Psionicism for the Masses!

[Larrath]

I have spent a bit of time thinking about the problem of raiding/kidnapping, and I came up with an idea that I think could be possible.

My solution is this: allowing an argument for the Barrier skill for all characters.  This will attempt to create a psionic barrier on the target character that can be breached by the victim or anyone else that tried to contact the victim character.
Using this ability will be extremely taxing: the stun loss will be double or even triple usual stun cost for barrier, and max stun will be temporarily lowered by 30.  The character using the ability will also be unable to move, and will suffer halved Defense/Offense skills for the duration of the process and a single IC hour afterward, from the strain.
Maybe even a special ldesc, and the victim will be able to tell who is trying to block them.

What this will do is give an advantage to single magickers and to groups of two or more raiders.  A single mundane character will have difficulty using this to great advantage due to the fighting and stun penalties, but groups will be able to catch victims and interrogate them without fear that eight different characters will know all about it before the second emote is through.

[moab]

I gotta say no.  When psionics start impacting people in a combative way, I think you're edging over into the psionicist's class (not that I've ever played one, so I wouldn't know, exactly).  It just _seems_ mindbenderesque.

[Tamarin]

No.

But I think we should be able to tie people up and force feed them substances.  Perhaps some kind of psi-inhibiting alcohol or root.

[ashyom]

No.

But I think we should be able to tie people up and force feed them substances.  Perhaps some kind of psi-inhibiting alcohol or root.

I actually like this idea.  I'll add it to my idea file.

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While a good thread, please be careful in how much information you divulge here.  I can see this easily straying in the psionicist territory and I'd hate to see this thread get locked up because someone got too gabby or coyly hinted, "How do you know this isn't already in game?" with various ideas proposed here or in any other threads.
-Ashyom

[JollyGreenGiant]

Giving non-psionicists the ability to block out psionic activity doesn't seem like a very good idea to me...  however, I really like the idea of a poison that suppresses psionics, provided that a) it was a rare and difficult to acquire poison and b) the antidote was just as well-known and common as the poison is rare.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like something a psionicist should be able to do.  I've never gotten one that far so I honestly don't know if they can, but it's well outside of the range of what I think a regular dude should be able to do.

[sacac]

Ahem. Sap?

Sap and bludgeoning weapons oughta do the trick.

[Tamarin]

Yes, but people wake up.  And if you need to be hijacking someone for an extended period of time, it sucks to constantly have to whap them over the head. Realistically the person would end up with a concussion after a few taps on the head, leading to brain damage and stuff.

[HardCarbon]

Yes, but people wake up.  And if you need to be hijacking someone for an extended period of time, it sucks to constantly have to whap them over the head. Realistically the person would end up with a concussion after a few taps on the head, leading to brain damage and stuff.

 Which would indicate to me... that that sort of thing doesn't occur often on this world..

 If your going to kidnap someone for ransom.. let em scream for help.. just don't let them see where they are.   IF your twiking and wanting your 'target'  not to use the way to make your job easier..    suck it up.

[jmordetsky]

I'm for. Nine out of the ten or so murder scenes I've RP, the target in question "wayed" their friends and as a result I was suspected. Which is sort of silly.

psi Oh my god, so and so is attacking me! help!


Then again, I've expressed my disdain for the way in general in previous threads.

[sacac]

I am for an ability like this, but not this ability.

[Ghost]

There was an idea brought up by another player to have "use" command for all weapons just like it happens in "use whip".  So when you want to give a little disturbance to someone, you will just make "use club" on someone, which will break any psionic contact the victim is having and will make it unavaliable to use contact skill for lets say.. 2 minutes?  Some minor stun/hp damage can be added as well.  How does that sound?

[sacac]

I like that, maybe not for two minutes though.

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

Opposite of what jmordetsky is saying, I actually think the fact that anyone could be Waying anyone else at any time really adds to the suspense and intrigue of Armageddon.
While it'd be nice to have some way of preventing a psionic message from escaping, I'm not sure it should be something anyone could do, and I'm not sure if another psionic skill would be the way of doing it. I mean, would some one use this in their everyday lives, like they might use contact or barrier? Also, I think force-feeding is something that could be roleplayed out and, in neccesary, wished up for, so my favorite so far is the poison.
I mean, come on. It'd certainly be cooler than Loosetongue.

[Tamarin]

I want to be able to codedly tie people up.  The mudsex possibilities alone would justify it.

[jmordetsky]

I want to be able to codedly tie people up.  The mudsex possibilities alone would justify it.

Seconded. I remember a templar I was playing a while ago would emote "buckles you to a wall with a pair of bone and leather shackles". Then have his giant subdue me.

Apparently shackles don't work without a giant to catalyze the reaction...


Anyone, not to derail...but in general. How could you ever RP kidnapping somone if they can just Way their pals. Again, aside from sapping them every 5 to 10 seconds.

Someone suggested a poison once, which blocked telepathy. I thought that was really cool.

[EvilRoeSlade]

Giving non-psionicists the ability to block out psionic activity doesn't seem like a very good idea to me...  however, I really like the idea of a poison that suppresses psionics, provided that a) it was a rare and difficult to acquire poison and b) the antidote was just as well-known and common as the poison is rare.

If the poison was rare, it would be expensive.  If the poison was expensive, the antidote would be equally expensive (unless the antidote was an every-day food substance or the like).  Law of economics friend.

The point is, I really like the idea of a large variety of poisons that can be used to achieve interesting and unusual effects, but there isn't any need to gimp for the sole reason that they might kill your character.

[bloodfromstone]

I think that the poison that suppresses the Way would be an excellent solution. It seems like the less afraid people are that someone is going to contact their twelve warrior friends to come save them, the more likely people are to play out longer and more interesting scenes with their victims. It seems like a shame to have situations like that, with so much awesome RP potential, be rushed...

[Cuusardo]

Anyone, not to derail...but in general. How could you ever RP kidnapping somone if they can just Way their pals. Again, aside from sapping them every 5 to 10 seconds.

That's just a risk you take when you're kidnapping someone who's telepathic.

[Rhyden]

There are ways to stop somebody from using their telepathy. If both players demonstrate considerable RP, it should be very much possible. Just think about what must be done in order to use telepathy in Zalanthas and then think about ways that your character may know ICly how to hinder that essential element of another living being.

[corona]

I think that the poison that suppresses the Way would be an excellent solution. It seems like the less afraid people are that someone is going to contact their twelve warrior friends to come save them, the more likely people are to play out longer and more interesting scenes with their victims. It seems like a shame to have situations like that, with so much awesome RP potential, be rushed...

I think if it's a poison that prevents you from using it and others finding your own mind, it would work like a charm. I don't know.. I can see the benefits if someone was still able to find your mind, as well.

[Revelations]

The only problem with roleplaying out scenes that suggest not being able to use psionics is exactly that you have to take the time to roleplay it out. There are times secrecy and quickness is important.  :wink:

[lazycritic]

The poison would be sweeeeeeet. Honestly, the Way makes it damn near impossible to do some really neat things like kidnapping.

[Cenghiz]

AFAIK, if you wouldn't see the target if he/she was in the same room, you won't be able to contact them.
Also AFAIK this is not a bug and it can be used. You must be able to 'see' them to find their minds. So...

Go to a temple and hire a magicker, or rather choose a place that suits your needs to hide the kidnapped. Poison won't be that effective. Everybody has different endurance levels and you wouldn't know when that poison would dissipate from the victim's blood, you wouldn't know even if it was effective. So it would be too expensive to use it too often to ensure safety or it would have the same risks with sapping.

[Tamarin]

If you are in a dark room, you can contact anyone you like.  They just can't contact you back.