Telekinetic Gunslinger

[Frater C]

According to the listing for Telekinesis, pg. 92 Gurps Characters, "You can manipulate distant objects just as if you were grasping them in a pair of hands with ST equal to your Telekinesis (TK) level." A little further down "Your TK may the perform one standard maneuver as if were a disembodied pair of hands at some point within your range. My question is, Telekinesis always seems to be duplicating a pair of hands. How do you increase the number of hands a telekinetic can duplicate? Just buy Extra Arms? There was a comic book by Dan Brereton called Psycho that had a psychokinetic character in it who carried at least a dozen knives and sharp implements around at all times, and could attack with each one. He's kind of hard to duplicate the standard TK rules, and I wondered what your thoughts on the subject were?

[vicky_molokh]

Well, by pure RAW, you either buy TK [sic] multiple times. Or you take Compartmentalized Mind.

Extra Arms, +0% Telekinetic seem like a less literal solution.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Frater C

here was a comic book by Dan Brereton called Psycho that had a psychokinetic character in it who carried at least a dozen knives and sharp implements around at all times, and could attack with each one.

Something like this might be better done with an Alternate Innate Attack. Also see the rules for Ranged Rapid Strikes in Martial Arts.

[Kromm]

By the rules, you'll probably want Extra Attack. Of course, this will let you make extra attacks with hands, feet, teeth, etc., too . . . Which makes sense, really. If you have the neurological horsepower to track eight targets and coordinate eight attacks, it shouldn't matter whether you use your body or your TK, as both are mind-directed. But if you insist on TK somehow being semi-autonomous and getting lots of attacks where your body does not, then you can apply limitations; TK Only is probably the equivalent of Single Skill (-20%).

Of course, unless you also add Area Effect to TK, you'll be limited to two attacks, one per virtual "hand." See p. 82 of Powers for more on adding Area Effect to TK.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Of course, unless you also add Area Effect to TK, you'll be limited to two attacks, one per virtual "hand." See p. 82 of Powers for more on adding Area Effect to TK.

Wouldn't it be better to take Multistrike on those Extra Attacks? Also you could still make additional attacks just as you can without TK; AOA: Double, Rapid Strike, and so on.

Personally "TK impelled buncha knives" attack looks like an Innate Attack to me, and cheap too (especially since you'll want to make it a AA of TK).

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Wouldn't it be better to take Multistrike on those Extra Attacks?

Not if your goal is to use eight weapons against eight targets that aren't close to one another. The basic differences are this:

Extra Attack N (TK Only, -20%) [20N]
Telekinesis M (Area Effect, 4 yards, +100%) [10M]

Lets you use TK to manipulate N+1 weapons to attack N+1 targets scattered over a region the size of the entire area depicted on p. B239, with ST M where applicable.

Extra Attack N (Multi-Strike, +20%; TK Only, -20%) [25N]
Telekinesis M [5M]

Lets you use TK to manipulate one weapon to attack N+1 targets within its reach, with ST M where applicable.

The latter is more limited, as it doesn't, for instance, enable you to set up a wall of floating swords that intercept and engage N+1 opponents attempting to encircle you over a broad front. It lets you stick one weapon out there and engage a single target with lots of attacks.

Which is better depends on how you see yourself using the ability in combat. If we're setting N = 7 (to get 8 attacks) and spending 250 points, I can have the equivalent of eight single-attack, ST 11 swordsmen guarding me or one eight-attack, ST 15 bodyguard. Which do you prefer for your points: eight regular guards or one elite one? But also consider the basket that your eggs are in: Out of combat, the second character just has ordinary TK 15. The first one has TK 11 over a huge area, which has all kinds of noncombat uses.

[Frater C]

What if I wanted to use, say 10 firearms all at once, all with Extra Attack and Enhanced Tracking for each one (let's say with Vibration Sense linked to Telekinesis for the necessary sense). How do I build this?

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by Kromm

The latter is more limited, as it doesn't, for instance, enable you to set up a wall of floating swords that intercept and engage N+1 opponents attempting to encircle you over a broad front. It lets you stick one weapon out there and engage a single target with lots of attacks.

NRGH! Brain, trying to explode.

I understand the builds, but I don't understand the mechanics.

How is TK getting around the

Originally Posted by Characters, pg. 53

You may not have more attacks than you have limbs (arms, legs, etc.), natural weapons (Strikers, Teeth, etc.), and attack powers (Afflictions, Bindings, and Innate Attacks) with which to attack.

From Extra Attack? TK only counts as an extra pair of hands which is the OP's main "issue." To me, it seems that you would need both Area Effect and Multistrike to make your first build. That way you could hold N+1 weapons and make N+1 attacks against up to N+1 targets in your AoE.

I like your answer, Kromm, but I want to know how you're rationalizing it.