Psilon

The **Psilons** are one of the major civilizations in *Master of Orion*.

## Background

### Master of Orion

The Psilons are a brilliant, unemotional race devoted solely to hard logic and the quest for knowledge. Their superior minds and research techniques allow them to gain a +50% bonus to all their research efforts. They can also select from a greater number of devices to research than other races.

Psilon players should invest heavily in research, then guard their discoveries with high internal security. Technological advantages should be used as quickly as possible against more primitive races.

### Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares

Population sprites
Farmers
Workers
Militia
Marine
Power
 Special
Spy
Captive

The Psilons are a delicate race of brilliant researchers from a Low-G home world. Each Psilon scientist produces 2 more research than the galactic norm. In addition, the Psilons are very creative, and they never ignore a potential avenue of research. Thus, all technologies are available to their scientists. That ancient artifacts are plentiful on their home world doesn't hurt. Peer review and tenure squabbles have prevented them from achieving a form of government more advantageous than a Dictatorship.

### Master of Orion 3

Note that *Master of Orion 3* canon diverges greatly from the other titles in the series. The following content is not necessarily relevant to *Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars*.
The Psilons have always been devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, a devotion that borders on fanaticism. During the Dark Age, in exchange for favor from the Antaran overlords, the Psilons willingly allowed the Antaran geneticists to experiment on and manipulate their bodies to increase their capacity for learning and research. The Psilons of today are the result of centuries of horrific genetic reconstruction: mentally powerful, but with their bodies weakened to the point where they must use hover chairs to move and mechanical waldoes to physically manipulate items in their world.

### Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars

#### Manual

Brilliant researchers who devote their lives to science, the Psilon are reclusive geniuses who are physically small and weak. Their peaceful nature is only shadowed by their crippling paranoia that other races will steal their research and technology. They are creative and efficient researchers who are gifted with all technologies.

#### In-game

Under the supervision of the Controller at Mentar, a sprawling network of Psilon communities comprise the Quanta.

Devoted to unraveling of the mysteries of the universe, each Quantum investigates independently in order to contribute to the knowledge of the whole.

The Psilon are a peaceful race, and only keep fleets of highly advanced warships as defensive measures.

Brilliant researchers, they are often ahead in the technological race, yet seldom seem to take advantage of their superiority. Instead, they prefer to trade for new discoveries while shielding themselves from the rest of the galaxy in order to continue investigating in peace.

#### Website

The Psilon are an intellectual race which value knowledge above all else. The Psilon priority on research and education has been so internalized that it is at the core of their physical evolution they gradually changed over time into the physically weak beings that they are today. They dedicate their entire lives to research and focus their energy on their work, often blinding themselves to the world around them. They are incapable of showing emotion on a biological level.

They have excellent manners and speak in relaxed tones. However, they do not understand the intricacies of nonverbal communication and most social cues, so the Psilons are a somewhat awkward race. Psilons take aptitude tests very early in their development stage that determines what their primary studies will be in life (results come in the form of suggested research specializations). Excellent engineering in Psilon society renders many menial jobs obsolete and delegated to robotic systems. Psilons operate a dictatorship style government called the Quanta, which is ruled over by the Controller.

The Controller's main duty is to manage intergalactic relations and oversee the allocation of government funds to various research facilities. Psilons typically generate revenue by selling access to their trademarks and patents. Top researchers often consult with the Controller on domestic issues. As an exceptionally peaceful and non-confrontation race, the Psilon do not have internal conflict and do not challenge the authority of the Controller. They hide behind their technology in war and will wait to strike until they are positive that they have the technological upper hand. A team of risk analysts serve the Controller to establish the measure of their advantage and minimize risks to Psilon assets.

#### Art Book

It takes great skill and patience to play successfully as the hyper-logical Psilons, but they are a long-time fan favorite of Master of Orion players. The Psilons
are rational and emotionless creatures who exc el at research and scientific advancements.

They often wait until they have a technological advantage before attacking; war for them is often tinged with sadness, as the obliteration of a less prepared civilization gives them no particular pleasure.

The Quanta looks to the future, secure in the knowledge that their research and advancements will not fail them in the trying times to come.

#### Short Stories

*See Short Stories*

* ICARUS - A Psilon Short Story
* Feature Spotlight: Jump Gates
* Psilon: Library of the Controller
* Feature Spotlight: Espionage
* Silver Sentinel - Short Story

## Psilon

### Controller - Leader of the Quanta

(*From the official Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars Art Book*)

In a race of intellects, the head of the Psilon Quanta must be a true genius. The Controller oversees the Quanta in research, government funding, and galactic issues. The notoriously antisocial and reserved Psilon rely on the Controller toguide them through diplomatic affairs and champion their people in the Galactic Senate. The Controller oversees all technological trades with other races, careful not to reveal too much to any potential enemies. When it comes to challenging decisions, the Controller must rely on intellect alone, for the way of the Psilon is to trust logic, data, and observation.

(*Known Psilon Emperors names come from Master of Orion and Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares*)

**Known Emperors:** *Meson, Kelvan, Quark, Zygot, Tachaon, Amios, Dynalon, Erga Uticus, Psiros, Tssha, Menz Agitat, Ekar Orgit*

### Moldred - Advisor to the Controller

(*From the official Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars Art Book*)

Don’t let the eccentric airs of Moldred fool you. The advisor to the Controller is brilliant and without peer in his ability to synthesize all the Quanta’s activities across the galaxy. Moldred consults with the top minds in the universe to make decisions and only brings the most sought-after information to the Controller for consideration. If it seems like his mind is elsewhere, that’s because it is everywhere at once.

### Kirsus, the Psilon Scientist

Kirsus is a colony leader that appeared in Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares, an Psilon Chief Scientist that has left Mentar in the belief that the Psilons are limiting their perspective on the universe by only collecting scans and samples, and then study them in their nice and clean laboratories. Kirsus believes that the only way to truly advance science is to experience the different perspectives of other races and perform intensive field studies. As Researcher Kirsus helps with further development of new technologies and as a former Chief Scientist he improves the efficiency of our scientists.

## Psilon Espionage

(*From the official Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars Art Book*)

The spies of the Psilon Quanta call themselves Alien Behavior Researchers. The title alone suggests the allure of espionage to the Quanta, for the thrill of new information, especially information that is deliberately hidden, proves intoxicating to the knowledge-hungry race. Race-specific technology is especially interesting to the Psilon, who avidly seek out inspiration from other sources.

Psilons typically use their vast knowledge to approach spy missions with a detached and objective approach. While this tactic may discredit the intricacies of race-specific behavior, it often works to the Psilons advantage. They seek to know what it is that their enemies want and fear, so that they may use that knowledge to their benefit.

## Mentar (Planet/System)

(*From the official Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars Art Book*)

The Psilon home world of Mentar is covered in soft, rolling hills and whispering grasses that soothe the racing mind. It has long been ruled by the Psilon, who dominated the passive wildlife with ease and little resistance. It is thought that something in Mentar’s atmosphere effected the development of local fauna, making the population of Mentar far more docile than any other life in the galaxy. Existence on Mentar is peaceful and the Psilon have discovered all there is to know about their home, pushing them to the stars to seek new information.

The capital city of Mentar is Hadron, a sprawling city that houses the home of the Controller and the headquarters of the many Psilon quanta. The Psilon communities revolve around research facilities that serve as the home; workplace; and, essentially, family to the individual Psilon. These research facilities develop the technologies that make the Psilon Quanta powerful, and they all must lobby for resources and funding from the Controller.

As technologies are developed, the Controller utilizes them for the strength of the Quanta. Some are used exc lusively for the advancement of the Psilon’s galactic ambitions, but others are earmarked for trades with other races. It is at the Controller’s discretion to decide which technologies can be traded without giving up the technological upper hand that the Psilon so love to hold over the galaxy.

The Psilon Quanta search across the galaxy, but Mentar will always be home. It is a planet where intellectual discourse reigns supreme and the pen is truly mightier than the sword. All of the universe’s findings and secrets are eventually brought back here, often to be cataloged into the substantial Library of the Controller. It is said that the darkest and oldest secrets of the stars are held deep within, pored over by the greatest minds the universe can offer.

## Psilon Ships

**Psilon Frigate**

The designs of the Psilon ships are simplistic and streamlined in their intentions. They are not the fastest, strongest, or most capable ships in the galaxy, but they are designed to easily integrate new technologies as rapidly as the Psilon can discover them. The Psilon care little for war, except for when their technology can assure them a swift victory.

**Psilon Destroyer**

Destroyer-class ships feature circular panels that can be easily popped out and replaced with other tech. The muted metal of the exterior is simply the finished product of the factory—the Psilon waste no effort in caring about the aesthetic design of the ship. Bravo models are less rounded and feature spiked sensor devices.

**Psilon Cruiser**

The cruisers of the Psilon Quanta are almost disorienting in their flat, featureless design. The modular design with circular panels is carried over from the previous destroyer-class
vessels. Cruisers are frequently repurposed as research vessels, as they boast an impressively large cabin area. The bravo model designs are taller, almost conical in shape.

**Psilon Battleship**

Psilon battleship-class ships boast independently rotating circular panels across the top of the ship, helping distribute damage and moving damaged panels from specific lines of fire. These rotating panels mean that certain sections of the ship can be given a priority ranking, ensuring that undamaged panels are constantly rotated to protect that area.

**Psilon Titan**

Titan-class ships of the Psilon armada are large and thin, leaning heavily towards the disc configuration common among Quanta ships. The core of the ship acts as a hub to the other operations of the titan, housing most crew and research stations.

**Psilon Doomstar**

The doomstar of the Psilon Quanta appears much like a brain in a jar—the column-style base like a spine which connects the body of the ship to the bustling command center.

## Characteristics

*Brilliant, Unsympathetic, Creative*

* Technologist (**2**)
Technologists focus resources on research, seeking to advance their knowledge in all areas.
	+ Starting Technology: Physics
	+ Homeworld Specials: Artifacts
* Creative (**10**)
The galactic nerds, this race is focused on mind over body, and spends all their time studying and thinking; science and technology are goals in and of themselves.
	+ Technology: Creative
	Get all technologies when researching a technology node with optional applications.
	+ Research from Population: +50%
* Homeworld Size: Small (**-2**)
This race's homeworld is a small planet. It supports less population than a normal planet.
* Low Gravity Homeworld (**-3**)
This race's homeworld has low gravity.
* Security: -20% (**-3**)

The Psilon traits cost a total of 5 points, a combination that would be legal as a custom race, with five points leftover (10 points maximum), however security -20% is a hidden perk, not normally accessible for custom races.

## Gallery

### Master of Orion

* Psilon during Master of Orion
* Psilon Scientific Advisor
* Psilon Spy Master
* Psilon Military Expert

### Master of Orion II

* Psilon during Master of Orion II
* Psilon Banner
* Psilon Scientific Advisor
* Psilon Spy Master
* Psilon Military Expert

### Master of Orion 3

* Psilon during Master of Orion 3
* Psilon Concept Art 01
* Psilon Concept Art 02

### Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars

* Psilon during Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars
* Psilon Concept Art
* Early Controller Design
* Early Psilon Advisor Design