Steve Jackson Games Forums - Alternative Psionics

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Re: Alternative Psionics

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Johnston2 (Post 2117958)

The psi talents are only five points. If you have so much as two psibiities, it's cheaper to have the talent.

Only if you assume a 100-point base cost for the advantage. Most psi advantages cost way less than that.

Re: Alternative Psionics

I created a psi system that used Realm Magic as a its base. It's type of psionic power was a given "realm." I had six tiers total. Worked quite well. I had a single controlling VH skill for each power. It worked pretty decently.

Re: Alternative Psionics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer (Post 2117966)

Would that mean that ESP was spread across several or all Realms, since 'Sense' (Detection and Measurement) is the first thing you learn to do with a Realm?

Re: Alternative Psionics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Charon (Post 2118056)

Would that mean that ESP was spread across several or all Realms, since 'Sense' (Detection and Measurement) is the first thing you learn to do with a Realm?

Just Telekinesis for a remote sense of touch right? I mean Telepathy and Ergokinesis already have sensory elements. Oh wait, Teleportation. That would be awkward since it would automatically mean you could sense your destination at a distance.

Re: Alternative Psionics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Charon (Post 2118056)

Would that mean that ESP was spread across several or all Realms, since 'Sense' (Detection and Measurement) is the first thing you learn to do with a Realm?

I'd have to check my notes, but for most it functioned as a "I can detect uses of my power vaguely" and then more precision at 3 or 4. For some powers (like TK), it instead worked as a kind of "remote sense of touch."

Re: Alternative Psionics

Its worth noting that you can split up realms into whatever levels you like: the levels given in the book are (solid) examples. Though it appears something at least similar was used.

I don't think realms are a good way to save points though: they're generally nice because of their flexibility, not because they are a bargain.

Re: Alternative Psionics

Sorry for the delayed responses, Sunday was the Honey-Do day yesterday I didn't get on my computer at all either.

So in no specific order:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin (Post 2117876)

You obviously have Psionic Powers. In that framework "Talent" still means the psionic Talents found in Basic such as TK Talent 5pts/level adds to all rolls to use TK.

With just Basic all rolls to see if the psi ability is used correctly are against IQ+Talent. Psionic Powers adds Psionic Skills which enable you to raise your roll by learning a Skill. This enables much higher target numbers.

If you don't care for the results of the pre-built Powers in Psionic Powers you can certainly build your own. I find PK's builds frequently overly complicated as a matter of design philosophy myself.

If you really don't want to build your own Powers and/or find Basic costs for some abilities (like perhaps Telesend) to be overly expensive then Pulver's Pyramid 3/29 article may indeed be your simplest alternative.

Yes, I have Psionic Powers and am definitely going to use it at the least. As others have said, I'm a fan of the skills for Psionics in it. Which is what I was originally envisioning when I posted - Generic Telekinesis + some number of the Telekinesis skills found in Psionic Powers instead of the TK Grab advantage. That is what I meant by removing the "talent" step of the equation. Then I caught my error in my logic. Isn't that essentially the same model as Magic with Magery, though?

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndallman (Post 2117883)

An alternative approach is to concentrate on using psionics for things that tech can't do, or can't do conveniently. Mind reading, rapid healing, things like that. Don't try to compete with technological guns or armour using psionics, because that's way too expensive.

Unfortunately, I'm already committed to Psi-Sword from the Pyramid article, Data Retrieval from Psionic Powers and a few others in the character builds. One of the characters comes from an Amish-style Psychic culture -> no tech if we can do it with our minds instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericthered (Post 2117890)

The above methods all basically give free points, from a classic gurps perspective. If its necessary to get your genre to work, then that's what it takes. Additionally, realize you'll want to give some kinds of ability more love in an ultra-tech setting, particularly physical defenses and TK.

Yeah...I'm trying to avoid blatantly free points, or at least free points that overpower the mundanes. I can always offset with cooler gear, but I'm trying to find a way to do this without forcing myself to be Santa Claus at the same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer (Post 2117966)

Realm magic? I don't recall seeing that one yet. Is it in Magic or Thaumatology? Or somewhere else?

Re: Alternative Psionics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie T (Post 2118409)

Power to generically possess a type of Psi and skills to use it different ways would effectively be 3e Psionics. 4e just doesn't work that ways. It's Powers to be able to do a specific task and skills to do it well. Psi Powers does introduce Psionic Techniques which does complicate matters rather a bit.

Re: Alternative Psionics

If you want really, really cheap psi, consider the "Magic as Psi" from Pyramid #3/29.

Re: Alternative Psionics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin (Post 2118410)

Oh, ok. I have a few 3e books for setting-type stuff (Alternate Earths, Conspiracy X, etc.) but haven't looked at the rules for 3e at all.