Psi-Judge Creation Questions

[Fastidious Monk]

Hello

My game group created our first Traveller/Judge Dredd characters and I had some questions about Psi-Judge creation hopefully you would help me with. I don't have the Judge Dredd book with me and am doing this from memory. If I have the tables wrong, this is why.

The player rolled on the events table for Term 1 and was discovered to have Psi potential and he did. Just to make sure, the roll for Psi strength is 2d6-1 since he was discovered in term 1. The Psionic chapter in the main Traveller book wasn't clear to me.

He then rolls for any/all powers in the Basic and Advanced Talent lists, with each one past the first a cumulative -1. So, after he specializes in being a Psi Judge, its table has entries which say additional Basic/Advanced Talent. Does this mean he gains another level in a power he already has, or gets a new power, or rolls for one he may have already tried for as described in the Psionic section of the Traveller book?

If it is the last one, what happens if he has so many negatives from prior attempts, there is no chance he can get a new power; is he out of luck and receives nothing?

Thanks

 

[Nuclear Fridge Magnet]

Um... the Traveller chargen differs from Dredd chargen quite a bit. The negative DM in Traveller applies to post 18-year-old characters. I'm assuming your psi-judge was 'discovered' in his first Academy term... when he was @ age 6 or 7?

 

[Fastidious Monk]

Aside from a few things given for free or are automatic, such as advancement, Character Generation is not too much different.

As I said in the second paragraph, he was found to have psionic potential in the first term. I have my books with me now and he rolled a 42 on the Events table on page 15 of the Judge Dredd book. He made the test roll and it says to determine Psi Strength according to the Traveller Core book which says it is 2d6 - the number of terms served.

The only example in the Traveller Core book has 2d6-the number of terms served in any career with the example of 2d6-5. However, the example for determining what powers you roll for has Luka with a Psi Strength of 9. While not explicitly stated, I assumed you roll for Psi Strength - the numbers of terms prior to when you have realized you are psionic. In the case of my player, 2d6-1 since it was discovered in the first term. I just wanted to know if this was correct.

Also, how does gaining additional Talents from the Skills and Training tables work? Do they get the power automatically, or do they still have to roll? What happens if they have so many negatives rolling for a power is impossible; do they just not receive anything for the term?

Has anyone made a Psi Judge yet who can answer these questions?

Thanks

 

[dreamingbadger]

Aside from a few things given for free or are automatic, such as advancement, Character Generation is not too much different.

As I said in the second paragraph, he was found to have psionic potential in the first term. I have my books with me now and he rolled a 42 on the Events table on page 15 of the Judge Dredd book. He made the test roll and it says to determine Psi Strength according to the Traveller Core book which says it is 2d6 - the number of terms served.

The only example in the Traveller Core book has 2d6-the number of terms served in any career with the example of 2d6-5. However, the example for determining what powers you roll for has Luka with a Psi Strength of 9. While not explicitly stated, I assumed you roll for Psi Strength - the numbers of terms prior to when you have realized you are psionic. In the case of my player, 2d6-1 since it was discovered in the first term. I just wanted to know if this was correct.

Also, how does gaining additional Talents from the Skills and Training tables work? Do they get the power automatically, or do they still have to roll? What happens if they have so many negatives rolling for a power is impossible; do they just not receive anything for the term?

Has anyone made a Psi Judge yet who can answer these questions?

Thanks

Nope, it is not correct, the core rules assumes your are 18 in your first term, in Judge Dredd you are 5, the mind is still flexible... and the Psi Judge is being trained (like in an institute in book 4: Psion). You always get "a power" you may not get your first pick, but also remember the bonus for being in an "institute" ..

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40749&highlight=psi

Also remember to double your Psi Strength.

 

[Fastidious Monk]

Thanks for the link; it was very helpful. I'll have to check out the Psion book.

I assumed the ages between the two books, 18 vs. 5, were fungible due to the hand waving about attributes in the box on page 12 of Judge Dredd.

Thanks

 

[Nuclear Fridge Magnet]

The Dredd core book states that the stats rolled are the potential a cadet will grow into.

It cuts down on the book keeping a lot. For example, when Dredd is relating his cadet days to the Rico clone -- we see young Dredd & his 'brother' -- the original Rico -- mop the floor with other cadets. Would 10-year-olds be able to inflict such mayhem?

I rolled up a street Judge who tail-ended a hover car full of creeps in the chargen stage. His accident put him in intensive case and wasted the drokk-wits running from him. It also earned him a whole 'family' of foes... all from one blown die roll. Judge Jastrow has his work cut out for him!

Psi Judges have a raft of issues that slab Judges cannot understand... and really don't want to ! Plunder some schlocky VHS horror films for ideas. It's worked for my series...