Character Creation Step Four - Determine Supernatural Abilities

(Version 1.01 - Last Modified: 11/26/2003)

• Introduction
• Tables
• Descriptions

Introduction

With the massive amount of supernatural energy on Rifts Earth, a number of people have developed latent psionic powers. These powers, when they develop, vary from only a few psionic powers to the massive psychic abilities of the Mind Melter. In the years since the Coming of the Rifts, many people have come to accept these psionic powers as natural, but still view magic as unearthly and sometimes evil.

Human beings have had to learn to adapt on the genetic level with a world occupied not only by supernatural beings and ley lines, but filled with more magical energy than almost every other single place in the megaverse. These magical energies have permeated everything on Rifts Earth; the ground, the food, the water, the air, and even the native population. Within the last century, roughly two centuries after the Coming of the Rifts, more and more people are beginning to develop latent magical abilities similar to the psionic abilities that develop in some Humans since the Coming of the Rifts.

While not as common as the development of psionic abilities, these magical abilities are controllable by the people that possess them and they usually manifest in early childhood, with the child bringing them fully under control by puberty. Unfortunately, there are many places in the world that do not accept magical abilities, and those that possess latent abilities ignore the signs or are hunted down by the people that fear and hate magic. The magical abilities possessed by these people are natural and cannot be taught to others, similar to the Mystic OCC. Also, the person cannot gain new abilities; they will have the same abilities for the rest of their lives.

There are three ways to receive psionic or magical abilities. The first way is to select a character class that specializes in those areas, such as the Mind Melter or Ley Line Wizard. The second way is to select a character class that has minor abilities, such as the psionic abilities of the Operator, The third and final way to receive either psionic or magical abilities is to roll on the Supernatural Abilities table below. This table allows the character to have a random chance of developing a small level of psionic or magical abilities. A player may skip step four entirely if he or she does not want a character with magical or psionic abilities.

Tables

1. Table 1 - Determine Supernatural Abilities:
   
   

   Percentile	Effect
   01 - 50	No Supernatural Abilities
   51 - 65	Exceptional Amount of PPE (Roll of Table 2 - Exceptional Potential Psychic Energy)
   66 - 90	Psionic Abilities (Roll of Table 3 - Random Psionic Abilities)
   91 - 00	Magical Abilities (Roll of Table 4 - Random Magical Abilities)



2. Table 2 - Exceptional Potential Psychic Energy:
   
   

   Percentile	Effect
   01 - 25	Character has +1D6 PPE
   26 - 50	Character has +2D4 PPE
   51 - 75	Character has +3D6 PPE
   76 - 95	Character has +5D6 PPE
   96 - 00	Character has +1D6x10 PPE



3. Table 3 - Random Psionic Abilities:
   
   

   Percentile	Effect
   01 - 55	Minor Psionics
   56 - 90	Major Psionics
   91 - 00	Master Psionics



4. Table 4 - Random Magical Abilities:
   
   

   Percentile	Effect
   01 - 55	Inferior Magic
   56 - 90	Superior Magic
   91 - 00	Exceptional Magic

Descriptions

1. Exceptional Potential Psychic Energy:
   When rolling on this table (table 1), this person has additional PPE points, but has no skill in directing it towards natural psychic or magical abilities. This PPE is useful for making the character elligible for classes that require a specific amount of PPE, but it also makes them more of a target for PPE vampires and for things that can sense PPE energy.
2. Minor Psionics:
   A person with minor psionic abilities will possess only two psionic powers from one of the three lesser categories (Healer, Physical, and Sensitive) and will possess only ME +2D6 ISP, with an additional +1D6 ISP per level of experience, starting at level two. ISP is in addition to the amount possessed by the species. The psychic will save vs. psionics with a base save of 12.
3. Major Psionics:
   Major Psionics gives a person a much larger number of psychic abilities. The person can choose either eight powers from one of the three lesser categories (Healer, Physical, and Sensitive) or six powers from any of the three lesser categories, in either case the person will possess ME +4D6 ISP, with an additional +1D6+1 ISP per level of experience, starting at level two. ISP is in addition to the amount possessed by the species. The psychic will save vs. psionics with a base save of 12.
4. Master Psionics:
   A Master Psychic is often viewed with fear around the world, but these people do not have the real discipline to focus their powers properly, like a Mind Melter or a Burster. These people can choose ten powers from any of the lesser categories (Healer, Physical, and Sensitive) and two powers from the Super Psionic category. The person cannot choose any the following powers from the Super category: Astral Golem, Mentally Possess Others, Mind Wipe, Psi-Sword, or Psychosomatic Disease. The person will possess ME x2 +3D6 ISP, with an additional +2D4 ISP per level of experience, starting at level two. ISP is in addition to the amount possessed by the species. The psychic will save vs. psionics with a base save of 10. Even though the Master Psychic has super psionic powers, they do not possess the necessary skill or focus to use those powers perfectly. Each time they use a super psionic power, they will suffer 1D4 points of feedback damage and they will suffer from an intense pain in their head, causing -1 to all combat rolls and -5% to all skills for 1D4 melees, penalties and duration are cumlative for each use of a psionic power.
5. Inferior Magic:
   A person with inferior magical abilities will possess only a few spells and a small amount of PPE to cast them with. The person can choose two first level spells and one second level spell and will have PE + 2D6 PPE, with an additional +1D6 PPE per level of experience, starting at level two. PPE is in addition to the amount possessed by the species. The mage will save vs. all types of magic with a bonus of +1 and can use magical items or all types and techno-wizard items.
6. Superior Magic:
   People with superior magical abilities will posses a fair number of spells and a larger amount of PPE. The person can choose three first level spells, two second level spells, and one third level spell, and will have PE +5D6 PPE, with an additional +2D4 PPE per level of experience, starting at level two. PPE is in addition to the amount possessed by the species. The mage will save vs. all types of magic with a bonus of +2 and can use magical items or all types and techno-wizard items.
7. Exceptional Magic:
   A person with exceptional magical abilities has close to the same level of power as a full-fledged mage, but they lack the discipline and focus of standard magic users, such as the Ley Line Wizard. The person can choose four first level spells, three second level spells, two third level spells, two forth level spells, and one fifth level spell, and will have PE x2 +4D6 PPE, with an additional +2D6 PPE per level of experience, starting at level two. PPE is in addition to the amount possessed by the species. The mage will save vs. all types of magic with a bonus of +3 and can use magical items or all types and techno-wizard items. Even though the mage has exceptional magical abilities, they do not possess the necessary skill or focus to use those powers perfectly. Each time they use a forth or fifth level spell, they will suffer 1D4 points of feedback damage and they will suffer from an intense pain in their head, causing -1 to all combat rolls and -5% to all skills for 1D4 melees, penalties and duration are cumlative for each use of a magical spell.