Negation and Suppression are manipulations which stop the effects of another manipulation. Negation is a tailored method while Suppression uses brute force. Negation is the more complex of the two and against manipulations that are more balanced, requires much less energy to achieve the same result as Suppress Manipulation. Extremely unbalanced manipulations, however, are better Suppressed because of the comparatively massive amount of energy required to bring all three elements into balance. Manipulations which are already balanced, such as Heal or Inflict Wounds, cannot be negated and must be Suppressed.
The costs of these manipulations are not affected by the Element Focus or Efficient Shaping skills.
Negate Manipulation
The Shaper assesses the target manipulation and determines how to balance the elements and dissipate the energy naturally back into the environment.
Prerequisite: *
EP Cost: *
Range: 60 ft
Duration: Instantaneous
Shaping Time: 1 Round
Concentration: No
Shaper targets a manipulation they can see and uses a mix of elements to balance and dissipate it. There are two ways to use this manipulation: as a Reaction or an Action.
As a Reaction, if the Shaper knows the target manipulation, meets the Element modifier requirements, and has enough EP, they may shape Negate Manipulation.
As an Action, if the Shaper does not know the manipulation, they may make a Lore (Element Science) or Lore (Occult Element Science) check against the Area DC or the EP cost of the target manipulation, whichever is higher. A failed check may be attempted again, but Negate Manipulation cannot be shaped until the check is passed.
Once the Shaper knows the EP cost and Element modifier prerequisites for the target manipulation, the Shaper must spend an amount of EP necessary to balance (make each Element modifier the same) out the manipulation plus 1 EP to dissipate the energy. The Shaper may not balance out a manipulation that requires an amount of an element that is higher than the Shaper's corresponding Element modifier.
For example, the Shaper wishes to negate the Quicksand manipulation, which is trapping a member of the party. Quicksand has Element modifier prerequisites of 3 Earth and 3 Water. Let's assume the Shaper passes their Lore (Element Science) check or knows the Quicksand manipulation themselves. The Shaper must then spend 4 EP total and have an Air modifier of at least 3 to negate this manipulation. 3 EP are spent as "Air" to bring all three elements into balance and 1 additional EP is required to dissipate it.
As another example, take Chain Lightning. Chain Lightning has Element modifier prerequisites of 2 Earth, 7 Air, and 3 Water. In order to negate its effects, a Shaper must spend a total of 10 EP, have an Earth modifier of at least 5, and a Water modifier of at least 4. 5 EP are spent as "Earth" and 4 as "Water" to bring the elements into balance and then 1 additional EP is required to dissipate the energy.
Suppress Manipulation
The Shaper sends a wave of raw elements into another manipulation, suppressing its effects in a deluge of energy.
Prerequisite: *
EP Cost: *
Range: 60 ft
Duration: Instantaneous
Shaping Time: 1 Round
Concentration: No
Shaper targets a manipulation they can see within 60 ft and uses a wave of raw elements to suppress it. There are two ways to use this manipulation: as a Reaction or an Action.
As a Reaction, if the Shaper knows the manipulation they are targeting, they know the EP cost. If not, they must guess and may spend any remaining EP they have in the suppression attempt. A manipulation suppressed this way costs 3 + the EP cost of the target manipulation.
As an Action, if the Shaper knows the manipulation, they know the EP cost. They may attempt a Lore (Element Science) or Lore (Occult Element Science) check as part of the suppression if they do not know the manipulation. The Shaper may also guess the EP amount if they fail the check or choose not to take it. A manipulation suppressed this way costs 2 + the EP cost of the target manipulation.