Interesting uses for the Way

[Avril]

Every sensibility on Earth has had its matching arts, some of them so well-respected that their names became confused with the sensibilities themselves. We've had our painters, cooks and gemcutters, all of whom toiled for obscene salaries to pinch the nerves of those rich or worthy enough to afford them. Sadly, despite its greater wealth of feeling, Zalanthas still clings to the traditional human arts. The Bard's circle in Tuluk has singers, dancers and a theatre, but no psionic shows... Amazingly, but not inexplicably, no one practices any art of the mind. Perhaps it's due to the tremendous fear people exhibit towards psionics of any unusual sort, or to the difficulties of using the Way, but as I see it, there's a bigger reason than these two - the players' own lack of interest. For all the characters I've encountered, it seems everyone is content to treat the Way as an instant messaging service, meant to hook up with clan members and carry out private conversations. I'd like to see that change.

First of all, I'll point out what the Way can and cannot do. This is my own interpretation, and I could very well be wrong. Even so, it's certainly a valuable interpretation, as it would give the players who use it a greater range of ways to express their characters' personalities.

The Way can transfer any sort of emotions and mental images between people. Like human speech, it can be blocked out, though this requires some effort on the receiver's part. Its single useful purpose is to deliver information directly to the target's mind. How successful it is, and how greatly the sender can control what information comes out, depends on his psionic aptitude and quite a few other traits, like how emotional and prone to metaphor he is. I had one character that would sometimes send images instead of words, or "wrong" images that were related only in meaning to the things he tried to show, simply because he wasn't fully in control of his own mind. When playing out psionic actions, it's usually best not to assume that everyone's mind has a flawless mailing program built in. For most people, it would probably be more along the lines of Outlook Express. Clumps of mental waste, be they images or feelings, can travel along with the intended thoughts. Trying to control the message and remove this "static" would cause significant strain to the mind.

Finally, the most important issue is that the Way cannot change the receiver's thoughts directly - all it does is carry messages, which may be interpreted as the receiver sees fit. Anyone can say something over and over again to seed it deeply into someone's mind, just as anyone can psi it over and over again... That, however, does not make everyone a psionicist. Likewise, anyone can train his voice (or, in Zalanthas, his mind) to express precisely what he wants, but that makes him a musician, not a mindbender.

In fact, I'd say it should be possible for someone to train his mind to focus on a single picture or brief melody, then send it for a small price to whoever would enjoy it. Since psionic messages are usually sent in bursts, anything that relies on continuity (such as most songs) would be hard, if not impossible, to create using the Way. Visual images, however, seem to be fair game, so long as there's little animation involved. I can't see any worth in sending out sensations of taste or smell, especially not for a living, but some trained slaves might take to memorizing the sensation of everything they eat or drink and relay that sensation to their masters, who can then judge the food's quality and decide whether or not to eat it. It's far-fetched, but certainly not impossible.

Far more realistic is the presence of psionic whores. In a world without conraceptives, where people can send their feelings through the way, this sort of job would probably be widely accepted despite the general fear of mindbenders. If people were suspicious about it, then by the same reasoning, they'd be suspicious about the contact skill itself. While it might be more exhausting than actual sex, one of the "partners", the one on the receiving end, wouldn't have to spend any bit of effort on it, and the woman involved (if any) would be spared from the risk of childbirth. Noblewomen in particular might ask their love slaves to send pleasure via the way, perhaps even while they're sitting around at a tavern or taking part in a tense meeting. There's also a whole lot of privacy and speed in just 'getting head', as opposed to having real intercourse, and the fact that you don't have to go back to your place (which doesn't exist, at least not for most PCs) is an added bonus. Then again, since no one can see the act, there's no one to complain to if you get scammed out of your coins (or mental prowess) by a prostitute (or customer) who claims that nothing happened.

Another role I see that hasn't shown much popularity is that of the "trance scribe", as I call him. This man would send images directly from his very-short-term memory to his employer, so if Lord Fancypants wants to show off his cool new emerald nose-ring via the way but isn't willing to tax his mind for it, he carries around his "trance scribe" (which could be his aide) for that purpose. I'm not sure if it's possible to send someone "fresh" images, the kind that don't even stay in your memory for more than a second, but if it is, that's another role for the psionically-minded. Then, of course, the well-rounded aide could probably have a translator's job as well, relaying the noble's messages to any dwarves, elves or nomads he has the misfortune of talking to.

I haven't seen the use of the way in teaching, either. Showing someone a memory of your own crafting experience would be like teaching him how to craft, step by step, as though he were actually doing it. It's more effective than just telling him how to do things, since all the important bits of information will go straight into his mind. It would also reveal to him what he should be seeing when he's doing well - how far up his arrow should point when firing towards a certain distance, how his hands should move when he's casting his spell, etc. While it shouldn't be the only method used in teaching something, it shouldn't be dismissed, either.

I'm curious if anyone ever tried one of these things, or if anyone else would run around screaming mindbender if he met a psychic whore, artist or whatever. So far, I've never seen anyone act frightened or apalled by creative uses of the Way, but then, I haven't used the contact skill on a whole lot of people.

[Marauder Moe]

Yeah... anyone claiming any special talents with the Way (other than being able to withstand the headaches) should be brutally beaten and executed.  Mindbenders can reach into your HEAD and RIP OUT your THOUGHTS and your very SOUL!  They can torment you, control you, deceive you, destroy you, and there is very little you can do to stop it, nor is there anything your friends can do to save you.  If a few innocent self-proclaimed 'Way-bards' would have to die to protect the people from these foul beings, so be it.

You have some fine ideas, but I don't think they'd fly well in Zalanthan society, and even if they did I think they might detract some from the mindbender mystique.

[STANDARD PSIONICIST DICLAIMER: I have never played a psionicist, nor have any of my characters encountered one to my knowledge.  Therefore, know that any statements I make about the capabilities of psionicists aka mindenbers are pure speculation based of documented and in-game lore.]

[Mook]

There's always a grey area between common 'waying' abilities and TORMENT YOUR SOUL mindbending.. and I think many people play 'waying' as the sending of mental images/emotions, rather than linguistics (thus the lack of a language barrier).  So maybe there'd be a place for psion bards, at least ones that are kept on the down-low?  Underground psionic parties!  :twisted:  
I understand the fear of mindbenders, but people cannot fear the abilities that they all have.  Assuming that 'waying' usually involves the transfer of mental images and emotions then, there shouldn't be anything shocking about this art, IMHO.

[Reverend Jeff]

Okay, I saw the phrase "psychic whore" and I just couldn't resist dropping a reply.

While I can certainly see benefits from using the Way coupled with teaching (if, indeed, the way works like you posited) and, maybe, a noble would have their "psychic secretary" conduct transmissions for them, I'm have something of a problem imagining why a psychic whore would be nesseccary.  At the very least, I can imagine the two city-states strongly discouraging such an activity.  Here's why:

Zalanthas has an exceptionally high mortality rate, due, in part, to environmental factors (Heat, constant storms in the south, rampaging gwoshi and what have you).  Another factor that plays into the higher mortality rate is probably basic nutrition.  I mean, you don't see people pulling Steak-Ums from their freezers and cooking them up when they want a warm, beefy snack (In a side note, if anyone wants to see some fascinating research into exactly how proper kitchen appliances have altered modern life, there's a couple pretty interesting studies that were conducted in the UK regarding the early on-set of menstruation in girls).

Okay, so, life is harsh.  People are dying all the time.  So, who cares?  Well, any employer who needs a steady supply of fairly non-skilled laborers.  That'd include the rulers of both cities, anyone who deals in slaves and, oh, I dunno, people who harvest spice.  I can totally imagine them frowning on any type of activity that might reduce the birth rate among the uneducated because it would, eventually, effect the population of non-skilled laborers in Zalanthas.  Plus, in a world without child support or rigorously structed morals regarding marriage, I imagine the inclination from most men would be "who cares about contraceptives anyway if I'm gonna be gone in ten minutes anyway?"

Another good reason that psychic sex wouldn't be popular among the masses is sheer economics.  Given that it was already mentioned that it would require a fair amount of training to send detailed pictures that involve very little animation, the amount of people who'd be willing to undertake that training would probably be fairly low and, therfore, the cost for a psychic screw would be rather high to start off with, without even considering how much demand there'd be for it.  

Plus, as mentioned in the original post, the pictures sent would have to go in burst format with very little animation.  Any type of sustained, moving imagery would be awfully difficult.  I guess it'd be possible for someone to just, you know, transmit an instant orgasm command to the recievers brain, but how much fun would that be?  (Actually, I'm giggling hysterically right now imagining someone walking around Allanak and transmitting that to everyone they meet).

Oooookay, so, it'd be expensive and possible frowned on for the masses.  Would it be possible for nobles to have it?  Yeah, I guess.  Though it kinda creeps me out that whenever a character of mine is begging a noble for a job that that noble might be recieving a message that says, "I'm slowly unbuttoning my vest right now."  Eh.  But, yeah, it'd be possible, provided the noble didn't mind recieving their sex in burst transmissions or flip book-format.  Not really my cup of tea, but whatever.

I dunno.  Personally, I'm just kinda leery of treating the Way as some form of primative internet.  Well, maybe that's not the best metaphor, since I can't really imagining having sex with my computer. Well... except that once, but, gosh darn it, my floppy drive has never been the same.

Heh.  I joke.  Anyway, yeah, I dunno how I feel about the Way becoming some kinda alternate, archaic radio transmission.  I guess I've always viewed use of it as kinda like a mild form of magick.  It's not like you see tavern owners calling in a local Whiran everytime somebody lights a cigar and stinks up a room.  Granted, everyone has a talent to use the Way, at least in some limitted capacity, but people who specialized in it?  I think most Zalanthians would find 'em awfully creepy.

But that's just my random opinion on the subject.  Since all I really wanted to do was echo "psychic whore," please feel free to discount the entire thing if needs be.

[jhunter]

Sex.....uhmmmm....without the SEX??!! :shock:

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:cry:

[Bestatte]

Psionicists, more commonly known as "mindbenders," "brainworms", and an assortment of equally complimentary names, are hated and feared throughout the Known World. Their ability with the Way allows them to control the thoughts, emotions, and actions of others, as well as to ferret out information others could not discover.

No sane individual would ever admit to such powers; a psionicist may go his or her entire life without telling a soul. At most, this information would be confided to one or two highly trusted individuals.

The part in bold is my emphasis. Judging solely on the official documents quoted above, I would suggest to you that your reasoning is flawed, and that perhaps any further discussion of psionics improvements be sent as suggestions to the staff, rather than discussed here on the GDB.

Besides - what sane person (or even most insane persons) would trust a pleasure slave with sending emotions into their minds? Not me, no sirree.

[Agent_137]

on a side note, no where in the docs does it say there are no contraceptives in zalanthas, ergo, there might be. Check where you think they might be sold, and maybe they are.


as far as the way useage goes,
honestly,
until you have the coded ability to send feelings other then:
"*mirth* You're so funny."

I'm not gonna fuck with sending anything but basic messages.

I think attatching a single emotion with a message is fine. But anything more complicated than that, i would think, is out of line both for coded reasons, mindbending reasons, and just basic silliness reasons.

thank you.

[Mook]

Psionic whoring aside, anything wrong with artists sending pretty images, or 'trance scribes' sending a mental image of fancypant's emerald nosering to a consentual second party?

[Agent_137]

Psionic whoring aside, anything wrong with artists sending pretty images, or 'trance scribes' sending a mental image of fancypant's emerald nosering to a consentual second party?

I think sending "images" is absurd. I mean, yea, ok, if it was all real. But it's not. It's a text game. Compare:


"red . . . roundish . . . sweet . . . kinda crunchy . . . juicey . . .  pleasing  . . ."

------------

"Hey dude. This apple tastes great. How's your day?"

[Mook]

It is jus text, but in-game, an image might be worth mentally 'seeing' for your character.. say, the location of a sekrit ninja camp, or somesuch.  Depends on what we're actually experiencing when we recieve messages via the way..

Halaster wrote:

The policy in the past was always that it is OK and acceptable to communicate with people over the Way even if you do not speak the same language. Thoughts are more "universal" in some senses, so if you meet an elf you can't speak with because neither of you speak the same language, it is OK to use the Way to get around that.

Unless it was changed during my 14-month sabbatical, I'd go with that.
_________________
- Halaster

But what is a thought, if not linguistic?  I'm honestly curious, what would people suggest we're experiencing, given that it isn't in a lingual form?  Perhaps we can experience 'oh, the sender is feeling suchandsuch an emotion' without having that emotion infused into the receiver's head?

[Mr.Camel]

T7DV explained it very well at:
http://www.zalanthas.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9151

[BessieLoggedOut]

I've sent mental images before, and probably will again. I mean - when you contact someone, they get the image of YOU, don't they? (yes, they do).

If they can get a mental image of you, then surely they can get - and you can send - a mental image of something else.

What you probably should not be able to do - is assign a value to a mental image. Such as forcing them to feel fear when they receive the image, or pleasure, or whatever else. What you probably also should not be able to do, is send them textures, or physical feelings of things - hm how to explain..like this I guess:

psi *the soft sense of silk in your hands* The hide feels like that.

Because then you are forcing them to feel tactile sensations that a simple "psi" (I don't think) can possibly project.

If you can imagine something visually, then I don't see any reason why you can't send that image, albeit vague and lacking a "three dimensional" sense. Like if you were trying to describe someone's eyes to someone who might know the things you are comparing it to -

psi *the brilliant red of a gizhat's fur flashes briefly in your mind* His eyes are almost like that red, maybe a little brighter, not so deep.

(to explain scarlet eyes)

or maybe

psi *the dense black of obsidian wavers at the edge of your visual image of her* My hair is this color black.

Stuff like that, I don't see any problem with. You're not forcing them to use any sense other than their own mind, and that is what contact, psi, and barrier are all about. You're not making them believe that these things are really there in front of them - but rather, that they are images being sent to their mind, exclusively. The only thing lacking from this is that the code doesn't support it. I think it would be terrific if it did.

Sending tidbits of visual information - that the cave you are in is "that" big.. or that the animal you just fled from had "those" kind of arms..little flits of imagery that any sentient being is capable of seeing in their own mind.

[Mook]

Cool, I'm making a psionic movie-projecting bard.  He'll just take lots and lots of painkillers for the headaches.  

[Avril]

But that's just my random opinion on the subject. Since all I really wanted to do was echo "psychic whore," please feel free to discount the entire thing if needs be.

Nowadays, a lot of people psi-emote bringing pleasure into people's minds. I just thought it could be turned into an actual profession. I never really thought of it as a kind of pornography, nor did I assume it could replace real sex. After all, the internet hasn't made people any less horny.
Good post, though.

Bestatte, I checked few threads about the subject before writing the post...  I think this one shows things from pretty much every conceivable perspective. Anyway, it seems the staff agreed that characters can send emotions (and images) through the way. They can't manipulate others' emotions directly, of course, but the messages they give sometimes have that effect... And a "message" could very well be a feeling of pleasure. This doesn't mean the receiver needs to experience the same feeling himself, although he does perceive it, and he can probably tell who it comes from. If he learns that someone is in pain, it doesn't mean he himself would suffer - not if he's a sadist, or really pissed at that person.

"showing" is very, very different from "imposing" or "manipulating". The Way handles the former; mindbending, the latter.

[Nominous Dirt]

It seems to me that the question was whether using the Way could be turned into some sort of profession, psychic whore being the favored example.

Conceding the point that images are sent along with meaning, I wonder at the validity of saying that the Way would be something used for common entertainment, like a good voice or a memory for stories. Three reasons why:

1) Zalanthians are not naturally trusting.

2) Wealth is as precious as water.

3) Magick/Psionics is feared.

I couldn't picture a Byn sergeant fresh off assignment heading to the Mindsong tavern to get some fuzzy feelings when he could just head to the Gaj and let a bottle of Red do the same thing for a cheaper price.

And who is to say where the showing turns into imposing? Let's say the Byn sergeant does go to the Mindsong tavern to get his fuzzies, only to have his psyche taken over when the innocent waybard turns out to be a Mindflayer of hurrendous powers.

Magick could probably make some pretty neat tricks, but that doesn't mean it would be any more acceptable. And, although Magick is not something possessed by the entire populace of Zalanthas, I still feel the same distrust can apply between both.

The Way is a necessary evil. Everyone has access to it, but that doesn't mean that its use has become mundane. I approach use of the Way as if it were a tool that were necessary, but causes severe discomfort in its employ (read stun damage). Using the Way for mass entertainment just feels wrong, hard to explain.

As a parting comment, let me say that the above post applies to commoners in Zal'. The nobles are rich and foppish enough to do something that goes against the grain of the feel of the game.

[wizturbo]

I don't see a problem with using the way to convey visual images, or emotional content of a message.

I don't think either of those things are in 'mindbender' territory.  However, someone who's profession is using the way as some kind of way-bard, might draw heavy suspicion to them having other talents with the way that ARE mindbender-like.  This fear, would likely prevent a way-bard from existing in most societies where psionicists are feared and hated (basically every society).