Empathic Psionics
Empaths draw power from their capacity to connect and establish powerful links with others. They are receivers of the feelings, thoughts or psionic energies of others and tend to have a penchant for discipline and dedication. For better or worse, Empaths tend to have something in which they truly believe in that informs their actions. Empaths can be both the best and the worst Psions have to offer.
Their nature means that many times their powers are geared either to support, healing or restoration or through the subtle and insidious manipulation of other’s emotions and their very thoughts. It is hard to keep secrets from an empath and whereas some empaths may use this knowledge out of a desire to do good, others may find themselves wittingly or unwittingly enthralling others, always playing the right notes in the right moments to ensure subservience, love, admiration or whatever other emotion they seek to elicit.
Like many other psionic abilities, Empathic psionics can be a doubled edged sword, the innate desire empaths have to connect, be it with tradition, organization, other beings human or animal and their constant ability to receive and transmit thoughts, feelings and ideas from others can lead to contamination of many sorts. Empaths who aren’t careful and do not develop protections of some sort of filter the constant psionic “noise” they are surrounded by can end up losing their sense of self as it melds with all the thoughts and ideas they have received over the years.
There are tall tales of communities formed by several empaths out in the black where they have become so intertwined with each other their own individual minds have long since been destroyed and now exist as simple vehicles for a greater psionic hive mind, but no one has been able to prove them true.
Talents
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The empath can focus on the latent psionic energies of a specific place or object, gaining a greater understanding of its nature. For each hour they spend focusing and meditating, the Psion gains an Advantage to their next Mental Skill test regarding that place or object, up to their Empathy rank. This bonus may only be used for one test and the Psion may only focus on an object or place once.
Boost: —
Range: Self.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 2
Resist: —
Duration: End of Psion’s next turn.
Effect: The Psion transforms the target into an empathic mirror to those around him, making any who look at them instinctively recognize them as someone loved or familiar. Any non-mechanical characters attempting to attack the target does so at Major Disadvantage until the end of their next turn.
Boost: An extra focus may be consumed to activate Empathic Mirror as a reaction.
Range: Self or one target within 60 feet.
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: Permanent.
Effect: The Psion subtly affects the minds of those around them over a period of time, slowly enhancing the perception of their target over a period of time. Each day, after spending at least an hour with the Psion, characters must pass a Willpower test where the difficulty is the number of hours they spent with the Psion, to a maximum of the Psion’s Empathy Rank. If they fail, the character will become neutral towards the Psion (if normally hostile), friendly (if neutral) or consider them a trusted friend and ally (if friendly). The effect dissipates after spending 24 hours away from the Psion or beating the daily Willpower test. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: Self
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Type: Instant
Cost: 1
Resist: —
Duration: Long rest or until used.
Effect: The Psion creates a bubble energy around the target, granting them the Shield Projector quality even when attacked from behind. The force bubble remains until the quality is used once or the target takes a long rest.
Boost: An additional focus can be consumed to grant the Force Bubble Fireproof (2), Shockproof (2), Chemproof (2) and Coldproof (2)
Range: Self or any one target within 30 feet.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Next social skill test.
Effect: The Psion bends the perception of those around him, making themselves more appealing to the eyes of others, gaining Advantage on their next social skill test. Glamour does not stack with itself and does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Two extra charges may be spent to increase the effect to Major Advantage.
Range: Self
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Type: Instant
Cost: 3
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: One hour.
Effect: The Psion establishes an emotional link to their target. For 1 hour, the Psion can immediately know if they are lying, to what degree and what their general disposition towards the psion is. If the target resists, they do not notice the Psion’s attempts and are immune to the effect of the ability for 24 hours. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: Any one target within 60 feet, excluding Self.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 4
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: Instant.
Effect: The Psion invades the mind of the target, gleaning at superficial thoughts and ideas to pry a limited amount of GM determined information from the target. If Mind read is successfully resisted, the target becomes aware of the attempt and may feed the Empath wrong information. Additionally, it can only be cast once per day on each target. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: Any one target within 60 feet, excluding Self.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 4
Resist: —
Duration: Instant.
Effect: The Psion reads lingering Psionic imprints left in the immediate area up, offering them a glimpse of the immediate past in the nearby area from within the last 24 hours. These visions are at times clouded and confusing and the Psion can only “read” a specific area once in a 24 hour span. The vision can last up to a number of minutes equal to the Psion’s Empathy rank and Mechanical targets cannot be perceived by the Psion during these visions.
The Psion should specify to the GM an approximate time in the past they would like to look into and what information they are hoping to obtain. The GM can ask for a difficulty 3 test using Empathy plus their Psionic Attribute to determine how much and the quality of the information the Psion receives. You can use the following table to modify the difficulty of the test. Outside of a critical failure the Psion should always receive some information, but on a failure it may be disjointed, cryptic or misleading. If the test is ever reduced to Difficulty 0 is an automatic success, but the Psion may roll to obtain a critical success.
[ -1] The Psion has personally met someone in the vision.
[ -1] The Psion is in possession of something belonging to someone in the vision.
[ -1] The Psion takes an hour to focus on the location before using the ability.
[ -1] The Psion knows the time they want to look into down to the hour.
[+1] The Psion is not familiar with the event they wish to look into.
[+1] The Psion is not aware of the time they want to look into down to the hour
[+1] The Psion is not familiar with anyone in the vision.
Boost: Two extra focus can be consumed to also grant the Psion hints as to the current location of any one living creature they can perceive within the vision.
Range: Self
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 3
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long rest or Psionic meditation.
Effect: The Psion wreaths themselves in a field of scintillating empathetic energy, which increases their Armor Value to 7,DR to 2 and encumbrance by 1. Psionic armor’s DR is reset to 2/2 at the beginning of each of the Psion’s turns. Psionic Armor counts as Light Armor and benefits from Light Armor Training.
While Psionic Armor is an ongoing effect, it can be maintained alongside one other ongoing psionic effect. The armor lasts until the Psion takes a long rest, until the Psion meditates to regain psionic charge(s), or the ability is disrupted by taking damage.
If Psi Weapons or Armor are damaged, they instead dissipate and must be recast
Boost: One extra focus can be consumed to invoke an AV9/DR3/Encumbrance2 version of the armor which counts as Medium Armor.
Range: Self
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Type: Instant
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The character instructs the body of the target on resisting and repairing damage, numbing pain, lowering blood flow to damaged areas, etc., recovering D3+Empathy Rank HP. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Extra focus can be consumed to increase the healing output by D3 per charge.
Range: Any one target within 10 + (Empathy Rank *5) feet or Self.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 2
Resist: —
Duration: Long rest or Psionic meditation.
Effect: The Psion creates a semi-permanent barrier of empathic energy shaped as a shield and gains +1 AV on their front arc for the duration. Psionic shields do not degrade and do not take up a hand, but their AV does not stack with other, existing physical shields.
The shield lasts until the Psion takes a long rest, meditates to regain psionic charge(s), or the ability is disrupted by taking damage. A psionic shield benefits from Defender training and can be used for Shield Maneuvers, though it disperses if thrown and must be recast.
If Psi Weapons or Armor are damaged, they instead dissipate and must be recast.
Boost: An extra focus can be consumed to create a +2 AV shield instead of a +1 AV one.
Range: Self.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 1
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The Psion washes away exhaustion from the target, restoring D3+Empathy Rank Stamina to them. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Extra focus can be consumed to increase the stamina recovery by D3 for each charge.
Range: Any one target within 30 feet, including self.
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent.
Effect: The Psion is constantly enveloped by a calming aura that soothes pain and helps wounds close and bleeding clot. Any medicine tests (including Psionic Heal) within a radius determined by the Psion’s empathy rank either recover +1 HP per empathy rank (when applicable) or gain Advantage.
Boost: —
Range: All targets within 10 + (Empathy Rank*5) feet, including self
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent.
Effect: The Psion’s Psionic Armor and Psionic Shield do not get disrupted when they lose HP. Additionally, if the character falls unconscious, Psionic Armor and all ongoing Psionic Talents and Powers remain active for a number of rounds equal to their Empathy Rank. (Or A number of seconds equal to twice their Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank).
Boost: —
Range: Self
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Type: Instant
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: The Psion pulls a veil over the eyes of those around himself or an ally, making it hard for others to perceive or pay attention to the target. The target gains Advantage during their next Sneak test. Veil does not stack with itself and does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Two additional focus may be spent to increase the Advantage on the next skill test to Major Advantage or increase their Passive Sneak skill by 1 (even above 5) for the next Perception test against them.
Range: Any one target within 30 feet, including Self.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long rest or Psionic Meditation
Effect: An empathetic field envelops the target, restoring and repairing the minute damage and wear and tear received from the heat of battle. The target gains +2 DR until the Psion takes a long rest, until the Psion meditates to regain psionic charge(s), or the ability is disrupted by taking damage. This DR automatically recovers at the beginning of each round of combat.
Boost: Extra focus can be consumed to increase the DR gained by 1 per charge used, up to your Empathy Rank.
Range: Any one target within 60 feet, including Self.
Powers
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Permanent
Effect: The Psion becomes a bulwark of soothing empathic power, steeling the hearts of allies who are nearby. The Psion and any allies within range of the ability gain major Advantage on willpower tests. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: All friendly targets within 10 + (Empathy Rank*5) feet, including Self.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 6
Resist: —
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank) Minutes
Effect: The Psion concentrates empathic energy into a smaller space, creating semi solid structures out of thin air. Create a psionic barrier out of thin air made out of six adjacent 5 foot by 5-foot panels. The Barrier is an Obstacle which can be used as Full Cover if angled vertically. To successfully walk through a vertical barrier, any character other than the Psion needs to beat a Strength+Athletics test where the difficulty is the psion’s Empathy rank, to a minimum of 1.
If angled horizontally, the barrier can hold up to 500 pounds but any object will push through to the other side if it lingers on it for more than six seconds or one combat round.
Boost: Additional Focus can be spent to add one more 5 x 5 foot panel per charge, up to the Psion’s Empathy rank.
Range: The starting point of the barrier must be placed within 30 feet of the Psion
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 7
Resist: Insight + Willpower
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank) minutes
Effect: The Psion touches a human while not in combat, if the target fails a willpower test against the Psion's passive empathy, they fervently believe the Psion is a trusted friend and ally for the duration.
The effect ends if the Psion acts in an aggressive or violent manner towards the target or any of their allies. If the target passes the willpower test, they become aware of the Psion's attempt. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Once the target has failed to resist the ability, three additional Focus can be consumed to allow the Psion to command the target to perform a single action that could be accomplished within the ability’s duration and which will bring no harm to the target or their allies.
Range: Any one target you can touch within 5 feet, excluding Self.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 8
Resist: —
Duration: Until long rest or Psionic Meditation
Effect: The Psion creates a powerful link between themselves and an ally through which they can share thoughts and experiences. Select a Skill from the Psion and one from the target. For one hour, both characters can use the highest skill between the two when making tests related to those skills.
The Psion and the target must remain within the same system for this ability to remain active. Does not affect mechanical targets. If the use of a skill requires a proficiency that either the Psion or the target have, they are both considered proficient for that test. The ability lasts until the Psion takes a long rest, until the Psion meditates to regain psionic charge(s), or the ability is disrupted by taking damage.
Boost: —
Range: Self and any one friendly target within 30 feet.
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Type: Passive
Cost: 0
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: As a reaction, the Psion establishes a psionic feedback link with an ally within range., The Psion can take one of the following effects in place of the selected ally for one attack;
Armor Degradation.
Injuries
May absorb up to half the HP damage from a single attack. (Rounded up).
Boost: —
Range: Any one friendly target within 10+(5*Empathy Rank) feet, excluding Self.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 6
Resist: Endurance + Fortitude
Duration: (Psionic Attribute+ Empathy Rank) Minutes
Effect: The Psion projects out the pain and damage their own bodies have experienced, forcing others to relive their injuries. For the duration, everyone within range of the Psion receives the penalties for any injuries or wounds the Psion has, while the Psion ignores them. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: —
Range: All targets within 30 feet, excluding Self.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 6
Resist: —
Duration: Until Long rest or Psionic Meditation
Effect: The Psion greatly enhances the target’s self-healing capabilities, letting them recover D3+1 HP and +1 Stamina every round of combat, as well as gain Major Advantage on Endurance tests. Does not affect mechanical targets.
Boost: Two additional focus can be consumed to increase the Range of the ability to Any target within line of sight.
Range: Any one target you can touch within 5 feet, including Self.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 10
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: By using an item, image or some other focus up to the GM’s discretion, the Psion can glimpse at information that would be otherwise impossible for them to know, be it plotting a path to a specific person, learning the history of the object, learning about the immediate area around the object, seeing the immediate area around a specific person or through their eyes, etc. Many times, the information will be presented in a vague and disorderly manner in which the Psion will need to interpret.
Boost: —
Range: Self.
Mastery
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 15
Resist: —
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank) rounds.
Effect: The Psion encases themselves in a powerful shield and sends forth fragments of his personality to shield nearby allies.
The Psion cannot use any other psionic abilities and gains AV equal to their Empathy rank and regenerating DR equal to their Psionic Attribute + Empathy rank. Any damage received by selected allies within range for the duration is instead redirected towards the Psion.
Boost: —
Range: Friendly targets within (Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank)*5 feet.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 15
Resist: —
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank) Minutes
Effect: The Psion may summon an astral, psionic duplicate of themselves.
The duplicate’s abilities and characteristics vary depending on where it is summoned in relation to the Psion.
If the Duplicate is summoned and remains within 30 feet of the Psion it may act independently, has the same equipment, skills and abilities as the Psion but may not use any expendable items, Psionic abilities and it acts on the same initiative step as the Psion. In combat the Echo does not have HP, instead, whenever the Echo takes HP damage, the Psion must make an Psionic Attribute + Empathy test where the difficulty is 1+ 1 for every 5 points of damage taken (rounding up). If the Echo takes is forced to take wounds or injuries, it is destroyed.
Alternatively, the duplicate may be summoned as a projection to any location you are aware of within the same system. The Psion must meditate while the projection is active and can speak and hear through the projection, but cannot physically interact with objects nor move the location of the projection. The Projection can only be perceived by non-Psions chosen by the Caster as well as any other Psions present and cannot perceive mechanical units..
Psionic abilities that cause no damage may be used on the projection and will affect the Psion casting it.
Boost: —
Range: 30 feet / anywhere within the system.
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Type: Ongoing
Cost: 13
Resist: —
Duration: (Psionic Attribute + Empathy Rank) Rounds
Effect: The Psion focuses on creating an interconnected web of information among their allies, allowing them to share experiences, thoughts and sensory information in real time.
For a number of rounds equal to their Psionic Attribute+ Empathy rank (6 seconds per round out of combat) all allies use the highest skill in the group for any and all tests and share any proficiency anyone in the group might have.
All allies must remain within the range of the ability to benefit from the Metaconcert and become disconnected if they leave the range.
Psionic abilities that cause no damage may be used on the projection and will affect the Psion casting it.
Boost: —
Range: All friendly targets within (Psionic Attribute+ Empathy Rank)*5 feet, including Self.
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Type: Instant
Cost: 12
Resist: —
Duration: Instant
Effect: Focusing all power on healing a gravely wounded ally, the Psion can do all of the following;
Restore all HP and Stamina to them.
Immediately treat an untreated wound.
Immediately treat all untreated injuries.
Immediately remove a temporary condition.
Restore D3*Empathy Rank AV & D3*Empathy Rank DR to the target.
Boost: —
Range: Friendly target you can touch within 5 feet, including Self.