Great to see all of the interest! Looks like we'll have about 6-7 people?
Do you guys think that's enough? Should we get it going today, or wait a little while longer?
I say we go ahead and start the OOC. If you wait too long, interest may wane. Besides, it shouldn't be too hard to add new players once we start- we can always just add to the map, or claim that one nation exists above or under another nation (space is three-dimensional, so that could be possible)
I asked a question a little bit ago, but I edited it in to my prior post ('cause otherwise I would have been double-posting). While it isn't pivotal for any of my sheets, I'll quote it here.
A question: the PSI Level portion of the description states that no individuals may have a PSI Level higher than 9, and the rules say that no characters may have a PSI level above 8 without special permission. Does that mean we have to request special permission to have a character with PSI Level 9, and no higher, or is this a minor kerflufle.
I asked a question a little bit ago, but I edited it in to my prior post ('cause otherwise I would have been double-posting). While it isn't pivotal for any of my sheets, I'll quote it here.
<Snipped quote>
Oh! Thanks for pointing that out. I added that rule after I'd defined the levels of the PSI scale, but when I wrote the PSI Scale section I hadn't done that yet. I decided level 9 would have precognition, which I figured might be too powerful. So I decided to limit it to level 8. I've corrected it.
Before I forget again, here's my concepts for a little expansion on the PSI scale.
Level 0: Inanimate object. Level 1: "Normal" - no psionic abilities at all. Level 2: The individual has an uncanny ability to read the emotions of others. Level 3: The individual has a limited ability to read minds - it requires intense focus and can only be done on those close by. Strong-willed individuals or other Psis can resist it. Level 4: The thoughts of non-Psis can be read very easily, though it can still be resisted. Individuals at level 4 can also speak to others in a limited fashion through telepathy - not words per-se, but mostly concepts or images. Level 5: A limited degree of telekinesis is now possible - individuals can manipulate objects weighing up to 20 kilograms up to 5 meters away. Conversation entirely through telepathy is now possible. Level 6: Telekinetic ability is effectively doubled. Objects weighing 40 kilograms can be manipulated up to 10 meters away. Individuals now have the ability to very subtly influence the thoughts of weak-willed individuals. Anyone above level 1 on the PSI scale is able to resist this effect. Level 7: Telekinetic ability is again doubled. Subtle mental influence is now able to be exerted over individuals of all lower PSI levels. However, the higher the PSI level, the weaker the influence is. Those measuring Level 1 (generally the majority of people) are not able to be directly controlled, but a great deal of influence is able to be exerted. Level 8: Telekinetic abilities double again. Individuals at this level are now capable of directly controlling the minds of non-Psis, albeit with extreme effort. Biological organisms can focus on themselves to heal faster than normal, with difficulty. Level 9: The individual will have a very limited ability to "sense" several seconds into the future. This ability manifests itself as a simple "gut feeling". No specific details can be discerned, but it would be possible, for instance, to know that a car accident is about to happen; the details would remain unknown, however. Telekinetic ability is again doubled. Death of biological individuals can be delayed by extreme regeneration of organic material; this also affects healing. Level 10: Individuals can now sense what will happen a few minutes before it actually happens. The closer the event is to the present, the clearer the details will be. An event five minutes away will have no discernible details, but one thirty seconds away is extremely vivid in the mind of the individual. Telekinetic ability is again doubled. Physical forms of biological organisms become slightly unstable and need to be sufficiently strong enough to handle the rise in energy level, which typically needs artificial enhancements unless the individual has a form already capable of handling massive amounts of power. Level 11: Telekinetic powers reach the ability to manipulate items that weigh tons, possibly shifting the course, with considerable effort, of a starship (overriding attempts to change the course in the meantime). Mind manipulation without detection is possible to level 6 and below individuals via "planting" thoughts deep into the roots of minds, although the thought becomes more vulnerable to being detected as foreign if it is anything large or against the individual's mind, and otherwise the ability to fully read and speak into minds of levels 6 and below; the lower the level, the stronger the ability. Above level 6 this ability becomes unreliable and risky. Physical forms begin attracting raw psionic energy, creating a permanant charge around the individuals. Events can be predicted with some accuracy up to thirty minutes, although the farther out the more unreliable the prediction is. Attempts of access into the mind by beings level 8 and below can be blocked entirely and possibly turned against the sender(s). "Jumping" via extreme concentration is possible over a couple feet when standing still. Un-enhanced physical forms are no longer able to reliably hold energy; artificial enhancements are necessary to retain sanity. This level has been achieved, but previous holders of that much power have toppled quickly due to an inability to control the powers. Level 12: Telekinesis reach the level of quickly changing the course of a massive starship and subtly modify the orbit of moons and space objects. Mental ability restrictions are loosened; 8 and below are vulnerable to undetected mind manipulation, even through strong defenses, becoming more powerful the lower the level of the targeted individual(s). Low level small groups of individuals can be affected at once with minimal concentration. Psionic energy can be manipulated directly, although with dificulty and great concentration; the easiest thing to do is generate balls of unreliable but extremely potent energy. Biological organisms are effectively immortal and can heal all non-psionic or instantly crippling damage on the spot. This level is not known to have been reached enters the realm of theory. Level 13: A small fleet of big ships can be physically manipulated with solid concentration. Minds of organisms can be completely posessed of organisms level 6 or below. Physical forms are surrounded and partially composed of pure psionic energy that can be manipulated to dangerous or beneficial effects, given training. Physical forms of biological entities are destroyed unless they have been given artificial enhancements or are developed enough to have sufficiently strong internal organs to survive the change. Individuals are stronger at mind manipulation and can do crowd control of potentially hundreds of level 1, 2 or 3 level beings with concentration. No known beings have reached this level; it is an estimation of what comes after level 12. Level 14: Individuals at this stage are magnets of psionic energy, which forms a coat of raw energy that can be used to to whatever a given individual requires. Teleportation across long distances is possible with incresed concentration and self-physical manipulation becomes possible. Such individuals can now "hold" memories and the like a short distance away from the body. Telekinetic abilities are rediculously powerful. Precognition can see hundreds of potential outcomes reliably in a three hour period, and individuals can distinguish what affects each outcome and which ones are most likely. This level has never been reached and is theorized as being the stepping stone to level 15. Level 15: Individuals at this stage become beings of pure psionic energy, able to bend space-time to their will. Their abilities manifest in the form of shapeshifting, teleportation over stellar scale distances, direct mind-control of anyone at a lower PSI level than 13, extremely advanced telekinetic abilities, and precognition able to see several hours into the future with uncanny reliability and see thousands of alternate outcomes. This level is purely theoretical and is near-impossible to attain.
- Name: Standard Infantry Suits - Category: Weapons - Effects: Allows creation of full-body computerized suits able to move with the wearer, capable of containing weapons and attachments to a reasonable extent and simple targeting computers. - Post Count: - Pre-Requisites: + Other Are capable of limited upgrades achieved by post count at first, but are restricted later on due to the age of the technology.
- Name: Advanced Infantry Suits - Category: Weapons - Effects: Allows the creation of full-body suits with Graphene Semiconductors and a limited extent of Primitive Artificial Intelligence. Suits can use fairly powerful targeting and weapons systems for the size of the wearer, and can be worn comfortably. Also includes a simple artificial inteligence system. - Post Count: 15 - Pre-Requisites: Primitive Artificial Intelligence, Graphene Semiconductors + Other The suit uses the semiconductors to achieve new heights of development and can be upgraded with adaptations of other technologies for a time; basic shielding can be added.
- Name: Remote Control Automated Soldier - Category: Weapons - Effects: Allows the creation and use of special suits that can be controlled from elsewhere (soldiers going to war without the risk of death, more or less). Distance limits connection. - Post Count: 5 - Pre-Requisites: + Other These "soldiers" can drop like lumped cans of tin if the connection is cut off - unless AI technology has been researched to provide a backup system, or a sufficiently strong signal is made.
- Name: Automated Soldiers - Category: Weapons - Effects: Allows creation of an automated force of basic soldiers. - Post Count: 35 - Pre-Requisites: Primitive Artificial Intelligence, Graphene Semiconductors, Humanoid Robotic Chassis, Pinpoint Targetting Calculations + Other They aren't particularly smart and are best used in conjunction with living entities or more advanced support.
- Name: Automated Workforce - Category: Industry - Effects: Allows for industry to be almost 100% autonomous, allowing for faster production speeds. - Post Count: 35 - Pre-Requisites: Single-Task Artificial Intelligence, Humanoid Robotic Chassis + Other A better AI upgrade yields a better, more dynamic workforce.