[Psionic Powers] Double Strike psi technique

[Celti]

What modifier underlies the Double Strike (Psionic Powers, p.66) technique for Mental Stab/Mental Blow? It's -4, so it has to be more than just Link, unless it's adding the +20% version of link to both abilities — but then, why is the +20% version needed?

What am I missing?

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by Celti

What modifier underlies the Double Strike (Psionic Powers, p.66) technique for Mental Stab/Mental Blow? It's -4, so it has to be more than just Link, unless it's adding the +20% version of link to both abilities — but then, why is the +20% version needed?

What am I missing?

The +10% Link makes two abilities the must be used together. I think it may have been considered munchkiny to use the +10% version, when you're already bypassing the downside to it. Hence, the +20% version is use instead.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by vierasmarius

The +10% Link makes two abilities the must be used together. I think it may have been considered munchkiny to use the +10% version, when you're already bypassing the downside to it. Hence, the +20% version is use instead.

Yeah. You obviously can use either skill separately, so it has to be the +20% version of Link to reflect this already assumed freedom.

[Celti]

Okay. Thanks for the answers, folks. I must be out of my head to have not thought of the anti-munchkin reasoning behind that.

[munin]

Just to confirm the general consensus, RPK said it's based on adding Link, +20% to both abilities in the Designer's Notes for GURPS Psionic Powers (Pyramid #3/9: Space Opera, p. 12).

[Celti]

Originally Posted by munin

Just to confirm the general consensus, RPK said it's based on adding Link, +20% to both abilities in the Designer's Notes for GURPS Psionic Powers (Pyramid #3/9: Space Opera, p. 12).

Doh! I even looked at that article. Thank you!

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Celti

What modifier underlies the Double Strike (Psionic Powers, p.66) technique for Mental Stab/Mental Blow? It's -4, so it has to be more than just Link, unless it's adding the +20% version of link to both abilities — but then, why is the +20% version needed?

What am I missing?

I'm not up on Powers or Psionic Powers, but -4 to hit one target with two attacks sounds like Dual-Weapon Attack, which allows basically the same thing in melee: Two attacks at -4 each.

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

I'm not up on Powers or Psionic Powers, but -4 to hit one target with two attacks sounds like Dual-Weapon Attack, which allows basically the same thing in melee: Two attacks at -4 each.

That was my first thought too, but on re-reading the text the technique allows you to make a single attack with both powers - ie, exactly like two Linked powers.