What is "Special" PSI?

[Jame]

So like the title says...

 

[Flynn]

Any psionic type not covered by the five basic spheres, such as Pyrokenetics or Cryokinetics, Cyberempathy or Precognition. Special differs from person to person for this reason, and requires a lot of Referee intervention to make it work in balance with the five basic spheres.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[Whipsnade]

Jame,

Simply put; Anything you as the GM want or need it to be.

The first DGP 'Four Knight' adventure had an example. A Zho spy could change computer memories via some sort of extremely rare psionic ability. The Consulate found him, trained him, and managed to insert him aboard am x-boat tender where he could 'queer' selected bits in the terabytes of message traffic he handled.

When creating a 'special' talent all you really need do is keep an eye towards game balance. You don't want something too powerful, useful, easy, etc. that will take over your campaign.


Sincerely,
Larsaen

 

[mike wightman]

In TNE the special talent was renamed Arcana, and three examples were given:
computer empathy
psionic healing - heals others
forboding.

 

[mike wightman]

The T4 psionic Institutes book lists 13 different special talents:
antipsionic
battery
drain
eidetic memory
empathic healing
healing
invisibility
mimic
rapid recharge
telecryogenics
teleprojection
telepyrotechnics

 

[mike wightman]

In the CT Droyne Alien Module there are several special abilities unique to the Droyne, but there's nothing to stop them being adapted for general use :
invisibility (telepathy-0)
boost (telepathy-7)
forgetfulness (telepathy-8)
train (telepathy-10)
homing (clairvoyance-0)
link (clairvoyance-3)
inward eye (awareness-1)
rejuvination (awareness-12).

Note that these are skills within the indicated talent, rather than the special talent, for Droyne.
Other races may have to learn them as special talents.

 

[Elliot]

Not to forget Immortality - (hyper rejuvination possessed by Yaskodray - perhaps Awareness-F)

 

[mike wightman]

Oops, missed that one. Thanks Elliot.
It's mentioned in the rejuvenetion entry - awareness level 15 required.

 

[Golan2072]

Thanks, Sigg Oddra, for reminding me of such a great source of Psionic powers. I'll have to take another look at the Droyne book (I have it but not T4); Psionics are a favorite subject of mine ever since I watched Babylon 5, and I seek to integrate them into my Traveller campaign in a far greater level than in CT (atleast in the Alliance/Matriarchate; the Solar Triumvirate has OTU-style prejudice against psionics, even though it has a certain psionic secret intelligence organization).

 

[mike wightman]

You're welcome

If way over the top psionics are your thing then you may want to take a look at the rules on this thread that I came up with for integrating Julian May type psionics into Traveller.

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

I handle psionics a little diferently than the Imperium does...

In the time of the Dominion IMTU (about 2250-2350 AD, espers are actively recruited to be a part of the naval and Exploration forces. Unfortunately, they are almost all raving lunatics, most needing extensive counseling and careful handling by their commanders. One character keeps injecting herself with a psi suppressant so she can escape the constant press of thoughts in her head (she can't turn it off otherwise).

Another character who was in the OTU many real years ago (my gosh--over 25, actually) had Special. It was telekinetics, but with a twist--he couldn't do delicate manipulations, just a push straight forward. After a Rogue stole his crystal (shaped like a fist, his focus), he retrieved it and had it surgically implanted. After that he really went nuts...last I remember, I had him stranded on the nuked planet in Adventure 4, having lost everything (after he had successfuly retrieved the Kinunir...

 

[Golan2072]

Originally posted by Sigg Oddra:
You're welcome

If way over the top psionics are your thing then you may want to take a look at the rules on this thread that I came up with for integrating Julian May type psionics into Traveller.

I've read through it and I might try one thing or another from it; however, I do not wish to extend the power level of psionic powers by much, just make them somewhat more common. My concept of psi is greatly influenced by Babylon 5, which generally means Telepathy-heavy with some Clairvoyance/TK added; I also like Awareness a bit (and add teleportation in memory of "The Stars my Destination" by Alfred Bester - yes, this book is one of the reasons why there is an Uber-psi character in Babylon 5 called after him

); the main thing I change about Psionics is tone down a bit (not remove!) the prejudice and maske training in PSI more available (but you'll usually have to sign up with a government agenecy to get that training).