Converting Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra setting to GURPS

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

It has chi-based elemental abilities that are very similar (if not identical to) bending unlike Psionic Powers which has psionic abilities that aren't based on classical Chinese elements and don't at all resemble any feat in either cartoon series.

Chi is usually depicted as learnable, in fiction; even if some individuals are born with an increased aptitude for it (as represented by the two Chi Talents in GURPS Martial Arts), anyone can learn it.

Psionics, in fiction, is usually depicted as an innate gift that only a few are born with and then the rest can't participate at all. At most a few percent of the population, and more likely a few per million.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Much more like the source material than Psionic Powers. How do you figure? What ability in Psionic Powers matches an Earth Bender pushing somebody with a slab of rock combined with a Tai-Chi push?

Psionic Powers doesn't have a lot of specific examples that fits Avatar, but it does show how to adapt GURPS Powers to fit various manifestations. Just focus on the physical examples, which IIRC are filed under Telekinesis and the like, rather than on the Telepathic stuff.