[Psionic Powers] Levitation's maintainance rolls

[finn]

I would go with No Nuisance Roll perk too. How much rolls the perk negates will be up to the GM. For example, the GM could decide that whenever you change course, or you find something new and stop to observe, or one of the member tries to use some physical skill, you need a maintenance roll. But, if you just continue to levitate in one direction, or a along a mostly straight and/or simple route, no roll is required to keep levitating.

If that seems too cheap, how about buying off part of the limitation "Requires IQ Roll, -10%", to something like "Requires IQ Roll to activate, but not to maintain, -5%" or "Requires IQ Roll to activate, and once ever hours to maintain, -5%", or something along the line?

Since Psionic Powers allows Walk on Air to be taken without a skill roll, I don't think that allowing levitation to be maintained without a skill roll every minute will break the Psionic Powers framework.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

What do you feel a Technique provides that Extended Duration on the power does not? (Other than more complexity.)

It will be more in-line with the existing rules and cheaper.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Why not make a technique based on Extended Duration?

My take would be a Technique based on Extended Duration when in the Astral Plane. Call it Long-Distance Flight (Astral Plane), then it's also available for other planes where the "rules of gravity and such" might be loose enough to justify non-hazardous, routine flight.

And no bones, this would only cover non-hazardous, routine flights. If combat erupts or environmental hazards compel a roll, you revert back to once a minute rolling (or whatever the time duration of the ability is) until the hazards are clearly passed.

[sir_pudding]

Extended Duration (Non-emergencies only) would be a +25% enhancement.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

But there's a bigger problem. Psionic techniques require FP to be spent, 2FP to use and I believe there is a per minute ongoing cost to pay ...

The Extended Duration technique I outlined above would pay 2FP per extended duration: every 30 minutes for x30, and so on.

[spacemonkey]

You could borrow the No Strain enhancement for Warp from Powers P.89, still have to make skill rolls but can't burn out and no escalating penalty.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

If this didn't fit, Psionic Powers wouldn't have listed it.

1 - Psionic Powers is a toolbox, not a campaign setting. As such it lists a lot of things that may not be applicable to your game. However in this specific case...

2 - Go read the last sentence of the first paragraph under Telekinesis on pg 17.

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

I regret taking Psionics for this campaign. They're complex, cost massive amounts of points, and most of the time aren't that useful (compared to spells). But we're way too far into the campaign to change that, or indeed change character. I'm having to do what I can with a mistake I made 7 years ago.

DF game? If so you have my sympathies. Psi powers are almost useless in DF. Worse, they're (as you rightly point out) more expensive, more limited, and less useful than simple magic.

[starslayer]

Power stunt extended duration on the levitation for this one use. Take extra time to counter the will penalty

[Kelly Pedersen]

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

What is a power stunt? Do you have a page reference?

Power stunts in general are described in GURPS Powers, pp. 170-174. Starslayer is presumably talking about, specifically, "Temporary Enhancements", pp. 172-173. However, I doubt you've be particularly happy with this option. Psionic techniques, as described in Psionic Powers, are already the specific implementation of those rules for psionics, and you've already indicated you aren't happy with them.

[starslayer]

Originally Posted by Owen Smith

What is a power stunt? Do you have a page reference?

Temporary enhancements Powers page 172, as part of 'stunts' powers page 170-174.

easiest explanation:
Make a will roll at -15 (+1 per fatigue spent, you can use extra time)
Pay 2 fatigue
Your next use of the levitation power has duration unlimited with dispelling conditions.