The "Psionic" tradition (SR4)
Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:42 am
This is probably going to go on Dumpshock once I can post. I thought that maybe I could get some feedback here first, and give another route for people who don't frequent the SR boards.
While all of the cool kids are making Ritual magic sandpaintings, controlling people with double-chambered cedar flutes, or calling on Loa with flour-drawn veves, hard-working parapsychological researchers are trying to understand the 'real' truth of psionics!
The Psionic 'Tradition'~
According the the psionic tradition, magic is completely explainable in rational scientific terms, *and* has nothing to do with religion, ritual, or mysticism. Psions are almost always Adepts or Mystic Adepts.
Psions (e.g. Awakened) are thought to usually be gifted in one of four fields: Clairsentience ('ESPer'), Psychokinesis ('TK'), Psychometabolism ('Shifter'), or Telepathy ('Telepath').
Clairsentience involves any sort of sensory ability which the user does not physically posess, so long as that sense isn't Telepathic. It also involves the few powers which directly work to counter such senses.
Psychokinesis is any sort of physical manipulation at a distance.
Psychometabolism is any sort of biological change in the psion or within others at a touch, not including Telepathy.
Telepathy is any sort of mind-influencing effect at a distance, as well as any language-based mental effect.
Ability in more than one field is thought to be exceedingly rare. One popular theory is that those with abilities in more than field find their abilities difficult to control. This theory is supported by the example of so-called 'summoners.' Summoners are capable of generating powerful manifestations of multiple disciplines at once, but are then forced to 'negotiate' with their own creations, which are subconsciously rather than consciously controlled.
Psionic tradition Spells~
Psionic Tradition Adept Powers~
Many adepts are thought to be low-level psions, in that almost all of their powers are used subconsciously to augment normal abilities. The psionic reserarcher knows that psionics are merely an extension of natural human abilities, and so sometimes is is difficult so say when a power is great enough to be considered "psionic." There is also some argument as to whether certain powers, especially those use by adepts of unarmed combat, are Psychokinetic or -metabolic. Extensive testing has shown that they are usually TK, but some experiments have demonstrated significant changes in muscle composition/mass and concentrations of certain chemicals.
For the most part psions don't use magical items. Fetishes and foci are generally viewed as crutches for the supersticious. Some psions, however, have managed to create "psionically active" technology/biotech, which act as various types of magic items.
And...that's it for now. Nothing with the normal "tradition" stuff, as psionics isn't a real Tradition. It dosn't really matter which spirits are bound to which spell types, as the only psions calling up spirits are using semi-uncontrolled talents and are therefore by nature both varied and rare.
The drain-resisting attribute used, similarly, may vary from psion to psion. The best bet is to go with your min/maxing little heart and choose the highest.
One of the (probably the) primary aims of the field of parapsychology is to 'activate' the latent psionic abilities present in every unawakened character. Given the value of such a discovery, some research facilities are still very well funded despite the general contempt parapsychologists are viewed with. This can lead to all kinds of fun adventures with inhumane experimentation, insane Awakened, and possibly cybermancy.
While all of the cool kids are making Ritual magic sandpaintings, controlling people with double-chambered cedar flutes, or calling on Loa with flour-drawn veves, hard-working parapsychological researchers are trying to understand the 'real' truth of psionics!
The Psionic 'Tradition'~
According the the psionic tradition, magic is completely explainable in rational scientific terms, *and* has nothing to do with religion, ritual, or mysticism. Psions are almost always Adepts or Mystic Adepts.
Psions (e.g. Awakened) are thought to usually be gifted in one of four fields: Clairsentience ('ESPer'), Psychokinesis ('TK'), Psychometabolism ('Shifter'), or Telepathy ('Telepath').
Clairsentience involves any sort of sensory ability which the user does not physically posess, so long as that sense isn't Telepathic. It also involves the few powers which directly work to counter such senses.
Psychokinesis is any sort of physical manipulation at a distance.
Psychometabolism is any sort of biological change in the psion or within others at a touch, not including Telepathy.
Telepathy is any sort of mind-influencing effect at a distance, as well as any language-based mental effect.
Ability in more than one field is thought to be exceedingly rare. One popular theory is that those with abilities in more than field find their abilities difficult to control. This theory is supported by the example of so-called 'summoners.' Summoners are capable of generating powerful manifestations of multiple disciplines at once, but are then forced to 'negotiate' with their own creations, which are subconsciously rather than consciously controlled.
Psionic tradition Spells~
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[br]Clairsentience:[br] Detection[br] Analyze Magic[br] Analyze Object[br] Astral Clairvoyance[br] Catalog[br] Clairaudience[br] Clairvoyance[br] Combat Sense[br] Detect Magic[br] Detect [Object][br] Mana Window/Astral Window[br] [Sense] Cryptesthesia[br] Spatial Sense/Extended
Code: Select all
[br]Psychokinesis:[br] Combat[br] Punch/Clout/Blast[br] Ram [Object]/Wreck/Demolish[br] Shatter/Powerbolt/Powerball[br] Illusion[br] Chaff/Flak[br] Chaos/Chaotic World[br] Improved Invisibility[br] Physical Camouflage[br] Physical Double Image[br] [Sense] Removal/Mass[br] Silence[br] Sound Barrier[br] Stealth[br] Trid Entertainment[br] Trid Phantasm[br] Vehicle Mask[br] Manipulation[br] Alter Temperature[br] Animate/Mass[br] Armor[br] Bind/Net[br] Catfall[br] Control Actions/Mob Control[br] Deflection[br] [Element] Aura--Sound [br] [Element] Wall--Sound[br] Fix[br] Fling[br] Ignite[br] Interference[br] Levitate[br] Lock[br] Magic Fingers[br] Physical Barrier[br] Poltergeist[br] Reinforce[br] Shape [Material]
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[br]Psychometabolism:[br] Combat[br] Death Touch[br] Knockout[br] Lightning Bolt/Ball Lightning[br] One Less [Species][br] Detection[br] Diagnose[br] Enhance Aim[br] Hawkeye[br] Night Vision[br] Thermovision[br] Health[br] Alleviate Addiction[br] Alleviate Allergy[br] Antidote[br] Awaken[br] Crank[br] Cure Disease[br] Decrease [Attribute][br] Decrease Reflexes[br] Detox[br] Enabler[br] Fast[br] Heal[br] Healthy Glow[br] Hibernate[br] Increase [Attribute][br] Increase Reflexes[br] Intoxication[br] Nutrition[br] Oxygenate[br] Prophylaxis[br] Resist Pain[br] Stabilize[br] Illusion[br] Physical Mask[br] Stink/Stench[br] Manipulation[br] Gecko Crawl[br] Makeover[br] Preserve[br] Shapechange
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[br]Telepathy:[br] Combat[br] Manabolt/Manaball[br] Slay [Species]/Slaughter[br] Stunbolt/Stunball[br] Detection[br] Analyze Truth[br] Borrow Sense/Animal Sense/Eyes of the Pack[br] Detect Enemies[br] Detect Individual[br] Detect Life/Extended[br] Detect [Lifeform]/Extended[br] Mindlink[br] Mindnet[br] Mind Probe[br] Thought Recognition/Area[br] Translate[br] Health[br] Stim[br] Illusion[br] Agony/Mass[br] Bugs/Swarm[br] Camouflage[br] Confusion/Mass Confusion[br] Double Image[br] Dream[br] Entertainment[br] Forboding[br] Hot Potato[br] Hush[br] Invisibility[br] Mask[br] Orgasm/Orgy[br] Phantasm[br] Manipulation[br] Alter Memory[br] Astral Armor[br] Calm Animal/Pack[br] Compel Truth[br] Control Animal/Pack[br] Control Emotions/Mob Mood[br] Control Thoughts/Mob Mind[br] Influence[br] Mana Bind/Net[br] Mana Static
Psionic Tradition Adept Powers~
Many adepts are thought to be low-level psions, in that almost all of their powers are used subconsciously to augment normal abilities. The psionic reserarcher knows that psionics are merely an extension of natural human abilities, and so sometimes is is difficult so say when a power is great enough to be considered "psionic." There is also some argument as to whether certain powers, especially those use by adepts of unarmed combat, are Psychokinetic or -metabolic. Extensive testing has shown that they are usually TK, but some experiments have demonstrated significant changes in muscle composition/mass and concentrations of certain chemicals.
Code: Select all
Clairsentience:[br] Astral Perception[br] Blind Fighting[br] Cloak[br] Combat Sense[br] Counterstrike[br] Magic Sense[br] Motion Sense[br] Piercing Senses[br] Three-dimensional Memory[br][br]Psychokinesis:[br] Critical Strike[br] Elemental Strike[br] Freefall[br] Gliding[br] Great Leap?[br] Killing Hands?[br] Missile Mastery[br] Missile Parry?[br] Penetrating Strike[br] Power Throw[br] Quick Draw[br] Rooting[br] Smashing Blow[br] Spell Resistance[br] Traceless Walk[br] Wall Running[br][br]Psychometabolism:[br] Analytics[br] Attribute Boost[br] Berserk[br] Cool Resolve[br] Distance Strike[br] Eidetic Sense Memory[br] Empathic Healing[br] Enhanced Perception[br] Facial Sculpt[br] Flexibility[br] Great Leap?[br] Improved Physical Attribute[br] Improved Reflexes[br] Improved Sense[br] Iron Lungs[br] Kinesics[br] Melanin Control[br] Metabolic Control[br] Multi-Tasking[br] Mystic Armor[br] Natural Immunity[br] Nerve Strike[br] Nimble Fingers[br] Pain Relief[br] Pain Resistance[br] Rapid Healing[br] Sustenance[br] Temperature Tolerance[br] Voice Control[br][br]Telepathy:[br] Animal Empathy[br] Commanding Voice[br] Enthralling Performance[br] Iron Will[br] Linguistics
For the most part psions don't use magical items. Fetishes and foci are generally viewed as crutches for the supersticious. Some psions, however, have managed to create "psionically active" technology/biotech, which act as various types of magic items.
And...that's it for now. Nothing with the normal "tradition" stuff, as psionics isn't a real Tradition. It dosn't really matter which spirits are bound to which spell types, as the only psions calling up spirits are using semi-uncontrolled talents and are therefore by nature both varied and rare.
The drain-resisting attribute used, similarly, may vary from psion to psion. The best bet is to go with your min/maxing little heart and choose the highest.
One of the (probably the) primary aims of the field of parapsychology is to 'activate' the latent psionic abilities present in every unawakened character. Given the value of such a discovery, some research facilities are still very well funded despite the general contempt parapsychologists are viewed with. This can lead to all kinds of fun adventures with inhumane experimentation, insane Awakened, and possibly cybermancy.