Psionics
Psionics is the manipulation of metaphysical forces through concentrated effort employing the Zona Bovinae, a term used by Skrell to denote the frontal lobe structures of the humanoid brain. The manipulation of these forces is, in practice, the use of influence over a Psionic Wake, also known as the Nlom by Skrell who interact with it.
Interactions with psionics are broken up into two distinctive forms, known as Sending and Receiving. Without a Zona Bovina, it is impossible to either send or receive psionic signals.
Receiving Psionics
Most carbon-based life in the Orion Spur possesses some degree of capacity for Receiving. This capacity comes from having a lobed brain, and can vary not only between species, but also between individuals of a species. This capacity is also known as Psi-sensitivity.
Mechanically, Psi-sensitivity is a sum-total of all of a character's sources for it, starting at 0. These sources can be either positive or negative, and can also be temporary. Characters with a Psi-sensitivity score greater than or equal to 1 are counted by the game as if being psychic, even if they are not capable of sending telepathically. While characters with a negative total Psi-sensitivity are considered "Psi-Deaf", and can situationally be ignored by psionic effects entirely.
Being Psi-Deaf causes telepathic messages to be scrambled and incoherent, if they are even received at all.
Sources of Psi-sensitivity
This list is not conclusive, and should be updated whenever new sources are added.
Positive Sources
- Being Capable of Sending (+Rank): Having any form of telepathy gives a bonus to Psi-sensitivity equal to one's own Psionic Rank.
- Having a Psi-Receiver (+1): Psi-receivers are a bioaugment consisting of a vatgrown cranial lobe, which has been genetically engineered to enhance the user's sensitivity.
- High Psi-sensivity Trait (+1): (Temporarily) Available in the Disabilities menu during character creation.
- Consuming Psycho-nootropic Drugs: Certain drugs can provide a temporary bonus.
- Wulumunusha (+1, temporary): Overdosing on Wulumunusha gives a temporary bonus, which lasts until the drug is fully metabolized.
Negative Sources
- Having a Mindshield (-1): A mechanical implant that fully blocks telepathy in addition to penalizing sensitivity.
- Having a Mindblanker (-1): These work identically to Mindshields, except are a Bioaug. Available to Galatean characters.
- Low Psi-sensitivity Trait (-1): (Temporarily) Available in the Disabilities menu during character creation.
- Consuming Psycho-depressants: Certain drugs can give a penalty. None currently exist in the game, but are planned to be added.
- Active Psi-Suppression (-2): Activating the Psionic Suppression power gives a debuff that completely blocks telepathy.
Sending Psionics
Skrell are widely believed to be the only species capable of Sending psionic signals, which is demonstrated by their expression of certain telepathic abilities. It is not canonically known if other sophonts are capable of Sending, though this is not necessarily impossible.
Non-Canonically, certain antagonists-- such as Loners, Cortical Borers, and Traitors who purchase a psionic augment, are all capable of Sending. Any antagonist with access to an Uplink may purchase a Psi-Jumpstarter to gain Rank 2, or a Psi-Awakener to gain Rank 1. Neither of these items exist canonically.
The fundamental elements in the use of psionics are Psionic Stamina (Psi-Stamina) and Psionic Powers. Psionic Powers use up Psionic Stamina. As powers are used, you Psionic Stamina lowers. Over time it will regenerate, however it is not at a rate able to keep up with constant Psionic use. Over use of your Psionic Powers will lead to Psishock, a state which stuns and damages you through overuse of your Zona Bovinae.
Keeping track of your Psionic Stamina is essential, as well as access the Psionic Shop to acquire Psionic Powers. On the right of the HUD, a brain icon is present. Just below this icon is a number representing your current Psionic Stamina. By left-clicking the brain icon, you can access the Psionic Shop.
Psionic Powers appear in the top right of the HUD. You can use an ability by clicking on it, and using the item which spawns on either yourself, someone else, or using it in-hand. By shift-clicking the Psionic Powers, you can see what the ability does.
Psionic Ranks
Psionics Ranks are a mechanical method for describing someone's capacity for Sending. These ranks define and limit what powers can be bought from the Psionic Shop, and also define how many Psipoints you have to gain Psionic Powers.
The ranks are:
- Rank 0: Psi-Mute: No access to powers at all.
- Rank 1: Sensitive: 2 Psipoints. Most Skrell are at this rank.
- Rank 2: Harmonious: 10 Psipoints. Provided by a Psi-Jumpstarter. Skrell antagonists can also use a Psi-Jumpstarter to upgrade to this rank, and their starting points stack with those provided by the item.
- Rank 3: Apex: 14 Psipoints. Loner starts at this rank.
- Rank 4: Limitless: 40 points. Admin-only.
Psionic Powers
Powers are generally split between Canon and Non-Canon. Canon powers can be used by either ship characters, event characters, or both. Non-canon powers are exclusively antag abilities and not considered real powers in lore. Within these non-canon powers, some may even be limited on Psionic Rank depending on how powerful they are.
The key components of a Psionic Power is its Point Cost, Psi-Stamina Cost, and Cooldown. The Point Cost is how many Psipoints you need to gain the ability from the Psionic Shop. After gaining the power, you can use it for the Psi-Stamina Cost, which will lower your Psi-Stamina by that amount. After use, you must wait for however many seconds the Cooldown is before it may be used again.
| Name | Availability/Canonicity | Description/Use | Point Cost | Psi-Stamina Cost | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bullet | Antag only, Non-canon | Wrap air in a psionic bubble, compress it, then send it flying at your enemies. Activate the spell in hand to create up to six air bullets, then fire them by clicking something. | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Assay | Automatically given to all Psionic users, Canon | Touch a person to get a rough estimate of their Psi-sensivivity. This does not provide any direct information on a person's Psi-rank. | N/A | 2 | 10 |
| Barrier | Antag only, Non-canon | Activate in hand to give yourself psionic armour. This armour is slightly worse than generic heavy armour, and has a small passive upkeep. | 1 | 30 | 20 |
| Bubble | Antag only, Non-canon | Create a protective bubble around you that removes your need to breathe or wear voidsuits in EVA. | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Charge | Antag only, Non-canon | Use this spell on an item with a cell to charge it. | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Commune | Automatically given to all Psionic users, Canon | Send a telepathic message to the target if they are capable of Receiving. Strong receivers will receive an indication of who sends the message, while Psi-deaf individuals will only partially receive the message. Contrary to popular opinion, this power is completely safe, and will never harm the target regardless of their Psi-sesnitivity. | N/A | 10 | 15 |
| Electrocute | Antag only, Non-canon | Administer a painful amount of psionic shock to the nervous system of a foe in melee range, causing burn and agony damage. | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Emotional Suggestion | Psionic users, Canon | Sends an emotion to the target if they are capable of Receiving. Strong receivers will know who sent the message, while Psi-deaf individuals won't receive it at all. | 1 | 15 | 10 |
| Focus | Event characters, Canon | Activate this spell in your hand to generate five units of synaptizine in your bloodstream. | 1 | 20 | 50 |
| Grip | Antag only, Non-canon | Grip a victim with psionic energy. You can squeeze your grip to crush them. Drop your spell to undo the stasis. | 3 | 10 | 20 |
| Hollow Technique: Purple | Automatically given to Limitless users, Non-canon | Purple is an extraordinarily destructive energy wave of annihilation that rips whatever it hits from existence. | N/A | 50 | 10 |
| Ion Blast | Antag only, Non-canon | Activate in hand to release a 3x3 ion blast around you. Be careful, this ability is expensive to use. | 3 | 30 | 20 |
| Jump | Loner only, Non-canon | Teleport to a destination you click on. | 3 | 25 | 50 |
| Lightning | Automatically given to Apex users, Non-canon | Fire a concentrated lightning bolt. Activate this spell in hand to switch to a second mode that hits living beings in a 4x3 area in front of you. | N/A | 15 | 10 |
| Mend | Antag only, Non-canon | Mend a creature's wounds. This handles internal wounds as well, such as ruptured organs and broken bones. | 2 | 30 | 50 |
| Mind Muddle | Event characters, Canon | Use this at range to confuse a target and give them a little bit of pain. | 1 | 10 | 20 |
| Mirror Shade | Event characters, Canon | Activate this spell to generate two psionic copies of yourself that will attack nearby mobs. These clones are not dense, will deal pain damage, and disappear after thirty seconds. | 2 | 20 | 100 |
| Nlom Eyes | Antag only, Non-canon | Roughly locate a mob on your z-level. | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Psi-Awaken (Awaken) | Automatically given to Apex users, Non-canon | Stimulate a living being's Zona Bovinae and bring them to Psionically Harmonious rank. | N/A | 100 | 20 |
| Psi-Drain | Automatically given to Apex users, Non-canon | Drain psi-stamina from a living being. This can be used both in melee and at range. | N/A | 5 | 10 |
| Psi-Punch | Antag only, Non-canon | Imbue your fists with psionic power. | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Psionic Recovery | Automatically given to all Psionic users, Canon | Activate in hand to regenerate psi-stamina. | N/A | 0 | 5 |
| Psionic Search | Automatically given to all Psionic users, Canon | Scan your Z-level for beings who are capable of Receiving. | N/A | 10 | 5 |
| Psi-Stamina Weave | Psionic users, Canon | Activate this spell in your hand to regenerate your psi-stamina a little bit. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Psi-Sunder (Sunder) | Automatically given to Apex users, Non-canon | Destroy a living being's Zona Bovinae. This will make them psionically deaf. | N/A | 20 | 30 |
| Psionic Suppression | Psionic users, Canon | Toggle activate to completely block telepathic messages. While active, it gives a -2 modifier to Receiving, which can be useful for hiding from Assay and Psi-Search. | 1 | 5 | N/A |
| Psi-Sword | Antag only, Non-canon | Create a psionic sword. | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Psi-Tool | Antag only, Non-canon | Create a psionic tool that can change into a screwdriver, crowbar, wrench or wirecutters. | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| Pull | Antag only, Non-canon | Pulls the target straight towards the user, smashing windows along the way. If it can be held in your hands, it goes straight to your hand. Note that you can catch items you pull to yourself if you toggle throw mode before pulling an item. | 2 | 10 | 50 |
| Read Mind | Psionic users, Canon | Rip thoughts from someone's mind. If your rank is Psionically Sensitive, you may only skim the surface thoughts from a person's mind. If your rank is Psionically Harmonious or above, your target is forced to respond to a five-word question with the truth. This power is extremely dangerous, causing a stroke if your Psi-sensitivity is 2 or more points greater than the target, and moderate brain damage otherwise. Psi-sensitive characters are more resistant to this brain damage, but are never completely safe from it. | 1 | 50 | 10 |
| Rejuvenate | Antag only, Non-canon | Restore a creature's blood. | 1 | 30 | 50 |
| Rend | Antag only, Non-canon | Activate it in your hand to switch to a structure mode, in which you cannot target living beings (synthetics included) but you can tear apart walls and airlocks much faster. | 3 | 35 | 30 |
| Shockwave | Antag only, Non-canon | Create a wave of telekinetic energy to pummel the ground in a straight line in the direction you're facing. Anyone caught in it falls over unless wearing magboots. | 2 | 20 | 50 |
| Singularity | Antag only, Non-canon | Creates a psionic illusion. Anyone within four tiles of it is forced to walk towards it. It will dissipate after ten seconds. | 2 | 20 | 100 |
| Skinsight | Psionic users, Canon | Get information on a creature's vitals. Activate in your hand to switch between a normal mode or a slower, more detailed mode. Note that the body scan mode is not 100% accurate with the numbers given. | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Spasm | Event characters, Canon | Force a target to drop the items in its hands. | 1 | 20 | 100 |
| Stasis | Antag only, Non-canon | Condenses the Nlom field around one person at a time. This immobilises them like an energy net and also applies stasis to them. | 2 | 20 | 100 |
| Throw | Antag only, Non-canon | "Click this spell with an item to prepare it to be thrown, then use the spell to throw the item with lethal force. | 3 | 20 | 20 |
| Time Stop | Antag only, Non-canon | Freeze living beings around you in a 5x5 area. This power is currently bugged and does nothing. | 2 | 30 | 10 |
| Warp | Loner only, Non-canon | Teleport to a location you can see. | 4 | 10 | 50 |
| Zona Absorption | Automatically given to Loner, Non-canon | Absorb a psionic energy from a being's Zona Bovinae, granting you an extra point to be used in the Point Shop. | N/A | 10 | 30 |