[PP] [P] Psionic Ability Building

[Thökk]

If I might have more questions later, can I not name this thread for a specific ability I have in mind RN, yes?

I have an idea of an extra-sensory PK-based sense ability. Can somebody, pls, help me build it? Feel free to just give pointers, focus on any of of variants/alternatives below you think you reasonably understand how to build with existing BS, PP or Powers resources, but I am more interested in basic version as I outline below.

I ask here, because cursory search didn't help. Enhanced Senses doesn't seem to have that power.

It's a ranged touch with all the benefits of sight and touch, which gives some strengths of both, sort of "3D Spatial Sense" on steroids. It gives you distance and precise position of everything to you and each other and better, than sight/hearing combo.

Instead of telling you colours, it provides you information of shape, texture, whether it is soft or hard, smooth or rough. Unlike with vision, you can see behind objects and as long as you you can connect a unbroken curve between you and the object, you can "feel" behind the corners, every nook and cranny, between floor boards, from every direction, you cannot be confused by optical illusions, you may know is somebody carries a gun under a jacket or a knife behind their back, but it can't go through less than certain width and definitely not through hermetically sealed containers.

Depending on how strong it is, this sense can feel objects it touches from both sides, or it can be "shallow".
Errr.. this ability overall and this variant in particular is potentially very physically invasive, but this aspect will be largely ignored for the sake of propriety in favour of "I know where you are and what is needed to know".

It can be non-detectable or cause tiny pinpricks and trigger pressure sensors, etc.

Arguably, it could be detected by TK Grab or other more appropriate highly sensitive ability.

The variant I've seen in fiction is a omnidirectional field (aura?) that senses every point simultaneously. So you can't fail to notice anything within (you might not have react in time or interpret it correctly, though).

Variants might include a cone like the Awareness ability or a projected zone of PK perception, like Clairaudience, a 360⁰ volumetric sphere. rather than total area coverage. It might have unlimited area coverage or a sort of "curving lidar" with a max distance limitation (so former would beat a maze and go beyond, while latter would cover only up to max distance). In my opinion it is not the same as scanning sense's deep scan because this technique goes through objects, but it's not the same as looking at them from behind.

Depending on whether it's good at detecting atmosphere changes it can also be stronger or weaker, but it can very useful in finding hidden rooms if there is gap or find a hidden compartment if you feel that the the distance between the outside of wall and inside wall surface is unusually thick.

If this ability does have a deep scan version it is gonna be especially ludicrous.

TL;DR: At the end of the day it's like having thousands or even millions of invisible intangible fingers all over the place and being aware of each and their relation to each other (potentially simultaneously).

It's probably a combo of multiple different advantages, like many abilities in Psionic Powers. "Protected Sense" probably has to be included by default.

[Thökk]

Another less common variant of this kind of sense is more like perceiving every photon in a certain radius around you, their properties and direction. You can see through walls and you are considered looking from every direction simultaneously, it is a bit easier with certain lighting conditions (bright lights won't block or counter weaker lights, but you suffer similar limitations to sight where it comes to total darkness or near that. So in a dark room you will be blind, but if your sphere extends beyond it you'll see lit places outside and blackout zone you're in.

But I guess it can accidentally cause problems with light speed>information speed, as you'd supposedly aware of all photons simultaneously and teleport that info into your brain, not sure how to avoid that, yet.

[Thökk]

Came to the conclusion that in a contemporary setting Ergokinesis perks bought together (with some extras, if you wish) can work together as an interesting, very cheap, "weak psi" power suite in its own right.

Technopath (Ergokinesis perks on PP35)
6 points
Statistics: EVP, Interface, Intuitive Glance (Electronics; esp perk, p.42), Power Source, Radio Receiver (P:ES26), Universal Remote

You can use a smartphone just by holding it (same for a server without a terminal or hardware, that has imput device hopelessly broken), talk on the phone without making any sounds, would have easier time diagnosing electronics breakdowns, can attune to radios, and control any TVs you can find, with but a glance. Sweet.

Assuming your GM would give all of these to you.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Thökk

TL;DR: At the end of the day it's like having thousands or even millions of invisible intangible fingers all over the place and being aware of each and their relation to each other (potentially simultaneously).

It's probably a combo of multiple different advantages, like many abilities in Psionic Powers. "Protected Sense" probably has to be included by default.

It sounds like an ability I've been thinking of for various characters, called PK Awareness:
(copied from a character in another thread) PK Awareness 10 (Increased Range 50x, +50%; Extended Arc, 360°, +125%; Granted by familiar, -40%; Nuisance Effect, sensed by touch at Per-7, -5%; Psychokinesis, -10%; Requires Per Roll, -5%) [43]

PK Awareness is a Scanning Sense that's basically Extra-Sensory Awareness using psychokinetic feedback (which is to say, a very low psychokinetic pressure is cast over a wide area around him, and his mind builds a three-dimensional map of areas of resistance). Beings with a sense of touch in the area of effect can perceive a slight pressure (Per-7), and may be able to realize what's going on from that, or even locate him.

[Thökk]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

It sounds like an ability I've been thinking of for various characters, called PK Awareness:
(copied from a character in another thread) PK Awareness 10 (Increased Range 50x, +50%; Extended Arc, 360°, +125%; Granted by familiar, -40%; Nuisance Effect, sensed by touch at Per-7, -5%; Psychokinesis, -10%; Requires Per Roll, -5%) [43]

PK Awareness is a Scanning Sense that's basically Extra-Sensory Awareness using psychokinetic feedback (which is to say, a very low psychokinetic pressure is cast over a wide area around him, and his mind builds a three-dimensional map of areas of resistance). Beings with a sense of touch in the area of effect can perceive a slight pressure (Per-7), and may be able to realize what's going on from that, or even locate him.

Thank you!

Do you have a suggestion on how to make scanning sense go behind the corners touch/see things from behind? Because I'm not sure that "Penetrating" enhancement does exactly what I want.

P.S. Are you Prince Charon from SB? :)

[Shimmin Beg]

You could also take a look at the Area Perception enhancement (Powers: Totems and Nature Spirits), which lets you perceive everything within an area simultaneously, amongst other benefits. This would probably cover the "seeing around things" element.

You could potentially use Clairsentience with Area Perception, or build a Detect that does the job. Perhaps something like:

Detect Physical Objects (Accessibility, needs line of effect, -10%; Accessibility, Only tactile properties, -50%; Analyzing, +100%; Area Perception, +300%; Precise, +100%; Substantial only, -10%) [171].

[Thökk]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

It sounds like an ability I've been thinking of for various characters, called PK Awareness:
(copied from a character in another thread) PK Awareness 10 (Increased Range 50x, +50%; Extended Arc, 360°, +125%; Granted by familiar, -40%; Nuisance Effect, sensed by touch at Per-7, -5%; Psychokinesis, -10%; Requires Per Roll, -5%) [43]

Why does Nuisance Effect with -7 penalty roll only costs -5%?

Originally Posted by Shimmin Beg

You could also take a look at the Area Perception enhancement (Powers: Totems and Nature Spirits), which lets you perceive everything within an area simultaneously, amongst other benefits. This would probably cover the "seeing around things" element.

You could potentially use Clairsentience with Area Perception, or build a Detect that does the job. Perhaps something like:

Detect Physical Objects (Accessibility, needs line of effect, -10%; Accessibility, Only tactile properties, -50%; Analyzing, +100%; Area Perception, +300%; Precise, +100%; Substantial only, -10%) [171].

Thank you, very helpful!

[Shimmin Beg]

Originally Posted by Thökk

Why does Nuisance Effect with -7 penalty roll only costs -5%?

Thank you, very helpful!

If I'm reading that as intended, I think that is "Beings with a sense of touch in the area of effect can perceive a slight pressure (Per-7), and may be able to realize what's going on from that, or even locate him."

So the Nuisance Effect is that your sensory power can occasionally be detected. It's not a penalty to your rolls, it's the penalty others have to notice your power.

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by Shimmin Beg

If I'm reading that as intended, I think that is "Beings with a sense of touch in the area of effect can perceive a slight pressure (Per-7), and may be able to realize what's going on from that, or even locate him."

So the Nuisance Effect is that your sensory power can occasionally be detected. It's not a penalty to your rolls, it's the penalty others have to notice your power.

Exactly this. I'm not sure how that was unclear to Thökk, so I don't know how to correct it.

Originally Posted by Thökk

P.S. Are you Prince Charon from SB? :)

Yes, I also go by Prince Charon on other platforms, including SB.com.

[Thökk]

Originally Posted by Shimmin Beg

If I'm reading that as intended, I think that is "Beings with a sense of touch in the area of effect can perceive a slight pressure (Per-7), and may be able to realize what's going on from that, or even locate him."

So the Nuisance Effect is that your sensory power can occasionally be detected. It's not a penalty to your rolls, it's the penalty others have to notice your power.

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

Exactly this. I'm not sure how that was unclear to Thökk, so I don't know how to correct it.


Yes, I also go by Prince Charon on other platforms, including SB.com.

Sorry, I remembered it the moment you pointed it out. I read the whole thing once and on subsequent readings I didn't read the clarification, only the mechanics part and got confused who it applies to.

I don't sleep very well. :(

You've been very helpful. Again, thanks.

P.S.

BTW, while we're here, can I ask something? How do you understand "Penetrating, +50%" enhancement? Does it only allow to treat objects as transparent for the purpose of sensing/seeing behind them (or inside if the object has a hollow space, like container) (you can still sense/see the object) or it allows to sense/see through object and INTO the object, allowing to focus on any depth into an object to see concentrations of higher density, colours, other objects embedded inside, etc.