[Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Inky

Why "Protected Power"? Is there anything in the series (or your own personal taste) to suggest that anything that can mess up a telepath's senses wouldn't work as well on a Betazoid as on any other telepath?

That's been on the template long enough that I'm not sure why it's there. I think I included it out of habit, though I may have read someone arguing that races who all have a single power seem reasonably likely to have Protected Power for that one. Need to think about it, but maybe I should drop it. I'm not sure if Trek ever showed things that can disrupt telepathy, rather than just prevent specific minds from being 'heard,' so I can't refer to an episode to check.

Originally Posted by Inky

It is, I believe, not always on (unless, again, you're deliberately doing that differently in Psi Trek). There was an episode, I think called "Tin Man", which featured a Betazoid who was born unable to turn off his telepathy and had developed mental problems from the constant noise.

They really don't act like they can turn off their telepathy, nor do the other characters behave like it's an option that the Betazoids refuse to exercise (which would make the quirk an OPH of -5 or worse, instead), rather than just one of the things that you have to deal with while being around them. As for Tam Elbrun, the article doesn't say that he can't turn it off, just that that "Betazoids in this condition do not have the natural ability to ignore background thoughts from others."

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

I would drop both if these. A race that had a full +1 IQ bonus would be perceived as generally more intelligent than humans, and I just don’t see that with Betezoids. The Per +1 is not so bad, but I’d still drop it.

I'll need to think about that, but you may be right. There isn't much point when they already have a high Telepathy Talent.

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

I thought I had a problem with these, but you’ve convinced me otherwise.

Cool. Thank you.