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Psionics-Brain Power

© Johnnie Lohmann

Psionics are to the world of science fiction what magic is to fantasy. Powers of the mind have been theorized, studied and dreamt of for eons. I will not attempt to prove or disprove the actual existence of such power, but I will examine it from a strictly role-play perspective. Psionics in any campaign can lend not only an air of mystery and power, but can also help balance out your less physical characters. A scientist with a laptop, or even cyberjack is OK, even fun in a wimpy sort of way. A chipjockey with psi-powers? Now there is an incredible combination, especially if those powers worked on the net. And, if they are all mental why couldn't they? Try Psionics in some of these settings:

Fantasy: In a fantasy realm magic resistance would be useless against Psionics. A pretty good deal if you, like me, have problems with the character who seems immune to everything. A new race of monster with Psionics will give them a good, well deserved scare!

Modern: Can YOU prove that Psionics do not exist today? Probably not, and neither can I. And unless you are already running a highly unusual campaign already, the addition of psi-powers will certainly put a new spin on things. A villain who can read minds would certainly drive the players crazy trying to figure out who the traitor is. And imagine a mind reading character who cannot PROVE the mayor is a crook, but can read it in his thoughts.

Near future: For example FASA's Shadowrun, characters are so used to magic it would take them a year to figure out why they could not detect the power astrally. And in a place where magic is also unknown ... Psionics could well be a tool of a government rapidly losing control to the corporations, or a corporation trying to gain an edge. And just what did happen to all of those failed test subjects .. the ones with the wild uncontrollable powers? Were they really all destroyed? Are they now in fact your player group in disguise?

Interstellar: space sagas are filled with strange new alien races, and their mystical powers. but they do not have to be aliens. What if piscine power was the very stepping stone to space exploration? Would the people who wielded this power be seen as leaders or slaves? Perhaps they are holy men. Whatever role you give them, remember these are highly unlikely to be ordinary members of society.

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