Aslan Psionics

[Stei'awtliyrl]

I've been thinking a bunch about Traveller Psionics over the last few days writing my blog over at Lore and Legends of the Dezzyverse. (why yes, that's a shameless plug. Glad you noticed!)

Since Aslan are inspired by the Kzinti of Known Space, do they have a similar underclass of Aslan Telepaths? Or Aslan Psionicists in general? Is there any material out there that classify the Aslan Psionicist as a Male or Female profession?

 

[Grognard_1]

I riffed a bit on it in this story: https://soren-boye-petersen.itch.io/a-properly-conducted-act-of-sneaky-bastardry

 

[Garnfellow]

I believe CT is silent on psionic Aslan. MT Solomani and Aslan says they exist but are rare and generally weaker than human psionicists. GT and TNE mostly follow the same course. MGT 1e Aslan says both that they do not exist and that they might have once, but were exiled/destroyed during the Cultural Purge. MGT 2e Clans of the Aslan says they exist but are rare and generally weaker than human psionicists.

So there's not a lot, it's a bit mixed, and I don't think anything associates the talent with a specific gender.

Me, I think it's probably open to both. Aslan are a contemplative people who practice meditation and other forms of mental discipline. Psionics doesn't seem like a big stretch.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Travellerwiki: Aslan

NOTE: Aslan have extremely low psionic potential.

To be clear, "extremely low potential" is not synonymous with "NO potential at all" (or words to that effect).

What that can mean in practice is that psionic Aslan ought to be rarer and less numerous, so more of a "four leaf clover" type when they exist. Likewise it can also mean that "powerful psionic Aslan" are still possible ... but their rarity (the odds against them existing) is much greater than with the other major species.

In LBB3, for humaniti characters, psionic potential is a 2D throw with a -1 DM penalty per terms served in a career (which, with the basic CharGen of LBB1 meant a range of 1-11 after a 1 term career and mustering out at age 22).

One way to account for the "extremely low psionic potential" of the Aslan species would be to make the 2D throw for psionic potential at disadvantage ... meaning roll twice and use the lower roll. So the maximum potential is the same, but the bell curve distribution of psionic potentials is wildly different, disfavoring Aslan.

do they have a similar underclass of Aslan Telepaths? Or Aslan Psionicists in general? Is there any material out there that classify the Aslan Psionicist as a Male or Female profession?

1. No.
2. Not ... really ...
3. Not ... applicable ...

My personal sense is that psionic potentials and powers/skills are simply "too random" to be classified as male/female gendered, in and of themselves. So in that sense, psionic powers/skills are more ... gender agnostic ... than they are gender specific, like other professions and skills are considered to be.

However, the sheer RARITY of psionic potential (and developmental training of that potential) in Aslan will probably mean that only the most "trusted" of persons will be "open" about their psionic abilities.

Note that the "deficiency" of psionic potential in Aslan themselves makes for an interesting opportunity with respect human vassals with psionic potential in Aslan clans. If you don't have psionic power(s) yourself (and you need them) ... "obtain" a human who does and make them your vassal.

In other words, if you don't have ... ACQUIRE ...

 

[bookwyrm]

From what I understand, Aslan have the same chance to be psionic as humans, modified by the rule set being used. (Ahhhh! Spinward Flow invoked Traveller Wiki! Looks like Aslan have low psionic potential.)

There are 2 main things that affect Aslan psionics (I think).

1. Honor. If there is enough difference in psionic power between two opponents, psionic abilities won't be used, unless agreed upon by both parties.
2. Sex. Due to honor or customs, Males & Females might not use psionic abilities on each other except when agreed upon, when necessary, or in an emergency.

Some Clans might be like the Imperium and have psionics under their Dew Claw. One or a few Clans might consider psionics as important as the Zhodani. The majority might have a subdued, possibly behind the curtain, view of psionics. Not really looked down on or feared, but not really out in the open, because of Honor and the roles of the sexes in Aslan society.

 

[Rupert]

TNE says that they start out just as strong as a human psion, but if untrained lose two strength per term and even when trained lose one per term. So an Aslan psion might be young and strong, or old and skilled, but won't be both strong and skilled. Given this, finding training will be hard for cultural Aslan.

However, Aslan can learn a skill, Meditation, without being a psion that replicates some of the 'Self' skilled (Suspended Animation, Enhanced Strength, and Enhanced Constitution). That makes Aslan warrior-monk types very scary in melee.

 

[Grav_Moped]

I riffed a bit on it in this story: https://soren-boye-petersen.itch.io/a-properly-conducted-act-of-sneaky-bastardry

Getting a 522 error from Cloudflare.

 

[PVernon]

Just now I got there no problem. (I use Opera)

 

[Grav_Moped]

Just now I got there no problem. (I use Opera)

Works now (samsung internet -- chrome derivative, of course). Thanks!

 

[Stei'awtliyrl]

You folkies rock! Aslan Rock! (which IMTU is Operatic Caterwauling with power chords from guitar-adjascent instruments. (Now I am imagining what a dewclaw would do for picked string instruments in Aslan culture. OOOH ASLAN DOUBLE BASS!!!!)