Alternative Psionics Rules

[Icosahedron]

What do you think of the following rules mods I'm mulling over for Psionics?

I'm concerned that Psions seem to learn their stuff very quickly as compared with other skills, and that the Psionics Institute must have a lot of time on its hands if Psions are rare and the Institute only features for 4 months of each Psion's life.

So...

1. Psionics is subject to ageing rolls, starting at age 50.

2. It is possible to progress slowly without input from the Psionics Institute (otherwise, where did the first institute come from?)
Every 4 yr term, roll under Psi Strength to increase current actual level by 1 point.
eg, a Person of PsiStr-12 will achieve full potential after 48 years of untutored practice, a person of PsiStr-7 (averaging one success every 8 years) will achieve full potential after 56 years.
This allows for possible development without the institute, but at a very slow rate.

3. Following an apprenticeship at the Institute, gaining 1 point immediately, the psion will increase by 1 point every 4 years automatically, and another point if a rollunder is achieved as above, thereby more than doubling the natural progress rate for Psionics Institute alumni.
This rate is still quite slow, and provides a rationale for ongoing contact with the Institute.

4. It is possible to take more advanced training with the Psionics Institute, throughout life, and another point is gained immediately after every 4 month course attended at the Institute. No more than one course may be attended per year.
This gives the Institute an ongoing role in the life of Psions, and it may be possible for more advanced Psions to earn their tuition fees by spending time tutoring beginners. If they had to teach two courses to earn one, that would provide a rationale for the one course per year limit.

5. Training with the Institute waives the ageing rolls, so there is a rationale for older psions to spend more time at the Institute in the hope of maintaining their powers. (It is also rumoured that Institutes have anagathics available for their permanent staff...)

 

[E.D.Quibell]

Nice Idea.

A couple of things. You might want to put in a barrier to entry, otherwise everyone will try and train themselves.

Something like a determination roll to stay focused in each 4 year period? and a roll under PSI strenght with a +6 DM untill you achieve Level 1?

That way non-trained people with PSI strength 6 or less don't have a chance outside an institute. And you really have to try hard to to gain that first level, but after it's much easier?

Regards,

Ewan

 

[boomslang]

What do you think of the following rules mods I'm mulling over for Psionics?

I already use similar things IMTU, so I am on board with these.

(It is also rumoured that Institutes have anagathics available for their permanent staff...)

There is also an arcane Droyne variant of Aware that might be relevant and of interest... to those who would seek to discover and pursue mastery of it...

 

[Icosahedron]

Nice Idea.

A couple of things. You might want to put in a barrier to entry, otherwise everyone will try and train themselves.

Good point. I'd actually got that in my head, but I'd become so familiar with it that I forgot and didn't express it as a rule.
Yes, I was thinking you need some form of 'revelation' to convince you that you have a talent in the first place (simply 'willing' a coin to move across a table doesn't work, as we all know. ) Say roll 2D6 for a natural 12 each year, or each 4 years to stumble across your latent psionic ability?

Something like a determination roll to stay focused in each 4 year period? and a roll under PSI strenght with a +6 DM untill you achieve Level 1?

That way non-trained people with PSI strength 6 or less don't have a chance outside an institute. And you really have to try hard to to gain that first level, but after it's much easier?

Regards,

Ewan

Hmm, I'm not so sure about a determination roll, I think my rules make it difficult enough for people to progress, and people not having a chance outside of an Institute is one of the things I wanted to move away from.


Boomslang: Yes, I have 'Anagathic Awareness' as a possible talent IMTU, but the drugs would help those who don't have the Awareness talent.

 

[mike wightman]

Things that might trigger a psionic potential roll:

extreme physical or mental trauma

jump mishap (IMTU and IMHO for the OTU it wasn't until terrans discovered jump space that psionic potential was re-awakened here on earth)

psionic assault

 

[boomslang]

You might want to put in a barrier to entry, otherwise everyone will try and train themselves.

I would think this is an intended (and successful) function of the Psionics Suppression in the OTU; outside an OTU setting however, I do not see any problem with rampant psi experimentation... policing Rogue Psis keeps the Psionics Institutes busy, creates job opportunities, drives sales of Psionic Shielding, and so forth...

IMTU, the Psionics Institutes follow the Babylon 5 and/or Jedi model and generally screen the populace at large for talents. As a public service, free training in Shield is available to anyone with Psi 1+ who wants it... to reassure the squeamish that their minds can only be read when they choose to allow it, as well as maintain a large pool of undeveloped-but-non-depreciating Psi talent against possible future need.

Likewise, borrowing from Shadowrun et alia, IMTU trained, non-Public-Psionics-Institute-affiliated psis typically "out" themselves by shaving their heads and adorning them with tattoos to indicate proficiencies; this open, honest display can create as much distrust as it does reassurance, but that keeps things "interesting".