So I'm playing a scout and I've been looking through the talent tree, and heightened awareness doesn't seem to effect the PC, but other nearby characters only. Is this the correct interpretation? I doesn't seem like it should be, here's the wording.

Quote

Allies within short range of the character add (boost) to their Perception and Vigilance checks. Allies engaged with him add (boost)(boost) instead.

What do you all think?

I believe it's assumed that a given individual is always an ally within any range of themself. I'm not sure if this system states it explicitly, but I know that a number of other systems do.

Only affects allies.

Yeah, basically it's the equivalent the scout stating observations; he's looking one way while telling everyone else what they could be keeping a eye out for. Or he's providing coordination to search efforts e.c.t It's basically the scout taking charge (since chances are there is a decent chance that his perception check should be fairly high to begin with.)

Heightened Awareness affects allies, but not the character with the talent. "Ally" means a person who associates with another for a common cause , but generally doesn't include one's self.

I can appreciate the confusion, especially coming from a d20 background where commonly you are included in your allies. But the wording of the talent is intentional and only extends to allies. And that is enough, because it's quite a powerful talent as-is.

Ok, that makes more sense now, thanks.

Resurrecting this post because of No Disintegrations.

The Kalleran species starts with the Heightened Awareness talent, rooted in their Hypersensitive Antennae species ability. I think that's pretty indicative that the RAI is that the character who has this talent also receives the benefit, even if RAW can arguably be interpreted otherwise. Unless you believe that a species' antennae evolutionarily developed to somehow relay stimuli to those around them, but serve no purpose whatsoever to the individual with the biological adaptation, I guess. Either that, or the developer who designed this Species doesn't understand the rules, either.

There is as well the issue that FFG consistantly does include yourself when using ally as keyword, while using other allies when excluding the source of the effect itself.
Though I really have no idea how this is ruled for real.

Are there some other examples in the FAQ how the dazed and confused ruled this in the past?

On 11/28/2017 at 10:40 AM, Smog said:

Unless you believe that a species' antennae evolutionarily developed to somehow relay stimuli to those around them, but serve no purpose whatsoever to the individual with the biological adaptation, I guess.

Doesn't make sense if the species that evolved and lives alone. If it's in a herd it makes sense. Yours helps me and mine helps you and everyone helps everyone. Evolutionarily speaking anyway.

In the game it's odd even though initiative slots are shared.

Not in the FAQ, thought it was. Good one for a Dev question.

On 11/29/2017 at 8:28 PM, 2P51 said:

Doesn't make sense if the species that evolved and lives alone. If it's in a herd it makes sense. Yours helps me and mine helps you and everyone helps everyone. Evolutionarily speaking anyway.

In the game it's odd even though initiative slots are shared.

Not in the FAQ, thought it was. Good one for a Dev question.

Agreed, but I think we both know that's pretty forced logic. It's incredibly unrealistic that would be the case, and I think it's clear that the intent was that the species gains the benefits of its own ability. I think it's much more likely the developer just picked the wrong talent or that he himself did not understand the more standardized meaning of the "allies" interaction. Because with the exception of pretty much this one case with this one species, it is pretty clear that throughout the system, "allies" means "not you" as they specifically have wording they use for when it's allies and you (see Vanguard talents from Forged in Battle for just a few of many specific examples).

I think a better way to use the Talent is have the Talent holder roll the Boost dice, and allies that are engaged add the results of both Boost dice to add to their checks, and the ones at Short, get the lesser of the 2 Boost.