Psychic Rules

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Psychic phenomena are somewhat different than magical phenomena, although
there are some common points. Keepers should take care not to overrun magical
spells and purposes with Psychic abilities. Where Psychic abilities become very
much like magic, a Keeper should reconsider its use. In some areas the
similarity may be satisfactory.

Psychics may be regarded as witches, hedge wizards, or kooks, but true

Psychics have a not inconsiderable ability. Psychic phenomena lack the raw
power of most true magic, though this also means a lessened destruction to the
mind. Psychics must be designated as such at chargen (though Keepers are free
to introduce 'awakenings' as desired). Psychics have some form of unusual birth
circumstance, such as a 7th son of a 7th son, eyes of different colors, born
with a caul, born during an auspicious astrological event, and so forth.

A Psychic may pick, as 'hobby' skills, Psychic skills. Each skill is rather
narrowly focused in what it affects and how it operates. Note that Psychic
phenomena often have very characteristic and synchonistic ways of operating. A
precog may only get visions featuring water, or a empath might need to look at
people's hands to get a read. A complex and characteristic skill should be
designed.

Sometimes, non-Psychics may manifest Psychic talents briefly. These people

are either latently Psychic or expressing some talent all people possess. One
of the most well known and common of these manifestations is for a girl to
exhibit sporadic minor Psychic phenomena during puberty. A Keeper may allow
extreme stress or other events to bring on the chance of a Psychic episode, and
further allow a character to gain a Psychic skill. If so, it is highly
recommended that such events be very rare.

Psychic skills are roughly divided into two areas: ESP and PK.

ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) covers the broad gamut of abilities that
perceive the world in ways mundane man has refused to accept, looking into the
future or over distances. The ESPer faces a world which is more mysterious,
less explicable, than that of peers. ESP offers insights and information
inaccessible to the ordinary person, but it also exposes the ESPer, and can be
quite detrimental to the psyche.

PK (PsychoKinesis) gives a powerful ability to directly control the world and

manipulate it, beyond that of mortal man. Pekes have great power, though it can
disappear as quickly as it comes.

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Focus:

In addition to other factors, Psychic abilities have specific foci. ESP

powers will often have a specific factor which must be present to function.
Other variations or interpretations of Foci are strictly Keeper's prerogative.
Ex:
Precog (sense future visions of people) has a foci of horses. There must be a
horse in any visions he will see.
Precog (sense future visions of animals) has a foci of horses. This can
either have horses as a subject, or involve horses in some way.
Telekinetic with focus of iron, or long shapes.
Telepath at visible range has a focus of eyes. Target must be visible and so
must the target's eyes (though perhaps a glimps to thoughts pertaining to eyes
is possible)

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Range:

Psychic abilities have specific ranges:

Line of Sight: There must be nothing solid between target and Psychic. There
may be poor visibility, the target can be invisible to the Psychic, there may
not be even transparent objects between the two. Otherwise, range is
theoretically infinite.

Fixed: A range of a fixed distance, regardless of intervening substance. Range

is Pow x 10 feet.

Visible: Target must be clearly visible to the watching Psychic. Intervening

substances do not matter. The image could also be relayed by close circuit
monitor or television, but there must be no more delay in the signal than 5
seconds or it is considered an old image. Recorded images are considered as
Picture Link range.

Touch: Psychic must be touching the target. If target is unresisting, range may
be up to 1 inch. At touch range the difficulty categories of Psychic attempts
are shifted down. Trying to control someone would shift from a Magic test to a
Power test, for example.

Sympathetic Link: Psychic is in range if he has a part of the target.

Contagious Link: Psychic is in range if he has something once worn by,

contained in, or extensively used by the target.

Picture Link: Psychic is in range if he has a picture of the target.

Record Link: Psychic is in range if he listens to a recording of the target.

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Similar powers:
Under Keeper prerogative, variations of a power may be accomplished, either
at equivalent or x1/2 Psychic skill. It is suggested that at most one or two
variations should be allowed. Since Psychic skill is used solely to connect and
prevent disconnection, the Keeper should rarely allow full skill for
variations. A Keeper may also require a round or two of additional
concentration, or increased cost, for such efforts.
The amount to which powers can vary is up to the Keeper's vision of how
Psychic abilities should work.
Exs:
Precog who can see visions of people's future tries to see a vision of the
future of a place, Precog at x1/2 skill or double connect cost, or two
additional round of concentration.
Same precog tries to see the present appearance of a place, at x1/5 skill, or
five times connect cost, or five added rounds of concentration.
Telekinetic of iron tries to start a fire, sense iron, or TK wood at x1/2
skill.
Telekinetic of iron at touch range tries to move an object further at x1/2
skill.
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Main Mechanic:

Most Psychic phenomena use the following mechanic, in one form or another:

Using a Psychic abilty works in steps.

To connect the power to a target requires either 1 Magic Point or 1 SAN.

Then a Psychic skill check is required to successfully connect

To use a power, once connected, requires another 1MP or SAN, and an appropriate
check:
Control someone: Magic test
Scan someone: Power test
Scan uncontested: Idea, Spot Hidden, Listen, or other skill to interpret
Affect uncontested: Luck or other skill to understand what is attempted

To switch powers being used requires a check of the new Psychic skill, but no
MP or SAN. Failure requires original Psychic skill check to avoid
disconnecting.

If the use of a power fails, another Psychic skill check to avoid disconnecting.
Every minute connection is up requires another 1MP or SAN.
Disconnecting requires a Psychic skill check at x2, with no cost.
If a disconnect is contested, it may be treated as a Psychic use.
If total SAN loss, from connect to disconnect, is 5 or more, must roll the
Psychic skill again to avoid temporary insanity.

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Required Time:

One Psychic step may be attempted per round. A
opportunity of one other action 1 MP or SAN more
of step at x1/2. A Psychic can leave opportunity
cost of 5 MP or SAN, or skill at x1/5.
The propogation of psychic abilities is either
as Keeper desires.
Psychic leaving the
for the Psychic step, or skill
for two other actions at a
instantaneous or light speed,

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Passive or Automatic Use:
Passive use of sensory powers (where applicable) require a Psychic check to
notice something odd and for surface impressions. Passive use is good for
scanning for something, or getting basic information.
When interacting with something Horrid (mindreading Cthulhu, say) either
actively or by passive 'bad vibes', a Psychic check is required to shield the
influence. If this fails, the Psychic will take appropriate SAN loss.
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Optional Occult rule:

The Occult (or Theology, or some other form of belief, perhaps even Math or
Physics) can be used to structure the Psychic's thoughts and aid in performing
a Psychic phenomena. However, it is rather time consuming. This structuring
gives a bonus, credit against which MP and SAN of the following Psychic attempt
draw. Before each Psychic attempt, some appropriate ritual must take place for
this to take effect. Appropriate ritual components and tools may be reusable.
Ritual lasting 1-60 minutes will give a bonus of Mins/12, round down,
1-6 hours gives bonus of Hrs+4,
6-24 hours gives bonus of (Hrs/8)+10, round down. Exhaustion prevents further
useful ritual.

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If the Occult skill check succeeds, bonus is a credit against which MP and SAN
of the following Psychic attempt draw. Note that the Psychic attempt is part of
the ritual, so that if the Occult roll fails, the Psychic connection must still
be attempted. Also, bonus does not roll over into other Psychic attempts. If a
Psychic attempt ends with bonus unused, the advantage is lost.
EX:
A shaman spends 2 hours in chanting and ritual. He can accomplish 6 steps in
a Psychic attempt at no cost.

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Possible reasons for Psi:

* Human blood is tainted by various entities (the Dreamworld Gods, Deep Ones,
various others possible), and this gives some amazing abilities.

* Reality is not like normal humanity understands.

* Psychics are, either through inclination or through some strange perverse

law of the world, more able to deal with true reality.

William H Timmins - Pooh@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu