Re: Optional Psionics Rules

Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 11:42:49 -0500 (CDT)
From: RAYMOND A SMITH <ras4042@omega.uta.edu>
Subject: Re: Optional Psionics Rules

House Rules


Psionics:
	Additional rules for the development of psionic abilities are

included here.  These abilities were designed to increase the number of

psionic abilities available to the players, as well as, enumerating the

power levels needed to achieve certain campaign-specific psionic

effects.  With the exception of the telepathic talent shield, the

existing psionic powers from the Traveller: TNE core rules are

unaltered.  The changes made to the way the shield skill operates reflect
it's purpose in defending against psionic attacks, which appear quite

frequently in my game. 


Shield (Telepathy Cascade): By means of this talent, the character
effectively lowers the successes of non-physical psionic tasks
directed against him or her.  Each level of success rolled on the
shield task reduces the number of successes of non-physical psionic
tasks directed against him by that number: Thus a non-physical
psionic task directed against a character, who achieved a stage 4
success on his shield talent,would lose 4 stages before computing the
final effect. This makes Shield a much more effective skill in
defending against non-physical psionic tasks.  However the same
limitations apply with this new version of the talent.  The character
can not use any other psionic talents and any other skill rolls
attempted are done so at one level of difficulty higher.

Psi-Sense (Telepathy Cascade):  This application allows the psionic
character to detect the presence of other psionic characters in the
area.  The number of success indicates the size of the area that can
be searched.  Basic Success will allow an area of 50m2 around the
character to be searched.  Each additional success will increase that
area by 50m2.  No other iformation can be revealed by the scan,
except the target's general location and distance.  The use of this
skill can not be detected by other psionics.

Electrokinesis (Telephysics Cascade):  If the character wishes he may
take this instead of the Cryo/Pyrokinesis cascade skills under
telephysics.  By means of this talent, the character is able to
control the flow of electrical energy in and around him/her.  Basic
Success: allows the character to sense the flow of electrical energy
about him/her.   Additional successes allow for the actual
manipulation of electrical power:
	Stage 2: up to a max 100 volts. 
	Stage 3: up to a max 500 volts.
	Stage 4: up to a max 1,000 volts. 
	Stage 5: up to a max 10,000 volts.
	Stage 6: up to a max 100,000 volts.
	Stage 7: up to a max 1,000,000 volts.
Note:  The character does not generate the power himself, rather
he/she merely alters the flow of already existing energy.

Psionic Disruption (Arcana Sub-Cluster):  This is not technically a
psionic talent, but rather is the antithesis of them.  If the
character chooses to, at the beginning of character creation he can
choose this talent.  The charcater then makes a one time only psionic
task roll to determine the permanent level at which the power
operates.  The talent effectively creates a Psionic dampening field
surrounding the character. 
The field is at full strength in a 1
meter diameter about the person and drops one stage of success for
each additional meter in diameter until the level is zero: Thus a
character with a Stage 4 Psionic Disruption Field projects a field

of anti-psionic energy 4 meters in diameter. Psionic talents used
within the field suffer a penalty equal the power level of that area
of the field.

Postcognition (Arcana Subcluster):  This talent is a companion of
Foreboding, although it allows the character to see intot he past. It
is handled in exactly the same way as Foreboding (consult Traver:TNE
Core Rules.)

Mind Transfer (Telepathy Cascade):  This application of the Project
Thought ability of the Telepathy Cascade is not initially available
to the PC's, ie-players do not automatically possess this talent when
they 
roll for the telepathic abilities.  To gain this knowledge, the
player must "learn it" during game time by seeking out a
knowledgeable psionic. The ability allows the character to switch his
mind with that of another person, allowing full possession of that
person's body by his mind and vice versa.  To accomplish this, a
psionic needs to achieve a stage 7 success on his Project Thought
Skill.  To all outward appearances there will be no change in the
person.  However, a telepathic scan will reveal that a transfer has
taken place.

Telepathic Invisibility (Telepathy Cascade):  This talent allows a
character to effectively screen his presence from the view of others
by subtly altering their vision centers.  For each stage of success
achieved on the character's psionic task roll, the character can
screen himself from one person.  Thus no more than seven people may
be eluded in this manner.  The invisibility is not proof against
electronic means of detection in which the operator is out of the
line of site of the invisible character: A character achieves a stage
6 success on his psionic invisibility task. He can thus elude 6 other
characters, even if one of them is using IR goggles or some other
means of scanner.  However, if the area is being observed by hidden
cameras, the operator in the next room is unaffected by the psionic
power and sees the character normally. This power will also not
affect anyone who has any form of psionic defense.  (Including a
Willpower Asset of better than 10).  Like Mind Transfer, this ability
must be learned and is not immediately gained with the Telepathy
Cascade.

Telekinetic Manipulation of Sound (Telephysics Cascade):  This
application of Telekinesis allows the character to manipulate sound
waves.  Basic Success allows the character to control up to 60dB of
sound.  Each additional stage of success increases that amount by
10dB. Note: the maximum tolerance for the human auditory system is
120dB ( a stage 7 effect!)

Telekinetic Shield (Telephysics Cascade):  This application of the
Telekinesis talent allows the character to generate a protective
telekinetic shield about themselves.  This capability is not gained
upon attaining the Telephysics cascade, rather, the player must
"learn it" 
during game time by seeking out a knowledgeable psionic. 
For every 2 stages of success generated by a Psionic Task roll the
character is considered to have an additional AV value of protection
against physical attacks.  However, because of the deliberate
focusing on macro objects required to attain this discipline, the
character loses the ability to use any other telephysics cascade
skills such as Pyrokinesis/Cryokinesis or Electrokinesis.

Psionic Vampirism (Arcana Subcluster):  This ability allows the
character to draw upon the mental energies of others to empower his
own life energies.  Essentially the character can drain the opponents
Psi Stat (usually about a 3 in normal humans), and then add those
points to any of his characteristics (including Psi).  The maximum
number of points that can be drained from an opponent is equal to the
stage of success achieved on the psionic task skill.  The side effect
of this power is that the power is extremely addictive.

	Tony