New Psiad edges

[NewK]

I have a setting that includes psaids rather than psions and was wondering if these edges would be terribly unbalancing:

Advanced Aptitude (***)

Psiads only, must have at least one dot in the Aptitude (at generation).

A very few psiads, mostly those who have a family history of strong psiads, have reached further than their fellows in mastering the most difficult aptitudes. This allows them to select quantakenesis or teleportation as a primary aptitude. This edge can only be taken once.

Focused Mode (***)

Prerequisites: Psiads only. Must have a Psi of 5, and be at their current maximum for the chosen mode.

By honing their potential, some psiads start to touch the first glimmers of what mankind's ultimate noetic destiny might be, and can add a second instance of Strong mode. As with Strong mode, this allows them to increase the number of dots in the mode by 1, and also grants 2 enhancement.
Notably, Focused mode cannot be added to a mode already benefitting from Strong Mode. Some powers remain beyond the reach of even the most adept psiads.

[Mateus Luz]

I like your ideas,

The first have two small issues: Psiads start with Psi 2 and need at least 3 to be able to pick Teleportation and Quantakinesis. Also, QK is treated as a primary aptitude once the character have Psi 3 (all Psiads with Psi 3+ after 2104 have 3 primary Aptitudes), so it can be used only on Teleportation.

The second is great, it gives the feeling of “trained hard to go beyond my limits”. Maybe you can divide it in a 3 stage edge, first dot allow the Psiad to reach the 4th dot of the mode even without having it, second dot grants a +2 enhancement and third dot allow the character to get that extra dot. Also, if the idea is to give access to a second Strong Mode, maybe the pre requisite should be in Strong Mode too.

[Bunyip]

Advanced Aptitude - Quantakinesis is already a primary Aptitude for every psiad, you just need to reach Psi 3 for it to be ‘opened’ (and be in the right time period). With Teleportation, it’s fine but is essentially just an XP/Edge dot tax. If you want people to be able to take Teleportation as primary, I’d suggest to just do it.

The reason why no psiad has teleportation as a primary is that psiads grow into their psi organically. There’s no ‘strong latency’ for a psiad as they’re not blocked and have their psi build up as a pressure response like latents do. Every psiad learns their psi as they go, picking up their first Aptitudes as they grow. Since no human psi user can teleport at less than Psi 3, no psiad discovers teleportation before the other six Aptitudes.

Focused Mode - It’s not bad, but it’s *shrug*. If you want characters to be able to have a second Strong Mode, again just allow it (but not twice for the same Aptitude). If you want restriction, say the second instance can’t be purchased until Psi 5.

[Shepherdboi]

Taking Teleportation as a Primary Aptitude instead of another probably shouldn't cost three dots, since it is only a substitution. The Edge should also note that - because you can't start with any dots in Teleportation - either all three of your starting power dots go into your other Primary Aptitude or one can be placed in a Secondary Aptitude. Maybe something like:

Teleporting Prodigy (**)

Prerequisites: Psiad only, must be taken at character creation

You have a natural talent for Teleportation, allowing you to take it as a Primary Aptitude at character creation. Since you cannot start with any dots in Teleportation powers, you may either allocate three dots to your other Primary Aptitude, or two dots to that Aptitude and one dot to a Secondary Aptitude of your choice.

Multisensory Attunement (**)

Prerequisites: Psiad only

Your Psiad flexibility has allowed you to become so practiced with your noetic senses that you can benefit from several at once without significantly degrading your skill. You may choose to activate up to as many sensory boosting powers as you possess at the same time, using the smallest dice pool and Enhancement from among the powers chosen. The full number of successes rolled applies to each sensory power, rather than being divided among them. For example, Janet activates Biosense (5 dice + 2 Enhancement), Sense Spectrum (6 dice + 3 Enhancement), and Subquantum Sense (4 dice + 3 Enhancement). She rolls 4 dice + 2 Enhancement and gets 3 successes, applying all 3 successes to each of the powers.

Favored Method (***)

Prerequisites: Psiad or Psion

Choose a reasonably specific and uncommon activity, subject to Storyguide approval. Examples include jogging, meditating, dancing, and cooking. Receive 1 Enhancement to powers used while engaged in that activity. If you cease performing the activity, the power ends immediately regardless of how long the duration is supposed to be, unless you commit Psi points to maintain the power.

[johntfs]

Advanced Aptitude - Quantakinesis is already a primary Aptitude for every psiad, you just need to reach Psi 3 for it to be ‘opened’ (and be in the right time period). With Teleportation, it’s fine but is essentially just an XP/Edge dot tax. If you want people to be able to take Teleportation as primary, I’d suggest to just do it.

The reason why no psiad has teleportation as a primary is that psiads grow into their psi organically. There’s no ‘strong latency’ for a psiad as they’re not blocked and have their psi build up as a pressure response like latents do. Every psiad learns their psi as they go, picking up their first Aptitudes as they grow. Since no human psi user can teleport at less than Psi 3, no psiad discovers teleportation before the other six Aptitudes.

Focused Mode - It’s not bad, but it’s *shrug*. If you want characters to be able to have a second Strong Mode, again just allow it (but not twice for the same Aptitude). If you want restriction, say the second instance can’t be purchased until Psi 5.

One possible "fix" for that would be to say that a Psiad can pick Teleportation as a Primary aptitude and place one of their initial Mode dots into it. However, they won't be able to actually use that dot until they acquire a Psi of 3.

Alternately you could rule that the Step 6 bit of pick one additional attribute point could instead be an additional point of Psi similar to what Psions can choose to do.

[Mateus Luz]

Alternately you could rule that the Step 6 bit of pick one additional attribute point could instead be an additional point of Psi similar to what Psions can choose to do.

That is probably the best option, maybe add a line in the edge with something like:
This edge must be chosen during character creation, and instead of gaining an extra Attribute dot in step 6, the character will increase Psi to 3 (what usually is not allowed to Psiads).

[Bunyip]

I don’t agree that there’s a need for a ‘fix’, but if groups want to allow it, just allow it. You don’t need to make clauses and hurdles to overcome something that you’re trying to allow.

[johntfs]

That is probably the best option, maybe add a line in the edge with something like:
This edge must be chosen during character creation, and instead of gaining an extra Attribute dot in step 6, the character will increase Psi to 3 (what usually is not allowed to Psiads).

Figure what Bunyip said. If you want to allow Psiads to have Teleportation as a Primary Aptitude just do that with the idea that they have the option at Step 6 to trade their additional Attribute point for a 3rd point of Psi. Of course, doing that also opens Quantakinesis at character creation, but there's no reason the normal Dot spread can't work. Even if you have 3 Primary Aptitudes, you still put 2 Dots in one of them and 1 in a second.