Latent Psychic, Won't "Ping" on Psidar

[Phantasm]

I'm wrestling with an issue.

I've got a character who is a latent psychokinetic; he only has the power modifier on one trait - Imbue - and that's basically an unconscious use of TK to perform the Imbuement skills.

One aspect of the character is that he registers as a non-psi to anyone using Psidar abilities or psi-detection technology. He's completely unaware that he is a psi, and in fact believes he is just a normal schmo whose talents are just Talent and training.

I looked at Obscure (Stealthy; Always On; Reduced Range) for this, but Powers makes it pretty clear that it's always an area effect.

The Psi Latency Perk in Psionic Powers also seems viable, except the wording of the Perk indicates that adding a power modifier to even a single ability is out of the question.

Any thoughts on how to model this?

[Anders]

Zeroed (Psi only, -x%)?

[Jerander]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

I'm wrestling with an issue.

I've got a character who is a latent psychokinetic; he only has the power modifier on one trait - Imbue - and that's basically an unconscious use of TK to perform the Imbuement skills.

One aspect of the character is that he registers as a non-psi to anyone using Psidar abilities or psi-detection technology. He's completely unaware that he is a psi, and in fact believes he is just a normal schmo whose talents are just Talent and training.

I looked at Obscure (Stealthy; Always On; Reduced Range) for this, but Powers makes it pretty clear that it's always an area effect.

The Psi Latency Perk in Psionic Powers also seems viable, except the wording of the Perk indicates that adding a power modifier to even a single ability is out of the question.

Any thoughts on how to model this?

Low/No Signature (Psi), -5% per level?

[Tuoni]

Invisibility (Psi detectors -XX%)? The XX depending on how common psi detectors are.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

I'm wrestling with an issue.

I've got a character who is a latent psychokinetic; he only has the power modifier on one trait - Imbue - and that's basically an unconscious use of TK to perform the Imbuement skills.

One aspect of the character is that he registers as a non-psi to anyone using Psidar abilities or psi-detection technology. He's completely unaware that he is a psi, and in fact believes he is just a normal schmo whose talents are just Talent and training.

[...]
Any thoughts on how to model this?

By putting the Psi modifier on a trait you cross over from being a latent Psi to being an active Psi.

If you don't want a trait to register as being noticeably Psi it cannot have the normal Psi modifier.

Looking at the Psionic modifier on Powers, p.28, and combining it with the No Signature enhancement, if no one can detect the power as Psionic, though it can still be disrupted as Psionic, and it leaves a normal signature, then the modifier on Imbue should be:

Psionic (With No Psionic Signature) -7.5% (-7%)
not Psionic -10%

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

I'm wrestling with an issue.

I've got a character who is a latent psychokinetic; he only has the power modifier on one trait - Imbue - and that's basically an unconscious use of TK to perform the Imbuement skills.

One aspect of the character is that he registers as a non-psi to anyone using Psidar abilities or psi-detection technology. He's completely unaware that he is a psi, and in fact believes he is just a normal schmo whose talents are just Talent and training.

I looked at Obscure (Stealthy; Always On; Reduced Range) for this, but Powers makes it pretty clear that it's always an area effect.

The Psi Latency Perk in Psionic Powers also seems viable, except the wording of the Perk indicates that adding a power modifier to even a single ability is out of the question.

And rightly. He's doing stuff with psi. He's not latent. So the real question is, "Given that he's a psi, doing psi stuff...why can't he be detected?" If the answer is, "because his applications are relatively subtle compared to others", I recommend "Low signature". It doesn't make it impossible for him to be detected, but it makes it unlikely that his emanations will be detected and determined to be his without doubt. It seems like the most internally logical approach.

[PK]

Here's the real issue, IMO -- one of the whole points of being a psi is that you do register as a psi. It's not just to Psidar -- it's to psychotronic detectors, to anti-psis, to everything. That's one of the fundamental assumptions behind psi, and part of the reason for the -10% price break.

So, is this a psi who's buying a specific immunity to Psidar? Or does he also fail to register to handheld psi detectors, Psi Sense, etc.? If the former, that's probably a fair perk for each ability affected. If the latter, I wouldn't allow it, as that's far too fundamental a change IMO. You can only remove so many drawbacks of the Psionic PM before you've made it into something different.

[Phantasm]

Thanks for input, folks. Especially you, Rev. You made me think about things and realize what I'm doing.

The setting is one where psionics and psychotronics exist, but aren't yet fully understood. What I'm looking at is that he doesn't have enough raw power to trigger the crude tech sensors. He's still affected by anti-psi tech and powers, however.

I guess a Perk to avoid pinging on an esper's psidar will work - with the understanding that the perk will disappear should his psionic power level increase in the future (read: gain more psi abilities). He'll still register on more potent sensors - he just hasn't had the opportunity to be tested by one yet.

This make sense to you?

[Tuoni]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

Thanks for input, folks. Especially you, Rev. You made me think about things and realize what I'm doing.

The setting is one where psionics and psychotronics exist, but aren't yet fully understood. What I'm looking at is that he doesn't have enough raw power to trigger the crude tech sensors. He's still affected by anti-psi tech and powers, however.

I guess a Perk to avoid pinging on an esper's psidar will work - with the understanding that the perk will disappear should his psionic power level increase in the future (read: gain more psi abilities). He'll still register on more potent sensors - he just hasn't had the opportunity to be tested by one yet.

This make sense to you?

Actually, that sounds like a flaw of the sensors more then an advantage of the character.