PSI and their standing in the world

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by Onkl

His psionic abilities have the limitation "Costs Fatigue", if there is no cost mentioned in the PDF.

Costs Fatigue is -5% per 1 fatigue per activation for discrete uses, or -10% per 1 fatigue/second of use depending on the ability and build.

Originally Posted by Onkl

The PSI PC got his abilities by being part of an experiment in the vault. He's the first survivor of the procedures. So the other PCs might not know about his abilities... but it's improbable.

What can I do to make this character try to keep his secret?

I've looked at the DisAd "Secret" and it seems to be the right choice. The problem with this DisAd is the heterogeneity in a post-apoc world. In my world, there is no central place of authority. So the consequences of the player disclosing his secret are different from town to town.

Secret as a requirement will do this, or just a discussion with the player may be sufficient! If the other players/characters know, they will probably help keep the secret in most games. Secrets become a problem when their frequency is rolled, so if it's number comes up it's a threat. It's totally up to you what kind of threat will come from revealing the secret. If they would worship him in that town, he may get Dependents or Enemy's (Watchers) a sickness from offerings, or whatever fancies you for the point exchange.
The point is, the results of the secret getting out are GM whim, as long as they are bad!

It is a problem though if there is no communication and the secret is effectively intact again at the next encampment (and if so the disadvantages should no longer apply, if they were permanent, the poor guy would be piling them up after a while!). If you don't mind this "reset" you can just say it does and leave it at that.

Or you could skip the Secret and do it as a reaction modifier. Not every character with a 'secret' has the Secret Disadvantage, it's just with the Disadvantage, there is always an ongoing threat of it being revealed with serious and lasting repercussions of it getting out.

Psionic Individual:Reaction +4 People who think that's GOOD! (only when abilities are displayed, -20%)
Psionic Individual:Reaction -4 People who think that's BAD! (only when abilities are displayed, -20%)

You just have to pick a frequency for how common each opinion is, and if they match, it ends up at zero points.