Psionic: Hypnokinesis

Hypnokinesis

The school of Hypnokinesis teaches psions to exploit the sense of living creatures and machinery by creating life like illusions. Early students are able to create harmless hallucinations or hypnotize targets, while experienced Hypnokinesis users are able to create delusions so real that targets can be physically harmed.  

1D, Confusion: The psion gains the Special Ability "Confusion", hampering the thoughts of those they enter hand-to-hand combat with.

2D, Spellbinding Reflexes: : The psion can now use Sleight of Hand with ease, gaining a bonus based on the Hypnokinesis skill.

3D, Illusionary Duplicates: The psion creates illusionary doubles of themselves which confuses enemies in battle.

4D, Basic Illusion:  This creates a minor image of scale equal to or smaller than the psion.

5D, Invisibility: The psion uses the environment around themselves to make themselves disappear

6D, Hypnotize: The psion creates a mesmerizing pattern to hold all within sight at bay.

7D, Complex Illusion: The psion creates an illusion of a greater scale and with more beneficial features.

8D, Programmed Image: This ability allows Illusions to activate based on triggered conditions.

9D, False Aura: The psion has learned how to use the environment around them to mask who they truly are.

10D, Damage the Mind: The psion has become so effective at creating illusions, that they can now create images that trick sentient targets into thinking they've been injured.

1D, Confusion:
The psion gains the "Confusion [4]" Special Ability.The psion can hamper the thoughts of those he/she comes into physical contact with at will. The psion gains the Perception skill "Confuse" for free at +1, which can be increased with character points as normal. As a multi-action with a brawling attack, the psion may make a confusing attack. The psion must first do at least 1 point of damage to the target for them to be affected. Afterwards, the psion makes a Confuse Skill check vs the target's Willpower. If the psion's total is higher, the target is confused and adds +5 difficulty to all actions for a number of rounds equal to x2 the psion's Hypnokinesis dicepool.

Note: Unlike the book's version of Confusion, characters can still use special abilities or character points.

2D, Spellbinding Reflexes:

Duration: Permanent

Target: Self

The psion understands how to use quick hands and Hynokinesis in tandem in order to create quick illusions, pick pockets and locks (so long as they have some type of improvised lockpicking tool). Spellbinding Reflexes gives the psion +1D to all Sleight of Hands skill checks. For every 2 levels after (4D, 6D, 8D, 10D), the psion adds an additional +1D to the Sleight of Hands skill.

3D, Illusionary Duplicates:

Duration: 1 action to activate, 1 additional action to sustain each round

Range: Self

Difficulty: DC 11 (Moderate)

Several illusory duplicates of the psion appear into being, making it difficult for enemies to know which target to attack. The figments stay near the psion and disappear when struck. Illusionary Duplicates creates an amount of duplicates equal to half the psion's Hypnokinesis skill (round up/ minimum of 2 duplicates). These figments separate from the psion and remain in a cluster, each within 1 square of at least one other figment. The figments mimic the psion's actions, pretending to do everything the psion does.

Enemies attempting to attack the psion must select from among indistinguishable targets. Generally, roll randomly to see whether the selected target is real or a figment. Any successful attack against an image destroys it. An image’s difficulty to hit is 10 no matter what the psion may be doing.  An attacker must be able to see the images to be fooled.

4D, Basic Illusion:

Range: Line of Sight

Duration: 1 action to create, an additional action each round to sustain

Difficulty: Base 11 (Moderate), plus modifiers based on illusion

Special: Anyone staring at the object must make a Search check vs the psion's Hypnokinesis skill to disbelieve

This ability creates the visual illusion of an object, creature, or force equal to or smaller than the size of the psion, as visualized by the creator. The illusion does not create sound, smell or temperature. The psion can move the image within the limits of the size of the effect, though this adds to the difficulty.

Anyone who immediately sees this illusion can attempt to scrutinize it with a search check vs the psion's Hypnokinesis skill. If the viewer fails, they believe the illusion to be real and must act accordingly. The viewer may make additional search checks to disprove the illusion, but only once per round.

Modifiers:

Scale: If smaller than the psion, minus the scale as a positive bonus to the base difficulty

No Motion: +0

Basic Motion (ripples like water): +3

Major Motion (creature who breaths and moves appendages) +6

Illusion that Moves Out of Target Square (Illusion has the ability to move from the square it started in)  +9

5D, Invisibility:

Range: Self

Duration: 1 action to activate, 1 additional action per round to sustain

Difficulty: DC 16 (Difficult)

The psion becomes invisible. Any equipment held or gear connected to the psion vanishes as well. Items dropped or put down by an invisible psion become visible; items picked up disappear if tucked into the clothing or pouches worn. To use this ability, the psion must spend an action to roll their Hypnokinesis skill, DC 16 (Difficult). If successful, the psion instantly vanishes. Anyone around the psion must spend an action to make a search check in order to use light play, small ripples in the environment and shadow outlines in order to spot the psion. This Search check is penalized by a number of dice equal to half the Psion's Hynokinesis skill rounded up (minimum of -3D).

Of course, the subject is not silenced, and certain other conditions can render the recipient detectable (such as swimming in water or stepping in a puddle). Other abilities such as echolocation, siesmic radar, etc. still work normally, as the invisibility is only sight based.

Note: The psion may conduct strenuous activities such as running, climbing, etc., but not combat. If the psion attacks, the Invisibility ability immediately deactivates, though it can be created again with another action.

6D, Hypnotize: With this advanced ability, the Psion can create a dazzling image that they use to hypnotize anyone within sight. This image is a combination of swirling colors, soothing motions, and mesmerizing flashes of light. Anyone who can see this must make a willpower check versus the user's Hypnokinesis skill or be hypnotized.

Those under the influence of Hypnotize can take no actions unless they are knowingly placed in harms way. Anyone who chooses NOT to stay and watch suffers a -1D modifier to all actions for each 5 points that the psion has beaten them by during the initial dice-off. Those under this abilities power describe it as a tranquil contentment comparable to receiving a pleasurable massage or delightful warm bath.

Range: Centered on Self, Area of Effect is the Psion's Hypnokinesis Dice Pool x Knowledge in Meters

Duration: Sustained

Base Difficulty: Psion's Hypnokinesis vs Anyone in Sight's Willpower (with circumstances modifiers)

Modifiers

+5 to target's willpower if they are of a different species then the Psion. ( A human targeting a Novacon)

+10 to target's willpower if they are of a radically different species then the Psion. (A human targeting an Elashani)

+20 or more to target's willpower if they are of a completely unknown species to the Psion. (A living Sentient Planet, Sentient Psionicly active AI's, etc...)

+10 to target's willpower if they are an enemy to the psion


Exceptions: Characters, Creatures, and Beings with no sense of sight are immune, as are some Robots with no understanding of Art or beauty.

7D, Complex Illusion:

Range: Line of Sight

Duration: 1 action to create, an additional action each round to sustain

Difficulty: Base 22 (Very Difficult), plus modifiers based on illusion

Special: Viewer can attempt to disprove the illusion with a search check vs the psion's Hypnokinesis skill

This ability works like Basic Illusion to create a visual illusion of an object, creature, or force, but with sound, smell and thermal illusion. The size of the illusion can be as large as x2 the psion's Hynokinesis skill, as visualized by the creator. The psion can move the image within the limits of the size of the effect, though this adds to the difficulty.

Anyone who immediately sees this illusion can attempt to scrutinize it with a search check vs the psion's Hypnokinesis skill, but since the illusion has more depth, sound and detail, they do so with a -1D penalty. If the viewer fails, they believe the illusion to be real and must act accordingly. The viewer may make additional search checks to disprove the illusion, but only once per round.

Modifiers:

Scale: If smaller than the psion, minus the scale as a positive bonus to the base difficulty. If larger than the psion, add this size to the difficulty as a penalty.

No Motion: +0

Basic Motion (ripples like water): +3

Major Motion (creature who breaths and moves appendages) +6

Illusion that Moves Out of Target Square (Illusion has the ability to move from the square it started in) +9

Illusion Makes Sounds: +3

Illusion Speaks Intelligently: +6

Illusion has a False Temperature to it: +3

8D, Programmed Image:

Cost: 1 Character Point per Programmed Image

Difficulty: None, this compliments the Complex and Simple Illusion Abilities.

This ability allows the psion to both create illusions that leave the psion's line of sight, and/or activate when a specific condition occurs.  The psion sets the triggering condition before using Complex or Simple Illusion. They then spend 1 Character Point that is spent whether the Complex Illusion is successful or not. The event that triggers the illusion can be as general or as specific and detailed as desired but must be based on an audible, tactile, olfactory, or visual trigger. The trigger cannot be based on some quality not normally obvious to the senses, such as mood. These illusions are active so long as the psion is alive and within the galaxy that the illusion was created. If the Illusionist psion should leave the galaxy where their Programmed Images are in wait, the illusions are lost.

9D, False Aura:

Duration: 1 Action to Activate, 1 Action each round to sustain

Range: Self

Difficulty: DC 27 (Heroic) to activate, Dice Off to trick the target in question

The psion has become so good at tricking the senses, that they can even fool psionic abilities. The psion must first decide what illusionary conditions they are attempting to activate upon themselves such as "Not appearing to be a psion" or "having an aura that shows the psion is in a good mood," and even, "Daydreaming about naked girls in my surface thoughts." They then roll their Hynokinesis, DC 27, in order to create the False Aura.

Anyone using psionic detection abilities such as Telepathy, Empathics or Clairvoyance must roll their skill versus the psion's in order to not be able to see through the False Aura. If they fail, the detecting psion sees as the illusionist chose. If they penetrate the False Aura, not only do they see through it, but they make note that the Illusionist was attempting to create a mask against them.

10D, Damage the Mind:

Difficulty: +15 to the Complex Illusion power chart

Cost: 3 Character Points

This ability compliments the "Complex Illusion" power. When activating Complex Illusion, the psion may add +15 modifier to the difficulty and spend 3 character points in order to make the illusion have the ability, Damage the Mind. The illusion may now actively interact with any sentient creature, tricking the targets into thinking that they are actually being damaged in any way or form by the illusion (damage only). Such illusions can be anything from ceiling cave-ins to being eaten by an alien.

To do so, first the target must fail their initial illusion roll as noted in the "Complex Illusion" power. If the target fails, the illusion can take an action that would inhibit the target into thinking they are being harmed. The target can not dodge or attempt to block the illusion, as the figment always succeeds. Instead, the target rolls their willpower versus the psion's Hypnokinesis. If the target fails, they take any overage in dice as damage (stackable with any damage already taken). If they reach Incapacitated, the target merely feels as if they have died and falls over unconscious.

Note: This tricks the body into thinking it has suffered wounds, though nothing has physically happened. The illusionary wound can not be healed with a Medicine or Vitakenisis roll, though if the target goes unconscious or sleeps a full night's rest, the imaginary wounds disappear. Those who are trying to apply medical treatment, and understand that the illusionary wounds are not real, can attempt to trick the user into thinking they've fixed the wounds with a successful "Con" check vs the victim's Investigation.