Psi Mechanic Questions

[pblackcrow]

I haven't ever played one...nor had a player of mine play one. But, talk to your GM or make up your own rules for GMing if you want to let it be as such.

However, there are TWs in this time frame...VERY FEW! Like 1 in 150 mages.

[acreRake]

For the first time, I am playing a Psi Mechanic. Bit of a let down. I am not impressed by their range, or the number of gadgets they can have when you consider the built in disadvantage that their powers can both (1) be directly attacked and (2) taken away by just about any one.

Yeah. My GM started smashing my gear in the FIRST ADVENTURE. Good thing i'm not bitter.

Could a mage collaborate with a Psi Mechanic (provide PPE) to make devices?

No. Not unless they could figure out a way to give some of the mage's PPE to the psimechanic permanently (which could be a possibility for your GM to come up with.)

What about the use of a "Talisman" to supply the needed PPE?

I wouldn't think so, the whole point of the talisman spell/ritual is to create an item that casts spells, that it can be used for holding PPE is really just another means to this same end (except the person using the talisman needs to know the spell for it to work).

The PPE used by a Psi mechanic to build devices is from his personal potential for psychic ability, though a character can for one reason or another have more or less than his maximum (or base) they pretty much find a way to return to normal. Like it says in BTS, most people completely waste their PPE by not focusing or focusing on too many (or useless) things. So it seems to me that like the updated Psi-mechanic from Nightbane (augmented with the theoretical ramblings from Through the glass darkly) that the Psi mechanic is ripping off little (OK, not so little) pieces of his soul and shaping them into psychic circuitry. In my mind (or what's left of it), that's not something you can get a lot of outside help with...

What about the PPE from a Ley line? What about doubling the PPE of the "construction pool" at a ley line?

This of course is the exception. i don't have my book with me, so i can't give you page numbers, but YES you can use Ley lines energy for building machines, at least at a Nexus (I know this sounds like it goes against what i was saying, but the Ley lines and Nexuses seem to be more powerful (living?) than in the other true games.

If the Psi Mechanic activates a device, and its effect has a duration, can he pass it off to another to use while the duration holds?

I don't know, but it sounds like a really good idea. I mean, i'd let you do it.

Could a Psi Mechanic create an "ISP and Activation Battery" that others could trigger to activate a Psi Device? Some sort of extra steps that release per stored ISP with "activation command" for the non-Psi Mechanic user...

No i don't think so. If you want to go beyond letting Latents use the things (aren't they the only ones that can use them in BTS?) I would say they would at least need to be "open to the supernatural" and use their own ISP. I might let children use them without spending ISP (like they do with their own psionics)

[Tinker Dragoon]

For the first time, I am playing a Psi Mechanic. Bit of a let down. I am not impressed by their range, or the number of gadgets they can have when you consider the built in disadvantage that their powers can both (1) be directly attacked and (2) taken away by just about any one. Many mods to it are being made by GM and I. I have some questions I'd like to relate though:

Could a mage collaborate with a Psi Mechanic (provide PPE) to make devices?

What about the use of a "Talisman" to supply the needed PPE?

No to both. A Psi-Mechanic can only spend P.P.E. out of his own specially earmarked reserve.

If the Psi Mechanic activates a device, and its effect has a duration, can he pass it off to another to use while the duration holds?

Gm's call. It is not stated whether a Psi-Device can operate independently of its user.

Could a Psi Mechanic create an "ISP and Activation Battery" that others could trigger to activate a Psi Device? Some sort of extra steps that release per stored ISP with "activation command" for the non-Psi Mechanic user...

If the GM allows. By the rules a PSi-Device has to duplicate a specific power, and I am not aware of any such psi power.

What about the PPE from a Ley line? What about doubling the PPE of the "construction pool" at a ley line?

Psi-Mechanics aren't mages. Their P.P.E. is unaffected by ley lines.

If you want to have more PPE, than play something other than BTS2. Psychic characters in BTS2 are specifically designed to be crippled when not combating the supernatural.

I happen to like the Psi-Mechanics in Nightbane: Between the Shadows. They get a ton of PPE and ISP, don't have to divide their PPE between a personal base and a device reserve, and can place any psi power they know into a device.

Frankly, I'm inclined to replace or merge all the PCCs in BTS2 with their equivalents in other games, and disregard the threat level adjustments.

[acreRake]

What about the PPE from a Ley line? What about doubling the PPE of the "construction pool" at a ley line?

Psi-Mechanics aren't mages. Their P.P.E. is unaffected by ley lines.

You mean they're even less powerful in BtS2!? This goes against everything i know about Palladium Books!