Embedded Files
Psychic powers were established as canon in the 'Verse in the plot of the 2006 movie "Serenity". It seems that in setting, while many people believe in the existence of psychic powers, they are exceedingly rare. Indeed their existence is doubted by most "educated" people. Psychics and psychic powers seem to be regarded something along the lines of witchcraft, albeit with a pseudo-scientific rather than supernatural explanation. On the other hand, agents from both the Alliance and Blue Sun were actively investigating psychic powers with some success, albeit covertly. There are two main varieties of Readers in the 'Verse - "Readers" and "Psychics", both detailed below.
"Readers" are latent psychics, who possess the innate talent for it but lack either the training or the power to make the abilities manifest actively. Instead, the psychic powers manifest in weak and unreliable ways and are often more of a curse than a gift. Being a "Reader" is modeled by the following Edge:
"Reader" (Novice, Smarts d6+) - The character is preternaturally aware of the strong emotions and thoughts of those around them, and can even pick up psychic impressions from objects which were present for some traumatic event. Any time it is dramatically appropriate, the character may make a Notice-2 Roll when in the conversational range of another person, or physically touching an object or site. On a success, the user gets a brief flash of experience; an emotion, a visual impression, a sensation. On a Raise, the user gets an actual bit of information, such as a name, date, or place. On a failure, nothing useful is gained. On double 1's, the Reader is traumatized and must make a Spirit roll to avoid being Shaken.
Being a Reader always seems to come with a price in the 'Verse; enemies, social stigma, mental instability, physical ailments. As such, the "Reader" Edge must be paid for separately with appropriate Hindrances - two Minor or one Major, as appropriate to the story. "Clueless" could serve for a character who is constantly distracted by the background noise of the human minds around her, unable to shut them out. "Wanted" as a Major Hindrance could indicate that Blue Sun operatives are hunting for the character, who may have been a subject of a research facility as a youth. Creativity goes a long way.
"Psychics" are actually trained to use their abilities, sometimes by corporations or governments, other times through long mental and spiritual disciplines. While "psychics" are very common in action movies and entertainment, they are so rare that few if any people believe they exist, even those acquainted with Readers. The core Edge for a "Psychic" is the Arcane Background - "Psionics". In the Firefly setting, the Edge has some requirements.
Arcane Background (Psionics)
Arcane Skill: Psionics (Smarts)
Requirements: Seasoned, Reader, Smarts d8+
Starting Power Points: 10
Starting Powers: 3
Psionicists have discovered how to tap into their own psychic powers.
► Brainburn: When a psionic character rolls a 1 on his Psionics die (regardless of his Wild Die), he is automatically Shaken. On a critical failure, the psi lets out a psychic scream that causes him to be Shaken along with all allies in a Large Burst Template who fail a Spirit roll. This can cause a wound.
The following powers are acceptable within the setting, as they fit the general low-key nature of psychic powers in the setting:
Confusion
Detect/Conceal Arcana (Psionics)
Divination
Fear
Farsight
Havoc
Mind Reading
Puppet
Slumber
Telekinesis
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