Post by David on Oct 24, 2005 18:32:22 GMT -5
Howdy folks,
Okay, I'll give you that psionics are just about THE most convoluted and distorted aspect of any version of Dnd I'm even passingly familiar with. So, in the interest of being clear AND helping illuminate what I conceptualize as psionics, here goes...
Psionics ARE:
* powers of the mind, like telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, clairvoyance, and the like
* are NOT powered by any sort of deity, spirit, or magical agency
* are derived from the mental processes of a living individual
* work within the confines of the physical sciences known to 21st Century Earth
* are those powers which appear regularly in science fiction novels and TV shows
Psionics are NOT:
* magical powers or another form of magical spell-casting
* able to defy the physical laws of reality (bending them is a TOTALLY different story)
* what passes for Sci-Fi on badly-written, exclusively-plot-driven shows
For my definition of psionics, unless the power or ability makes sense within the context of a SERIOUS science fiction novel or movie (Asimov, Niven, Heinlein, Clarke, or even Herbert, Piper, Foster, HG Wells, Bear, Vinge, Lucas, and even Anthony but NOT Zelazny) then it really isn't psionics but rather magic. Psionics do NOT over-write or restructure reality but rather are (to the 21st Century human viewpoint) a mysterious science and force, much like gravity, electro-magnetism, strong and weak attraction, etc. Psionics are the mental talents found in Traveler, Psi-World, Dune, and the X-Files, NOT those of early Star Trek, Farscape, or other fantasy-first-and-science-for-window-dressing settings. Heck, even Marvel (but not DC) comics uses a similar definition.
So, if someone has a psionic power they cannot do the impossible or grossly improbable.
Using psionics powers, which are fed by the living mind, someone with psionics MIGHT be able to:
* sense the thoughts or feelings of another being (which assumes some form of energy transferal OTHER than electrical)
* move, heat, chill, illuminate, or alter objects (which assumes the transfer of small amounts of kinetic energy, stored as latent potential)
* perceive events in different locations or at different times (which assumes a spiritual, non-magical continuity of life-energy)
* make alterations to the functioning of their bodies, such as walking on hot coals, enduring freezing temperatures, accelerated healing, etc (which assumes the conscious mind can meddle with the processes of the body's functions)
* access other dimensions or instantaneously relocate matter in this one (which assumes again, the transfer of small amounts of kinetic energy, stored as latent potential, and is probably the very edge of what should NOT be called magic)
Psionics are a methodology for doing something, requiring a fair amount of training and a great amount of conceptual understanding. Psionics must use those energies available to achieve a result that may or may not be evident.
Magic is a tool for doing a function that requires a great amount of training but very little conceptual understanding. Magic users use spells to achieve very specific results but have limited ability at variation.
Some more concrete examples of what I'm trying to express:
Using psionics, a telekinetic (add/subtract energy in the universe) can attempt to reorder the energy levels of atoms to create light, heat, motion, even molecular weaknesses and ultimately rearrangement. This ability can be applied in as many ways as the telekinetic can see fit, but only in ways that work within the law of physics. Thus, the psi can turn lead to gold ("minor "manipulation of the atomic nucleus) but CANNOT create wine from water (complex molecular structure) or alter living tissue and expect them to keep living. Simply, the amount of information required for the brain to process would take a dozen super-computers weeks to deal with.
In contrast a simple cantrip can (at least temporarily) turn water to gold pieces or even living grass. For magic, the imagination and visualization of the end result are really all that's important; how the result is achieved can be vague. In the same vein, magic can alter or obviate basic physical laws such as gravity or time.
Now, you might point out, that telekinesis is a clear violation of the First Law of Thermodynamics. That would be true if the potential energy (or enthalpy, if you will) represented by psionic energy were taken into account (assuming, of course, a universe where psionic energies are a fundamental force). In other words, the psionic entity is EXERTING or EXPENDING potential energy in order to move an object with his mind, thus, dropping his potential energy and remaining within the confines of the First Law. You can use this same explanation to deal with Newtonian mechanics, too.
Magic, on the other hand, doesn't give a damn about physics. You want an extra 8 zillion joules worth of heat? One fireball coming right up! Want a bunny for stew -- well with a wave of the hand and a few prayers, a warm meal weighing several pounds will just appear for you and your buddies to chow down on!
Hope this helps,
David
Okay, I'll give you that psionics are just about THE most convoluted and distorted aspect of any version of Dnd I'm even passingly familiar with. So, in the interest of being clear AND helping illuminate what I conceptualize as psionics, here goes...
Psionics ARE:
* powers of the mind, like telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, clairvoyance, and the like
* are NOT powered by any sort of deity, spirit, or magical agency
* are derived from the mental processes of a living individual
* work within the confines of the physical sciences known to 21st Century Earth
* are those powers which appear regularly in science fiction novels and TV shows
Psionics are NOT:
* magical powers or another form of magical spell-casting
* able to defy the physical laws of reality (bending them is a TOTALLY different story)
* what passes for Sci-Fi on badly-written, exclusively-plot-driven shows
For my definition of psionics, unless the power or ability makes sense within the context of a SERIOUS science fiction novel or movie (Asimov, Niven, Heinlein, Clarke, or even Herbert, Piper, Foster, HG Wells, Bear, Vinge, Lucas, and even Anthony but NOT Zelazny) then it really isn't psionics but rather magic. Psionics do NOT over-write or restructure reality but rather are (to the 21st Century human viewpoint) a mysterious science and force, much like gravity, electro-magnetism, strong and weak attraction, etc. Psionics are the mental talents found in Traveler, Psi-World, Dune, and the X-Files, NOT those of early Star Trek, Farscape, or other fantasy-first-and-science-for-window-dressing settings. Heck, even Marvel (but not DC) comics uses a similar definition.
So, if someone has a psionic power they cannot do the impossible or grossly improbable.
Using psionics powers, which are fed by the living mind, someone with psionics MIGHT be able to:
* sense the thoughts or feelings of another being (which assumes some form of energy transferal OTHER than electrical)
* move, heat, chill, illuminate, or alter objects (which assumes the transfer of small amounts of kinetic energy, stored as latent potential)
* perceive events in different locations or at different times (which assumes a spiritual, non-magical continuity of life-energy)
* make alterations to the functioning of their bodies, such as walking on hot coals, enduring freezing temperatures, accelerated healing, etc (which assumes the conscious mind can meddle with the processes of the body's functions)
* access other dimensions or instantaneously relocate matter in this one (which assumes again, the transfer of small amounts of kinetic energy, stored as latent potential, and is probably the very edge of what should NOT be called magic)
Psionics are a methodology for doing something, requiring a fair amount of training and a great amount of conceptual understanding. Psionics must use those energies available to achieve a result that may or may not be evident.
Magic is a tool for doing a function that requires a great amount of training but very little conceptual understanding. Magic users use spells to achieve very specific results but have limited ability at variation.
Some more concrete examples of what I'm trying to express:
Using psionics, a telekinetic (add/subtract energy in the universe) can attempt to reorder the energy levels of atoms to create light, heat, motion, even molecular weaknesses and ultimately rearrangement. This ability can be applied in as many ways as the telekinetic can see fit, but only in ways that work within the law of physics. Thus, the psi can turn lead to gold ("minor "manipulation of the atomic nucleus) but CANNOT create wine from water (complex molecular structure) or alter living tissue and expect them to keep living. Simply, the amount of information required for the brain to process would take a dozen super-computers weeks to deal with.
In contrast a simple cantrip can (at least temporarily) turn water to gold pieces or even living grass. For magic, the imagination and visualization of the end result are really all that's important; how the result is achieved can be vague. In the same vein, magic can alter or obviate basic physical laws such as gravity or time.
Now, you might point out, that telekinesis is a clear violation of the First Law of Thermodynamics. That would be true if the potential energy (or enthalpy, if you will) represented by psionic energy were taken into account (assuming, of course, a universe where psionic energies are a fundamental force). In other words, the psionic entity is EXERTING or EXPENDING potential energy in order to move an object with his mind, thus, dropping his potential energy and remaining within the confines of the First Law. You can use this same explanation to deal with Newtonian mechanics, too.
Magic, on the other hand, doesn't give a damn about physics. You want an extra 8 zillion joules worth of heat? One fireball coming right up! Want a bunny for stew -- well with a wave of the hand and a few prayers, a warm meal weighing several pounds will just appear for you and your buddies to chow down on!
Hope this helps,
David