From: rramser@dale.ksc.nasa.gov (Rusty Ramser)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Psionic Residual Effects
Keywords: psionics
Date: 26 Jan 93 17:00:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: dale.1993Jan26.170029.16966
Organization: NASA / Kennedy Space Center


Some of the Telepathy powers in the TCPH would seem to
have a residual effect on a person's mind if the
powers were maintained for a long enough period.  What
is your opinion on how the mind operates under the
following type of circumstances?

--------------------------------------------------------
Take the example of the Awe devotion:  Presumably, as
soon as the psi quits paying the maintenance cost for
this power, the person who was under the influence will
immediately revert to his normal mindset.  Will he?
What if the psi was able to maintain this power for not
just a coule of rounds, but for several hours?  Even
though the power may not be currently exercised by the
psi, the person who was under its influence will remem-
ber feeling "mentally cowed" and will remember feeling
insignificant compared to the psi.  Can someone's mind
switch such strong feelings on and off like a switch?

Caveat:
Granted, if the person affected is of high level or if
the person knows they were under the influence of a
mind-altering power, they might not suffer any after-
effects, (besides being pretty mad).  However, what
about a low level character (or one who otherwise
doesn't have a strong "sense of self") who didn't know
psionic powers were causing his mind to feel a certain
way?

--------------------------------------------------------
One other example:  the Telempathic Projection devotion.
The power description states that moods can be changed
only by a matter of degrees; i.e., large mood swings
(say, from rage to elation) cannot be effected.  I
agree with this as long as the power is maintained for
only a short period of time.  But what if the psi can
maintain it for an hour or two?  How long can the mind
be fooled into feeling a certain way before it _actually_
begins feeling that way?  (Everybody's been depressed
before...a friend comes along to cheer you up...after a
while, his good mood "rubs off" on you and you actually
begin to feel better.)

If the psi could hold the power over a thoroughly angry
person for 10 minutes or so, in order to get him just
somewhat angry, it seems like he could quit maintaining
the power and some residual effect would remain in the
target's mind.  Or, if the psi preferred, since the
target's mind has actually changed to the somewhat
angry state, he could continue maintaining the power in
order to get the target's mind to only mildly miffed...
and then to indifference...and then to mildly happy,
etc.

--------------------------------------------------------
There are other Telepathy powers that could also have
residual effects (if you buy the argument that these do),
but these are just two quick examples.

As always, comments, criticisms, debate and discussion
are welcome and appreciated.  Flames are tolerated if
they deal with the subject matter presented here and
are expressed in an intellegent manner; (i.e., please
don't send or post "2nd Edition psionics suck" flames).

+---------------------------------+
| Rusty B. Ramser                 |
| DL-DSD-21                       |
| Kennedy Space Center, FL  32899 |
|                                 |
| rusty-ramser@ksc.nasa.gov       |
+---------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd