I am trying to figure out whether adepts using their magical powers leave an astral signature.
So far, since checking the core rulebook and Streetmagic, I have found a few forum discussions on the topic and the statement that it is only ambiguously defined in the core rulebook from before SR4A. I read an interpretation that the signature is only on themselves, as most of their magic is focused inwards. There were different positions on whether that holds true for magic that influences others such as Killing Hands and how to determine the duration until the signatures wane.
I am trying to find rules or official statements concerning:
- Do adept powers leave astral signatures at all?
- In case they do, what are signatures left on (the adept themselves, locations, touched objects, victims)?
- Is this different for different powers e.g. Improved Ability vs Killing Hands, i.e. skills that are in use at all times vs skills that have specific targets?
- What is the rule to determine how long the astral signatures last?
I have found plenty house-rules, I am solely interested in finding out whether there are official rules that I missed.
Best Answer
There are no 'official' rules that you have missed. With Shadowrun, there are a few interpreted rules that one has to get themselves. But, for your RAW question, no. There are no official rules to answer these questions nicely. So, if that's all you're looking for, you're out of luck, I'm afraid.
If you want what is preferred, however, you'll have to infer a few things. Adepts still have an aura and will project that aura anytime their powers are active. In fact, they can't even conceal it unless they have the right Metamagic (you'll have to look this up, I don't remember if it's even available to adepts). When they turn on something like Killing Hands or Magical Armor, it's still a passive thing. They are not weaving mana and magic to make it happen. They are simply turning on a latent power that they can use.
It's not until they actually try to manipulate mana to their will that they would leave an astral signature. Any power that they need to use their Magic as a roll (such as improving skills or attributes) would constitute a reason to leave an astral signature. And, at that point, all the same rules for searching for that power and what it is apply the same for Assenssing. The 'where' question is situational. It depends on what the adept is doing with their powers, but most of the time the power will 'linger' in the air, so to speak.
I'm sorry that there's no RAW answer to your question. In fact, a lot of Shadowrun 'rules' that people hold as RAW are actually RAI and most people just accept them as fact.