotions, and mental images. One hit on the Spellcasting Test is enough to establish the link. The subject must remain within range of the spellcaster for the Mindlink to work.

Now, from what I can determine, this spell is straight forward: You choose a voluntary target in range, roll your spellcasting check, and as long as you get one hit, you can completely benefit from the sense of your voluntary subject. So if you got Sight Link, you see everything they see.

But here's the thing I find interesting. There's already an entire class of spells similar to this, namely Borrow Sense, Animal Sense and Eyes of the Pack. There's just three slight differences that I can see.

1: Borrow Sense just says 'chosen target' while [Sense] Link is a variant of Mindlink, which requires a voluntary target. So Borrow Sense can be used on enemies, [Sense] Link cannot.

2: Borrow Sense works on any sense, chosen when cast. [Sense] Link must be bought separately for every sense you wish to link.

3: Borrow Sense includes the line "The subject cannot target spells through the target's senses." [Sense] Link noticeably lacks this line.

It's that last bit I emphasized that strikes me as the most interesting. Every spell that allows a mage to throw his senses elsewhere (Borrow Sense, Clairvoyance, Astral Clairvoyance, Astral Window, [Sense] Cryptestheia, etc.) all contain the line prohibiting you from using it for LOS. [Sense] Link is an exception, though.

This means that if you, Magey McMageman, get the spell Sight Link, and place that on your good pal Targo the Murdertroll, that you can hide behind cover and target your spells using the handy dandy vision of your cybered friend, so long as he stays within range of your Detection Spell.

So here's the question: Broken or not?

[Lethe]

I think they simply forgot to mention it. Magic was never able to extend someones sight for purpose of targeting spells.

[Blue_Lion]

I think they simply forgot to mention it. Magic was never able to extend someones sight for purpose of targeting spells.

Yea probaly a type oh sounds like a repeat spell thou.

[Mirikon]

I think they simply forgot to mention it. Magic was never able to extend someones sight for purpose of targeting spells.

Agreed.

[Ryo]

Possible, though in that case, what is the purpose of [Sense] Link? Borrow Sense does the same thing, but better, and existed before [Sense] Link was introduced.

[Mirikon]

Borrow Sense allows switching between senses, and [Sense] Link is a limited version that only targets one sense, for lower drain. It is the same deal as Shapechange versus [Critter] Form, or any other such spells.

[Ryo]

Borrow Sense already has such a limited version in Animal Sense, which has the same drain as [Sense] Link. In addition, there are two penalties on [Sense] Link that Borrow Sense lacks: You have to buy the spell again for every sense you want, and the target has to be voluntary. Both seem pretty hefty for a difference of 1 drain.

[Mirikon]

Animal Sense restricts it to getting senses from a Critter. You can still switch between the critter's senses as with Borrow Sense. Eyes of the Pack is only a single sense, but multiple participants.

Sense Link allows you to share the sense in question, but unlike Borrow Sense, it doesn't restrict your Perception checks with that sense to the net hits on the spellcasting test like Borrow Sense does.

[Lacynth40]

Bah. Bah, I say! They've had time, and it's not errata'd! I say Sight Link lets you use Smiley the Murder-Troll as your magical artillery spotter. Of course, you have to find someone dumb enough to actually spot for you, and THEY will be the target of all shouts of "Geek the Mage!".... Also, I'd rule that if they have goggles or anything on, the spells fizzle as they can't find a target at all. And cybereyes would be tricky as hell to work around. As a GM, anyone at my table trying it, I'd increase the drain value of all spells through Sight Link if the Link has to go through the spotters cybereyes. That, and in a firefight, do you really want to basically leave your casting body defenseless, as you cast away through your murdertroll? One sneaky bastard is all it would take to ruin your whole day. Hell, it's common form in our group to have our infiltration specialist sneak around during a firefight to gack anyone that looks like they are either in VR or astral, while their big guns are concentrating on our blazing gunners of meat laying down suppressing fire. So, yeah, lots of risk, lots of reward. Basically just like everything else in the Shadowrun world. I'd allow it. For a price.

[Red]

That's a dangerous precedent. I actually brought up using magic for magical spotting in a previous post maybe a month back, and the Freelancers said you can't target magic through borrowed eyes. If you could, most mages would never come along on a run: they'd just link into a Sam and cast spells through them.

It's a good notion, but it gets pretty risky to gameplay/balance.

[Lacynth40]

Not much different than targeting ritual magic through a watcher spirit spotter.

[Ryo]

That's a dangerous precedent. I actually brought up using magic for magical spotting in a previous post maybe a month back, and the Freelancers said you can't target magic through borrowed eyes. If you could, most mages would never come along on a run: they'd just link into a Sam and cast spells through them.

It's a good notion, but it gets pretty risky to gameplay/balance.

That's not really possible though, since the sam has to stay within range of the magician. At the most it would mean Magicians stepping on the toes of a few riggers by hiding in a cocoon in the middle of battle.