 June 17, 2009 - 5:29pm | Man has communicated through low frequency radio, high frequency radio, ultra-high frequency radio, infrared and other spectrums. We have moved objects using magnetic and other energies. We have produced particle, energy, and light beams of all types. All these things have been demonstrated with various physical apparatuses and a certain amount of energy. The human body has limited capability to store and transmit static electricity among other types of subtle electrical impulses and even survives and is animated based upon just such impulses. The human brain demonstraits many variances in density. Some animals have the ability to detect bio-electric impulses by wetting their olfactory senses. Knifefish (one type we know as the "electric eel") produce an electrical shock. Freak human conditions have demonstrated exceptional deviations from the norm such as freakishly intuitive intelligence (Autism), sixth digits, and other things that aren't immediately coming to my mind. With all those things in mind, would it not be possible that at the very least, an alien species could exist hardwired with the physical capabilities of telepathy, limited telekenesis, electric field generation, and other soft "paranormal" phenomenon? Is it beyond belief that the same evolution that created eyeballs would be capable of detecting and manipulating mental or electrical impulses at will? That one being would be able to "broadcast" a mental signal and another be able to retrieve and comprehend it, or that they would be able to control the frequency/bandwidth or produce a "private" signal that no one else could read but the one they are seeking to communicate with? Or that a focused beam of energy could be produced by such a being? Evolution has proven to be a far greater scientist than our greatest scientists time and again. Is it really so great a concept that it could develop these concepts more perfectly than anything we have duplicated, perhaps even using energy types and wavelengths yet to be understood or known? What type of abilities have we seen demonstrated in the animal kingdom, and technology could you see being produced in a living being that would be classified as "paranormal" if found in a human? Why do the possession of such capabilities within a story constitute only "soft" science fiction when evolution has demonstrated a means and capability of generating pretty much anything it wants to? [For the record, I am religious and believe that a consciousness, "God", planned all things and set them into motion through the genetic code by means of evolution, wherewith the created flesh is capable of adapting to its environment based on chemical and other environmental changes hardwired to trigger specific genetic responses to catastrophic, but gradual changes. For the comfort of atheists, I simply refer to the whole of that concept and intelligence as "evolution".] View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 June 17, 2009 - 5:57pm | Within the framework of an RPG, all things are possible. Star Wars and Star Trek, two of the biggest pop-culture SciFi influences, both explored telekinetic and telepathic abilities. If you consider Darth Vader's use of the force to deflect Han Solo's blaster fire in the Empire Strikes Back, they even visit natural shielding. The important thing to keep in mind is balance. You don't want to introduce an element that might seriously unbalance your universe. It is even OK to introduce the science vs. belief system into your universe. You're adventurous player characters who encounter a telekinetic race might strive to explain its evolutionary causes. But the race itself might consider the ability as a gift from (the) god(s), spirits, or whatever. Or even vice versa. Maybe the PCs are trying to prove the existence of their deity and the telepathic race feels they simply evolved their abilities. It's a great big wonderful universe with a lot of room for anything you might imagine. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
 June 18, 2009 - 1:15pm | Great example of slowly introducing and exploring this is the Honor Harrington Series (get a free copy of the 1st at Baen.com electronic library) The main character starts with an empathic tree cat(native to her home world) that is bonded to her. He rides her shoulder much like the classic Pirate/parrot combo. As a very minor story arc the nature of the tree cat's abilities is explored over a dozen novels in small bits and pieces. Which was a good way for the author to do it: as I was looking for space opera genre of entertainment and wasn't mugged with a whole novel just on telepathy. What honor experiences with her cat can be duplicated in a RPG setting: in a situation when assassins showed up to kill her their was a sudden surge where she could feel the same empathic feeling as her treecat and they simultaneously exploded into action. The stress of that encounter was the trigger for her gaining empathic powers but only thru the cat's presence. Over several novels (adventures) we learn more and more about what is going on inside the heads of the treecats. I really liked how this was done for these reasons: 1. its very limited and doesn't really overpower the story 2. its kept mysterious, we never seem to get all the facts 3. and the treecat really evolved into an intriguing character. 4. Plus the treecat turned out to be a seriously cool animal- 6 legged arboreal hunter weighing 9 kilos (main character can carry him cause she from a heavy grav world) with centimeter long razor sharp scimitar shaped claws and a battle cry like tearing canvas. plus some limited tool use in the wild (inteligence compares to dolphins). A pure carnivor but gets high on celery. With an attitude of: people whe threaten him and his person come in two varieties: those who had been suitably dealt with and those who were still breathing!" Who wouldn't want a companion like that? I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 June 18, 2009 - 2:01pm | Realistic mental abilities, an LOG score of over 100. Just kidding. The more I think about it I really like how the Lensman book interoduced mental powers, it's all because of the lens. Although how they've come up with thought screens didn't add up to me. But then the lens makes a person a very powerful person so it's not quite as limited as what you're probably looking for. In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
June 18, 2009 - 9:21pm | It seems to me that evolution always strikes a balance. If something becomes too effective, a change is made in the affected areas to adapt to the new circumstances, which acts as a balance. Perhaps humans had some mild paranormal abilities in the distant past, but because they became dominant, they were no longer in need of something that made them overly effective and thus lost it. Today, our technical capabilities are the overly effective trait. Could this just begin to disappear one day? At any rate, there definitely needs to be a natural balance struck. Perhaps people with these powers lack other seemingly "fundamental" human traits, such as technical capabilities. They can think, they can philosophize, they can make art, but they can't accomplish complex tasks for whatever reason. Perhaps this could be demonstrated by a level cap on abilities and an incapability to acquire technical skills. Maybe, due to increased reliance on the visual and mental perceptions, it also affects their hand-eye coordination so that weapons and vehicle piloting are also affected. Maybe they can only acquire first level in such skills. To use the autism example, most people with autism are incapable of communicating or interacting with their surroundings in normal ways. They think in colors and patterns and are ultra-organized, but they can't hunt, perform complex tasks, or do anything else, but they can work out any complex math problem, even the most complicated equations in the world, in a matter of seconds or perhaps minutes; most with merely a thought. So these exceptional abilities come at a steap cost. The more exceptional the trait, the less capable they are in essentially all other areas. That's a thought. Perhaps level caps can be traded for paranormal capabilities. To increase a paranormal discipline or gain a paranormal discipline, the player accepts a cap on their leveling in their other skills. So to get their first ability, they have to accept a level 5 cap in all other abilities. Then, if they want to raise the cap of that ability or gain another, they have to accept a 4th level cap in all other abilities, etc. Does that sound realistic? View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
June 19, 2009 - 7:07am | Does that sound realistic? I think your players would hate it especially if they already had a lvl 5 or 6 skill. It would impact other things too like tech skill confering the ability to fly certain equipment but now they cant? or now they cant even become spacers because of the cap? I really think players would hate this alot as everyone seems to want to have their own millenium falcon. IMO I think you should look for some other limitation rather than skill retardation. Idea: 1. excessive mentalist skill use causes STA loss 2. take a page from D&D 4th ed.: rate mentalist skills as daily powers, at will powers and 1/encounter powers 3. write into the setting a massive phobia against mentalist and everyone hates and fears them and star law hunts them and then make life really tough for the PC concerned- yeah you have the power but you have a massive price on your head : sounds like Jailbreak the TV series I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
June 19, 2009 - 9:27am | I actually meant at the time of creation, not as trade through the character's life. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
