Manipulate ability

Manipulation is the ability to cause dangerous creatures threatening you to regard you as a friend or non-threat. It prevents these influenced creatures from attacking you, and in some cases will cause them to attack other creatures in your defense.

Requirements

The manipulation ability must be learned from fellow empaths who are able to teach it. To learn how to manipulate

• Must be an empath
• Must be at least 20th circle
• Must have at least 100 ranks of Empathy

To teach others how to manipulate

• Must be an empath
• Must be at least 40th circle
• Must have at least 200 ranks of Empathy

How to manipulate a creature

When threatened by a creature, use the MANIPULATE FRIEND (creature) command. One of five different results will happen.

• you will exhaust yourself trying. No RT, no change in critter behavior, concentration drops to 0. This means you don't have a big enough concentration pool to ever successfully manipulate this creature.
• you will fail to get the creature's attention. No RT, no change in critter behavior, full concentration hit as per a successful attempt. This means you have enough concentration, but lack in some other aspect.
• you will succeed versus a manipulatible creature. RT (around 10 seconds or so), the critter stops attacking or advancing, full concentration hit plus you pay the maintenance cost every few seconds. Creature will then either wander off (nobody left to attack), attack another creature threatening you, or attack a PC in the same room.
• you will succeed versus an undead creature. No RT, the creature becomes enraged, full concentration hit as per a successful attempt. The undead creature immediately faces you, and other undead may be summoned or also turn to face you.
• you will succeed versus an evil/cursed creature. No RT, the creature notices you, full concentration hit as per a successful attempt. The evil creature will immediately face you, but doesn't call for help or cause other creatures to help out.

What affects your chances to manipulate a creature

• Concentration -- your Manipulation "money", no money then no ability
• Empathy skill -- seems to govern which critters are within your ability range
• Magic average (or simply raw Magic Skills) -- helps beat down critter MR
• Stats (Charisma, possibly others)
• creature Magic Resistance
• creature being undead (can't at all) or evil/cursed (some you can)

Exceptions that can't be manipulated

Some creatures you encounter simply can't be manipulated (different messaging than for undead/evil) even though they might otherwise seem like they should be able to. Spell-summoned creatures such as shadowlings and other moon mage constructs and warrior familiars cannot be manipulated. Neither can ranger companions or guardian spirits. Horses might be included in this, as well. And, of course, "townie" NPCs such as guards, wandering friendly faces, shopkeepers, and guild leaders cannot be manipulated.