WDMA Abilities Arsenal Update

Telepathy

Combined with Mind Reading

The power to send messages to other sentient beings using thought waves over distance. This is a favorite of various types of characters from all over this genre of literature. The user’s concept should be clear as to what type of messages the character can send and how he does it. This power always involves somewhat intimate contact with another being’s mind and may be used to glean information that the receiver would rather keep to himself. Telepathy is not really an attack, however. In its most aggressive form, it’s an intrusive information suck. It is not the power to control the target’s will or even make convincing suggestions. It’s just communication and a good old fashioned thorough invasion of personal privacy and dignity.

Mechanics: This ability comes in three levels. It can be a Minor, Standard or Major Power depending on how big of a buttinski and general pest your character wishes to be. The Minor variation costs 10 points plus SAVE. It’s Standard level has an allocation expense of 25 points plus SAVE. At its Major level the expense in allocation points is 50 points plus SAVE.

Rules of Contact: In order to establish telepathic contact with someone, the user has to know the person. They have to have met the person in some way, shape or form—or know the person’s location. Seeking the mind of “anyone out there” at a specific range is also allowed, but the user’s chances of locking onto stray minds is more situational than anything else. The wiggle room ends here, however. The user cannot simply dial up people they haven’t met and have no idea of where their current location is.

As a Minor Power, the user has an at will ability to send messages at distances. His target can respond to these messages, but only if they know what the heck is going on in the first place and if the user is still listening. If the target doesn’t know what’s going on, he’s just going to be spooked. Not everyone is ready to receive telepathic communications or will know what they are or what to do with them. Using telepathy on unsuspecting persons is quite hit or miss. Secondly, the user has to stay focused on his target for as long as it takes for the target to either ramble mental gibberish or actually respond in some way. As a Minor Power, the only surface thoughts that the user can pick up have to do directly with what the user has communicated. Minor possession of this skill gives no ability to just listen in without communicating. The range on Telepathy is equal to the power’s BASESTAT ACT in miles. For an additional 20 points per, it may be extended by the linked BASESTAT SAVE in miles.

As Standard Power, Telepathy drifts into the perverted and sickening subculture of Mind Reading. You can now be a tad more comprehensive, sending images and other sensory information. The initial range is as per the Minor version above, but once you have made contact with a person (or whatever) the first time, you can then tap into them at any range at any time. Moreover, you can make them pay attention to your message by overriding their senses. To do this, the user rolls a stunt roll with the power’s linked BASESTAT level as the active level and the target’s PERC as the defending level. Although this trick cannot be used to any effect in combat, it is a way to direct a target’s thoughts to a given subject. The user will be able to read the target’s mind thoroughly about any communication or image he imposes. The target will know that ‘something ain’t right’ is happening, but he may not be able to know exactly what it is that is taking place. Nothing like waking someone up in the middle of the night with a disturbing image before their eyes to make the information just flow!

As a Major Power, you can be considerably more discrete in your rooting through people’s personal thoughts. You will effectively know everything they know about anything they know. They will give you answers to questions without even knowing they are being asked. You also get all of the abilities described in the Minor and Standard versions of this power. Also, you can make the target think that the communication being sent is his own thoughts.

Speed of Telepathy: Telepathy works at the speed of light. Any target outside of 300,000,000 meters away is effectively out of two way range. The telepath can still send messages to a known target at that range, but it will not be in real time. Only EXTRANORMAL COMMUNICATION can span such distance in real time.

There is no real defense against telepathy and Mind Reading other than the possession of a power, specifically a psychic one. Being aware of telepathy may make one cautious, but caution in and of itself is something less than a comprehensive defense.

Alternative Power

LINK: This is a psychic connection between two or more people. Linked individuals are always aware of each other’s thoughts and perceptions, instantly and without regard to distance. All individuals in the link network could be assessed 5 points each. Or the person who serves as the link hub could be charged 10 points plus 5 points for each additional person in the link network. Link is a dedicated ability. The persons in the link should be designated at the time the character is created. Links can also be established between the user and vehicles and equipment.