Psionics

In the Genesys RPG, Psionics work exactly like magic, using 2 strain to use the power, and rolling a Psionics skill check. However, for Pathfinder Second Edition, Psionics requires a slightly different method. Because Psionics is more free-flowing, and does not require spell slots, nor are they quite Focus Spells, they fall into a new category: Mysticism.

The Mysticism skill allows the user to create the base effects when trained, adding more potent effects the more proficient the caster is. Additionally, Mysticism can be used to recall knowledge on Psionics, creatures that use psionics, or lore around Psionics.

Preferably, the variant rules of Stamina are best practice here, or Spell Points (another homebrew system for Pathfinder Second Edition in the works), though in the Spellcraft rules to follow later I’ll give an example of how to use this system with spell slots.

As for the various psionic powers and effects, well check them out below!

For Genesys Roleplaying Game

Like the Seven Spheres setting, I designed these rules for Genesys specifically, mostly because of how easy it is to make such things in the system. As stated above, to use Psionics, you must have at least one rank in Psionics to use these powers, and it costs 2 strain to use these powers.

Psionics (Mysticism) (Willpower)

The power of psionic is the mind and will of the user to affect the world around them. Psionics isn’t like other magic, its ability is limited to a set of powers listed below. Psionics can also be called Ki or Chi, or Mystic

Using psionics powers is similar to casting a spell, each power is easy (), upgrading grants additional powers.

Your character should use this skill if you want to

Move things with your mind, including yourself
Enhancing your physical form by unlocking your mental potential
Recall knowledge of kinetic powers and psionics

Your character should not use this skill if you want to:

Read or control minds.
Use magic or spells, This isn’t magic
Recall knowledge of physics, you want knowledge science or lore.

Spending and on Psionics powers

Cost	Result Options
or	The effort of the kinesis power exhausts the character, and they suffer 2 strain or 1 wound (controlling pc’s choice)This character adds on any kinesis powers until the end of the encounter.
or	The power throws the user off balance, and grants on any checks for the next round. If the character is already off balance, he is instead knocked prone.Until the end of the encounter, enemy kinesis users add when using kinesis powers that target this character.
or	The power is slightly more powerful than expected, one character of the GM’s choice is targeted or otherwise affected by this power as well.All other kinesis users within a day’s travel become aware of the character (and depending on their disposition, may be very interested in finding them)
	The character overexerts themselves, and are unable to use kinesis powers for the rest of the encounter.The GM picks the target of the character’s power, if the user is an NPC, the controlling player picks the target of the power instead.
	The character completely lose control over their kinetic powers, suffering one Critical Injury. At the GM’s discretion, the character may lose their kinetic powers for several encounters (or after a long rest).

Psionics Powers

List of Psionics powers and their upgrades

Bind

The Psionic user restrains an enemy, preventing the target from acting. Roll a psionics vs resilience check. Success means the user immobilizes a target within short range until the end of the user’s next turn. The target may attempt to break the bind using a vs resilience check against the user’s kinesis.

Bind Additional Effects

Effects	Difficulty Mod
Range: Increase the range band by one	+
Disorient: Causes the target to be disoriented per success	+
Duration: Affects the target for an additional turn	+
Additional Target: Choose one additional target.	+

Enhance

The psionics user temporarily enhances his physical prowess for a short amount of time. For each success, the user enhances one skill that uses Athletics or Coordination skill for the next round, supplying one or on the check.

Enhance Additional Effect

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Duration: Increase duration per round on each	+
General Skill: Choose one general skill based on brawn or agility	+
Combat Skill: Choose one combat skill to increase	+
Increased Will: Increase Discipline or Vigilance skill	+
Soak: Increase soak threshold by 1 per	+
Defense: Grant a defense of 1	+
Kinetic Leap: Increase the range band of running or jumping by one	+

Farsight/Hearing

The Psionic user expands normal visual or audible senses using this power This allows the user to remove from any checks for audible or visual skill checks (such as vigilance or perception) for the remainder of the round or up to one minute outside of combat, up to medium range.

Farsight/Hearing Additional Effects

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Duration: Increase the duration by one per	+
Range: Increase the range to long	+
Greater Hearing/ Sight: Remove up to from any perception or vigilance checks	+
Acute Details: Increase the details seen or heard up to medium range to very fine details	+
Superior Sense: Grant the user infrared sight or super sonic hearing for the next round	+

Levitate

This power allows the user to float and move themselves around. The user makes an average psionics check to levitate for one round and move up to short range in that round.

Levitate Additional Effects

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Range: Increase the range of movement by one range band	+
Duration: Increase the duration of levitation by one round per	+
Additional Target: Target another person or object of silhouette 1	+
Air Bubble: Create an atmospheric sphere around yourself up to engaged	+

Manipulate

The psionics user shapes machine components on a molecular level, allowing them to mend damaged mechanical systems. The user repairs one damage to a damaged item , or if on a vehicle, recover one system strain for the vehicle that they are engaged with.

Manipulate Additional Effects

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Repair: Increase the damage repaired per on damaged items or system strain on vehicles.	+
Destroy: Cause damage to an item or vehicle per	+
Range: Increase the range by one band	+
Control: Control a mechanical device or vehicle for one round	+

Move

The psionics user can move small objects using Psionics. The user may move one object of silhouette 0 that is within short range up to his maximum range. The default maximum is short range.

Move Additional Effect

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Size: Increase the silhouette by 1	+
Range: Increase the range by one range band	+
Throw: Throw the object as a ranged attack, dealing damage 5+ (2xsilhouette, minimum 1)	+
Additional Target: Move one additional object	+

Misdirect

The Psionic uses mind tricks to fool his target. Choose one target within short range, with a the target is unable to perceive a chosen person or object of silhouette 1 or smaller, this lasts for a number of rounds per success

Misdirect Additional Effects

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Duration: Increase the duration by 1 per	+
Quantity: Increase the number of objects or person by 1	+
Additional Targets: Increase the number of targets by 1 per	+
Size: Increase the silhouette size you are choosing	+

Protect

The psionics user guides the flow of mental energy, protecting themselves and or others. The user makes a psionics check and rolls an Average () difficulty. Reduce the damage from attacks that hit himself or an engaged character by an amount equal to willpower

Protect Additional Effect

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Damage reduction: Increase the damage reduction per	+
Shield: For one round, grant 1 defense	+
Duration: Increase duration of protect for a number of rounds per	+
Reflect: Give your protect power reflection 2	+
Range: Increase the range by one range band	+
Additional Targets: Select a number of targets to protect, up to your willpower.	+

Sense

The psionics user can sense energies, including magical/mystical energies in the world around them. On success, the psionics user can sense one of the following and must determine what they are sensing for: living beings, psionics energy, one type of magical energy (arcane, divine, primal, or occult), emotional state of one living target within engaged range of the psionics user.

Sense Additional Powers

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Range: Increase the range by one range band	+
Duration: Increase duration of sense a number of rounds per	+
Premonition: Apply on one target you are sensing when they attempt a skill check against you	+
Ready for it: Add a for vigilance or cool for initiative checks.	+
Know What’s Coming: Upgrade difficulty of target’s combat check, can be used as an out-of-turn incidental	+

Suppress

The psionics user can weaken their target or suppress their powers. If the user chooses to weaken their target, the target takes on any skill checks that use brawn. The user can instead suppress the powers of their target. Roll a psionics vs (magic skill) on each the target’s magic is suppressed per round , the target takes when the target attempts to use any of the magic skills they may have. This can only affect targets within short range

Suppress Additional Effects

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Duration: Increase duration by 1 round per	+
Range: Increase range by one range band	+
Greater suppression: Increase the number of per	+
Additional Target: Choose one additional target to suppress	+
Slow: You can instead suppress agility instead of brawn.	+

Unleash

The psionic user unleashes a wave of energy out from him, causing damage and possibly pushing back other targets. Make an Average () difficulty kinesis check against a target target within short range, success, the target takes damage equal to willpower plus one damage per uncanceled , and one strain per uncanceled .

Unleash Additional Powers

Effect	Difficulty Mod
Range: Increase range by one range band	+
Additional Targets: Increase the number of targets by one, as long as they are engaged	+
Non-lethal Blast: The power gains the stun damage quality	+
Impact: The power gains the knock down quality	+
Empowered: Double the damage output	+
Blast: The power gains the blast quality equal to your ranks in discipline	+
Destructive: The power gains the sunder quality, and gains the pierce quality with a rating equal to the character’s rank in discipline	+
Shove: Push the target back up to one full range band away	+
Burst: Create a burst that affects all targets in short range.	+
Deadly: The power gains a critical rating of 2, and gains the vicious quality with a rating equal to the character’s rank in discipline	+

For Pathfinder Second Edition

Converting from the initial system I designed this for to pf2e was a small challenge, but the rules are simple: the DCs are based on class level. Critical Success increase the effect, and Critical Failures cause the user to take a d8 non-lethal damage per 2 raises, showing the strain this caused them.

For the moment, using each effect follows the rules for Focus Spell casting, they have the Mysticism and Mental Traits, and resisting effects is based on Class DC. the Spell Attack is based on Wisdom

Bind

The psionic user restrains an enemy, preventing the target from acting. Roll a mysticism vs fortitude dc. Success means the user immobilizes a target within 30 feet until the end of the user’s next turn. The target may attempt to break the bind using a fortitude check against the user’s class dc.

Bind Additional Effects

Effects	Difficulty Raise
Range: Increase the range by 30 feet	+1
Disorient: Causes the target to be disoriented 1	+1
Duration: Affects the target for an additional turn	+1
Additional Target: Choose one additional target.	+2