Psionics vs. aliens

[paltrysum]

How do you handle psionics when used by a human against aliens? For example, using the various telepathy skills on an Aslan or Vargr mind. What if the alien doesn't even speak Galanglic? Surely language is a part of psionic comprehension and suggestion. Has anyone addressed this situation and how did you handle it?

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

A voice in their head that they don't understand. I don't have any psionic translator that I remember. Maybe a mental image can be used instead.

 

[Linwood]

Emotions might still translate but could be shaped by the alien’s culture to a degree. Images would come through but might be altered by differences in the alien’s senses.

I’d consider allowing a check against the psion’s knowledge of the alien’s language or culture to interpret what he/she reads/sees.

 

[Condottiere]

You'd need some universal informational exchange; I think it was covered in Flandry.

Generally speaking, unless they're speaking similar languages, seems unlikely.

 

[Sigtrygg]

What if it is a human that speaks English trying to read the thoughts of someone who speaks French, is that any different to a a galanglic speaker vs a Vargr speaker?

 

[SSWarlock]

For psionic use between two species that has similar sensory organs, simplistic imagery would seem to work best. But the sensory experiences of both need to be extremely similar, like those of the various humanity species and Vargr. Trying to communicate imagery psionically between something like a human and a Jgd-ll-jagd isn't going to work.