Psiad in Aberrant

[Shepherdboi]

Did you build include the 10 dots in Primary modes prerequisite to getting Psi 6? Because I don't see how that could be possible.

No, as I already noted in message #12 of this thread, which you already responded to in message #13.

Plus we're both forgetting that Psiads do the "Step 6" while Novas skip that. Figure Psiads thus get effectively 8-12xp in their 4 dots worth of Edges from Step 6 so their "Extra XP" should be lessened as a result of that.

I didn't forget that, as noted in paragraph two of message #10.

Though yet again, it kind of evens out since Novas do get one dot of Quantum free. Figure Psiads should also get one dot of Psi free as well.

Novas start with Quantum 1, but Psiads start with Psi 2, so I'm not sure why they should be getting another free point.

To reiterate from my earlier posts, if adding a Psiad to a Nova campaign, I'd just default them to slightly altered Nova character creation rules:
Follow Steps 1-4 of the character creation process.
Use a slightly modified Step 5-
-Substitute Psi 2 for Quantum 1.
-Don't gain TN 7 (yet).
-Gain an Attribute dot in your favored approach.
-Gain Fame or Alternate Identity.
-Gain 150 xp, using the Psiad xp table for Psiad specific traits.
Follow a modified Step 6 that ignores the "finishing touches", since your 150 xp takes their place.

My personal preference for making such a character would be to buy Psi up to 5 (45 xp), buy 10 dots in Primary Aptitudes (80 xp), and buy a second level in a Path since it presumably took longer for you to hit this power level than a typical starting Nova (18 xp). I'd also make sure the Path I take that level in offers Strong Mode as an Edge, and take that for Augendis with 3 of the 4 dots I get from the two levels in that Path. That leaves my character with 7 unspent xp that could be saved towards reaching Psi 6, which is important to achieve as quickly as possible since that'll boost them to TN 7.

I'd take Vitakinesis and Clairsentience as Primary Aptitudes, with Augendis 4 (thanks to Strong Mode), Psychocognition 2, and 4 dots wherever I think they'd be most useful based on the campaign concept. Augendis (with Strong Mode) gives them A LOT of Attribute/Skill/Edge/other boosts, lets those boosts last for days, and lets them boost others as well. Psychocognition gives a strong Defense boost. The other 4 dots help however the campaign needs help the most.

[Florin]

Other than XP, I think the other thing you need to consider is Scale. It's far easier for a Nova to access Scale than a Psiad. Enough Toughness (4 or 5 dots, I think) would make a Nova flat-out immune to a Psiad's direct damage powers, for example.

[Zeea]

It'd probably be a good idea to allow Psiads to ignore Scale immunities, since they were made for a game that didn't really have them, IIRC. If they can manage an Enhancement bonus high enough to overcome a nova's Enhancement from Scale, I say give them the win.

[johntfs]

Other than XP, I think the other thing you need to consider is Scale. It's far easier for a Nova to access Scale than a Psiad. Enough Toughness (4 or 5 dots, I think) would make a Nova flat-out immune to a Psiad's direct damage powers, for example.

For my part I like Zena's (if enhancement overcomes the Scale Enhancement it works) idea. Besides, one advantage that a Psiad will have being part of a group of Novas is... other Novas. They don't have to go all-in on direct damage because they're surround by other walking nukes. Instead, Psiads can focus on Telepathy, Clairsentience and other stuff that Novas flat-out can't do. Sure maybe you don't yet have the Mega-Strength to punch through a security door. But if Lila the Psiad can read the code in a guard's mind, that becomes way less of an issue. Which means it'd be a good idea for the party to make sure and protect Lila so she'll be around for the next time they want to get through a door or just flat make some guards forget they were ever there or something.

[Florin]

For my part I like Zena's (if enhancement overcomes the Scale Enhancement it works) idea. Besides, one advantage that a Psiad will have being part of a group of Novas is... other Novas. They don't have to go all-in on direct damage because they're surround by other walking nukes. Instead, Psiads can focus on Telepathy, Clairsentience and other stuff that Novas flat-out can't do. Sure maybe you don't yet have the Mega-Strength to punch through a security door. But if Lila the Psiad can read the code in a guard's mind, that becomes way less of an issue. Which means it'd be a good idea for the party to make sure and protect Lila so she'll be around for the next time they want to get through a door or just flat make some guards forget they were ever there or something.

Yes, there are other ways around obstacles using other powers. However, being limited to only a few Aptitudes due to Scale considerations, or at least having a fair number of levels in modes become useless against Novas, is still something you should be aware is going to happen. I feel bad for anyone who wants to build a Biokinetic/Psychokinetic psiad to put into a nova group. They're going to have a very tough time shining.

[johntfs]

Yes, there are other ways around obstacles using other powers. However, being limited to only a few Aptitudes due to Scale considerations, or at least having a fair number of levels in modes become useless against Novas, is still something you should be aware is going to happen. I feel bad for anyone who wants to build a Biokinetic/Psychokinetic psiad to put into a nova group. They're going to have a very tough time shining.

Well, using Nova powers. Reading a dude's mind is pretty clear a power.

As for as Psiad "not shining...." this is the time of Novas. With some focused choices a Psiad can shine, but there's a reason the game is called Aberrant and not Psiad.

Some of that can be addressed by the other players and the GM. If Steve wants to play a focused Biokinetic shapeshifter, maybe the other Novas don't need to go hard into Shapeshifting.

Another idea would be that when picking primary Aptitudes make sure one of them is Clairsentience or Telepathy, AKA stuff that Novas can't actually do.

Remember that the big selling point of Psiads is that they're psionic "jacks of all trades." Ultimately a Psiad is never going to be as directly potent with an Aptitude as a Psion triggered in that aptitude - or a high Quantum Nova who can do generally the same thing. However, because they can potentially access many different Modes from many different Aptitudes they can also potentially do things that are nigh-impossible even for powerful Novas.

[Bunyip]

Psiads are deliberately on the ‘dark star’ nova level and aren’t designed to go directly against high scale bruisers. If someone wants to play in those leagues I’d recommend taking an actual nova.

[johntfs]

Psiads are deliberately on the ‘dark star’ nova level and aren’t designed to go directly against high scale bruisers. If someone wants to play in those leagues I’d recommend taking an actual nova.

Exactly. There are roles for Psiads in Aberrant. There are roles for Talents in Aberrant. But they're not exactly going to be the "starring" roles. They're going to be the specialists and "sidekicks." They'll help the badass Novas find the clues, get where they need to be and maybe help take out some of the "bad guys'" troops, but they're not going to be playing Superman against Aberrant Doomsday except perhaps in very rare, fairly specialized circumstances.

While it centers on a character who is much closer to a Talent than a Nova, consider the show, Arrow - especially in the first couple-three seasons. Felicity Smoak was a brilliant hacker and John Diggle was a tough, combat-trained guy, but when it came down to saving the day and kicking the bad guys' collective ass, it came down to Oliver Queen. That said, the other two characters were still very important, both in terms of relationships and in solving the problem in the episode. Ideally, the same would be true for Psiad and/or Talent characters in an Aberrant game. There are absolutely roles for such characters but "front-line badass swinging dick super-person" won't likely be among them.

[Aliasi]

If you really want Psiads to be on a more similar level, houseruling that Quantakinesis is available does a lot to even the odds - while they don't have a "ignore Scale" gift like Talents do, they can utterly shut down or diminish quantum powers. This is probably one reason why it's disallowed in "canon", aside from the lore reasons.

[johntfs]

If you really want Psiads to be on a more similar level, houseruling that Quantakinesis is available does a lot to even the odds - while they don't have a "ignore Scale" gift like Talents do, they can utterly shut down or diminish quantum powers. This is probably one reason why it's disallowed in "canon", aside from the lore reasons.

True, but the odds aren't really supposed to be "even." Also, having most battles with Novas coming down to "Psiad Steve, nerf those guys!" would probably get old after a while.