Psi Powers: Gestalt Familiarity

[L.J.Steele]

I'm confused on how this 1 pt perk works.

The Gestalt rules (p. 9-11) say that the psis first link up, by rolling against their best psi skill and either need to be in physical contact or use telesend/telereceive. There are modifiers to the number of folks in the gestalt.

So far, so good. I'm also inferring that the telesend/receive range modifiers would apply for those folks trying to join in at a distance.

Then we get to this line. Psis with Gestalt Familiarity (p. 19) can skip this rolls. Gestalt Familiarity says that "You do not have to make a skill roll to join a gestalt; merely making physical or telepathic contact is enough."

Does this mean that if all the members of the Gestalt have Gestalt Familiarity, the size is unlimited? Telepaths would make a skill roll to make contact (with appropriate range modifiers), but otherwise it could be a city-sized group mind?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by L.J.Steele

Does this mean that if all the members of the Gestalt have Gestalt Familiarity, the size is unlimited? Telepaths would make a skill roll to make contact (with appropriate range modifiers), but otherwise it could be a city-sized group mind?

Looks like it to me. I presume this is how you build planetary hive-minds.

[PK]

Yep. The GM has a lot of control over citywide (etc.) gestalts by deciding whether Gestalt Familiarity is nigh unique, rare, common, or ubiquitous. It's a decision that has a major impact on a common-psi game.

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by PK

Yep. The GM has a lot of control over citywide (etc.) gestalts by deciding whether Gestalt Familiarity is nigh unique, rare, common, or ubiquitous. It's a decision that has a major impact on a common-psi game.

I'd probably limit the Perk to Familiarity with a specific Gestalt Focus.

Like Gestalt Familiarity (Rowan) if the Rowan isn't there for you link up with you have to Join the gestalt based on your own skill not your rote familiarity of linking with her...