Gamma World Psionics

[Achan hiArusa]

I have heard several people talk about the 1st level GW being who has every psionic power and is still CR 1. I just don't see that as possible, for the following reasons:

1) I know that it says "whenever the character uses a psionic power, she gains a +1 bonus towards a power increase roll," but it has always been traditional in roleplaying games (harkening back to Runequest) that trivial uses don't count. Now, I know the book doesn't explicitly say that, but the character who uses this power to read the mind of another PC "just to get that +1 bonus" should be vetoed by any decent DM. Anytime the character uses the power in a USEFUL roleplaying or combat context then he will also be gaining experience points at the same time, which will naturally raise his level given time.

2) It takes a minimum of 5 uses to gain a basic power, 15 uses for an intermediate power, and 25 uses for an advanced power to even have a 5% chance of gaining a power of that level. If you assume 2 to 3 uses in the game, then that's 2 experience gaining encounters to gain a basic power, 6 for an intermediate power, and 10 for an advanced power and to get a 100% chance of power gain these values must be multiplied by 20. Each of this will be an encounter where the character will gain experience points, ergo, the character will not be 1st level when he gains his "vast" (12) array of powers. A lucky roller will be 20th level by the time he gains all 12 powers if we assume a 300 xp times level award per encounter.

Note: I am not saying the system doesn't need work, but its not a totally broken system.

 

[Vigilance]

I the point of many of the posters is:

A) you have a game with a system in place for psionics

B) you have a game with a system in place for gaining power (class and level and experience).

If you don't use either of those, and instead replace them with something that doesn't work as well, then you deserve to be called on the carpet for it.

Chuck

 

[buzz]

Note: I am not saying the system doesn't need work, but its not a totally broken system.

Thing is, you're imposing a bunch of conditions that don't exist in the game *as written*. Sure, one would hope a GM with some common sense would impose them, but that's hardly the basis for a sound mechanic.

Also, I think your point #2 is a bit off, though I no longer have my copy of the book to check. IIRC, a psionic PC can attempt to gain a new power whenever they want; they simply need to roll a d20 vs. a fixed DC (one of the tables makes it look like the DCs increase for intermediate and advanced powers, though IIRC the text contradicts this). Successful uses of a power simply add +1 to the roll.

AFAIK, there's no penalty for failing a power gian roll, ergo, a psionic PC has a lot more to gain by staying home and practicing until they get all the available powers than they do going out and actually gaining XP. Heck, they can just keep rolling power gian checks until the cows come home. (IIRC, that is.)

That's pretty much broken in my book.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Common Sense

I am only imposing one condition, that the GM uses some common sense when player's use the system. Now, true I wish the book had used some level based system (which they do in the D&D section, pg 237). But the system can be managed if the GM follows two simple rules:

1) Only allow improvement points for significant uses of power.
2) Limit checks to one per game.

Simple, that is why we have GMs in the first place. I mean Macs are far more useful out of box than a PC, but that doesn't stop PCs from holding about 93% market share.

 

[buzz]

I understand what you're saying, Achan, but your "two simple rules" are fairly major changes to the way psionic advancement works. I don't consider some unspoken hope that the GM will figure this out to be much of a defense of the system. Also, your initial claim was that the CR1 master pisionicist "wasn't possible." This may be true with the additional conditions youve added here, but it's not true given what's actually in the book.

Not to mention that, IMHO, this is all in effort to salvage a psionics system that simply isn't worth the bother. If you're having fun with it, great. Me, I think it's total crap; I didn't pay $35 to fix rules any competent designer should have tossed in the dustbin from the get-go.

 

[Luddite]

First off, failing a Power Gain roll does result in loss of half your bonus points and you suffer from feedback. The least effect of feed back is that you are unable to use any psionic powers for 24 hours. Not to mention some damage along the way.

One thing you have to keep in mind about Psionics in Gamma World, is that all FX (mutations, Cyber, Nano and psi) are independent of the Character's Level. However, a GM can control the aviailibility of new Mutations, Cyber, and Nanotech available to the player character.

IMO, the chance for Psionic Power improvement should have been explictly in the control of the GM, and not have as much need for some simple House Rules.
Even adding the line, "Using a power in a Stressful or Demanding Situation. (ie only durring adventures) count as gaining a bonus point," would then leave the granting of bonus points at the descression of the GM, and not allow the character to just go and roll till they are dead or all powerful.

Personaly, I like the fundemental aspect of Psionics independent of Character Level. It is just like equipement. This way I can allow characters to become more powerful with always having to level up the characters.

-The Luddite

 

[Achan hiArusa]

major changes?

I daresay they are major changes. Every game with a per use system from Runequest (checks to improve skills) to TORG (gaining of possibilities from power flaws) to AD&D (xps for using spells and thief skills) has had the caveat that only siginificant use of abilities warrant such a change (and if you can get the game designers from those three games to agree on something then you have something important). Secondly, for power increases, the text itself implies that power improvement rolls can only be made everytime there is an increase (which is more frequent than I would allow).

Now, true, if a DM doesn't control this, it could be munchkined
out, but that is true of any mechanic (despite the protests from a particular fan of Feng Shui).

Personally, I don't like the system, I would perfer a more level based system where characters earn improvement points every level (I do wish instead of trying to create "cool" advanced classes, they cut down on it and at least made the four basic D&D style classes into prestige classes, oh well, a little more work for me).

 

[buzz]

First off, failing a Power Gain roll does result in loss of half your bonus points and you suffer from feedback. The least effect of feed back is that you are unable to use any psionic powers for 24 hours. Not to mention some damage along the way.

Like I said, my book is in UPS's hands now, so I coulnd't check this. Granted, I have no memory of what you say being true, but I'll trust your having the book in front of you.

 

[buzz]

I daresay they are major changes.

I daresay I agree with you.

"daresay"

Now, true, if a DM doesn't control this, it could be munchkined
out, but that is true of any mechanic (despite the protests from a particular fan of Feng Shui).

Again, I think that a system that depends on the GM having the sense not to use the rules as written is a system not worth buying.

Sorry to keep harping on this. I guess I need to just let it drop.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Confessed Theoretical Gamer

I will confess that I am a theoretical gamer and I tend to enjoy talking about gaming mechanics more than I enjoy actually playing (though I am not up on the quasiintellectual langauge of people in the Forge or places like that, if you can't use Plain English to explain your terms, then you maybe you really don't understand it, it comes from teaching Physics for Poets). My players have told me that I would never run a perfect game because I would never have anything to tinker with. I am used to White Wolf's bizarrely inconsistent game system (which is so much fun tinkering with) and this book is about par for the course.