Psionics
| Specialization Details | |
|---|---|
| Specialization: | Psionics |
| Trained Skills: | Psionics |
| Talent Trees: | Any Psionics talent tree that you meet the prerequisites for |
| Subspecializations: | Biodrone Control |
| Iconic Character: | [[{{{iconic}}}]] |
Level 1
Subspecialization
Choose one of the following subspecializations. It advances at the same rate as your Psionic specialization:
- Biodrone Control - Teuthidoids had a difficult time establishing diplomatic relations with Humanity at first - not because of their utter alien-ness from a human perspective, but rather because of their aquatic nature. Eventually the Teuthidoids developed a series of biological treatments and biotech grafts that could be applied to creatures that make them receptive to Teuthidoid psionic contact, effectively allowing the Teuthidoid's mind to share that of the creature, turning it into a biological drone of sorts. This sub-specialization is most commonly associated with the Teuthidoids, and is for all intents and purposes only available to them.
- Enhanced Pscyhometry - Some psions focus their training into their abilities to read objects, people, and locations. The truly talented among these can learn to unlock new abilities, such as remote sensing, the ability to embed illusions into objects, pull knowledge out of objects, and even develop what could be described as photographic reflexes.
- Path of the Disciplined Warrior - In an effort to control your innate abilites to probe the minds of those around you, you have undertaken specialized training to internalize your abilities as much as possible - at the cost of creating a darker half that dwells inside the abyss of your mind. This Sub-Specialization is most commonly associated with Lissonian psions, but theoretically could be found anywhere.
- TARAWA System - Earth faces a unique threat in the form of spirit beasts. Titanic monsters made of magic that can only be destroyed by magic - mundane attacks just slow them down, or at best knock them unconscious for a bit. Psionic contact with their minds drives all but the hardiest mad. Still, that hasn't stopped the SDA from finding ways to deploy their psionically-talented agents to fight them, developing the Telepathic Area Repeater Weaponry Array (TARAWA) System to allow psions to mentally control an array of weaponized drones to assault their targets from afar. This Sub-Specialization is most commonly associated with Human psions.
Disciplines Known (1)
At level 1, a psionically-talented character has access to a single discipline of psionics. Disciplines determine what psionic talents. At level 7, a psion gains access to an additional discipline, and at level 13, a psion can access all 3 disciplines. For more information about talents, and what talents fall under each discipline, see the Psionic Talents section. The disciplines available are listed below
- Influence - The Influence discipline focuses on offensive uses of psionics, along with the use of psionics to influence the way that beings think – be it overtly or covertly.
- Investigation - The Investigation discipline focuses on knowledge, specifically on pulling knowledge out of the collective subconscious. It also includes psychometry and abilities that are commonly referred to as ‘precognition,’ though in reality these abilities are functions either rapid-response or ‘best guesses.’
- Networking - The Networking discipline focuses on telepathy and its various uses, including battle meditation and defenses against psionic attacks.
Avatar
At level 1, a psionically-talented character chooses what is referred to as an ‘avatar.’ Unlike a Shaman’s mentor spirit or a Theurge’s familiar, an avatar is not a conscious entity, but is merely more of an aspect of the collective unconscious, and therefore it has no statistics. Each avatar gives a +2 bonus checks made for 4 skills, dependent on the avatar. Once an avatar is chosen, it cannot be changed. Available avatars are listed below. If an Avatar gives a bonus to a skill, and at a later time the character gains the ability to make Psionics checks for that skill, the bonus applies to the Psionics check when making that skill.
- Athlete – Acrobatics, Climb, Jump, Swim
- Commander – Initiative, Knowledge [Bureaucracy], Knowledge [Tactics], Persuasion
- Diplomat – Deception, Knowledge [Bureaucracy], Knowledge [Social Sciences], Persuasion
- Hunter – Perception, Stealth, Survival, Treat Injury
- Mystic – Unlike other Avatars, the Mystic avatar provides the following bonuses – +2 to Knowledge [Arcana] and the Mystic feat as a bonus feat (see Magic Feats)
- Scholar – Any 4 Knowledge skills
- Scientist – Knowledge [Life Sciences], Knowledge [Physical Sciences], Perception, Persuasion
- Technician – Knowledge [Physical Sciences], Knowledge [Technology], Mechanics, Use Computer
Accidental Scan
It is for this ability alone that many species fear psionically-talented people and call for their regulation. Psions learn at an early stage in their development how to keep back the constant noise they hear from other people’s minds, usually by running little rhymes or reciting well-rehearsed chants. However, accidents can always happen and if a psion should make physical contact with another person, there is always the risk that a stray thought can literally jump into his head. The subject will have no knowledge that this has happened and the psion will know what the subject is currently thinking, as well as actually feeling his present emotional state. Accidental scans occur at the whim of the GM. Whenever a psion comes into physical contact with a sentient being, the Games Master can choose to make a Psionics check for the psion (DC 16 or the being’s Will defense, whichever is higher). This is considered an involuntary free action on the part of the psion and may occur even if he is surprised or caught flat-footed. If the subject is feeling extremely strong emotions, such as rage or terror, the Psionics check gains a +4 bonus. Psions who wear gloves apply a -10 penalty to the Psionics check. If the Psionics check is successful, the psion has garnered some flashes of useful information. Normally this is the equivalent of a successful surface scan that only lasts a few seconds, as an accidental scan will only last as long as the psion maintains physical contact with the subject. If the Psionics check is failed, then the psion only gets random impressions and images, reading the incoherent babble of unformed thoughts that froth at the surface of the mind. Such information is very unlikely to be of any informative use. Note that the psion will be visibly distracted and discomforted by an accidental scan, whether it is intentional or not. In order to avoid this reaction, a psion may make a Deception check at the same DC as the accidental scan’s Psionics check.
Surface Scan
This is one of the most well known of all psionic abilities. By lightly scanning the surface thoughts of a subject, the psion will cause no pain or discomfort and yet be able to read whatever the subject is currently thinking and actually feel the emotions they are currently sensitive to. This is commonly used by commercial psions in negotiations to verify whether someone is telling the truth or not, but anything the subject is currently thinking will be noticed. Only surface thoughts may be picked up with a surface scan and a deep scan will be required to discover any information the subject is not currently thinking about. This requires a standard action, and you must be within direct line of sight of the target. Make a Psionics check vs the target’s Will Defense. If the Psionics check fails, then the telepath still picks up surface thoughts but cannot tell truth from lies or pick up on a specific train of thought.
Level 3
Indomitable Personality
Being a psion requires you to have a very hardy personality. Psionically-capable characters of level 3 and above add their Charisma modifier to their Will defense instead of their Wisdom modifier.
Level 5
Deep Scan
This is one of the most renowned and feared of all psionic abilities. While performing a deep scan, a psion is able to rummage through the entire contents of a subject’s mind, examining all their secrets, lies and ambitions. The successful use of the deep scan ability will effectively allow a psion to ask his subject one question every round which must be answered truthfully, though this is done telepathically. This requires a full-round action, and requires the psion to make a Psionics check vs the target’s Will Defense. Unlike Surface Scan, which merely requires direct line of sight to a target, you must be adjacent to the target of a Deep Scan. Direct skin-on-skin contact with the target of a Deep Scan provides a +5 bonus to the Psionics check made to perform it.
A deep scan is extremely uncomfortable for the subject, both physically and emotionally, as the telepath penetrates roughly into their mind. Any subject trying to resist the deep scan will instead automatically suffer 1d3 points of damage every time a Psionics check is made (whether or not the check is successful). Even a subject not resisting the deep scan will automatically suffer 1d3 points of nonlethal damage every round they are being scanned. Any damage caused by a Deep Scan bypasses Damage Reduction. When performing a Deep Scan, you may instead perform one of the following variations on it. Each of them imposes a penalty on the Psionics check you make to perform a Deep Scan.
- Brute Scan (-4 Penalty) – You push deeply with the scan, causing much more damage and pain than necessary. This scan deals 1d6 points of damage instead of 1d3, and it always deals lethal damage even if the target is not resisting. When you make a Brute Scan, you can make a free Persuasion check to intimidate the target.
- Extended Range (-6 Penalty per square) – You push the scan outwards, performing it against a target at a longer range than normal, although this is extremely difficult. Each additional square the target is beyond the ones adjacent to you imposes a -6 penalty to your Psionics check.
- Gentle Scan (-2 Penalty) – You carefully protects the subject of the scan from any painful memories or aberrant thoughts, reducing the strain of the scan. Any damage inflicted during the scan is divided evenly between the you and the target.
- Holistic Scan (-6 Penalty) – Instead of asking specific questions, you simply read the current state of the target’s mind. Each round, you must make a Gather Information check (DC 20); if successful, you learn one useful fact from the subject’s mind, assuming the subject knows any facts relevant to you. For example, you might come across a memory of a face in the crowd; the subject does not know this person but you do. Such a fact is useful to you but would not turn up in the course of normal questioning.
Level 7
Improved Portfolio (+1)
You can have one additional readied hack action in your portfolio. This increases as you gain levels.
Level 9
At level 9 you receive one of the following abilities based on the choice you made at level 1: Innured to the Net if you chose Neural Link, or Overclock if you chose Gifted user.
Innured to the Net
You gain a +5 bonus to your Core Defense.
Overclock
You have learned that the specifications of your computer are just tested guidelines and can overclock your hardware. Treat your computer's Grade and Tech Bonus as if they were one better. You must be the primary user of a computer for it to gain this bonus, and you can only overclock one computer at a time.
Level 11
Improved Hack Repertoire (+2)
You move another row down on the Hack Table for the purposes of determining what hack actions you have access to. You move additional rows down as you gain levels.
Level 13
Improved Portfolio (+2)
You can have one additional readied hack action in your portfolio. This increases as you gain levels.
Level 15
Empty...for now
Level 17
Improved Hack Repertoire (+3)
You move another row down on the Hack Table for the purposes of determining what hack actions you have access to. You move additional rows down as you gain levels.
Level 19
Improved Portfolio (+3)
You can have one additional readied hack action in your portfolio. This increases as you gain levels.