Quote:
Originally Posted by MissAmber
Right, Talents modify your roll from what I can tell, but what exactly are you rolling against?
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Generally, IQ. The advantages in
GURPS Characters state whether a roll is required (or you can take a limitation to require a roll); by adding the -10% power limitation, you accept some restrictions to the power (can be opposed by "antipsi" powers and technology), but the relevant Power Talent adds to the IQ roll.
Worked example 1: Jane is a telepath. Among her powers is Mind-Reading (Telepathic -10%) [27 points]. She has IQ 12 and the Telepathy Power Talent 2 [10]. Reading someone's thoughts normally requires an IQ roll (p. B69), but her Talent is added to her IQ for the purposes of her Telepathy powers, so she rolls at 14.
Worked example 2: Bob is a telekinetic. Among his powers is Flight (Psychokinetic -10%, Requires IQ roll -10%) [32]. He has IQ 11 and the Psychokinetic Power Talent 4 [20]. Flying is normally automatic, but with the
Requires IQ Roll limitation (
Powers, p. 112), he needs to make an IQ roll to take off, and an additional roll every minute to stay airborne. However, as his Flight ability is part of the Psychokinesis Power, he adds his Power Talent to his IQ, and rolls at 15.
GURPS Psionic Powers for 4e added "Psionic Skills," which
replace attribute rolls for individual abilities. Using these rules, Bob has to learn the skill Levitation (IQ/Hard) and use it instead of IQ for activating his flight ability. Once again, the Talent applies, so 4 points would buy him skill 15. This is a zero-point option for the
Psionic Powers rules; on the upside, you can learn your skill with an individual power to high levels relatively cheaply, and use the various fiddly options in
Psionic Powers (extra effort, etc.); on the downside, you need to spend 4 points just to reach parity with someone not using the options.
Does this help?