Passive Psionics

[The Jack]

I'm trying to make an advantage that allows a psion to hear surface thoughts work passively, so it's like hearing: you can tune things in and out but you can hear everything in range. Currently Mind Reading is too active and intrusive with a quick contest required.

I want Mind reading to be blockable by the Mind Block and Camoflauged thoughts and whatnot; but anyone who hasn't had training to hide their surface thoughts projects them (some people might have naturally quiet surface minds or just not think much at all which would require a different representation not yet important)

How can I remove the quick contest of IQ and make it more like a perception check.

[DukeofDellot]

Add Independent (Powers, page 108) and a sort of Cosmic to remove the resistance roll. Possibly add in temporary disadvantage of Supersensitive (B158) for flavor.

[Bruno]

There is no canonical way to remove Resistance rolls without adding hit rolls (or hit-roll-based mechanics of a more complex nature) instead, at least that I know of. It's one of the really core concepts in GURPS.

Unfortunately any build which allows mind-reading unresisted could be applied to any other resistance-based power, becoming an absolute and unescapeable attack :/

It also bypasses Resistance to psionics completely, which is odd.

[SCAR]

You might check out Telepaths and Mental Screens in Psionic Campaigns, p27.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by The Jack

I'm trying to make an advantage that allows a psion to hear surface thoughts work passively, so it's like hearing: you can tune things in and out but you can hear everything in range. Currently Mind Reading is too active and intrusive with a quick contest required.

You want to know everything everyone thinks? Good luck with that.

[The Jack]

Nope surface thoughts only with a sense roll adjusted by telepathic talent and such - i think instead of perception - modified by range - this is to represent that hearing surface thoughts for a telepath isnt an active thing they just hear it the same way we hear sounds - deep thoughts are different but that represented by mind probe - the active part is done by the thinker and they can make their thoughts less overt fairly easily with mind block and whatnot - but i want the default to be that they dont - and the advantage doesnt currently facilitate that.

I want to reserve cosmic for the supers-powers (not heros more like vorlons)
Independent is almost what I want except this power should be always on unless they do a mind block on themselves. Supersensitive is perfect for a character coming to terms with the power yes.

I don't have psionic campaigns :(

[MagiMaster]

You could always try for No Nuisance Rolls, in this case only applicable for simple things with a positive TDM.

[The Jack]

Ok - yes I do have Psionic Campaigns, or rather room-mate does - and its perfect! :)

Thank-you

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by The Jack

Nope surface thoughts only with a sense roll adjusted by telepathic talent and such -

Surface thoughts are all there really is. What lies deeper are memories, and underlying motivations, not "thoughts" as such. Have you considered what this would be like to run? Every player has to tell the character's player everything that is passing through their character's mind every moment of the game. Think about that for a moment.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Have you considered what this would be like to run? Every player has to tell the character's player everything that is passing through their character's mind every moment of the game.

That is no more a requirement than it is for the GM of a high space opera to write out the entire Encyclopedia Galactica. There are several standard playable abstractions, like letting the person act on table talk, having then never be surprised from nearby, letting them have the initiative, etc.