The Power of the Mind

The Power of the Mind

Table of Contents

Definition: The three psionic powers are Extra-Sensory Perception, Telekinesis, and Telepathy. All psionic powers fall into one of these catagories; if you have an idea for a power that doesn't I might be convinced otherwise, but these are the ones that have been proven in a court of law. Psionics is granted by an active metagene. There is no reason you can't have both psionic and non-psionic powers; the powers simply have different special effects.

ESP is when you move your mind somewhere else. Clairsentience, Desolidification (astral travel), Mind Scan and Teleportation are the major abilities, but others are possible.
Telekinesis is the ability to manipulate things with your mind. Electrokinesis, cryokinesis, pyrokinesis, Darkness, Energy blast, Flight, Force Field, and Missile Deflection are included, and psionic manipulation of your own body can explain high physical characteristics, Regeneration and Life Support.
Telepathy is putting your mind in contact with someone else's. It covers most of the Mental Powers such as Ego Attack, Mind Control, and Telepathy, and can be streched to include things like Images, Entangle (based on ECV), Suppress ("You can't do that!") and Clairsentience (through another's senses).

Strengths & Weaknesses

Subtlety	Most mental powers are invisible to normal people, and some aren't even noticed by the target. An invisible Telekinesis or Mind Control can be of much more use than a 10d6 Energy Blast if it's used right. Villains aren't the most stable of individuals, and intra-team rivalries can be enhanced with great effect.
Concealment	You don't have to put on a costume with a big "HIT ME" sign on it. Be a reporter on special assignment to cover the team's activities, a medic hired by the team to trail after them and help the injured, or a government liaison to intereact with the local authorities. Some subtle Mind Control can go a long way towards concealing your abilities while giving you a reason to tag along with the team.
Archtype	The Mentalist Archtype allows greater psionic power, but it means the character has spent the majority of his time developing his mental attributes to the exclusion of his physical ones. I had to come up with a limitation for the Archtype and this is what I thought of. If you've got another way of limiting your character, there's a chance you can convince me to change the Archtype Disadvantage.
Mental Awareness	This Enhanced Sense is more than just picking up mental powers. It means you're subconsciously aware of the ambiant mental background noise emitted by all living minds. The vast majority is blocked, but enough leaks through to give you an idea of the local population density and their overriding emotional state. Telepaths tend to get very excited at sports games, very depressed at large funerals, and so on.
Ethics Code	In 1955, PRIMUS published the Telepathic Ethics Code. It explains the right to privacy, breaking and entering, search and seizure and other legal issues that telepaths should be aware of. It is not a legal document, law or actual obligation, but it's widely quoted by the media when psionic villains are arrested. Those who make an INT-roll realize that it's part of an attempt to raise the public image of telepaths.
Public Opinion	The majority of telepaths with known (non-Secret) identities are members of the military or work for PRIMUS. Their primary responsibility is government security and courtroom verification. This public image of the respectable, law-abiding and law-enforcing telepath has mostly counterbalanced the public's fear of having one's brain exploded by an undetectable assassin. There have been anti-psi movements since the 30's, but the majority of the current public hatred and distrust is directed at mages.
Sleeper Drugs	Modern technology has developed psionic-dampening drugs that suppress all mental powers. Psionicists who have been tried and convicted of illegal use of their abilities may be put on the Sleeper Drugs. They are a powerful deterrent, as telepaths tend to get used to the background noise and the sudden silence and mental isolation is a frightening thing.

Restrictions

Adjustment Powers	Transfer is not recommended.
Size Powers	Not allowed.
Special Powers	Duplication, Extra Limbs, and Multiform are not possible. You need 30 points in mental powers before you get Mental Awareness for free.
Standard Powers	Summon is not allowed.
Advantages	Indirect: Not allowed. Transdimensional: Not allowed. Useable by Others: Also called 'Freak the Normal.' Variable Special Effects: Not recommended.
Limitations	Psionic: This -1/2 limitation represents a power that only works against a sentient mind. For example, psionic Invisibility would still be visible to cameras and electronic sensors.

Telepathy and the Law