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Old 08-30-2019, 09:39 PM   #25
Pursuivant
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Default Re: [Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormcrow View Post
Star Trek is not a particularly psi-heavy setting. Sure, some people have it, but it's usually a novelty to the characters. It's more a power of aliens that causes problems for the crew. What makes you think it's a consistent fit with Star Trek?
In a typical human-dominated campaign psi isn't an issue, but it gets important fast the moment the GM allows a Bajoran, Betazoid, or Vulcan player character.

Also, literally from the pilot episode of TOS, psi has been an element of the Star Trek universe. Several early episodes of that series dealt with humans either being psionically influenced by aliens, or suddenly acquiring powerful psionics and then badly failing to control their powers.

If you want to do psionics TOS-style, sudden acquisition of psi powers must be combined with enough dangerous mental disadvantages to at least balance the newly acquired abilities. Disadvantages like Bad Temper, Bloodlust, Callous, Intolerance (Non-Psis), Megalomania, and Overconfidence are almost required.

Bajorans psis have Detect (Pagh Wraiths and similar), Empathy, Intuition, Oracle, Precognition, and Serendipity with suitable limitations.

Betazoids have Detect (Sapient life), Empathy, Mind Reading, Mind Shield, Mindlink (Family and Lovers) or Special Rapport (Family members and/or Lovers), and Telecommunication (Telesend).

Human psis tend towards Danger Sense, Empathy, Intuition, and limited Precognition.

Vulcans have some combination of Detect (Sapient Life), Extra Life, High Pain Threshold, Mind Control, Mind Probe, Mind Reading, Mind Shield, Mindlink (Family members and/or Mate), and Special Rapport (Family Members and/or Mate) with the appropriate limitations. Innate Attack and limited Telekinesis is also possible. Due to all the potential powers, plus high attributes, a skilled Vulcan psi can easily top 350 character points, even before adding things like Starfleet training or social traits.

Finally, no need to reinvent the wheel. Bob Portnell's "Final Frontier 3.3" take on ST and the anonymous but extensive GURPS 3E Star Trek supplement both exist on the web. Captain Joy's web site has very nice TOS-era rules. Keyword searches will yield gratifying results.

Last edited by Pursuivant; 08-30-2019 at 09:50 PM.
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