Psi drugs?

[Daeglan]

How long does a dose last? Why are the penalties so harsh? They seem overly harsh given how restricted Psi use already is.

 

[Geir]

They work two ways: Restore - meaning you are recovering points, so as soon as you take them (well maybe a round or two later - not specified) you get back what you've expended but to the Restore value. Boosted is points above your baseline level, so the PSI score (and any DMs) are elevated until you use a power then the drug effect drains before your inherent PSI.

And the follow-up I can anticipate (not strictly RAW, but there's enough wiggle room in there for interpretation): If, for instance you are down 2 points and take a standard drug, you get the 2 back and are boosted to +4. But if you took the standard drug when down only 1 point, you get that point back, but still only get boosted to the max for the drug, which is 4. If you where down 7, you'd get 6 back, still be one short of your inherit PSI.

So to answer the question directly: the drug works until you use the PSI it grants. Which means, used defensively against an anticipated Assault, it is actually a fairly powerful drug, even at Standard dose.

 

[Daeglan]

They work two ways: Restore - meaning you are recovering points, so as soon as you take them (well maybe a round or two later - not specified) you get back what you've expended but to the Restore value. Boosted is points above your baseline level, so the PSI score (and any DMs) are elevated until you use a power then the drug effect drains before your inherent PSI.

And the follow-up I can anticipate (not strictly RAW, but there's enough wiggle room in there for interpretation): If, for instance you are down 2 points and take a standard drug, you get the 2 back and are boosted to +4. But if you took the standard drug when down only 1 point, you get that point back, but still only get boosted to the max for the drug, which is 4. If you where down 7, you'd get 6 back, still be one short of your inherit PSI.

So to answer the question directly: the drug works until you use the PSI it grants. Which means, used defensively against an anticipated Assault, it is actually a fairly powerful drug, even at Standard dose.

What about the penalties to use? seems a little harsh to possibly lose a psi on a bad roll with more than one dose a week making that die roll worse...

 

[Geir]

What about the penalties to use? seems a little harsh to possibly lose a psi on a bad roll with more than one dose a week making that die roll worse...

That's been in there since Classic Traveller, if I recall it properly. Not that it's a excuse, just a continuity thing. If you look at other drugs, they also have negative side effects from use or overuse, though only anti-rad has a permanent decrease penalty - well I suppose anagathics has one too, once you stop taking it, but that's not the same thing.

If anything, I'd make other drugs more severe than they are if overused, just to keep the Travellers from shooting-up at the start of any combat encounter.

Maybe the Zhodani have better PSI drugs, at least available for under-Psi strengthen Nobles, but it wouldn't be readily available, even in the Consulate. And its only Special that has a risk of PSI loss for a single dose.

 

[Sigtrygg]

The original CT 77 rules for comparison:

Pitfalls: The abuse of psi-drugs can lead to loss of psionic powers and to physical
debilitation. In any situation in which a character takes three doses in three days
or four doses in one week, there is a chance (throw 9+ for it to occur) that drug overdose
will occur within 6 hours of the last dose.
If overdose occurs, the character becomes seriously ill, lapsing into unconsciousness
and taking wounds equal to 3D. Upon recovery from the illness, psionic
strength rating is reduced (saving th row to avoid is 10+) by one point, permanently...
Special has a chance (throw 11+ when used) that it will permanently reduce
psionic strength rating by 1.