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Message no. 1
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: On Meta-Abilities
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 1994 20:58:14 +0100
One of the interesting things about the rules on initiating is that a
conservative GM could very well read the rules not as allowing ALL SIX
metapowers on Grade 0 initiation. That, or a brain-dead GM, I guess. In
any case, we have always played that when you initiate, you get 1
ability, and not all six.

OOPS.

What does this have to do with PSIs?

We have a LARGE number of Psionic meta-abilities that have been proposed,
and I think it would be DUMB to allow a PSI to get them all
automatically.

Instead, I propose the following, that will slow down the gaining of
meta-abilities and make sure that a psi doesn't get them too soon.

---------------------------------
EXAMPLE META-ABILITY (complete with made up and innacurate numbers)

NAME: Telepathic Interface
COST: 8 Karma + 6 weeks
PREREQUISITES: Mastery Level (2)
Telepathy (4)
CyberPsionics (4)
EFFECT: A Psionic with this ability will be able to jack into
a computer interface telepathically, without the need for
a physical link. Once in the matrix, use the standard
rules for running naked and for cyberpsionic abilities.
Because of the nature of this interface, all actions within
the matrix are performed at a +2 reaction penalty.
SPECIAL NOTES: In order to translate raw matrix signals into useable
signals, a psionic must have both a datajack and a special
"loopback" device (1,000Y, .10 Essence.)

-----------------------------------------
EXPLAINATIONS:

NAME: Obvious
COST: This is the number of points of karma you spend in order
to get this ability. In addition, there is a time listed
that is the base number of days or weeks it takes to learn
this ability. This time can be decreased by successes
based on intelligence (and maybe my the amount of =Y= spent
on training.)
PREREQUISITES: This are the MINIMUM levels of ability you must have in
various areas. This includes not just the diciplines you
have, but also the initiate "Mastery" Rating. If your
current ratings are below this, you will have to raise them
before you can get this ability.
EFFECT: Again, obvious.
SPECIAL NOTES: Basically, anything additional needed or weird that a
person needs to be aware of.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
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\/ Finger for PGP Public Key <=> City of Mankato or anyone else, dammit
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Message no. 2
From: "S. Keith Graham" <vapspcx@***.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: On Meta-Abilities
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 08:33:54 -0400
I'll definately agree that meta-abilities should be given out
one at a time..

Now for dumb question time: :-)

#1: How much does initiation/raising raw power cost? (current + 1) *
initiation cost? (current + 1 + number of initiations) * initiation cost?

#2: What if you just say that you can get one meta-ability for
each initiation, but the initiation has to raise an area that
is a pre-req for the meta-ability.

#3: A CyberPSI adept should be able to get the Interface power. :)
(We need to keep an eye on multiple pre-reqs screwing Adepts
badly, if they are going to be one area, and not "multiple
areas with limited power".)

Keith
Message no. 3
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: On Meta-Abilities
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 18:35:19 +0100
On Fri, 29 Jul 1994, S. Keith Graham wrote:

> #1: How much does initiation/raising raw power cost? (current + 1) *
> initiation cost? (current + 1 + number of initiations) * initiation cost?

I'm not sure. I had assumed that somethign similiar to the formulas from
the Grimey or from Jason Carter's Gradual Initiation rules.

> #2: What if you just say that you can get one meta-ability for
> each initiation, but the initiation has to raise an area that
> is a pre-req for the meta-ability.

Rather than doing something artifical like that, I would rather allow
people to choose to get meta-abilities OR to initiate, with those
abilities based on your dicipline and mastery levels.

> #3: A CyberPSI adept should be able to get the Interface power. :)
> (We need to keep an eye on multiple pre-reqs screwing Adepts
> badly, if they are going to be one area, and not "multiple
> areas with limited power".)

As I said, I was really just making things up, there, but you are right,
we need to be aware of pre-requisite requirements. Also, they can't be
TOO high (prereqs), because we assume that 3 is average, and most average
people with the training (karma) will be able to get them. Only a few
(say 30 to 40 percent) of the meta-abilities are going to be for
better-than-average dudes.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> I do not necessarily speak for the
\/ Finger for PGP Public Key <=> City of Mankato or anyone else, dammit
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 2.1) GJ/CM d- H-- s-:++>s-:+ g+ p? au+ a- w++ v* C++(++++) UL++++$
P+>++ L++$ 3- E---- N+++ K+++ W M+ V-- -po+(---)>$ Y++ t+ 5+++
j R+++$ G- tv+ b+ D+ B--- e+>++(*) u** h* f r-->+++ !n y++**

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