Rethinking the Solar Approach

What follows are some thoughts on the Solar Approach, informed by my reading of the fifth edition and some fan-made rules.

While the Immortals may call upon their Ka-elements to boost their mundane attributes and skills, they cannot do the same with Solar-Ka. (With the notable exception of the Ar-Kaim, who learn Solar Talents that exalt the potential of their bodies.) Meanwhile, the Initiates of certain Illuminati Conspiracies are able to invoke their Solar-Ka to boost various actions.

Applications of the Solar Approach:

Augmenting mundane actions. The Solar Approach may be invoked to boost a roll on any mundane action. In other words, replicating all of the Elemental Approaches! The most exceptional human beings, like famous athletes, pedagogues, and politicians, likely rely on a boost from their Solar-Ka to accomplish their feats. This is a key reason why The Sun Arcanum is so interesting in harnessing Solar-Ka. (This rule comes from a fan document by Hieldayn.)

Resisting coercion. As Solar-Ka is the Ka of willpower and identity, it may be invoked to resist any kind of social coercion. (This rule comes from the fifth edition.)

Sensing the paranormal. As Solar-Ka is the Ka of awareness, it may be invoked to detect manifestations of Ka that would otherwise be unnoticeable to mere mortals, such as metamorphosis transformations and concealed elemental creatures. (This rule comes from the fifth edition.)

Spell resistance. Initiates of the Illuminati Conspiracies train their Solar-Ka to resist the effects of spells cast directly upon them by interdicting the magic fields that propagate it. If successful, then they shrug off the effect of the spell as if it failed outright. However, this approach does not resist secondary environmental effects of spells cast on other targets or the natural attacks of elemental creatures. (This precise rule comes from the third edition, although some variation of it seems present in most editions.)

Augmenting orichalc attacks. Most common among the Templars, their initiates have trained themselves to channel the solar approach through their orichalc weapons, making the hated metal more corrosive than it otherwise would be. (This rule comes from the fifth edition.)

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