Psionic Skills: Mental Mastery

This comprehensive reference covers all psionic skills in SystemRPG, organized by the five core disciplines. Each skill requires specific genetic advantage traits and path completion as prerequisites.

Prerequisites Overview

Core Requirements

1. [Psionic Potential] Genetic Advantage Trait - Required for any psionic ability
2. Discipline-Specific Trait - Individual trait for each of the five disciplines
3. Path Completion - Training paths that unlock the base skills
4. Psi Points - Mental energy to power manifestations

Genetic Advantage Traits

These traits are typically acquired during character creation or awarded by Scene Orchestrators:

• [Psionic Potential] - Determines max Psi Point capacity and overall power
• [Telepathy] - Unlocks mind-to-mind communication abilities
• [Empathy] - Enables emotional sensing and influence
• [Psychotemporis] - Grants time-related perceptions and effects
• [Psychoportation] - Allows spatial manipulation and teleportation
• [Psychokinesis] - Provides matter and energy control

The Five Psionic Disciplines

Telepathy: Mind-to-Mind Connection

Base Skill: Telepathy

• Prerequisites: [Telepathy] trait, complete "Telepathy I Path"
• Psi Cost: 2-8 points depending on complexity
• Description: Direct mental communication and thought access

Skill Progression:

• Level 1-5: Surface thoughts, simple messages
• Level 6-10: Complex ideas, recent memories
• Level 11-15: Deep memories, extended conversations
• Level 16-20: Subconscious access, memory modification
• Level 21+: Complete mental integration, permanent links

Advanced Telepathic Techniques:

Mind Link (Telepathy 5+)

• Psi Cost: 5 points + 1/minute maintained
• Effect: Sustained mental connection with willing target
• Duration: Concentration + skill level in minutes
• Range: 100 meters × skill level

Psychic Network (Telepathy 10+, Mind Link)

• Psi Cost: 3 points per additional participant
• Effect: Link multiple minds simultaneously
• Participants: 2 + (skill level ÷ 5)
• Benefits: Shared awareness, instant communication

Mental Domination (Telepathy 15+)

• Psi Cost: 12 + target's Willpower modifier
• Effect: Override target's conscious will
• Resistance: Opposed Willpower check
• Duration: Concentration, 1 round per skill level

Empathy: Emotional Resonance

Base Skill: Empathy

• Prerequisites: [Empathy] trait, complete "Empathy I Path"
• Psi Cost: 1-6 points depending on effect
• Description: Sensing and manipulating emotional states

Skill Progression:

• Level 1-5: Basic emotion detection, personal mood sense
• Level 6-10: Complex feelings, emotional influence
• Level 11-15: Area emotion reading, mood control
• Level 16-20: Emotional domination, feeling transfer
• Level 21+: Emotional reality manipulation, mass influence

Advanced Empathic Techniques:

Emotional Aura (Empathy 5+)

• Psi Cost: 4 points
• Effect: Project chosen emotion in area around self
• Area: 5-meter radius per 5 skill levels
• Duration: 10 minutes per skill level

Fear/Calm (Empathy 8+)

• Psi Cost: 6 points per target
• Effect: Induce specific strong emotion
• Targets: Single or area (additional cost)
• Resistance: Willpower save vs. Psychic Attack

Empathic Healing (Empathy 12+)

• Psi Cost: 8 points
• Effect: Heal mental trauma and emotional damage
• Healing: 1d6 + skill level Sanity recovery
• Special: Can remove emotional debuffs

Psychotemporis: Temporal Perception

Base Skill: Psychotemporis

• Prerequisites: [Psychotemporis] trait, complete "Psychotemporis I Path"
• Psi Cost: 4-12 points depending on temporal range
• Description: Time-related awareness and minor manipulation

Skill Progression:

• Level 1-5: Danger sense, 1-3 second future glimpses
• Level 6-10: Short-term precognition, 30-60 seconds
• Level 11-15: Medium precognition, temporal acceleration
• Level 16-20: Long-term glimpses, time dilation effects
• Level 21+: Temporal mastery, limited time manipulation

Advanced Temporal Techniques:

Danger Sense (Psychotemporis 1+)

• Psi Cost: Passive (1 point to activate enhanced version)
• Effect: Warning of immediate physical threats
• Warning Time: 1 second per skill level
• Special: +2 to Initiative, +1 to Defense per 5 levels

Precognitive Flash (Psychotemporis 5+)

• Psi Cost: 6 points
• Effect: See 30 seconds into most likely future
• Accuracy: 50% + (skill level × 2)%
• Uses: Combat planning, danger avoidance

Temporal Acceleration (Psychotemporis 10+)

• Psi Cost: 8 points
• Effect: Increase personal time rate
• Bonus: +1 extra action per 5 skill levels
• Duration: 1 round per skill level

Psychoportation: Spatial Transcendence

Base Skill: Psychoportation

• Prerequisites: [Psychoportation] trait, complete "Psychoportation I Path"
• Psi Cost: 3-15 points based on distance and complexity
• Description: Spatial movement and dimensional manipulation

Skill Progression:

• Level 1-5: Blink step, 1-3 meter instant movement
• Level 6-10: Short-range teleportation, 10-50 meters
• Level 11-15: Medium-range teleportation, line of sight
• Level 16-20: Long-range teleportation, familiar locations
• Level 21+: Dimensional travel, planar shifting

Advanced Spatial Techniques:

Blink Step (Psychoportation 1+)

• Psi Cost: 2 points
• Range: 1 meter per skill level (max 15m at level 15)
• Requirements: Line of sight to destination
• Special: Can be used as defensive reaction

Teleportation (Psychoportation 8+)

• Psi Cost: 5 + (1 per 10 meters)
• Range: 10 meters × skill level
• Accuracy: Perfect for familiar locations, requires focus check for new areas
• Passengers: Self + 1 per 10 skill levels

Phase Shift (Psychoportation 6+)

• Psi Cost: 8 points
• Effect: Become partially incorporeal
• Duration: 1 round per skill level
• Benefits: Move through solid matter, 50% miss chance

Psychokinesis: Matter Manipulation

Base Skill: Psychokinesis

• Prerequisites: [Psychokinesis] trait, complete "Psychokinesis I Path"
• Psi Cost: Variable based on weight and complexity
• Description: Mental manipulation of matter and energy

Skill Progression:

• Level 1-5: Small objects, 1-5 kg manipulation
• Level 6-10: Medium objects, 10-50 kg, simple shapes
• Level 11-15: Large objects, 100-500 kg, complex manipulation
• Level 16-20: Very large objects, 1+ tons, molecular control
• Level 21+: Mass manipulation, matter transmutation

Advanced Kinetic Techniques:

Object Manipulation (Psychokinesis 1+)

• Psi Cost: 1 point per 5kg moved
• Range: 10 meters per skill level
• Precision: Fine work possible at level 5+
• Special: Can manipulate multiple objects at level 10+

Force Bolt (Psychokinesis 3+)

• Psi Cost: 4 points
• Damage: 1d6 + (skill level ÷ 3) force damage
• Range: 20 meters + (5 per skill level)
• Special: Pure psionic energy, bypasses physical armor

Molecular Control (Psychokinesis 12+)

• Psi Cost: 10+ points (varies by effect)
• Effects: Temperature control, phase changes, basic transmutation
• Limitations: Requires extensive concentration
• Advanced: Full matter control at level 20+

Cross-Discipline Abilities

These abilities require traits from multiple disciplines:

Psychic Blade (Psychokinesis 5+, any second discipline 3+)

• Psi Cost: 6 points
• Effect: Create weapon of pure psionic energy
• Damage: 1d8 + skill level, ignores physical armor
• Duration: 1 minute per skill level

Temporal Teleportation (Psychoportation 10+, Psychotemporis 8+)

• Psi Cost: 15 points
• Effect: Teleport to a location you will be in the future
• Range: Normal teleportation rules
• Special: Requires precognitive targeting

Empathic Network (Telepathy 8+, Empathy 5+)

• Psi Cost: 8 points + 2 per participant
• Effect: Share emotions and thoughts simultaneously
• Participants: Up to (combined skill levels ÷ 3)
• Benefits: Perfect coordination, shared skills

Advanced Development

Psionessence Enhancement

Psionessence Points can be spent to:

• Unlock cross-discipline techniques
• Enhance existing abilities beyond normal limits
• Develop unique personal psionic signatures
• Access transcendent abilities

Master-Level Abilities (Level 20+)

• Hive Mind: Permanent mental collective (Telepathy 25+)
• Temporal Mastery: Limited time manipulation (Psychotemporis 25+)
• Dimensional Control: Create pocket dimensions (Psychoportation 25+)
• Emotional Reality: Manifest emotions as physical effects (Empathy 25+)
• Matter Genesis: Create matter from pure thought (Psychokinesis 25+)

Trait Tier Scaling

Higher trait tiers provide:

• Tier 1-3: +0 to all psionic skill checks
• Tier 4-6: +1 to all psionic skill checks
• Tier 7-9: +2 to all psionic skill checks
• Tier 10+: +3 to all psionic skill checks, unlock transcendent abilities

Training and Development

Skill Advancement

• Normal XP: Basic skill level increases
• Practice: Repeated use in appropriate situations
• Instruction: Learning from other psions or texts
• Meditation: Focused mental discipline training

Path Requirements

Each advanced path requires:

• Completion of previous tier path
• Minimum skill levels in base discipline
• Sometimes specific trait tier minimums
• Achievement of certain milestones

Psionessence Acquisition

Gained through:

• Exceptional psionic achievements
• Transcendent experiences
• Mental realm exploration
• Breakthrough discoveries

Limitations and Costs

Mental Strain

Excessive psionic use causes:

• Psychic Fatigue: Temporary skill penalties
• Mental Exhaustion: Extended recovery periods
• Consciousness Fragmentation: Risk of personality split
• Psionic Burnout: Temporary loss of abilities

Genetic Limitations

• Cannot gain psionic abilities without proper traits
• Trait tier limits maximum potential
• Some combinations require specific genetic lineages
• Genetic instability possible with extensive use

These psionic skills represent the disciplined development of innate mental gifts. Through proper training, genetic potential, and dedicated practice, practitioners can achieve extraordinary feats of consciousness manipulation. Remember that true mastery requires not just power, but wisdom in its application.