New Race: Psi-Ghost

[Pursuit]

Psi-Ghost

Description: Psyscape, p. 73. Psi-Ghosts are human mutants with the power to become intangible at will! The power of intangibility, or “ghosting” as they call it, is not a psionic power, altough it requires mental discipline, focus and concentration. The ability to ghost is passed down from parent to child, and if both parents are Psi-Ghosts, their offspring is always a Psi-Ghost. If only one parent is a Psi-Ghost, there is a 50% chance that the child will be a Psi-Ghost, too (Interestingly, Psi-Ghosts may reproduce with Psi-Stalkers, but the offspring of such a union is always a Psi-Stalker without the ability to ghost).

Among adventurers, spies and thieves, Psi-Ghosts have a reputation as the very best (or very worst, depending on one’s perspective). They excel at bypassing security measures, whether guards, high-tech alarms, or traps, and, according to hype on the street, there is no security system that a Psi-Ghost cannot defeat.

• Racial Abilities and Complications
• Ghosting: As an action at will (no roll required), a Psi-Ghost may turn intangible, mimicing the effects of the intangibility power. This costs no ISP. If the Psi-Ghost gains the Master Psionic Edge, she does not gain access to astral form unless she has access to the intangibility power via some other means (i.e., as a power she has learned or has access to via gear). Note that while most mundane attacks cannot hurt a Psi-Ghost while ghosting, gas attacks are particularly effective against them, as the gaseous substance passes right through and into the blood stream and does +4 damage/is -4 to resist. (+5, due to gas limitation)
• Best of the Best: Psi-Ghosts have earned their reputation as the best, and no one can match a Psi-Ghost when it comes to sneaking around. All Psi-Ghosts add +2 to Stealth rolls. (+2)
• Inherently Gifted: Psi-Ghosts have a natural prediliction toward psionics, and begin with +5 ISP, whether they pursue an Arcane Background or not. (+1)
• Bad Reputation: The downside to having a reputation as the best spies and thieves alive is that most normal people are predisposed to distrust Psi-Ghosts. Psi-Ghosts suffer -2 Charisma when dealing with the average person in most towns and cities if their true nature is known. (-1)
• Cyber Resistant: Cyberware interferes with a Psi-Ghost’s ability to ghost. A Psi-Ghost may not take any Iconic Framework that includes cybernetics (including the bio-comp system needed for a Juicer), nor may she roll on the Cybernetics Hero’s Journey table. (-1)
• Binding Word: A Psi-Ghost who takes a contract will fulfill it at all costs. Even a partial success will generally result in the refund of any fees paid for the job. This is a Major Vow. (-2)
• Restricted Path: Psi-Ghosts have no affinity for magic. They cannot take any Iconic Framework that features PPE, nor any Arcane Background that uses it. (-1)
• Racial Loyalty: A Psi-Ghost would never betray one of her own to an outsider. Psi-Ghosts have a complicated system of loyalty and feel compelled to resolve any disputes "in house," as it were. It is not uncommon for rival Psi-Ghosts to fight each other to the death, but it would be unthinkable to turn a rival in to the law. A Psi-Ghost may use outsiders to foil a rival Psi-Ghost's plans, but she will always ensure her rival has plenty of time to escape capture beforehand. She begins with the Loyal Hindrance at character creation for no added benefit. (-1)

Original Draft

Psi-Ghost

Description: Psyscape, p. 73. Psi-Ghosts are human mutants with the power to become intangible at will! The power of intangibility, or “ghosting” as they call it, is not a psionic power, altough it requires mental discipline, focus and concentration. The ability to ghost is passed down from parent to child, and if both parents are Psi-Ghosts, their offspring is always a Psi-Ghost. If only one parent is a Psi-Ghost, there is a 50% chance that the child will be a Psi-Ghost, too (Interestingly, Psi-Ghosts may reproduce with Psi-Stalkers, but the offspring of such a union is always a Psi-Stalker without the ability to ghost).

Among adventurers, spies and thieves, Psi-Ghosts have a reputation as the very best (or very worst, depending on one’s perspective). They excel at bypassing security measures, whether guards, high-tech alarms, or traps, and, according to hype on the street, there is no security system that a Psi-Ghost cannot defeat.

• Racial Abilities and Complications
• Ghostng: As an action at will (no roll required), a Psi-Ghost may turn intangible, mimicing the effects of the intangibility power. This costs no ISP. If the Psi-Ghost gains the Master Psionic Edge, she does not gain access to astral form unless she has access to the intangibility power via some other means (i.e., as a power she has learned or has access to via gear). (+2)
• Trained from Birth: All Psi-Ghosts are taught from birth to take advantage of their natural predeliction toward Stealth. Psi-Ghosts begin with a d6 in the Stealth skill. (+1)
• Best of the Best: Psi-Ghosts have earned their reputation as the best, and no one can match a Psi-Ghost when it comes to sneaking around. All Psi-Ghosts add +2 to Stealth rolls. (+2)
• Inherently Gifted: Psi-Ghosts have a natural prediliction toward psionics, and begin with +5 ISP, whether they pursue an Arcane Background or not. (+1)
• Bad Reputation: The downside to having a reputation as the best spies and thieves alive is that most normal people are predisposed to distrust Psi-Ghosts. Psi-Ghosts suffer -2 Charisma when dealing with the average person in most towns and cities if their true nature is known. (-1)
• Cyber Resistant: Cyberware interferes with a Psi-Ghost’s ability to ghost. A Psi-Ghost may not take any Iconic Framework that includes cybernetics (including the bio-comp system needed for a Juicer), nor may she roll on the Cybernetics Hero’s Journey table. (-1)
• Binding Word: A Psi-Ghost who takes a contract will fulfill it at all costs. This need to honor one’s contracts is taught to Psi-Ghosts from a young age and, as a result, all Psi-Ghosts begin with the Code of Honor Hindrance in addition to any others taken at character creation. (-2)
• Racial Loyalty: A Psi-Ghost would never betray one of her own, and begins with the Loyal Hindrance, for no added benefit, in addition to any other Hindrances taken at character creation. (-1)

[Ndreare]

I would consider the ability to use a power without paying the PPE cost worth at least 4 or maybe even 5 points.

While they said they removed the reference so people would not be expected to buy extra books. The original Science fiction companion race creation tables suggested a 1 to 1 value for SPC2 powers versus racial abilities so perhaps 5 points would be fair.

[Pursuit]

I would consider the ability to use a power without paying the PPE cost worth at least 4 or maybe even 5 points.

While they said they removed the reference so people would not be expected to buy extra books. The original Science fiction companion race creation tables suggested a 1 to 1 value for SPC2 powers versus racial abilities so perhaps 5 points would be fair.

Honestly, I was not sure how to price that one. I settled on +2 because that was the most frequently used one for powerful attributes, but I could certainly see it going higher. Anyone who worked on the ARES protocol, how did you price the intangibility ability there? Maybe we could just copy it for this.

[Freemage]

Being able to go Intangible at-will, for no PPts is NOT a 2-point ability. It's a 7-point ability (2 for the shadow-AB of SPC Superpowers, 5 for Intangibility). Yes, that's expensive. Near-total immunity to all mundane damage, plus bypassing virtually all barriers, at no cost or roll, should be.

That said, I'd probably throw in a couple Racial Edges that allow them to take the +2 Modifiers to the Powers (Tag Along and Reflexive Control), if those fit the fluff from Palladium's version.

The other option is AB: Psionics, 10 ISP, with three pre-set Powers (say, Intangibility, Invisibility and Darksight or somesuch). That's a +2 ability; if they take an IF with Psionics, they get the bonus Power like the Simvan. You'd probably want to give them a d6 Psionics to start instead of the +5 ISP; that'll be enough to ghost periodically.

[Ndreare]

I would consider the ability to use a power without paying the PPE cost worth at least 4 or maybe even 5 points.

While they said they removed the reference so people would not be expected to buy extra books. The original Science fiction companion race creation tables suggested a 1 to 1 value for SPC2 powers versus racial abilities so perhaps 5 points would be fair.

Honestly, I was not sure how to price that one. I settled on +2 because that was the most frequently used one for powerful attributes, but I could certainly see it going higher. Anyone who worked on the ARES protocol, how did you price the intangibility ability there? Maybe we could just copy it for this.

For ARES we argued a lot but the pricing was 5 points from SPC2

[Ndreare]

DELETED

[Pursuit]

I would consider the ability to use a power without paying the PPE cost worth at least 4 or maybe even 5 points.

While they said they removed the reference so people would not be expected to buy extra books. The original Science fiction companion race creation tables suggested a 1 to 1 value for SPC2 powers versus racial abilities so perhaps 5 points would be fair.

Honestly, I was not sure how to price that one. I settled on +2 because that was the most frequently used one for powerful attributes, but I could certainly see it going higher. Anyone who worked on the ARES protocol, how did you price the intangibility ability there? Maybe we could just copy it for this.

For ARES we argued a lot but the pricing was 5 points from SPC2

If we’ve got a precedent from ARES, I’ll just use that and adjust the stats accordingly. No need to re-hash old arguments if they’ve already been settled.

[Freemage]

Being able to go Intangible at-will, for no PPts is NOT a 2-point ability. It's a 7-point ability (2 for the shadow-AB of SPC Superpowers, 5 for Intangibility). Yes, that's expensive. Near-total immunity to all mundane damage, plus bypassing virtually all barriers, at no cost or roll, should be.

The other option is AB: Psionics, 10 ISP, with three pre-set Powers (say, Intangibility, Invisibility and Darksight or somesuch). That's a +2 ability; if they take an IF with Psionics, they get the bonus Power like the Simvan. You'd probably want to give them a d6 Psionics to start instead of the +5 ISP; that'll be enough to ghost periodically.

I have seen both you and Jon mention this before.

There is no precedence anywhere in print for the 2 point tax you title as Shadow of SPR Super powers. (Even when suggested in SFC they do not mention adding a tax of 2)

SFC, Page 5:

SUPER ABILITIES
For truly exotic abilities, such as amorphous forms, undead, and so on, the Super Powers
Companion might be more appropriate. This makes for extremely powerful characters and a
very different kind of scifi setting, so make sure the GM allows it.
Each Power Point selected from the Super Powers Companion is equal to one point of Racial
Abilities. Characters in actual supers campaigns get Arcane Background (Super Powers)
for free, DELETEDNote that not every ability is exactly the same (or has the same value) between these two
books. Flight in a superhero setting, for example, is based on a different trope than species
are usually depicted in science fiction, and is thus far more powerful. If an ability is found
in this book, use it. If not, and with the GM’s permission, use the Super Powers Companion.

It's there, Rob. This is not a Supers setting, it's a Sci-Fi/High Fantasy setting.

[Freemage]

Honestly, I was not sure how to price that one. I settled on +2 because that was the most frequently used one for powerful attributes, but I could certainly see it going higher. Anyone who worked on the ARES protocol, how did you price the intangibility ability there? Maybe we could just copy it for this.

For ARES we argued a lot but the pricing was 5 points from SPC2

If we’ve got a precedent from ARES, I’ll just use that and adjust the stats accordingly. No need to re-hash old arguments if they’ve already been settled.

The point is that the ARES version already includes that +2 as part of the broader build (or at least it should've).

[Pursuit]

Ok, I updated the original post with a +5 cost, added appropriate negative attributes, and dropped the d6 in Stealth.

It looks like there is some disagreement on how it was priced for ARES. Once someone can give me a definitive answer on that, I’ll update (or not) as needed.

[Ndreare]

@Freemage

I have edited out the part of your post that showed I was wrong and deleted my own post so there will be no evidence.

OOC Comments

PS: That is an irrational just stupid and inconsistent with the way other AB's are treated. Buy equivalent logic a character like a Dogboy with the ability to detect arcana should have to purchase the Arcane Background edge and the Detect Arcana ability. But I do understand the bias as Shane and Clint have both expressed openly their preference for street level games.

[Pursuit]

@Freemage

I have edited out the part of your post that showed I was wrong and deleted my own post so there will be no evidence.

OOC Comments

PS: That is an irrational just stupid and inconsistent with the way other AB's are treated. But equivalent logic a character like a Dogboy with teh ability to detect arcana should have to purchase the Arcane Background edge and the Detect Arcana ability. But I do understand the bias as Shane and Clint have both expressed openly their preference for street level games.

Wait, you edited what out of who’s post now?

[Ndreare]

Nothing, nothing at all.

Only saying I concur with Freemage that 7 is the correct value of intangibility at will and I was mistaken at my previous pricing of 5.

[Pursuit]

Nothing, nothing at all.

Only saying I concur with Freemage that 7 is the correct value of intangibility at will and I was mistaken at my previous pricing of 5.

Aha. Ok. If the consensus is that it’s a 7 point ability, I’ll update the post to reflect in a bit.

[High Command]

Yes ARES included the SPC tax already. It also had a lot more going on. So with Intang at 7, the stealth boost at 2, and PP at 1, it's a 10 point race. Seems reasonable to me. Or you could remove the Stealth boost and leave it as a 8 point race.

[Pursuit]

Anyone have a good idea for final negative attributes to balance out the +2 from going from 5 to 7? Maybe a Wanted or Enemy Hindrance to reflect that Psi-Ghosts have enemies in the underworld or with the law? The fluff says their original village was decimated by rival underworld organizations, for example, and forced them all into hiding.

I thought about Distinctive D-bee, but with Bad Reputation already (which I think fits well), that felt like stacking on useless penalties. If you have low Charisma, we get it, people don’t like you.

[Hans Greuber]

Maybe they are Physically weak and have a -1 to Strength rolls? (a -2 Racial Penalty)

[Pursuit]

Maybe they are Physically weak and have a -1 to Strength rolls? (a -2 Racial Penalty)

I could see this. The fluff could be something like “a Psi-Ghost spends so much time intangible that their muscles aren’t as well-developed as an average person.”

Anyone else have ideas?

[Tribe of One]

The OP still shows only a +5 cost for the ghosting ability when it should be +7, plus you've listed Cyber-Resistant twice, so you actually need another 3 pts of drawbacks.

Possibilities could include a form of Loyalty or Vow related to supporting (and never 'ratting' on) other Psi-Ghosts. Maybe Greedy. Weakness: Gas attacks definitely fits (see the intangibility write-up in the Psyscape RCC).

[Pursuit]

The OP still shows only a +5 cost for the ghosting ability when it should be +7, plus you've listed Cyber-Resistant twice, so you actually need another 3 pts of drawbacks.

Possibilities could include a form of Loyalty or Vow related to supporting (and never 'ratting' on) other Psi-Ghosts. Maybe Greedy. Weakness: Gas attacks definitely fits (see the intangibility write-up in the Psyscape RCC).

Whoops; that second one was supposed to be restricted path. I'll update it, and the 5 to 7.

Good suggestions.

Edit: I already had restricted path. I promise I can math... sometimes.

[High Command]

Weakness to Gas attacks works as a good one to build into intangible to bring its cost down to a five. Thereby eliminating any math gymnastics

[Radecliffe]

If you strip of the stealth bonus and the bonus ISP you are there.

[Pursuit]

Okay, updated. I'll add a poll once I get to my computer (I'm on mobile).

[Pursuit]

Weakness to Gas attacks works as a good one to build into intangible to bring its cost down to a five. Thereby eliminating any math gymnastics

Done. Is that +4 damage?

[Freemage]

+4 damage, -4 to resistance rolls.

[Freemage]

@Freemage

I have edited out the part of your post that showed I was wrong and deleted my own post so there will be no evidence.

OOC Comments

PS: That is an irrational just stupid and inconsistent with the way other AB's are treated. Buy equivalent logic a character like a Dogboy with the ability to detect arcana should have to purchase the Arcane Background edge and the Detect Arcana ability. But I do understand the bias as Shane and Clint have both expressed openly their preference for street level games.

So I tried to reverse-engineer the DogBoy Psychic Sense power. First, I went to the other comparison race, the Psi-Stalker:

Outsider: -1
Psychic Vampire: -2 (as Dependency)
Restricted Paths: -1
Racial Enemy: -1

So, that's -5, meaning that using standard rules, the Psi-Stalker should be a +7 race. We know their other positive traits:

Ambidexterity: +2
Animal Empathy: +1
Fast: +1
Psychic Sense is therefore a +3 ability. The issue with trying to rebuild it is that there is no particular "Detect Arcana" ability in the SPC, so they clearly pulled a number out of a hat. It "feels" right to me (a Shadow AB of +2, and another +2 for an SWD Power; -1 for being hindered by Ley Lines).

Or at least, it seems clear, until we get to the Dog-Boy:

Breed Edge +2
Keen Sense of Smell +3
Natural Weapons +1
Psychic Sense +3

Outsider -1
Wanted (Minor) -1
Restricted Path -1
Psychic Sensitivity: In order for DogBoys to make sense, a level of fatigue from LL Storms should be ranked as a -4 racial disadvantage. Basically, DogBoys got built extra sweet for reasons of writer-bias. Using them as a point of comparison isn't gonna get you anywhere. Just accept that they're all good dogs, Brent, and move on.

[Pursuit]

+4 damage, -4 to resistance rolls.

Gracias. Updated.

[Pender Lumkiss]

My only thought on this, and bare in mind I love the psi-ghost, isn't this more of an IF and not a race? I mean couldn't you just make a mind melter race?

What would a psi-ghost look like as a MARS IF?

[Tribe of One]

My only thought on this, and bare in mind I love the psi-ghost, isn't this more of an IF and not a race? I mean couldn't you just make a mind melter race?

What would a psi-ghost look like as a MARS IF?

Well, it's a race because it's a specific kind of human mutant -- you can't have an elf psi-ghost, or a quick-flex psi-ghost (at least per the PR fluff). Now, with their cyber- and AB limitations, MARS (or ARES, I guess), Burster or Mind Melter are really your only options, but that at least gives you a range of vocations, either more mundane thief (with MARS) or one who has developed additional psionic powers.

[Freemage]

My only thought on this, and bare in mind I love the psi-ghost, isn't this more of an IF and not a race? I mean couldn't you just make a mind melter race?

What would a psi-ghost look like as a MARS IF?

As Tribe said, assassins and thieves. Figure PCO, most commonly. They could make decent Wilderness Scouts and Vagabonds, too, really--most critters out there wouldn't be able to touch them, so they can ignore herds of Rhino-Buffaloes stampeding through them. Of course, since their intangibility power isn't PPE/ISP-based, they could also do quite nicely as Glitterboys, Robot Armor Pilots and Power Armor Jocks. Lock the seals, so that only you can get in or out! Of course, a Rogue Scholar who specializes in raiding libraries and ruins for artifacts would be pretty cool, too.

Crap, now I have another back-burner concept.

[Pender Lumkiss]

My only thought on this, and bare in mind I love the psi-ghost, isn't this more of an IF and not a race? I mean couldn't you just make a mind melter race?

What would a psi-ghost look like as a MARS IF?

Well, it's a race because it's a specific kind of human mutant -- you can't have an elf psi-ghost, or a quick-flex psi-ghost (at least per the PR fluff). Now, with their cyber- and AB limitations, MARS (or ARES, I guess), Burster or Mind Melter are really your only options, but that at least gives you a range of vocations, either more mundane thief (with MARS) or one who has developed additional psionic powers.

Psi-ghost cyber knight sounds fun.

[Pursuit]

My only thought on this, and bare in mind I love the psi-ghost, isn't this more of an IF and not a race? I mean couldn't you just make a mind melter race?

What would a psi-ghost look like as a MARS IF?

I used the way they converted Psi-Stalkers as a sort of template for Psi-Ghosts; Psi-Stalkers were Master Psionic RCCs in Palladium, too, but in Savage Rifts they are just another playable race.

Here, I wanted to get what makes Psi-Ghosts unique, which is their intangibility and sneakiness, and I added the +5 ISP in homage (of sorts) to their status as Master Psionics in Palladium.

[Radecliffe]

Personally I would have given the 7 point ghosting ability and left it at that. I would have played that race. Might have made Mind Melters interesting. Good luck with this.

[Pursuit]

Personally I would have given the 7 point ghosting ability and left it at that. I would have played that race. Might have made Mind Melters interesting. Good luck with this.

Sorry you feel that way. I honestly thought about going this route, but the fluff is just too explicit that they’re great at all of the things the Stealth skill represents for me to feel good about leaving that out. Heck, not just that they’re great, that they’re the best out there, and I wanted the build to reflect that in a meaningful way. I think the +2 to Stealth gets there, and the +5 ISP flowed naturally from their psionic affinity.

[Radecliffe]

I had an art teacher tell me when I was a kid that you have to know when you have done enough and stop. That was over 40 years ago and it's still stuck with me. So here is my suggestion.

• Racial Abilities and Complications
• Ghosting: As an action at will (no roll required), a Psi-Ghost may turn intangible, mimicking the effects of the intangibility power. This costs no ISP. If the Psi-Ghost gains the Master Psionic Edge, she does not gain access to astral form unless she has access to the intangibility power via some other means (i.e., as a power she has learned or has access to via gear). (+7)
• Outsider: Psi-Ghosts are secretive and distrusted by the general population that are aware of their existance. (-1)
• Cyber Resistant: Cyberware interferes with a Psi-Ghost’s ability to ghost. A Psi-Ghost may not take any Iconic Framework that includes cybernetics (including the bio-comp system needed for a Juicer), nor may she roll on the Cybernetics Hero’s Journey table. (-1)
• Binding Word: A Psi-Ghost who takes a contract will fulfill it at all costs. Even a partial success will generally result in the refund of any fees paid for the job. This is a Major Vow. (-2)
• Restricted Path: Psi-Ghosts have no affinity for magic. They cannot take any Iconic Framework that features PPE, nor any Arcane Background that uses it. (-1)

Note that I also change Binding Word to a Major Vow. I think that fits the original fluff better than Code of Honor. Also, I did code of honor for a race once and I think it ends up being very awkward. Especially when it came to playing a cyber knight that also has that hindrance. My objections have less to do with the extra goodies than the extra penalties you're settling the race with.

[High Command]

Gas vulnerability is literally a part of their intangibility. Its written into the power as a drawback. It's also rare, and more of a targeted attack when you know a Psi-Ghost is active (or if a critter has a natural gas attack).

Doing that allows you the extra 2 points for either the Stealth bonus or the Psi Bonus. They are meant to be master psi, and short of writing up a dragon style IF (which is a waste of time) that blends race and IF, its the best way of giving them the same bonus that the Dnorr have and Psi-Ghosts should.

Now I like your version of Binding Word, a lot. It feels right.

[Pursuit]

Updated Binding Word and Racial Loyalty.