Here are some optional Psionics rules that could make your Psionics a little more interesting.
Let me know if you see any problems.
Let me know if you see any problems.
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Optional Psionics Rules
- Thread starter Spinward Scout
- Start date
Some folks have indicated that they don't like downloading files, so I'll post the text. Formatting will be off. Also, the original file has been updated if anyone wants a new version.
Characteristic Modifiers
Extending the chart from page 6 in the Mongoose Core rulebook.
Characteristic . . . . . Dice Modifier
15-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3
18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4
21-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5
24-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6
27-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +7
30-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8
Latent Psionic Potential Bonus
The Psion gains a +1 to Psionic Strength for every Circumstance the character has on page 8 in Book 4: Psion.
Training Bonus
Sometimes training can reveal unknown reserves of power. On a roll of 2 on a 2d6, Psionic Training increases a character's PSR by +1.
Special
The 'Special' talent in previous versions of Traveller was a catch-all, that included rare and oddball talents. It can be used in the place of Advanced Talents from Book 4: Psion. Roll for 'Special' just like any other talent. The new chart replacing the one from page 152 in the Core rulebook would be:
Talent . . . . . . . . . . . . . Learning DM
Telepathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4
Clairvoyance . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3
Telekinesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2
Awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +1
Teleportation . . . . . . . . . . . . .+0
Special . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+0
Per previous talent . . . . . . . . . -1
acquisition check
Each time they acquire a 'Special', they can then choose a talent from the Advanced Talents in Book 4: Psion or a 'Special' talent from a previous version of Traveller.
A Psion can roll an extra number of times for 'Special', in addition to the first normal roll, equal to their positive Psionic Strength DM.
Each 'Special' talent acquired becomes a new skill for the character starting at skill-0.
Acquiring a second 'Special', the player can take a new talent or increase a previous 'Special' by skill-1.
Psionic Strength Classification
The chart below shows different Psionic Strength 'Stages' and the Strength required to be considered in that 'Stage'. Each 'Stage' is exponentially stronger (double) than the 'Stage' below it. This could be used as extra 'flavor' in a campaign. You can change the word 'Stage' to 'Class' if you like - I just used 'Stage' because it's used in TNE. Example: A Referee talking about an NPC - 'He's a Stage 4 Psion' or 'She's a Class III Psion'.
Classification . . . . . . Psionic Strength
Latent Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
Stage 1 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Stage 2 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Stage 3 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7
Stage 4 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-15
Stage 5 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-31
Psionic Strength Recovery
A Psion can recover points at 1 point plus the Psion's normal positive Psionic Strength DM, per hour, beginning three hours after the character last used a psionic talent. This is ignored if the Psion normally has a negative Psionic Strength DM.
Psionic Signature
Each person is unique. Like a fingerprint, the mind of a person carries a distinctive signature. This signature can be used in a number of ways for identifying the person or interacting with them. Acquiring a Psionic Signature only needs a successful use of the powers Read Surface Thoughts or Probe. To send another character a copy-image of someone else's Psionic Signature only needs a successful use of the powers Send Thoughts.
Relationship Modifiers
It is easier to use Psionics on someone who is close to you. Add the modifier to skill checks when a psionic power is used on someone the character has a relationship with.
Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Modifier
Distant Family, Business Associates, Acquaintances . . . .+1
Close Family, Friends, Spouse, Lover . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2
Psionic Signature* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3
* Having a Psionic Signature of a target overrides the other Relationship Modifiers. They are not cumulative.
Evolutionary Modifiers
It is harder to perceive minds from a different evolutionary origin. The brain of a creature with a completely different biological origin, shaped by different evolutionary processes, will be difficult to understand. Each level of alien-ness reduces the total of any telepathic skill check.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dice Modifier
Non-intelligent animal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2
Separate evolutionary path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-2*
Very alien evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-4*
* One or the other only, not cumulative
This is from the 'separate evolution' section on page 249 in the Traveller: The New Era rulebook, modified for Mongoose rules.
Characteristic Modifiers
Extending the chart from page 6 in the Mongoose Core rulebook.
Characteristic . . . . . Dice Modifier
15-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3
18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4
21-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5
24-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6
27-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +7
30-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8
Latent Psionic Potential Bonus
The Psion gains a +1 to Psionic Strength for every Circumstance the character has on page 8 in Book 4: Psion.
Training Bonus
Sometimes training can reveal unknown reserves of power. On a roll of 2 on a 2d6, Psionic Training increases a character's PSR by +1.
Special
The 'Special' talent in previous versions of Traveller was a catch-all, that included rare and oddball talents. It can be used in the place of Advanced Talents from Book 4: Psion. Roll for 'Special' just like any other talent. The new chart replacing the one from page 152 in the Core rulebook would be:
Talent . . . . . . . . . . . . . Learning DM
Telepathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4
Clairvoyance . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3
Telekinesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2
Awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +1
Teleportation . . . . . . . . . . . . .+0
Special . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+0
Per previous talent . . . . . . . . . -1
acquisition check
Each time they acquire a 'Special', they can then choose a talent from the Advanced Talents in Book 4: Psion or a 'Special' talent from a previous version of Traveller.
A Psion can roll an extra number of times for 'Special', in addition to the first normal roll, equal to their positive Psionic Strength DM.
Each 'Special' talent acquired becomes a new skill for the character starting at skill-0.
Acquiring a second 'Special', the player can take a new talent or increase a previous 'Special' by skill-1.
Psionic Strength Classification
The chart below shows different Psionic Strength 'Stages' and the Strength required to be considered in that 'Stage'. Each 'Stage' is exponentially stronger (double) than the 'Stage' below it. This could be used as extra 'flavor' in a campaign. You can change the word 'Stage' to 'Class' if you like - I just used 'Stage' because it's used in TNE. Example: A Referee talking about an NPC - 'He's a Stage 4 Psion' or 'She's a Class III Psion'.
Classification . . . . . . Psionic Strength
Latent Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
Stage 1 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Stage 2 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Stage 3 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7
Stage 4 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-15
Stage 5 Psion . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-31
Psionic Strength Recovery
A Psion can recover points at 1 point plus the Psion's normal positive Psionic Strength DM, per hour, beginning three hours after the character last used a psionic talent. This is ignored if the Psion normally has a negative Psionic Strength DM.
Psionic Signature
Each person is unique. Like a fingerprint, the mind of a person carries a distinctive signature. This signature can be used in a number of ways for identifying the person or interacting with them. Acquiring a Psionic Signature only needs a successful use of the powers Read Surface Thoughts or Probe. To send another character a copy-image of someone else's Psionic Signature only needs a successful use of the powers Send Thoughts.
Relationship Modifiers
It is easier to use Psionics on someone who is close to you. Add the modifier to skill checks when a psionic power is used on someone the character has a relationship with.
Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Modifier
Distant Family, Business Associates, Acquaintances . . . .+1
Close Family, Friends, Spouse, Lover . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2
Psionic Signature* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3
* Having a Psionic Signature of a target overrides the other Relationship Modifiers. They are not cumulative.
Evolutionary Modifiers
It is harder to perceive minds from a different evolutionary origin. The brain of a creature with a completely different biological origin, shaped by different evolutionary processes, will be difficult to understand. Each level of alien-ness reduces the total of any telepathic skill check.
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dice Modifier
Non-intelligent animal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2
Separate evolutionary path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-2*
Very alien evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-4*
* One or the other only, not cumulative
This is from the 'separate evolution' section on page 249 in the Traveller: The New Era rulebook, modified for Mongoose rules.
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