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Psionic agent man.

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Sun, 2009-12-27 18:12

It that must no... It that must not be named's picture

Psionic agent man.

Can you deliberately infect someone with the macleod strain of the exsurgent virus to give him psionic powers and if so do you think that corps and governments would do so to produce psionic agents? Man, would this be a bitch for the jovian junta, huh? I mean, on one hand it makes powerful agents with weapons that don't show up on scanners and such, but on the other hand, it corrupts and pollutes their humanity, right? The idea of corps and gubmints producing psionic agents raises some interesting ideas.

—

"I learned the hard way that if you take a stand on any issue, no matter how insignificant, people will line up around the block to kick your ass over it." -Jesse "the mind" Ventura.

Sun, 2009-12-27 19:24

Deflare

Re: Psionic agent man.

The Watts-McLeod strain is explicitly said to be infectious (though only in the narrow window of 12-24 hours after the subject has been infected). As for what various secretive organizations do with this... Well, that's up to the GM, nie? I just can't help but think that Firewall isn't the only organization that thinks that the benefits of psi abilities outweigh the risks of the Watts-McLeod strain...

Mon, 2009-12-28 04:30

Haxar

Re: Psionic agent man.

It that must not be named wrote:
Can you deliberately infect someone with the macleod strain of the exsurgent virus to give him psionic powers and if so do you think that corps and governments would do so to produce psionic agents?

As a GM, I don't see why this couldn't happen. Some nut gets a copy of the strain and sets out to make new psionics. Cue game plot. As a player, well, you can try but this would be a red flag to the GM who could easily make this go wrong. Exsurgent viri aren't known for being the safest, most stable pieces of software. Again, cue game plot, only much worse for the PC who tried this :P

Mon, 2009-12-28 16:40

It that must no... It that must not be named's picture

Re: Psionic agent man.

Yes, when a player tries to give himself some advantage without paying the points, he's asking for it...

—

"I learned the hard way that if you take a stand on any issue, no matter how insignificant, people will line up around the block to kick your ass over it." -Jesse "the mind" Ventura.

Mon, 2009-12-28 20:36

GregH

Re: Psionic agent man.

Of course there's another twisted angle to this plot idea... The characters are investigating a secret plan to deliberately infect and create psi agents only to find the truth is far, far worse... The scientists and support staff involved in the project are Exsurgents, the "Watts-Macleod" that's being given is actually something masquarading as it, something waiting, just waiting for the right moment to use their telepathic abilities to synch up and become something far, far worse than any human governmental attempt to create the better spook.

Mon, 2009-12-28 22:44

It that must no... It that must not be named's picture

Re: Psionic agent man.

To play on what you've suggested, Greg, turn it around a little and say that someone is trying to create a mass outbreak of the WM strain to give everyone psionic powers in the well intended belief that such would improve human survivability in the future. I mean, the people behind this plot could have good intent. Hell, it could be a cell of firewall for frak's sake...

—

"I learned the hard way that if you take a stand on any issue, no matter how insignificant, people will line up around the block to kick your ass over it." -Jesse "the mind" Ventura.

Mon, 2009-12-28 23:24

GregH

Re: Psionic agent man.

... I LIKE that idea, maybe might go with that one... Add a former Firewall NPC agent ally as one of the head peeps and maybe the ruins of an alien race that tried something similar and there's a great campaign idea...

Tue, 2009-12-29 00:30

It that must no... It that must not be named's picture

Re: Psionic agent man.

The idea that giving everyone psionics might make humanity more likely to survive may actually have merit but by the same token it could be a disaster too. As an even further permutation upon this theme, imagine a habitat where the residents seek to steal a sample of the WM strain and use it to give themselves psionic powers. Now, how does firewall react? A. What, are you kidding?!?! STOP THEM AT ALL COSTS!!!!! B. Hmm, interesting situation here. Maybe we should allow them access to a low level strain of WM and observe the effects universal psionics has on a population. It could yield useful data that could aid human survival. C. Nuke the habitat for even planning something like that. As to how this could turn out, maybe it ends up like Rapture in bioshock, maybe not. Note the key difference between this idea and my earlier one: In the earlier one a group is seeking to force psionics on everyone because they think it's best. In this version a group decides by consensus and agreement to willingly expose themselves to WM and acquire psionic abilities. I believe firewall would possibly take a slightly less dim view of this plan than the "We know what's best for them and we're going to force it on them!" approach. As an even further variant on this potential laden meme, suppose the rednecks get tired of corporate oppression and seek to acquire the WM strain as a means of achieving enough power to fight the hypercorps on more equitable terms? Or a group of oppressed indentured workers take a similar approach? Perhaps firewall opts to help the workers attain better conditions thru other means to divert them from attaining the WM strain?

—

"I learned the hard way that if you take a stand on any issue, no matter how insignificant, people will line up around the block to kick your ass over it." -Jesse "the mind" Ventura.

Wed, 2009-12-30 09:56

Nahaj

Re: Psionic agent man.

Well there is a small problem (atleast from a game mechanics point of view) that would make this idea a bad idea. Even one level of Psi from infection from WM leads to 1 mental derangment, while sure alot of people will end up with something like hypochondria, you'll get pleanty that get things like auto canibalism (the human version of that octomorph one) as well as others that are just as dangerous, schizeophrenia, BPD, amongst others would even with large scale psychosurgery programs turn that habitat in to a a gibbering rapture-esque mess.

Wed, 2009-12-30 12:04

#10

It that must no... It that must not be named's picture

Re: Psionic agent man.

You're right, nahaj, but look at it from some other perspectives: 1. Some hardcase group may decide that those who succumb to insanity after being "upgraded" by the WM strain are unfit to live and will be eliminated, either by the forces of natural selection or by the more successful recipients of the upgrade. They may consider it a small price to pay for promoting humanities survival. 2. Some elitist types may decide that only the "weak minded" get mental illness from psionic abilities and that they are, obviously, so superior they will not succumb to such minor issues. See, from certain viewpoints pisonic powers may seem worth it even with the possible side effects.

—

"I learned the hard way that if you take a stand on any issue, no matter how insignificant, people will line up around the block to kick your ass over it." -Jesse "the mind" Ventura.

Wed, 2009-12-30 14:55

#11

Nahaj

Re: Psionic agent man.

I could see this being the case in some kind of fring Olympian group that has an O'Niel Cylinder and this is there means of culling the herd. But as a counter point EVERYONE infected with WM gets something it can be mild to severe. So do they only cull the ones that present with major mental illness or do they look for any mental illness, where would this line be drawn?