[TippetsTX]

Moving this from another thread...

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

Had an interesting idea about that actually... it may not be practical, but what if the use of psionic powers sucked away IQ the way spells take ST? Continued use of such powers may lead to insanity or other mental instability.

Originally Posted by Shadekeep

That makes sense. Probably would lead to a lot of house rules covering the changes, such as can you use talents from your base IQ, or only from your current effective IQ? But using IQ as a psionic power pool is logical. Or perhaps a combination of ST and IQ (IQ to "cast", ST to maintain)?

One of the unlife powers in my book (Obsession) has an IQ-fatiguing effect over time, and it does lead to madness if the victim falls below 0 effective IQ (0 is catatonic coma). So you're on the right track in my opinion. ^_^

Originally Posted by Shadekeep

Here's the relevant part of the listing on Obsession that deals with IQ-fatigue effects:

Obsession manifests as persistent “mental fatigue”. Whereas Oppression operates against a character’s ST, Obsession operates against IQ. Someone under Obsession suffers +1 point of IQ “fatigue” per day, cumulative. This means that their effective IQ is reduced, so any spell or talent which requires an IQ beyond their adjusted value is no longer accessible to them. When the victim’s effective IQ goes below 8 they will begin to act irrationally and increasingly bestial. If their IQ reaches 0 they fall into a mindless stupour, and further Obsession loss beyond that point will trigger them to awake again in an incurably insane state. Some entities will drive their victim mad through Obsession, others will use it to put them in a stupour so that they can then Possess them.