Psionic: Empathics

Empathics

Power/Ability to:
Empathics is the ability to sense, feel as well as understand the emotions, feelings, hopes, dreams, desires, and fears of others. The power also included the ability to fully perceive, interpret and replicate the emotions, moods, or temperaments of others. Stronger Empathic abilties also include the ability to sense the emotions of objects or areas of land. Not to be confused with Telepathy. People with this ability are often called Empaths.  

Capabilities:
The user can read and mirror the feelings of others without reading apparent symptoms. They can cause the user to understand introverts or discover one emotion is actually hiding another. With this ability the User can attack someone in a personal and emotional way since they know exactly what emotion is flowing through themselves and can use this knowledge to play against them. Some users may learn to read emotional imprints left into environment or objects.

Usually over time, an Empath's power grows to the point that they can manipulate emotions on others, and possibly use them to empower themselves. User may learn to extend their power over/on vast number of sentients or reach extreme distances, even other levels of existence but this may be possible only if the user has emotional link to those they search already in effect.
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POWERS
1D Receptive Empathy - The ability to sense the strongest emotions present in another as well as to share your own emotional state with another. The most primitive form of purely mental communication.

2D Radiance- The Psion gives off a glow of indescribable radiance, making interactions with them far more beneficial.

3D Read Environment- The Empath has become so adept to reading emotions, they can even read the imprint of the environment. The Psion is able to read fresh emotions of a room or small area where beings who can express themselves (drones, AI’s do not count) have subsided. By focusing, the Empath perceives the emotional pattern of the area, understanding fresh feelings within the surroundings.

4D Utter Fear- The Empath can cause great fear and loathing in their subject. This is usually accomplished by a dark glare or grimace. The Empath is capable of driving targets insane with fear, frightening them into submission or flight with the merest glower. The subjects are cowed by the Psion’s appearance and will do anything to avoid incurring their wrath.

5D Mood Swing- At this level of mental mastery the Empath can begin altering the emotions of another.

6D Harmless- The Empath gives off harmless waves that allows them to avoid being attacked in combat.

7D Captivate – This ability is used to convince another to serve the Empath. The subject will be enchanted with the Psion and desire to serve their needs. However, unlike a person possessed with Telepathic powers, the subject of Captivate retains her freedom of action and creativity. This can be both positive and negative. The subject is certainly much more enjoyable to be around and tends to remind the Psion of the cruelty of control less often, but such a victim can be unpredictable in how she will attempt to please the Empath.

8D Distant Link - With this power, the Empath may sense and manipulate the emotions of a person they’ve “Captivated” in the past from a very great distance. The Empath is able to use certain empathic powers on a far-away subject of the Distant Link, and the target may not know exactly why he/she feels the way the new emotions they do if altered.

9D Psychic Surgery - At this Level of Mastery a Psion can use their prowess to work towards removing emotional illnesses (such as Depression or Anxiety) from another, or even inflict them with one.

10D Empower- At this Level of Empathics, a Psion can use the raw emotions of allies in order to strengthen and motivate them to do impossible feats.

1D Receptive Empathy:
This ability allows the Empath to understand the emotions of others. This is an often primitive form of the target's feelings, but helps the psion to gain basic insight.

Duration: 1 action to activate

Range: Line of Sight

Difficulty: Target's Willpower

The psion may use this ability on anyone in view, though most often it is with people they are directly communicating with. They then must spend an action to activate this power, rolling their Empathics skill vs the target's willpower. This is an unconscious roll, and the target is unaware any mental manipulation is being conducted. If successful, the psion moves one beneficial level on the "Interaction Modifier" chart on p. 85 when socializing with the target. The GM must first determine the original state of the target beforehand.

IE: The target moves one step closer to the green (full chart on pg. 85)

Target is Friendly or Trusting -5 modifier
Target is neutral towards psion 0
Target is hostile or superior standing to psion +5
Target is an enemy +10

2D Radiance:
The psion gives off a naturally comforting and charismatic glow about them that most people can't describe. People who are neutral towards the Empath often feel as if they somehow might know the character, though they can't describe how. This power automatically gives the psion the Advantage "Fame [R1]", but without being famous.

Whenever the gamemaster thinks that the character might be recognized or welcomed due to their Radiance, roll 3D6. If the result is 15 or higher, the character is welcomed or greeted by nuetral NPC's wherever they are, and people go out of their way to get to know the psion. Unlike the later Empathic power "Captivate", those under this psionic ability are comfortable with the psion, but not utterly infatuated with them. This is a permanent effect, and does not need to be activated. This power should not be used to stiffen or harm players, but only benefit.

As the psion continues to grow in their Empathics abilities, this equivalent to "Fame" strengthens.

Empathics 6D: Fame [2]

Empathics 10D: Fame [3]

3D, Read Environment:
The Empath is so in tune with emotions, that they may now sense the residue of recent emotional energy within an environment. This allows the Empath to enter rooms or areas where living creatures once were, and pickup fresh clues on basic emotional details.

Rules: The Psion rolls their Empathics skill and consults the chart below.

Range: The Psion's Read Environment Skill rank x their knowledge in meters.

Modifiers:
People were present less than an hour ago: +5 to roll
People were present within 1-5 hours ago: +0
People were Present within 6-12 hours ago: +5
People were Present within 12-24 hours ago: +10
+5 per person within the range

Read Environment Result
1-5: General Knowledge- No details besides the fact that emotion was shared in the location or not
6-10: Minor Details- Vague ideas such as strong or mild emotion
11-15: Moderate Details: Can pick up on anger, sadness or happiness of area of the mentally weakest target (lowest Willpower).
16-20: Major Details: Can pick up on anger, sadness or happiness of all targets
21-25: Nearly Complete Details: Can pick up on anger, sadness or happiness of all targets, plus exact emotions of the weakest target (lowest willpower rating), IE: Mournful and Depressed due to recent death
26-30: All Details: Can pick up exact emotions of all targets within range
31+: Supernatural Details: Picks up on exact emotions of all targets and gains +3 to a single investigation roll if trying to learn motives of those within the area

4D, Utter Fear:

The psion exudes a wave of suggestive fear. The overall effect is equal to the Special Ability “Fear” (2), which allows the user to gain a bonus to all intimidation totals based on their Empathics roll. The target resists with willpower. If the character successfully intimidates the target(s), they receive an equal combat defense bonus against those so affected equal to the chart below.

Result Bonus
1-10: +1 to intimidation, and if successful, an equal bonus to combat defense difficulties against those affected
11-15: +2 to intimidation, and if successful, an equal bonus to combat defense difficulties against those affected
16-20 +1D to intimidation, and if successful, +3 to combat defense difficulties against those affected
21-25: +1D+1 to intimidation, and if successful, +4 to combat defense difficulties against those affected
26-30: +1D+2 to intimidation, and if successful, +5 to combat defense difficulties against those affected
31 & up: +2D to intimidation, and if successful, +6 to combat defense difficulties against those affected

5D Mood Swing

At this level of mental mastery the Psion can begin altering the emotions of another.

Range: Line of Sight

Duration: Sustained

Base Difficulty: 10 or Willpower

Modifiers

+5 to difficulty if the target is of a different species then the Psion. ( A human targeting a Novacon)

+10 to the if the target is of a radically different species then the Psion. (A human targeting an Elashani)

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

For every 5 points in which the Psion beats the target difficulty, 1D of penalties is inflicted upon the target's social dice pool of the Psion's choice.

(For example: A Merchant's Bargain Skill maybe reduced so that the Psion has a better chance of getting the prices they desire)

6D, Harmless:

Action: 1 action, 1 additional action per round to sustain

DC: Target willpowers

Range: All within Line of Sight of the Psion

When in combat, the Psion may elect to radiate an innocent and non-threatening vibe to any enemies. To do so, the psion spends an action and rolls their Empathics. All enemies then roll their Willpower (any enemy who the target has already tried to attack within the current combat gets +10 bonus to their roll). Any enemy who fails their roll will avoid harming the Psion for 1 round (or multiple if sustained) so long as the target does not attack. The psion may still conduct other activities within reason like type on a computer, drag allies away from the battle lines, etc. However, if the Psion takes any aggressive actions towards any enemy, and enemies witness it, the psionic ability ends and all targets consider the Empath dangerous again.

The psion may attempt this power multiple times, but any target who has suffered this abilities effects before within the present combat gain +10 to their next roll.

Note: Anything that may make the psion dangerous, such as holding a ticking time bomb, or pressing a button that fills the room with poisonous gas also breaks the affects. When in doubt, the GM should lean towards the ability being broken, as Harmless is a fragile psionic ability.

7D, Captivate:

Range: Empathics x Knowledge, area effect

Difficulty: 25 (Very Difficult) + additional willpower checks

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

This power allows the psion to impress those who are near him/her, swaying their judgement towards the psion's needs. To activate, the psion must first make an Empathics roll. If successful, anyone who comes within their range must make a Willpower check versus DC 21 (crowds of minor NPC's can just make one major roll with a bonus of +5).

Those who fail feel an immediate and intense attraction, but not so overpowering that they lose their sense of self-preservation. Danger breaks the spell of fascination, as does leaving the area. However, if the psion wishes to make suggestions to captivated people that are, or at least appear harmless (IE: "go into that room"), they make an Empathics roll vs the target's willpower. If the psion's roll is higher, the target feels compelled to commit the act.

Thsoe under Captivate will remember how they felt, though, and this will affect their reactions should they ever encounter the psion again. Captivate is extremely useful in mass communication. It does not matter what is said - the hearts of those affected will lean towards the user's opinion. The weak want to agree with the psion; the strong-willed soon find themselves outnumbered.

Note: Those who do not speak the psion's language when given a suggestion must make a language check and consult the skill chart result. They will attempt to commit the act as best as they can comprehend. Those who do not understand still fail to know what the psion wants, but feel emotionally bonded nonetheless.

8D, Distant Link:

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

Range: See modifiers

Difficulty: See modifiers

With this psionic ability, the Empath can now use 1D: Reception Energy and 5D: Mood Swing on anyone that they have successfully captivated before (does not mean that they gave them a suggestion). The psion simply thinks of that person and attempts to use Receptive Energy to feel that subject's mood, or Mood Swing in order to influence that subject's current mood. To do so, the psion rolls Empathics, consulting the modifier chart in order to get a final score. The target resists with their willpower.

Afterwards, the Empath treats 1D: Receptive Energy and 5D: Mood Swing as if they were next to the target at this very moment, making rolls accordingly.


CONDITION MODIFIERS
Range: The target is within a 10 mile radius or less of the psion +0
Range: The target is within a 11 and 500 mile radius of the psion +5
Range: The target is beyond 500 miles, but within the planet +10
Range: The target is off of the planet, but within the System +15
Range: The target is not in the system, but within the galaxy’s arm +20
Range: The target is within the galaxy, but not much more +25
Range: The target is not within the galaxy +30

Circumstances: The target is very familiar to the psion +0 (place they grew up, relative or friend)
Circumstances: The target is slightly familiar to the psion (psion has visited the location or met the person several times) +5
Circumstances: The target is not familiar to the psion (psion has visited or met the target once, or seen up to date pictures) +10
Circumstances: The target is completely unfamiliar to the psion (psion has never been there or never met the person) +15
Circumstances: The target is in a place with moderate noise (city street, mild rainstorm, near a river) +5
Circumstances: The target is in a place with major noise (within a factory, in a major storm, battle) +10
Circumstances: The target is in a place with deafening noise (sirens, hurricane, major waterfall) +15
Circumstances: Noises around the target are exotic and foreign (the hum of Eirene’s plant life, the firing of an Icehound’s sonic rifle) +10

9D Psychic Surgery

Range: Touch

Duration: 1 round of uninterrupted concentration per Knoweldge or Willpower Rank of the target (psion can take no other actions while conducting Psychic Surgery)

Difficulty: Psion's Empath skill w/ added modifiers vs Target's Willpower

The psion is able to heal emotional issues with a single target, from cabin fever, schizophrenia, to most importantly,  those under mental influence of other psionic abilities. To activate, the psion must touch the target, and then sift through their emotions. The psion then makes an Empathics roll, consulting the modifier chart, versus the target's Willpower (as the target subconsciously is resisting change). If successful, the target can cure role playing issues such as fear, mental penalties from travel exhaustion, etc. If the mental penalty is a Disadvantage, the psion can instead pay the amount of character points it would take to lower or remove the Disadvantage through character progression.

Modifiers
Circumstances: The target is very familiar to the psion +0 (place they grew up, relative or friend)
Circumstances: The target is slightly familiar to the psion (psion has visited the location or met the person several times) +5
Circumstances: The target is not familiar to the psion (psion has visited or met the target once, or seen up to date pictures) +10
Circumstances: The target is completely unfamiliar to the psion (psion has never been there or never met the person) +15

+5 to difficulty if the target is of a different species then the Psion. ( A human targeting a Novacon)
+10 to the if the target is of a radically different species then the Psion. (A human targeting an Elashani
+20 or more if the target is a completely unknown species to the Psion. (A living Sentient Planet, Sentient Psionically active AI's, etc...)

10D, Empower:

Range: LOS

Duration: 1 Action to Activate, 1 additional action per round to sustain

Difficulty: 31 (Legendary), +5 per additional target within line of sight that the psion wishes to influence

With this ability, the psion is able to motivate others around him/her in order to strengthen their will and determination. The psion emits a wave of inspiration to anyone within their line of sight that they choose. They may choose multiple targets with a +5 to the added difficulty per person. If successful, the psion grants the users the following so long as they sustain "Empower," even if the target goes unconscious.

Endurance [R1]: +3D to Strength or Stamina checks when performing taxing physical tasks
Hardiness [1]: +1 to any damage resistance totals
Iron Will [2]: +1D to all willpower rolls and +2 difficulty for anyone attempting mentally manipulate the character
Head Strong (Custom): Immune to all Intimidation checks and Fear checks
Pain Tolerance (Custom): Immune to any damage penalties. The target can still go unconscious or die.