[Psionic Powers] First time Psi-user questions

[weby]

Originally Posted by Tolta

Hello there! I'm soon to be a part of a campaign that features Psi users and, after reading up on the topic, I have a few questions and I'm also looking for some suggestions.

Firstly, my direct questions:
1. The Psionic power TK Grab suggests that the power is akin to "manipulate
anything you can see as if you had a distant pair of hands", can I take this to mean that the power allows you to utilize two hands to hold two separate items/weapons/etc at once, or, for mechanics reasons, is it only one hand that is 'usable'? Furthermore, if indeed a pair of hands can be controlled individually, what sort of advantages or modifiers would be required to allow the pair of hands to be used in combat, perhaps both being able to attack simultaneously?

Compartmentalized mind allows for 2 hands to be used with TK. If you want two separate attacks you also need extra attack.

2. In case, for the purposes of TK Bullet, there are no pebbles around to be used, would one be able to carry a pouch of reserve stones? Also, what would the weight of this ammunition be? I've looked it up in various books and so far I've only been able to find costs, not weight. Plus, since the campaign will be TL11, would there be any sort of mildly futuristic alternative to pebbles that might work with the skill which could be kept on the character, e.g. shaped metallic shards?

TL 11 is not slightly futuristic.. :)

Basically as far as what you can use depends on the GM. Some require you to pay for extra utility in character points others do not.

The power has "Environmental, Pebbles or equivalent, -10%" from the problem of not always having such. If you always have such then you would not have that modifier.

The same with using more advanced projectiles, some GMs allow such directly others require points to be used.

I would require points in both cases if regular use, buying off the -10% and if carrying something exotic it would be bought as alternate ability. Basically if the fight happens in a place with futuristic ammo laying about you could use such in that encounter without paying points, but if you always carried such around you would need to pay points for it.

3. Final clear question, is TK Grab as powerful as it seems to be? Within the rules for TK Grab, it states that "you may substitute an IQ-based roll for that skill, if better.", in regards to the usage of hands for things such as judo grabs or flail usage. Does this also extend to non-combat purposes? Could the hands be used for, say, knot tying, where instead of rolling for that skill, the IQ roll could still be substituted, for that example and for any other skill that is relevant to the usage of ones hands?

Yes. Telekinesis can do anything a hand can(except not punch in this case because of the limitation)

[Tolta]

Originally Posted by weby

~Snip~

Ah, thank you for that response! Hmm, looking at some of the potential modifiers for compartmentalized mind, I believe it would be worth it to take that as well as extra attack to really develop a fun, combat based Psi character.

One thing I must mention as well is a vague question, do you (or anyone else who wishes to reply to this) think that a character who is worth a total of 200 points would be able to be an effective user of TK Grab/Universal TK, alongside the advantages of Compartmentalized Mind and Extra Attack, with some points going to more fluff based skills and whatnot?

If so, what sort of level of things like TK Grab or Power Talent (TK) should I reasonably hope to achieve for a character worth 200 points?

[Tolta]

Also, one more thing that comes to mind, if I was to take Compartmentalized Mind to allow me to use two hands, plus, say, Extra Attack to fully utilize them in combat, would I be able to take two Power Defenses, one with each hand, or perhaps even more interesting, would I be able to make one, strong Power Defense using both of the hands of TK Grab?

Perhaps that idea is a bit much, but again, I am quite interested with the idea of a character based around TK Grab, so, anything that would make them somewhat more viable is something I'd like to consider.

[weby]

Originally Posted by Tolta

Also, one more thing that comes to mind, if I was to take Compartmentalized Mind to allow me to use two hands, plus, say, Extra Attack to fully utilize them in combat, would I be able to take two Power Defenses, one with each hand, or perhaps even more interesting, would I be able to make one, strong Power Defense using both of the hands of TK Grab?

Perhaps that idea is a bit much, but again, I am quite interested with the idea of a character based around TK Grab, so, anything that would make them somewhat more viable is something I'd like to consider.

By powers 167: "No one may use more than one power defense per turn, however." So no.

[weby]

Originally Posted by Tolta

Ah, thank you for that response! Hmm, looking at some of the potential modifiers for compartmentalized mind, I believe it would be worth it to take that as well as extra attack to really develop a fun, combat based Psi character.

One thing I must mention as well is a vague question, do you (or anyone else who wishes to reply to this) think that a character who is worth a total of 200 points would be able to be an effective user of TK Grab/Universal TK, alongside the advantages of Compartmentalized Mind and Extra Attack, with some points going to more fluff based skills and whatnot?

If so, what sort of level of things like TK Grab or Power Talent (TK) should I reasonably hope to achieve for a character worth 200 points?

A total of 200 points will be bit iffy, as 100 points is not really not enough to build the base character for combat use, you would want at minimum about 150.

Just IQ 14+HT 14+fit+combat reflexes+luck is 155 points, so you would have only 45 points to use, so definitely not enough for enough TK+compartmentalized mind+skills. If it is 200 points+disadvantages, then the points available will make such possible, but see below for note on armors.

Also a problem in most higher TLs is that body armor gets high DRs, so paying character points to penetrate such is usually very expensive (and the TK crush is the only effective TK power if enemies have military type armors). In such setting mind control type and similar powers are definitely more useful.

So if you have the 200 points total I would personally not use TK, at 250 points total it is definitely possible(but without the compartmentalized mind) by using alternate abilities or unified TK, perhaps something like:
TK Crush 10[50] with alternate abilities:
TK Grab 7[10]
TK Bullet 10[10]
Levitation 4[4]
And TK talent 2[10]
For a total of: 145(base)+84(powers)=229, leaving 21 points for other uses like skills(and more TK talent). Note that a lot of IQ based skills will be usable level with just one point, so you can fairly easy also fill another role with those points.

If you have to use 200 points total including disadvantages and want to use TK, then drop fit, lower IQ to 12, drop TK Bullet and buy 2 more TK talent, leaving 16 points for other stuff. Here you will not get any good skills in anything really, so filling other roles is problematic.