[Psi Powers] Create Electricity as an Ergokinetic 'Battery/Power Cell' substitute?

Prince Charon · 02-24-2019, 10:34 PM

In an earlier thread, I asked whether Power Source (Ergokinesis Perks text box, Psionic Powers p35) should be made a leveled perk to substitute for more powerful batteries/cells, and/or an advantage, to power energy weapons, or EK attacks like Lightning (pp33-34). The answer I was given was to just use Create Electricity (Powers pp92-93), but the question is, what enhancements and limitations should be applied? 'Ergokinesis, -10%' is fairly obvious in context, and 'Based on HT, +20%' with 'Requires HT Roll, -10%' seem to fit fairly well (though that could be replaced by Will or IQ, of course, depending on how the setting works, or how the individual psi's powers do). On p93, it says that the energy you get is '1,000 x (level squared) kJ,' which sounds like a fair bit, but it's released too slowly to do damage, which sounds like an enhancement would be needed to power an energy weapon that does not have its own battery or power cell; for that matter, it may be too slow to power some devices that are not weapons, but still use power fast.

Also, not entirely sure how many kiloJoules different sizes of power cell store, nor how many kiloWatts the battery sizes output (looked at High-Tech p13 and Ultra-Tech p19 didn't help, though the former at least mentioned RL batteries I could compare them to, to check), so I'm not clear on how levels of Create Electricity relate to specific items without doing more research than I feel up to right now (tired, but want to get this done sooner rather than later). Depending on that, it might also make sense to apply some limitations on the first few levels of a psi ability based on Create Electricity, much like you need for levels of Sleep (Psionic Powers p49) before you start leveling up the Affliction advantage, rather than reducing limitations or increasing an enhancement.

OK, if there's anything else I needed to say or ask, I can't think of it. Any suggestions on appropriate enhancements, limitations, et cetra?

whswhs · 02-24-2019, 11:03 PM

A charge of 1000 kJ, or 1 MJ, equates to 278 watt-hours. That's about the energy content of a 4.2-lbs. alkaline battery, which seems to be what High-Tech has in mind as a nonrechargeable battery.

Prince Charon · 02-26-2019, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whswhs

A charge of 1000 kJ, or 1 MJ, equates to 278 watt-hours. That's about the energy content of a 4.2-lbs. alkaline battery, which seems to be what High-Tech has in mind as a nonrechargeable battery.

Meaning the Medium battery, which weighs 2 pounds in High-Tech, or the Large battery, which is 10 pounds in High-Tech? The former seems more likely, but not certain.

Christopher R. Rice · 02-26-2019, 11:36 PM

This is from a thread I was in years ago. May be of some help.

02-24-2019, 10:34 PM	#1
Prince Charon Join Date: Dec 2012	[Psi Powers] Create Electricity as an Ergokinetic 'Battery/Power Cell' substitute? In an earlier thread, I asked whether Power Source (Ergokinesis Perks text box, Psionic Powers p35) should be made a leveled perk to substitute for more powerful batteries/cells, and/or an advantage, to power energy weapons, or EK attacks like Lightning (pp33-34). The answer I was given was to just use Create Electricity (Powers pp92-93), but the question is, what enhancements and limitations should be applied? 'Ergokinesis, -10%' is fairly obvious in context, and 'Based on HT, +20%' with 'Requires HT Roll, -10%' seem to fit fairly well (though that could be replaced by Will or IQ, of course, depending on how the setting works, or how the individual psi's powers do). On p93, it says that the energy you get is '1,000 x (level squared) kJ,' which sounds like a fair bit, but it's released too slowly to do damage, which sounds like an enhancement would be needed to power an energy weapon that does not have its own battery or power cell; for that matter, it may be too slow to power some devices that are not weapons, but still use power fast. Also, not entirely sure how many kiloJoules different sizes of power cell store, nor how many kiloWatts the battery sizes output (looked at High-Tech p13 and Ultra-Tech p19 didn't help, though the former at least mentioned RL batteries I could compare them to, to check), so I'm not clear on how levels of Create Electricity relate to specific items without doing more research than I feel up to right now (tired, but want to get this done sooner rather than later). Depending on that, it might also make sense to apply some limitations on the first few levels of a psi ability based on Create Electricity, much like you need for levels of Sleep (Psionic Powers p49) before you start leveling up the Affliction advantage, rather than reducing limitations or increasing an enhancement. OK, if there's anything else I needed to say or ask, I can't think of it. Any suggestions on appropriate enhancements, limitations, et cetra? __________________ Warning, I have the Distractible and Imaginative quirks in real life. "The more corrupt a government, the more it legislates." -- Tacitus Five Earths, All in a Row. Updated 12/17/2022: Apocrypha: Bridges out of Time, Part I has been posted.

02-24-2019, 11:03 PM	#2
whswhs Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS	Re: [Psi Powers] Create Electricity as an Ergokinetic 'Battery/Power Cell' substitute A charge of 1000 kJ, or 1 MJ, equates to 278 watt-hours. That's about the energy content of a 4.2-lbs. alkaline battery, which seems to be what High-Tech has in mind as a nonrechargeable battery. __________________ Bill Stoddard I don't think we're in Oz any more.

02-26-2019, 11:36 PM	#4
Christopher R. Rice Raven and a Writing Desk Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA	Re: [Psi Powers] Create Electricity as an Ergokinetic 'Battery/Power Cell' substitute This is from a thread I was in years ago. May be of some help. __________________ My Twitter My w23 Stuff My Blog Latest GURPS Book: Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Thieves Latest TFT Book: The Sunken Library Become a Patron!