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darthauthor wrote:So I have a magic user who wants to use the petrification spell

If successful, they want to disarm their victim, shackle them or carry them to a prison cell. Then convert them back to flesh the next day.

Greetings and Salutations. You summoned me here, so I'll do my best to answer these with my best opinion. With that said, most of these will be judgment calls.

darthauthor wrote:Questions are:

1. Does Petrification Spell "just" turn the victims flesh to stone? Leaving all their weapons, armor, and goodies up for grabs.

As a G.M., I'd say everything they're wearing will be turned to stone as well. This includes clothes, armor, weapons, and backpack. If it's not on them though, it won't be affected. Magical Items might get a Saving Throw (or G.M. Fiat be safe, depending on).

Why? First, classic visuals of people turning to stone tends to include things like their clothes. Beyond that (and more importantly for me), I don't want to get into the situations of someone turning to Flesh having to walk around naked because someone stole their gear and/or so much time has passed their clothes have worn away over time. I've had stories with things like people being returned to flesh after thousands of years. I prefer my games to be PG-13 (or even more kid friendly), so keeping people with their clothes on is my preference. Also, by making this ruling, it avoids other questions like bionics and other factors and where do you draw the line?

The logic of why clothes would also turn to stone? The magic will ultimately affect the character's aura. The items they're holding are contained within that aura. I use this aura premise for things as well, such as Saving Throws for Telekinesis (not an official thing for note, but I do NOT allow Telekinesis to work automatically and with no ability to resist against living people ... and by extension what they're wearing, because that would be just a quick work around).

Now why would I give a possible exception to magic items? Well, magic items can already fall under different rules sometimes. But, more importantly, this could be a way to prevent the character carrying the MacGuffin to stop the evil overlord's death ray from being petrified and the party just lost the way to save the day because ... well, one person turned to stone, and they were carrying the essential item. Now, I probably wouldn't actually have a story set up in quite that way, but I try to think of stuff like that the best I can and work in fail safes.

darthauthor wrote:2. If they drop or hit the petrified victim and a finger or arms breaks off, can they put him back together with "Mend Stone?"

Interesting question. I'd say yes. While Petrified the person is effectively stone, and the Mend Stone can repair it without any trace of damage. I like this idea and am all for it.

darthauthor wrote:3. Does the statue have an aura?
Specifically, what will it be? Same as the character or just solid stone.

My gut instinct response: The character will read as stone, but I'd be willing to say the stone would register an unusual aberration.

However, the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking that maybe the character's aura would still be the same, but read an usual aberration. Because as I think about the questions and the answers to the various questions, I suppose my thoughts are the person is still there, just in an altered state. However, the book mentions the person is "in stasis" and that you can destroy the "life essence inside." My thinking now is that this is closer to a cryogenic sleep. The person is unaware of anything going on and can be killed, but still technically there. As such, with further thought, I'd say the person would register their normal aura, only with an unusual aberration added on.

darthauthor wrote:Are they detectable using detect psionics?

Perhaps, depending on the psionic. But, in most cases, no.

darthauthor wrote:Sense Magic?
Sense PPE?
Sense Evil?
Presense Sense?
Telepathy/Empathy?

In most of these cases, I'd say no. Sense Evil and Presence Sense, for instance, usually only pick-up Supernatural Entities and Creatures of Magic, but if the Petrified individual fell into one of these categories ... maybe?

For things like Telepathy and Empathy though, the person is in stasis and unaware of anything. Also, they're stone. So I'm going to say no brain activity. However, their "essence" is still there. So, with that in mind, if you Petrified a demon, for instance, then that essence would still be there. So something like Sense Evil I suppose would still detect it. Of course, if we're using the updated rules of supernatural beings going back to their native dimension when slain ... this might count as being killed. I'd have to give that one some thought, and probably depends on the story I want to tell.

Note: I don't actually know the Sense P.P.E. power, so I can't comment on those specifics.

darthauthor wrote:Object Reading?
Does Remote Viewing show the psychic their statue?

I'd say yes to both of these working. Object Read would of course require a successful check (requires % rolls), and if you're reading the stone or something else they owned. But, ultimately, I'd say it has the potential with just the details changing.

darthauthor wrote:Detect Concealment spell?

There's nothing being concealed here. This just isn't a relevant spell to the situation. Note: I also don't think it would reveal a Changeling or any other type of shape changer.

darthauthor wrote:Can the petrified astrally project?
Are they aware of what anyone says around them? Or taps on them, like morse code?

Palladium Fantasy, Second Edition; page 232: "A character who becomes petrified is placed in stasis and remembers nothing of the time he was turned to stone ..."

So, if they're in stasis, then they cannot astral project. Also, as they're in stasis and will remember nothing, then I'd say they're unaware of anything going on around them. This one feels clear cut from what's written in the book.

darthauthor wrote:Are bionics/cybernetic still attached (in stone mode)?
IF removed and restored to flesh are they in pain/dead?

I'd say yes, and see my first response to how it affects clothing and equipment as well.

darthauthor wrote:As an alternative method of healing or body alteration could a Stone Mage or Earth Warlock alter their phycial features (change their face, make them thinner, taller, hair cut, bearrd trim)?
In the extreme, can an Earth Warlock add clay shaped as the hand (or other body part using art/whittling/sculpting, etc) they lost, turn it to stone (maybe a Stone Mage alters it from here) and then restore the entire figure to flesh so that the Ley Line Walker who lost his hand in Tolkeen war prison camp?

I find this idea interesting, but I'd go with a hard no. Well, technically, I guess you could cut their hair or beard without too much trouble. Anyways, explanation for my answer.

First, Stone to Flesh has 2 applications. 1: Turn stone to flesh. 2: Restore someone who has been petrified. So when using the second application, you're "restoring" the person, and not just turning stone into a flesh (which is ultimately different, and important).

Second, we're told that if the statue had a limb broken, then it will still be missing and require medical attention. Now, I already admitted to allowing Mend Stone to be a work around, but this does provide some indications to me. Not only is the person being restored, the broken limb is likely bleeding (and why the person needs medical attention). So, if you go into a coma, can I cut parts of your stomach off to make you thinner without harm or will you just start bleeding has I hack parts of your body off?

With the above two thoughts in mind, I'll apply this logic to the mage who lost a limb during the war. We petrify him. We then craft a new stone limb and attach it to the statue. We then cast Stone to Flesh to restore the person. The person is restored, a nice stone carving of a limb likely falls to the floor, and there may be the need for medical attention (depending if part of the mage had to be modified to fit the new stone arm while in statue form). Maybe not the most ideal answer but ... well, not everything has a simple solution, and while magic is powerful it can't always just undo consequences of actions.

Hopefully some of that helped. I tried to stay fairly consistent in my logic, and provide my thought process (which sometimes may come off as rambling). Farewell and safe journeys for now.