Passive Psionics

[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.

[gjc8]

The brute force way is to simply buy up skill/Reliable so that resistance always fails.

Reliable +20 will ensure that nobody without superhuman Will or a special advantage can resist, so long as the character makes their Per roll. It's probably worth a discount on Reliable that it's "only for overcoming successful resistance".

Edit: Except for the whole Rule of 16 thing. Drat.

[Anaraxes]

What's the difference between passively receiving thoughts, but not actually perceiving them until you choose to "tune them in", and active mind reading of a selected target?

Just to add to the choices: Compartmentalized Mind (probably limited to Mind Reading only) Thus the "main" mind isn't bogged down with concentrating on the mind reading.

[The Jack]

Nah the psionics campaign thingie had the answer - I apply Reflexive and Uncontrollable and it works as i want it to based on how psionic campaigns says which is lovelyly exactly how i want it to.
And surface thoughts are most certainly not all there is - why call them surface if they were? don't bother answering - I have an answer to the OP and thus continuance in this is meaningless.

[PK]

Originally Posted by The Jack

Nah the psionics campaign thingie had the answer - I apply Reflexive and Uncontrollable and it works as i want it to based on how psionic campaigns says which is lovelyly exactly how i want it to.

Yeah, Psionic Campaigns was my chance to cut loose and go into all of the bits and pieces of psi in general, as opposed to Psionic Powers, where I was focusing on keeping it all self-contained and consistent. The latter is a worked example full of stuff ready to use "off the shelf," while the former is more like GURPS Powers in that it's full of tools, advice, rules, and ideas for the GM wanting to make psi into something all his own.

I'm not surprised that Psionic Powers is more popular, as its ready-to-use nature makes it a really convenient supplement, but I think Psionic Campaigns is actually more useful for the GM who realizes how important it is to ask, "What is psi in this campaign?"

[Pomphis]

So buy Rule of 17, Rule of 18, etc. perks.