Psi: What's the inner astral for?

[Gef]

Thanks for the responses. Sir Pudding, you've reminded me of several ways I can coerce PCs to go there, but my question is really toward routine utility. RPK's answers likewise go to reasons of plot, and the specific examples fit a fantasy idiom more than scifi, even soft scifi. Looks like the utility depends solely on how the GM develops it. Alas, I was hoping to avoid having to map a world that's bigger than the world. -GEF

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Gef

Thanks for the responses. Sir Pudding, you've reminded me of several ways I can coerce PCs to go there, but my question is really toward routine utility.

It's not different from the "routine utility" of having to go anywhere that's difficult to get to. What's the routine utility of going to Antarctica or diving into the ocean in the same campaign?

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Gef

Thanks for the responses. Sir Pudding, you've reminded me of several ways I can coerce PCs to go there, but my question is really toward routine utility. F

The Inner Astral is still a great way to pile up training in a hurry.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

The Inner Astral is still a great way to pile up training in a hurry.

Likewise, it's a good place to learn exotic skills, if the GM is willing to put someone able to teach them, there - it's an alternative to the Ancient Hermit on the Mountain, or the Hidden Temple of Mysterious Mystic Monks.

In my games, Faerieland and various fictional realms exist there, allowing campaignes where you might have tea with Harry Potter in one adventure, and run away from Klingons the next, all the while trying to track down the over-arching villain, who might be a psi from the real world, a spirit from myth, or an escaped fictional character (haven't run one of those, but it's an option for the Five Earths setting in my signature). In other words, it's an alternative to or specific variant of an Infinite Worlds setting.

Such games aren't for everyone, though. OTOH, they can make for a fun break from a more serious game.