Re: Passive Psionics
 

What's the difference between passively receiving thoughts, but not actually perceiving them until you choose to "tune them in", and active mind reading of a selected target?

Just to add to the choices: Compartmentalized Mind (probably limited to Mind Reading only) Thus the "main" mind isn't bogged down with concentrating on the mind reading.

Re: Passive Psionics
 

Nah the psionics campaign thingie had the answer - I apply Reflexive and Uncontrollable and it works as i want it to based on how psionic campaigns says which is lovelyly exactly how i want it to.
And surface thoughts are most certainly not all there is - why call them surface if they were? don't bother answering - I have an answer to the OP and thus continuance in this is meaningless.

Re: Passive Psionics
 

Yeah, Psionic Campaigns was my chance to cut loose and go into all of the bits and pieces of psi in general, as opposed to Psionic Powers, where I was focusing on keeping it all self-contained and consistent. The latter is a worked example full of stuff ready to use "off the shelf," while the former is more like GURPS Powers in that it's full of tools, advice, rules, and ideas for the GM wanting to make psi into something all his own.

I'm not surprised that Psionic Powers is more popular, as its ready-to-use nature makes it a really convenient supplement, but I think Psionic Campaigns is actually more useful for the GM who realizes how important it is to ask, "What is psi in this campaign?"

Re: Passive Psionics
 

That is no more a requirement than it is for the GM of a high space opera to write out the entire Encyclopedia Galactica. There are several standard playable abstractions, like letting the person act on table talk, having then never be surprised from nearby, letting them have the initiative, etc.

Re: Passive Psionics
 

So buy Rule of 17, Rule of 18, etc. perks.

Re: Passive Psionics
 

I used Empathy with a 'Pside Effect' Mind reading.

The simple way is to rule the effect as one:

Role for Empathy as normal
If 8 or less, oops you are mind reading.

My idea was Psis don't want to know every thought all the time. Friendships would be difficult if you knew what your friends were up to all of the time.

Now and then this is a Nuisance because you could be in a lift or car and the Empathy kicks off and oops you are reading surface thoughts.

IIRC, the target may resist a psi attack if they know there is one. For most people they do not get a chance. Even those who do are up against Will vs Will + Talent. The quick contest is biased.

But otherwise Compartmentalised mind helps to pull this off.

Re: Passive Psionics
 

Or Cosmic (No Rule of 16) from Psionic Campaigns -- heeding the warnings and advice therein, of course.