Psions and the Third Imperium

[Duroon]

I was wondering how the rest of you are handling psions in the Imperium. I am talking OTU here of course. I have been skimming through various CT books and found this little gem in "The Traveller Book".

Penalties for Psionics: If an individual with psionic power and training is discovered by the public or the authorities, throw 2D for possible penalties. Throw 12+ for lobotomy, 10+ for lynching, 8+ for tarring and feathering, 6+ for imprisonment, and 4+ for deportation.

I have to say I like this rule. It is on page 121 of that book. A paragraph before it is the following blurb.

The climate of public opinion about psionics is extremely negative. Individuals will find it unhealthy to admit possession of, or sympathy for, psionic powers. Persons with psionic ability will not admit their powers unless reassured that they are in no danger; this will usually involve self-revelation by a psionic talent.

 

[Cleon the Mad]

I was wondering how the rest of you are handling psions in the Imperium. I am talking OTU here of course. I have been skimming through various CT books and found this little gem in "The Traveller Book".

Penalties for Psionics: If an individual with psionic power and training is discovered by the public or the authorities, throw 2D for possible penalties. Throw 12+ for lobotomy, 10+ for lynching, 8+ for tarring and feathering, 6+ for imprisonment, and 4+ for deportation.

I have to say I like this rule. It is on page 121 of that book. A paragraph before it is the following blurb.

The climate of public opinion about psionics is extremely negative. Individuals will find it unhealthy to admit possession of, or sympathy for, psionic powers. Persons with psionic ability will not admit their powers unless reassured that they are in no danger; this will usually involve self-revelation by a psionic talent.

I would roleplay it instead of just making it a flat roll like that, but that is the very general guideline in the Third Imperium, at least after the Psionic Supressions. May also look at the government and/or law level of the planet..some world may just tell the guy he's made a MAJOR faux-pas in using psionics and just arrest him or deport him, some it might not be a roll to see if he's lynched or given a lobotomy..he just will be if they can catch him. Basically, think 17th century witch hunts for a basic idea.

 

[Duroon]

I intend to use the roll to determine what the reaction will be when they are discovered, then roleplay that situation of course. Every one of my players wanted psionics though, this is going to cramp their plans a teeny bit.

 

[Myrm]

Let them roleplay it, depending on how they do assign them a modifier on that 2D roll. Add in DMs for associated social skills be it leadership, umm shall we say 'blather', command etc...then make the roll.

That way you can use a balance between 'the people/scenario/milieu demand this' and 'but my character is really talky I have X skill' and 'OOOOh ooooh DM I have this really cool idea to get us out of this'.

Decent combo of player, character and setting objectivity.

However, as previously said, this requires playing it out.

 

[Duroon]

Most definitely this will need to be played out, and thanks for the ideas of what to use for DM's on the roll.

I have had a few panicked sounding emails from my players since I announced that I was thinking of using the rule. Gotta keep those players on their toes!

 

[Shiloh]

Every one of my players wanted psionics though, this is going to cramp their plans a teeny bit.

As, I believe, is the intent. Even the low-power stuff in MGT can really change the way things work out to the advantage of the PC, and the anti-psion sentiment is the balancer for that. Or you could tone it down a lot and throw psions down the PCs throat, let them see how they like it...

 

[Myrm]

There was quite a while ago a little RPG called Maelstrom (published by Penguin). It was based on a somewhat stereotypical view of 16th Century England and you could play a mage.

THere were all sorts of issues with how the general populace viewed mages, outcast to 'witchcraft-BURN them' and how the player needed another notional profession for a cover, and how obvious the magic was and the reaction to it - or even to natural phenomena when people thought a mage might be around.

Thats pretty much how a Psion would have to survive in the 3rd Imperium in my mind.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Yep, I got a headache yesterday when I was in that department store shopping. I'm pretty sure a Psion was trying to rip secrets from my brain. We should do an investigation and see how many Psions we can round up. Damn Mindrippers!

I could see that happening all over the place. Maybe even make the local news...