[Psionic Powers] Psionic Overload applications

[Prince Charon]

Psionic Overload (GURPS Psionic Powers p24) is an ability which is interesting, fits technically, and the cost makes sense mathematically, but at the same time I wonder how many PCs actually have it, and how many players or GMs consider it worth the cost as written?

At level one or two, you're paying 25 or 40 points to potentially make your own life harder, since you're touching and the target's subconscious may see you as the most immediate threat; perhaps you have enough defensive abilities that this isn't an issue, but perhaps you don't, especially as you may not know all the abilities that your target has. The latter can be mitigated by the Precision Attack technique, which range issues are normally solved by taking a higher level - 60 points for level three and 85 for level four, which again may be a higher price than you want to pay, given what else you can get with said points.

Though not listed in the book, I would suggest that unless forbidden by the GM, techniques for Delay or Triggered Delay might work well with this ability, since you are far less likely to be in range when it goes off. Another thought is to have it not as a power, but as a psychotronic device, or a psi drug that has this effect.

Now, here's another question: Can Psionic Overload be used on someone with latent psi abilities, as a catalyst? That normally isn't the best option for a catalyst, even if it works, but it may be the least bad option that you have access to at the time, or that exist in a specific setting... or it can be an interesting plot point or Origin, if it hits someone who the user thought was an active psi when they weren't.


What do you think?