Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Hi Jeff, I didn't say I had GURPS Psionics. I have the Basic Set and the Psionic Powers Books.

Agreed, I got that part right. Actually it is clear to me that this way to handle Psionic abilities requires to purchase the abilities (Advantages) individualy and the Talents are optional, giving a bonus on all the related abilities to that particular Talent if purchased. (Getting only Talents makes a pasive psi, and getting only abilities makes harder to control the raw abilities)

Since I am not familiar with the previous edition, it doesn't mean much to me, however, in PSIONIC POWERS case, I am not sure how to handle the skills. Do I need to get the Power Talent, plus the ability, plus the skills?
Can I get only the skills or only the abilities?

I know I am new to GURPS and RPGs in general, however my personal experience has showed me that when learning something new, it doesn't matter much if something is complex or not. Since everything is new to me, I can not really differentiate between something "complex" and something "not complex". :)

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

OK, take a look at the Healing advantage on B59

[quote=B59]To activate your power, concentrate for one second and make an IQ roll.[quote]

If you buy this as an ability of a power like say "Psychic Healing" (B256) and buy levels of the associated talent, you can add the talent to your IQ when making that roll.

Now, if you are using the extra options in Psionic Powers, things get a bit more complex.

Lets say you have the Cure ability from the Psychic Healing power (PP47), this ability is built using the same Healing advantage as before. But since we are using the optional rule about skills, instead of rolling against IQ, you roll against the Cure skill, which defaults to IQ-6 but can be bought up from there. As before, you can add any levels of Psychic Healing talent you may have.

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Thanks a lot Edges! Your answer is very clear and has solved most of my questions.

This is a very good advice actually. I bought the Psionic Powers supplement precisely with the intention of using it for the psionic powers (even if it sounds obvious). I'll just bypass the information in the Psionics Chapter of the basic set book.

That makes sense, If I get the ability but no skills, I can only use it by either getting the skill associated or the defaults, but just one thing. What happens if I get the skill but not the ability? Take the Cancellation skill for example. It can be used for 3 abilities, but what happens if I do not get any of them? I can not use the skill at all if I do not have any abilities associated to it?

I got that part right. :)

I understand the difference now thanks to the previous information. :)


Got it! Thank you very much! This has been really helpful!

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Thanks for your answer Anaraxes. I was considering getting the Powers supplement, but knowing that Psionic Powers is an application of Powers, has made me change my mind. I may not need it unless I want to create my own powers.

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Thanks for your comments Diomedes. I think I got it thanks to all the answers I've got, just one question remains: What happens if I get the skill but not the ability? Is it possible? if so, how does it work? I've read that the skills are affected by the level of the ability (like: In level 1 you need to be touching the subject, in level 2 you need to be looking at the subject, in level 3 you can just imagine the subjet, etc.), so is it a requirement to have the abilities?

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

You can purchase the skill without the ability. However, without the ability you will never be able to use the skill. Having a skill in Mind-Reading doesn't give you the ability to read minds; it merely gives you skill in using a power that allows you to read minds.

Skill is for tricks, Power is for ability. You can use the Power without the Skill. You can't use the Skill without the Power. You can still learn the skill though, so long as you don't mind throwing away the points invested in it.

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Mmm... That's interesting... Thanks for sharing Sunrunners

I assume we are talking about the Pionic Powers supplement, so I guess when you say "You can use the Power without the skill" you are talking about Psionic Traits (abilities that have no associated skills like Psi Static, or Possession), but what about Psionic powers? They all have a skill associated or a default (which in order to apply you need to have the skill anyway! I guess the default objective is just to save some points by not getting the ability). So if I understand correctly, in order to use any Psionic Power you need to get the ability (a requirement) and at least one skill that allows you to use that ability. If this skill can be used in another ability as a default, you do not need to get that ability too, but in either case in order to effectively use the ability, you need a success roll against the skill (or default with its corresponding penalty for not getting the ability), otherwise you can not use the skill.
That means that there is no way to use a psionic power by getting only the ability since in order to use it a success roll is needed, however Psionic Traits can be used just like a regular Advantage since they have no skills associated.
Puff!!! Can someone tell me if all the stuff I have just mentioned above is correct? :)

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Correct. I had read that you were using that book, and so tailored my answer accordingly.

You pay for the Power with character points. You can use said Power without investing any points (at all) (for any Power that doesn't have a limitation saying Requires 'Skill Name' Roll; which absolutely none of the Powers in GURPS Psionic Powers has) in the associated Skill. You can invest character points in learning the associated Skill for the Power, in order to roll something other than Attribute; but it is not required to do so in order to use the Power.

Correct.

Incorrect. The Skill is not required. It is optional. It is suggested. But in no way required. Without the Skill trained, you roll the appropriate Attribute (usually IQ or Will) instead.

Kinda. If you want to use that other Power, you must purchase that Power to use it even if it shares a Skill with another Power. Skills are for techniques, Power is for ability to do something.

In order to use a Power, you need to successfully roll against the appropriate Attribute (if the Skill is not trained) or the appropriate Skill (if the Skill is trained).

Correct. You need the Power to be able to use the Skill, as the Skill does nothing by itself.

Incorrect, as per above.

Any Power can be used just like a regular Advantage, with or without an associated Skill. If you don't have the Skill, you merely check against the appropriate Attribute instead.

Some Powers (those without an associated Skill) do not require an Attribute check nor a Skill check in order to function. They just work.

The way to think about it is: Power (required to benefit from) + Optional Skill (in order to use the Psionic Power Techniques as listed and described under the Power description). If you don't have any points in the associated Skill, you use the appropriate Attribute instead.

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

While the skill is not required, without it, you'll be rolling at its default, which is Attribute-6, not Attribute (Psionic Powers p.6, or "Skill for Everyone" in Powers p 162).

Re: Talents vs Psionics
 

Good catch. I should have stated that rather than assumed. :)