Mindsword ability (for Psionic Powers)

[Not another shrubbery]

I had been trying to come up with a mindsword variation for the ESP power, but eventually gave up as I just couldn't come up with something that fit the power's theme and seemed gameable. After laying off for a while, I've gone ahead and picked up with an entry for Probability Alteration.

Curse Sword

15 points per level

Skill: Curse Sword (DX/Hard); defaults to DX-6, or Force Sword-2

You can create a blade of negatively aspected probability energy. It slightly resembles a Neutralizing Sword, having a black core, but it possesses a surrounding brightness that distinguishes it to those familiar with both. A successful attack requires a Quick Contest of the attacker's skill in the ability vs. the defender's Will. If the attacker wins, the target is Cursed for 10 seconds times his margin of victory, and immediately begins to suffer the effects.

Curse Swords cannot parry Neutralizing Swords, but defend normally against other types of psionic blades and against ordinary weapons. Additional levels in the ability cause the defender to roll the Quick Contest at -1 per level after the first.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (Based on Will, +20%; Disadvantage, Cursed, +75%; Melee Attack, C, 1, -20%; Probability Alteration, -10%; Reduced Duration, x 1/6th, -15%) [15] Further levels increase the Affliction level at the same cost.


I like fixing the duration and making the Affliction level the variable, as a way of differentiating it from the Curse ability, but that makes the two techniques for the latter less useful for this melee attack. You could keep them, I suppose, but they fit better for a longer duration of effect.