Silver:

[Magic Rob]

There is no way to tell if a metal is silver baring the gift Sense Silver.

Given time, one can use science to determine exact details, but as stated, this takes time.

Otherwise, y'all can lick it and see if it burns. I hear that works.

[Alden J. Blethen]

what about the metis flaw Silver Sensitivity?

[Wilhelm Opens-the-Way]

What about simple observation? Is that the same as 'science'? If you've ever owned any silver jewelry, a ring, or a spoon even, I can make an educated guess about what is or is not silver without taking out a metallurgical kit.

Yes it's true, it's possible that without science I might mistake it for some other metal if said metal was specifically made to look like silver. My wife does in fact keep a bunch of highly polished stainless steel silverware in a velvety wooden box for no reason other than as a girl she likes shiny things. A werewolf looking for a weapon in that box would find nothing but fail.

But if a gnarly, green-ooze dripping BSD is coming at Wilhelm with a Klaive-shaped sword, he shouldn't really have to stop and CSI the thing to know what's about to go down, right?

[Magic Rob]

Your character is free to make any assumptions he would like. The only instant way of knowing a thing is silver is the gift that reveals it. Allowing primal urge to be the great skeleton key of the game renders this gift useless.

[Red Moon]

Could we possibly ask for a rage test when within close proximity to silver, so the game still has that edgy-around-that-stuff-that-burns-werewolves dynamic?

[Magic Rob]

It never hurts to ask for anything.

[Athena Fire-in-Snow]

Sept 28, 2011 8:18:59 GMT -8 Alden J. Blethen said:

what about the metis flaw Silver Sensitivity?

+1 to this question. It actually says in the description:
"The advantage to this heightened sensitivity, small comfort though it may be, is that you can sense the presence of silver through the appearance of a rash or blisters on your skin; roll Perception + Medicine, diff 8, to detect the presence of silver in the immediate area."

[Magic Rob]

Then it seems like the book offers you your answer. And you can test for your IMMEDIATE area.

[BLewis]

I imagine the purpose of that flaw is not to provide the benefit of a Rank 2 gift passively. By the verbiage of the text, it suggests that it betrays the presence of silver by skin contact or very close proximity, or alternatively, in very large amounts in reasonably close proximity. Flaws are flaws, after all, and not there to provide benefit instead of hardship.

[Alden J. Blethen]

If you extended that range beyond, say, the area you cover with your arms outstretched, you would be constantly covered in boils blisters and rashes. There be a lot of werewolf armed with silver.

[BLewis]

Sept 29, 2011 9:54:49 GMT -8 Alden J. Blethen said:

If you extended that range beyond, say, the area you cover with your arms outstretched, you would be constantly covered in boils blisters and rashes. There be a lot of werewolf armed with silver.

Exactly my point, yeah.