Romulan Psions (a new career for Romulans)

[Michael Barratt]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
Any luck on any Romulan special Psi disciplines?

What about a more invasive, one-way, Mind-Meld? Where the Romulans have managed to meld while holding back their own memories/thoughts. Not sharing, but stealing.

It seems a Romulan enough take on a Vulcan mental discipline...

The Doc

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Michael Barratt


What about a more invasive, one-way, Mind-Meld? Where the Romulans have managed to meld while holding back their own memories/thoughts. Not sharing, but stealing.

It seems a Romulan enough take on a Vulcan mental discipline...

The Doc

I totally agree. The one way, and most likely painful mind steal is one I was thinking of.

However, my lack of experience with the Telepathic rules has lead me to ask others to help here. Along with asking for the Romulan forMind Steal

[Phantom]

Looks like we need the help of the Great Translator of the Trek Universe.

Paging AR.

What say you AR? Can you find Mind Steal in your copious lexicon Romulan terms?

[IanKevinMcDonald]

Originally posted by erhershman
Sounds like a great idea. The background for the Psions also matches the section on psionics-users in Romulan society given in the way of D'era boxed set. Looks good!

------------------
"Please rush me my portable walrus polishing kit, eight super brushes guaranteed to clean even the stickiest seabound mammals. Yes I am over 18, even though my IQ isn't."

IMSTU, the Romulans have genetically engineered the psi-active organelles from Enterobactus Psionsis, the psi-bacteria from New Lhasa, to create their own powerful Psis. But this bacterium is at the heart of my campaign, so that's different. You'd probably need to introduce it before using it for the sake of dramatic logic. But use it if you like.

travel.to/startrekcolony

[John Raynor]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden


I totally agree. The one way, and most likely painful mind steal is one I was thinking of.

Y'know, it might be even more horrible if the Romulans
couldn't do a "one-way mind-meld." Once they decided
that, for one reason or another, they had to mind-probe you,
they would never be able to let you go, because you know too
much (having gotten a peek, albeit an unwilling one, into the
interrogator's mind).

I can just imagine them "warehousing" mind-probe victims in
some kind of nasty, Soviet-style "psychiatric hospital," probably
under more-or-less constant sedation (many of them could be
potential sources of additional information -- no single
interrogation session gets everything -- waste not, want not).
They might even freeze them down in some kind of cryogenic
stasis, and only thaw 'em out for further "questioning."

They might be able to telepathically "wipe and re-program" their
mind-probe victims, but such work probably wouldn't stand up to
prolonged inspection, particularly by anyone who knew the
victim well...

[Aedh Rua]

Ok, so here is what I have on Romulan psionics so far. I'm sorry that there are no translations at the moment, but I am hellishly busy with work. There is a Board meeting tonight, and I need to get the bills ready, so I only have about five minutes to post this much.

So, then, I have developed six different Romulan psionic paths, of which four are identical to their Vulcan counterparts. The other two are more attuned to emotion and the offensive/defensive uses of psionics specialized in by the Romulans:

The Path of Khat: same name as the Vulcan path, same nature. Two disciplines:
Mind Shield -- exactly as the Vulcan discipline of the same name.
Mind Bar -- ditto.

The Path of Lesh: like the Vulcan path of Lis, this one aims to confuse the senses. Four disciplines:
Projective Telepathy -- more intrusive than Vulcan version, can send messages to an unwilling subject.
Leshtana -- just like Vulcan Lisjana.
Leshfata -- as Lispata
Leshkhaltu -- as Liskel'tu.

The Path of Plat: Much like the Vulcan path of the same name, but more speicalized for Romulan needs.
Mind Meld -- this comes in two varieties. There is the invasive "mental rape" type of mind meld, in which the psion forces his or her way into a mind looking for information. But there is also another type of mind meld, which is much less invasive, but which often cannot be detected by the recipient. This type can be used to gain information or plant very simple suggestions without detection.
Platvhokh -- Essentially, this is a sort of mental hitchhiking for Romulans. The psion can gain access to the sensory input and thoughts of the recipient, and so can trace his or her movements. Very good for espionage.
Platrha -- This is exchanging minds, just like the Vulcan disipline of the same name. Extremely good for infiltrating resistance cells.

The Path of Tash: Just like the Vulcan Path of Tas. Incredibly useful against normal crime.

The Path of Vhakh: This is a purely Romulan path, used for brainwashing and interrogations. There are four disciplines:
Receptive Telepathy -- much like the Vulcan version, but can be used more intrusively, and against a resistant subject. Also, note that Romulan receptive telepathy is not necessarily detected by all recipients.
Projective Telepathy -- as in the Path of Lesh above.
Mind Control -- a cascade of Projective Telepathy, this skill allows the psion to implant thoughts, emotions, fairly complex commands, and even simple beliefs. In essence, this is intrusive, but a good psion with a high skill level can remove the memory of the attack. Too many uses can destroy the personality of a victim. In play, this should be treated much like low to moderate skill in the Vampiric discipline Dominate in "Vampire: the Masquerade".
Brainwash -- a very powerful skill, but it takes weeks or months to use properly. This skill allows the psion to alter the entire personality of a victim. Memories, deeply held beliefs, and the entire structure of the self can be altered if one has enough time, and enough skill. This skill can also be used to implant very complex commands without altering the victim's basic personality. Very useful for creating "Manchurian Candidate" type scenarios.

The Path of Khavh: This means the "Path of Blood", and it is a purely Romulan path. Three disciplines:
Receptive Empathy -- Normally undetectable, and very "Deanna Troi" like, this skill allows the psion to read basic emotions.
Projective Empathy -- Allows the psion to implant emotions, normally without detection. Good for manipulating someone, or as a means of punishment, say, during an interrogation.
Psionic Attack -- a cascade of projective empathy, the attacker builds up a mass of hatred against the victim, and then unleashes it in a massive assault which does actual physical damage. I recommend one level per success, but less may be appropriate. Note that a critical failure does damage to the attacker instead.

A couple of notes. Only the skills of mind meld, projective telepathy, receptive telepathy, mind shield, receptive empathy, and projective empathy are found among even most psions. Anything else is roughly as rare as, oh, Mr. Spock in TOS. The Tal Shiar has a couple of brainwashing specialists, and some Path of Tash specialists in it's crime division. The paths of Lesh and Khavh are only taught in their entirety in a couple of monasteries on Romulus. No one from these monasteries has joined the Tal Shiar, but a couple of monks have joined the Tal Diann, which has its own very small psi-corps.

Characters should start out with the most basic skills. Advancing in a path is harder for a Romulan than for a Vulcan, and should be a major aspect of play. Finding the rare psi-master and convincing him or her to take on a student is likely to be hard, and would make a very good episode or three.

[Phantom]

Wow, a tour of the Romulan Psionic Institute in five minutes. I'm impressed. I shall have to keep an eye on this information, thank you.

[Dan Gurden]

WOW

THAT ROCKS!

The Psions have just got that little bit more fun...

On a similar note, about Psionics, 'Fury' was on tonight. Kes had a Psionic blast that seemed particularly effective. Anyone think that its out of line for such a Psionic blast to do 1D6 Damage per level of Psi (plus Focus edge) attribute, with the skill and Focus edge applying to accuracy, and range speaking for itself?

That would max out at 7D6 and really only be useful to the powerful 'Teeps'... Its definatly one to work on...

[Dan Gurden]

Bump.