| From: | Doctor Doom <JCH8169@***.TAMU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | PSI: Doom Delineates Disparate Discussion |
| Date: | Sun, 17 Jul 1994 20:50:03 -0500 |
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This Psionic/Psionicist/Psychotic debate has brought back much of the vim and
vigor of the list which has not been witnessed since days of yore . . .
( "Oh, No!" I hear the voices wail. "He's beginning to reminisce!" )
I tell you, in those days, Men were REAL Men, Women were REAL Women, and
small, furry creatures for Alpha Centauri were REAL small, furry creatures
from Alpha Centauri. And thus was the Empire forged . . .
Which brings us to Stardate: Today.
(Yes, now that you make mention of it, I am in a peculiar mood.)
Previous to the breaching of this argument by the denizens of the list, I had
contemplated the possibility of "Mentalist Adepts," a Psionicist by another
name.
As the debate has -- in many respects -- already initiated its formulation,
I feel led to offer my two Reichsthalers to the ruminations:
( "Nuts! I was hopin' he would stay out of this!" )
Despite this . . . I /am/ sincerely hoping that SOMEONE shall read this.
I. Psionicists verses Magicians
A. Hybrids =============================================================
The general sentiment present is for a demarcation line between psionic
and metaphysical manipulations, which is a wise choice, I believe.
Despite this seeking to differentiate, it is apparent that there are
some who would allow for characters to embrace both worlds, as it were. This
suggestion causes considerable unease for me, as I involuntarily call to mind
the evils of multi-classed characters in D&D (and obviously I don't mean
Doom & Dark Elf). Verily, I am quite cognizant of the fact that ShadowRun is
not a class-based system -- and for that, many of us offer up gratuitous
praise to the heavens -- but what of the power gamer hybrids? What of what of
Rigger/Decker/Mages?
Do these not warrant some vexation?
I harbor disturbing images of Magician-Psionicist combinations, as with
all such abominable splicing of wholly divergent disciplines. Is is truly
necessary to leave such an avenue available to them?
"If you build it, they'll abuse it."
It is my judgment that considerably fewer headaches fostered were the two
arenas of ability considered mutually exclusive. ShadowTech recounts that the
current theory correlating Magic and Genetics submits that "the magus factor is
a genetic melange, a combination, of encoded mental traits (spread across the
entire genome) operating in mysterious gestalt. Although geneticists have
decoded and deciphered the physiological elements of man, many facets of the
human mental condition (the ephemeral concepts) continue to elude
identification and classification." (ShadowTech, page 70, paragraph 2,
clauses 3, 4.) Psionicists, it would naturally follow, require specific mental
characteristics as well for "awakening the power of the mind."
A Magician draws upon and manipulates Astral forces; a Psionicist's power
issues from /himself./ Given these two dichotomous approaches to the exhibition
of supernatural capacities, it would be a small step to declare them
individually incompatible . . . and a wise step, to my mind.
One possibility of avoiding this unwholesome eventuality would be to maintain
the priority system, /in statu quo/, plotting Psionics and Mages on the same
axis. The player shall have to choose betwixt the two preternatural abilities,
either the expansion of the powers of the mind, or the ability to channel,
ground and manipulate metaphysical energies from the Astral Plane.
Hence, we have this:
Race Magic / Psionics $/Force Att Skills
A Meta Full: Mage/Psi 1,000,000/50 30 40
B Human Adept: Mage/Psi 400,000/35 24 30
C Human None / Wild Psi 90,000/25 20 24
D Human Spoekenkiekerei 5000/15 17 20
E Human None 500/5 15 17
This model has the advantages of being fully compatible with the contemporary
system as well as simplicity. One unattractive element of this proposal --
which I freely concede -- is that it causes Psionicists and Magicians to be of
roughly equal (at least in Player Character terms) frequency. Although it
would avert the phenomena of "dual-classed" characters.
B. Cyberware & Bioware =================================================
There are also intimations about lessening the impact Cyberware and Bioware has
upon Psionicist abilities. On the face of it, this seems a fair proposal.
Were one to follow my supplied Character Generation Chart, for a similar cost,
they receive a slightly more specific but more dedicated system of powers, and
the impact that physical augmentation has upon their system is decreased.
Although, all nervous and cranial modification should retain -- in my not so
very but nevertheless occasionally humble opinion -- FULL PENALTIES, as the
central nervous system is the very stuff of which a Psionicist is made.
One does not wish to encourage Psionicists to get Encephalon IV, Math SPU,
Cerebral Boosters, and Pneumonic Enhancers, after all.
C. The Star Wars Paradigm ==============================================
Save for the power of Premonition, a Jedi Knight character could be generated
using the present system quite handily, were he classified as a Sorcery Adept.
To consider a Jedi to be an acceptable model is a misstep in the formulation of
theory of how Psionicists function. Jedi are manipulators of the Force, an
energy field which "gives the Jedi his power. It surrounds us, penetrates us,
and binds the universe together." This is quite reminiscent of the description
of magical manipulations. Admittedly, a Jedi's utilization of the Force is not
on the level of diversity of Sorcery, but the parallels are there.
Consequently, when Obi-Wan Kenobi sense the destruction of Alderaan, it is not
mental energies being transmitted through the Astral, but a form of Astral
"fallout" similar to Background Count. Certainly, it is not much of a
philosophical "reach" to consider the intensity of the ubiquitous and
emotions of anger, fear, and suffering occurring ubiquitously and experienced
simultaneously by an entire civilization or society, coupled with the
unprecedented magnitude of the annihilation of life would cause certain
"shockwaves" in the Force, or Astral Plane.
Also, reaching back to the Cyberware issue, even were one to grant the
assumption of the equivalence of Psionicist and Jedi, suggesting that cyberware
not affect a Psionicist, with the citation of the case of Darth Vader -- a
cyborg with IMPRESSIVE psionic powers -- has its rationale based on a false
assumption.
Darth Vader, for one, is well beyond the scope of any Normal (tm) Player
Characters. What is far more likely is that following his, ah, ACCIDENT with
General Kenobi, which left him desperately clinging to what life remained in
his body, he sought to augment his powers via Initiation / Mastery.
Eventually, he met and superseded his previous capacity: "When last we met, I
was but a student. Now /I/ am the Master."
As Kenobi astutely observes: "Only a Master of Evil, Darth." Which alludes
to the fact that Vader's journey to potency in the Force was facilitated
significantly by the Path he chose, the Dark Side, which is portrayed as a
"quicker, easier" pursuit. As a result, it is not in he least far fetched
that Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker's powers could have "taken it on the
(proverbial) nose" by his extensive cybernetic modification, only to have him
laboriously endeavor to match and transcend his previous capacity by the study
of Dark Side disciplines.
D. Psionicists and the Astral Plane ====================================
Continuing along this rant -- err, dissertation on Psionicists, we
raise the issue of Psionicists and the Astral Plane.
The phenomena of psychic projection is far too oft included in supposed psychic
abilities to be wholly ignored; however, if Psionicist and Magicians are TRULY
different, then one must take care not to unify them in this capacity.
To permit such an ability to them would be to confuse and muddy the partition
between the two and would therefore be both unwise and unwarranted. Psychic
Projection would be similar to an physically-manifested, astrally-projecting
Magician (say THAT five times in rapid succession!), i.e. one's spirit on the
Physical Plane but incapable of manipulating or being inhibited by physical
objects. Nor is this connected to the Astral Plane.
For Mages, this act causes one to become visible as a translucent ghost-like
image. For Psionicist, it may be decided that when they Project they are
1) Always visible
2) Always invisible
3) May will themselves between these two states.
As for me, I haven't yet settled upon an option. Although an interesting
qualifier set on this power would mandate that one be a Full Psionicist to
have this ability, as per the Magical
E. Psionicists and the Matrix ==========================================
I care not if a Psionicists' attacks or manipulations shall be limited
to other technomancers, this is a DISTURBING precedent to set!
Had I suggested that I shall only wield Magic in the Matrix against other
technomancers, what sort of response would I have received?
THWAPs, most likely, and WHY? Magic and the Matrix do not mix, in any form.
Why do we endeavor to include the ability of cyberpsionic abilities?
Do the proponents truly desire us to accept the highly dubious assertion that
fiber-optic cable is an acceptable medium for the projection mental powers?
And previous to anyone inquiring, "Well, what of technomancing?" The
fiber-optic cable brings the Matrix to YOU, not vice versa. The sensation
that one's mind/spirit is anywhere save where one jacks-in is an illusion, a
Virtual Reality phantasmagoria.
Keep Magic and Psionics OUT OF THE MATRIX!
My apologies for sounding so emphatic, meine Kameraden, but this suggestion
violates one of the central tenants of ShadowRun, that of extraordinary powers
or preternatural abilities are not to be juxtaposed with technology.
Colonel Count von Hohenzollern und von Doom, DMSc, DSc, PhD.
Doom Technologies & Weapon Systems -- Dark Thought Publications
>>> Working on solutions best left in the dark.
<<<
[ Doctor Doom : jch8169@********.tamu.edu ]
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***** Re-engaging Cloaking Device *****
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