Psychic Assassins

[AlexanderHowl]

So, I was wondering how you handle powered PCs going over the rail, so to speak, and using their powers for assassinations? While the obvious nature of most attack powers would shut down a rogue PC pretty quickly, the problem with PCs who are psychic assassins is that many of their powers are undetectable, as they are either mental abilities or physical attacks with No Signature.

For example, a PC telepath could use Illusion to make a police officer think that their target had drawn a gun and was threatening them. With the Stigmata enhancement, they could even have the police officer be 'shot' for real damage, meaning that the police officer would respond with deadly force against the assassination target. They could even have the target appear to be a wanted felon, such as a known killer, to further encourage the police officer to act with deadly force.

[mr beer]

Setting dependant...for example, if psychics exist, there should be psychics and anti-psi on the law enforcement payroll somewhere.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

So, I was wondering how you handle powered PCs going over the rail, so to speak, and using their powers for assassinations?

With logical reprecussions within the game world.

I mean... how would you handle a poisoner getting away with a clean kill, no witnesses, and no evidence to tie them to crime?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by mr beer

Setting dependant...for example, if psychics exist, there should be psychics and anti-psi on the law enforcement payroll somewhere.

Yeah.

Having powers that are unknown to most people in the setting and thus not part of what ordinary defences are designed against, is a lot more valuable than just having powers. The base price of Advantages assumes that countermeasures are known and will be accessible to powerful foes, governments, etc.

Having secret psychic powers that no one even knows are possible is a pretty hefty Unusual Background.

[ericthered]

Is the problem wanton killing, or its that the character seems unstoppable?


If you object to the character killing civilians for the laughs, that might be a player problem. Or a campaign framing problem. That's best handled out-of-game, talking with the player about what each of you want out of the game.



If the problem is that the player is walking through your obstacles, then you probably should be using tougher obstacles. Also, just because people can't prove things doesn't mean they have to leave you alone.


Motive is really hard to conceal. Most crimes have a specific reason for happening, and if five enemies die in completely explainable ways, suspicion will still be aroused.


Psychics are really good at offensive attacks and dealing with individuals, but they tend to struggle with large groups attacking them.


Unless he has a 100% success rate, someone will get away and give other enemies some idea of what the guy can do, and forewarned is forearmed, especially with illusions.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Having secret psychic powers that no one even knows are possible is a pretty hefty Unusual Background.

Or a "Possible Death" level Secret.

[AlexanderHowl]

How exactly do the authorities detect if a psychic killer has struck if the psychic killer uses the 'death by cop' route? If a victim draws a gun on a cop and the cop responds with deadly force, would there be anything more than the standard investigation beyond that which is normal for a cop killing a criminal (or a cop killing a civilian)? With the mental enhancement, it is easy for a psychic killer to escalate a confrontation between a cop and their target to the point where 'death by cop' is almost guaranteed.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

How exactly do the authorities detect if a psychic killer has struck if the psychic killer uses the 'death by cop' route? If a victim draws a gun on a cop and the cop responds with deadly force, would there be anything more than the standard investigation beyond that which is normal for a cop killing a criminal (or a cop killing a civilian)? With the mental enhancement, it is easy for a psychic killer to escalate a confrontation between a cop and their target to the point where 'death by cop' is almost guaranteed.

Motive: if a bunch of people die that way and they're all known enemies of one person, that guy is going to come under suspicion.



If they're truly not linked, and far enough apart that no-one makes the connection, I wouldn't consider this to be problem: your PC is being careful, and is using self-imposed limits. If they are linked and close together in time and space, you can draw a pattern and figure out who WANTS it to happen, even if you don't know how they're doing it.

[Daigoro]

You still haven't said if this is a "psychics are common" setting.

Also, if the cop's body camera shows a different scenario to the cop's sworn testimony, then it might raise some doubt with whoever's investigating.

Thence, is "psychic residue" from the psychic manipulation detectable? What psychic powers do investigators have? Psi sniffer? Clairvoyance? Psychometry?

[Bengt]

If the death by cop victim was a normally non violent person there can be friends and family either pushing for a more thorough official investigation or sponsoring a private one.

If the psychic assassin is a hired assassin there is always the Follow-The-Money avenue of discovery.