From: scythe@stein.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper)
Subject: Re: how to imprison a psionicist ?
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 04:57:51 GMT

In article <809@blue.cis.pitt.edu> seawasp@vm2.cis.pitt.edu (Sea Wasp) writes:
>In article <1992Dec15.205216.19463@u.washington.edu> scythe@stein.u.washington.edu (The Grim Reaper) writes:
>	[I say]
>>>work wearing CLOTHES; they'd be just as distracting. Can a Psi work
>>>in the winter, or does a hat distract him too much?
>
>>We aren't talking about hats here.  We are talking about large lumps of iron.
>
>	No we aren't. We're talking about helms, which were OFTEN of iron
>but which could be anything from hard leather on up. And "large" lump of
>iron? No bigger than a ski mask, and although heavier it's certainly no
>worse than a football helmet. Never noticed that a quarterback has trouble
>concentrating on the game (and if you don't think that doing a complex
>pass play, focusing on throwing a ball while running backwards away from
>large hostile people, doesn't require concentration, you've never tried
>it.).
>
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't just combat trying to attack while
running away backwards?  And the psi is trying to concentrate on
levitating an object or whatever.  I'd say that takes a d**n lot
more concentration than just throwing a ball.
And (I could be wrong about this) aren't football helmets made
of plastic, anyway?  That's quite a bit lighter than something made of iron.
And in any case, since we're *trying* to distract the psi, wouldn't
you agree that a large bolted-on helmet made of iron would distract a psi?


>>And there's a difference between weight on your head, and the same weight
>>distributed over your body.  Besides, the concentration required by pisonics
>>must be greater than that for mages, since psis don't have verbal/somatic/
>>material components to make powers easier.
>
>	Not necessarily. The mage had to learn how to use his power, which
>is purely the result of these arcane gestures and all. The Psi is using
>an inherent power. Most literature involving psi powers, in fact, will
>often emphasize that it can sometimes take more concentration to NOT use
>a power than to use it, especially in emergencies (see, for instance, 
>*Firestarter* or *AKIRA*).
Hmm.  I'd say literature is a pretty bad reference for AD&D psi.
Most of the powers I've seen are not taken from literature, and those
that are don't work the same.  So what's your point?  And the psi
does have to use an inherent power.  He doesn't get to use words or gestures
or otherworldly powers to make his magic work- he has to concentrate, and
use his own energy to make it work.

>
>	Psis, in my opinion, need no more, likely LESS, concentration to
>use their powers than do mages.
>
>>>	Your approach would make it easier to disrupt a Psi than it is to 
>>>disrupt a mage. 
>
>>Really?  To disrupt a mage, all you have to do it hit him.  To disrupt a
>>psi, all you have to do is hit him.  The only difference is that 
>>the psi has a lower speed factor...
>
>	I believe that Psis have certain powers they CANNOT be distracted
>from once started. And if just a helmet, selected and fitted to him, will
>distract him so much that he can't even concentrate, then touching him
>with a feather, or shouting, or talking, or even shoes, will distract
>him too much. He'll never be able to use them.
>
Hmm.  It's tru that once a psi power is started, it can't be disrupted.
But again, what's your point? The original topic here is *trying*
to distract a psionicist.  Although *maybe* I'd allow *leather only*
helms to be worn by psis, we are TRYING TO DISTRACT HIM.  So we'll make
it as annoying as possible to him.  


>	Note that people TRAINED in meditation and concentration can 
>concentrate in almost ANY circumstance. In point of fact, the person
>who responded to me that "hats give me headaches" would probably find
>that he could suddenly ignore the headache and concentrate just fine
>on fighting or evasive action, or even on solving a difficult problem,
>if his life depended on it. Pain and distractions fade into the background
>when large hulking threats descend upon you.
>
>
>                                 Sea Wasp
>
>
>                                   ;;;

Perhaps.  Then again, maybe it's harder to concentrate in the heat of combat.
I certainly don't know, and wouldn't care to find out.

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When he goes swimming does he get wet, | The Grim Reaper
Or does the water get him instead?     | scythe@u.washington.edu
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