Could be an extension of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Opening yourself to sense the Force could change it the same way examining an atom changes it position or energy. The minute changes to the Force could be sensed, explaining the sensation of a ripple effect. Would also mean that you could Sense them Sensing you.

I'm not saying it can't be applied but just for clarity, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle essentially says that the more accurate the measurement of one complimentary variable, the less accurate the other must be. The most common misunderstanding of this is that it is the perception itself somehow affects the parameters involved. But rather, it is, as it applies to particles, the need to reflect light or other particles off the particle you want to measure that results in the inaccuracy. But whether or not that measurement is perceived has no effect on the result.

I will admit that I was using a very large simplification. Still, the point remains. It is possible the act of attempting to use Sense subtly changes the Force in the surrounding area.

Jedi Master Gunner,

From the (fully canon) Star Wars Rebels TV show, we've got an example of one Force user immediately picking up on another Force user that (from what the audience could see) was just "in the area."

That example being from the "First Look" clip with Ezra (who is so untrained he's not even aware of the Force) having a Highlander moment where he detects Kanan, but is able to duck out of sight before Kanan (who apparently got a similar tingle) could spot Ezra. In Kanan's case, it could be that he was going into "battle ready" mode and activating one (or both) of Sense's Ongoing Effects, and that by doing so he pinged Ezra's undeveloped sensitivity to the Force. Ezra may have subconsciously reached out with the Force himself to find he source of that "disturbance" which in turn alerted Kanan. For someone better trained, like the Inquisitor, said ping would be easier to detect and identify.

There is also Vader picking up that "the Force is strong in this one" while chasing Luke down during the trench run in A New Hope, which a number of folks have ascribed to him activating the Sense Control Upgrade to upgrade his combat checks, giving him a couple more Proficiency dice on his upcoming Gunnery check.

You know, that force ripple nonsense strikes me as overly punitive.

Fellow GMs, there already is a drawback to committing these dice. The Force rating is lower.

You know, that force ripple nonsense strikes me as overly punitive.

Fellow GMs, there already is a drawback to committing these dice. The Force rating is lower.

Which only matters if the character has additional Force powers that they'd want to use in combat.

If the only combat-relevant power a PC has is sense, then reducing his Force Rating isn't that big a deal, since during most fights they're not using it for anything to begin with.

And like it or not, the "force ripple" is canon. We saw it Rebels, and in the pilot episode it shows up a few other times with Ezra being (for lack of a better term) beckoned to a plot-relevant item. And the it's cropped up in the films too. Vader sensing Kenobi's presence as a "disturbance" in the Force, Kenobi and Anakin picking up on Dooku's presence in RotS as they're about to enter the turbolifts to go rescue the Chancellor, Luke sensing Vader's presence aboard the Executor in RotJ, Luke even having that "funny feeling" just before Yoda shows up to troll him.

Ah, but those people were all familiar with each other (except for Luke and Yoda, but Yoda clearly meant to reveal himself to Luke anyway.)

I think I would go easy on the "you are sensed by Vader/the Emperor, who sends out a death squad." Maybe it's just me.

At the very least reserve the Ripple of Doom for when they were truly careless and rolled Despair, not for playing the game "as is".

Edit: Actually, I think Yoda was familiar with Luke too. Luke was just too young to remember.

Edit2: Wow, that sounds creepy now that I've written it down.

Edit: Actually, I think Yoda was familiar with Luke too. Luke was just too young to remember.

Edit2: Wow, that sounds creepy now that I've written it down.

Yodi: "Too old to train! Too old!"

Pedobear approves of this philosophy!

And like it or not, the "force ripple" is canon. We saw it Rebels, and in the pilot episode it shows up a few other times with Ezra being (for lack of a better term) beckoned to a plot-relevant item.

Edit: So there's still no downside to leaving them active. Also, the whole "force ripple" idea is incredibly stupid. I'd be more inclined to look at it as an active power (whether intentionally activated or not).

Edit: So there's still no downside to leaving them active. Also, the whole "force ripple" idea is incredibly stupid. I'd be more inclined to look at it as an active power (whether intentionally activated or not).

As another side, I'm currently playing a character that has the sense defense always on. He actively disbelieves in the force but his FSE boosts (Vigilance boost die, quick draw) and sense are, in his mind, just him being lucky and quick-witted.