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GURPS Psi-Tech TM Written by DAVID L. PULVER Edited by SEAN PUNCH Illustrated by ROD REIS and DAN SMITH An e23 Sourcebook for GURP S® STEVE JACKSON GAMES ® Stock #37-1665 Version 1.0 – August 2011 CONTENTS I NTRODUCTION . 3 3. BIO -P SI . 32 Recommended Books . 3 Ethics . 32 Publication History . 3 PSI -D RUGS AND NANODRUGS . 33 About the Author . 3 Accidental Drug-Induced Effects and Powers . 35 About GURPS . 3 THE GENETICS OF PSI . 35 Breeding and Cloning Psis . 35 1. THE SCIENCE OF PSI . 4 Psionic Microorganisms: Proteus Virus . 37 Timeline of Psi-Tech Research . 4 PSIBERNETICS AND SURGERY . 37 SCIENCE AND PSI . 4 Brain-Tissue Grafts (TL^) . 37 Chicken or Egg? . 5 Drones (TL^) . 37 Psi and Physics . 5 Neuro-Psi Implants (TL^) . 38 Who Benefits? . 5 Psibernetic Implants (TL^) . 38 AVAILABILITY OF PSI -T ECH . 5 Psiborgs (TL^) . 39 Tech Level . 5 Soma-Traumatic Latency Therapy (TL^) . 40 Cost and Accessibility . 6 Psi-Tech in Genre . 6 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 41 Books . 41 2. PSYCHOTRONICS . 7 Comics . 41 Equipment Statistics . 7 Manga and Anime . 41 Adjusting for SM . 8 Movies . 41 MUNDANE TECHNOLOGY AND LAB EQUIPMENT . 8 Television . 41 Kirlian Photography (TL6) . 8 Psi Testing Equipment (TL6) . 9 INDEX . 42 Sensory Deprivation (TL6) . 10 Electroencephalography (EEG) (TL7) . 10 EM Field Meter (TL7) . 11 Functional MRI (TL8) . 11 PSYCHOTRONIC EQUIPMENT . 11 Psi-Interface Technology . 11 Psychotronics and GURPS Ultra-Tech . 11 Psi-Amplifiers . 12 Psychotronic Generators . 13 Examples of Psychotronic Generators . 14 Other Augmentation Devices . 14 Anti-Psi Technology . 16 Astral Technology . 18 Dream Technology . 19 Ergokinetic and Information Technology . 20 Energy Reserve (Psi) . 21 Extrasensory Perception Technology . 22 Probability Alteration Technology . 23 Psychic Healing, Vampiric, and Biokinetic Devices . 23 Psychokinetic Technology . 25 Telepathic Technology . 25 Teleportation Technology . 30 Psychotronic Spaceships? . 31 GURPS System Design T STEVE JACKSON Page Design T PHIL REED and Marketing Director T PAUL CHAPMAN GURPS Line Editor T SEAN PUNCH JUSTIN DE WITT Director of Sales T ROSS JEPSON Managing Editor T PHILIP REED Art Director T SAMUEL MITSCHKE GURPS FAQ M aintainer T ––––––– e23 Manager T STEVEN MARSH Production Artist & Indexer T NIKOLA VRTIS VICKY “MOLOKH” KOLENKO Prepress Checker T MONICA STEPHENS CONTENTS 2 I NTRODUCTION In settings that feature psionic powers , especially in horror Campaigns offers useful advice to GMs regarding the origin and science fiction , there ’s often a paranormal interface of psi and the place of psychotronics in the game world, between mind and machine , a place where psi and science while GURPS Psis is of similar value to players . In addition, meet. This may mean simple testing . or miraculous technol - Psi-Tech ’s rules for bio-psi technology work well with those ogy . The innovations can be sufficiently world-changing – or for genetics and biotechnology in GURPS Bio-Tech, and the experiments, so horrific – that they ’re capable of motivat - many of its gadgets complement items described in GURPS ing heroes and inspiring scenarios , even entire campaigns. Ultra-Tech. This is the realm of GURPS Psi-Tech. Where GURPS Psionic Powers gives you the psi, these pages add the -tech and show you how to incorporate the PUBLICATION HISTORY resulting combination into your campaign. Described within Much of the material in Psi-Tech was adapted from are psychotronic machines and biotechnologies that enhance GURPS Psionics , also by David L. Pulver. The rules for brain - or emulate psionic powers, as well as devices that work on the tissue grafts are derived from GURPS Psionic Campaigns , by same principles as psionics. The examples run the gamut from Jason “PK ” Levine. mundane lab equipment repurposed for paranormal research to out-and-out superscience – gadgets, drugs, genetic engineer - ing, and surgery that become possible in a world with psi. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David L. Pulver is a freelance writer and game designer based in Victoria, British Columbia. He is coauthor of the RECOMMENDED BOOKS GURPS Basic Set , Fourth Edition and author of Transhuman GURPS Psionic Powers is the only supplement required Space, GURPS Mass Combat, GURPS Spaceships, and to make proper use of Psi-Tech. However, GURPS Psionic numerous other gaming products. About GURPS Steve Jackson Games is committed to full support of Internet. Visit us on the World Wide Web at GURPS players. Our address is SJ Games, P.O. Box www.sjgames.com for errata, updates, Q&A, and much 18957, Austin, TX 78760. Please include a self-addressed, more. To discuss GURPS with our staff and your fellow stamped envelope (SASE) any time you write us! gamers, visit our forums at forums.sjgames.com . The We can also be reached by e-mail: [email protected] . web page for GURPS Psi-Tech can be found by going to Resources include: gurps.sjgames.com/psi-tech . Bibliographies. Many of our books have extensive bib - New supplements and adventures. GURPS continues to liographies, and we’re putting them online – with links to grow – see what’s new at gurps.sjgames.com . let you buy the resources that interest you! Go to each e23. Our e-publishing division offers GURPS adven - book’s web page and look for the “Bibliography” link. tures, play aids, and support in PDF form . digital copies Errata. Everyone makes mistakes, including us – but we of our books, plus exclusive material available only on e23! do our best to fix our errors. Up-to-date errata pages for all Just head over to e23.sjgames.com . GURPS releases, including this book, are available on our Pyramid (pyramid.sjgames.com ). Our monthly PDF website – see above. magazine includes new rules and articles for GURPS , sys - temless locations, adventures, and much more. Look for Rules and statistics in this book are specifically for the each themed issue from e23! GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. Page references that begin with B refer to that book, not this one. Special Thanks: Peggy Pulver Additional Material and Reviewer: Jason “PK” Levine Playtesters: Frederick Brackin, Roger Burton West, Steve Kenson, Kenneth Peters, Christopher R. Rice, and Dustin Tranberg GURPS , Warehouse 23, and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Pyramid , Psi-Tech, e23, and the names of all products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license. GURPS Psi-Tech is copyright © 2011 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this material via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. INTRODUCTION 3 CHAPTER ONE THE SCIENCE OF PSI “Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to introduce Nobel lau - “And yes, your eyes are not deceiving you: Alex is now levitat - reate Dr. Paul Wixom, director of our bio-energetics division at ing herself one meter above the ground. ” Chulan Laboratories. The young woman beside him , wearing If psionic powers are understood by science, then they can that rather outlandish helmet , is subject AL-19, who I am sure be joined with advanced technology to produce effects unob - some of you recognize from the partial report leaked last week to tainable by natural psionic gifts. This is the essence of psi-tech . the tabloid press. Dr. Wixom? ” “Thank you, Dr. Severin. I ’m glad so many of you could make it on such short notice. We have a peer-reviewed article awaiting publication, but recent Timeline of Psi-Tech Research events have convinced us that a For over a century, psi has been the subject of scientific (or pseudoscientific ) demonstration before the press is in the research. This has mostly been under the banner of parapsychology, aimed at public interest. exploring the nature of psychic phenomena in human subjects. However, some “Ladies and gentlemen, the term psi study has involved technological developments. The GM may wish to incorporate has denoted the existence of anomalous such elements into the campaign background when using the real world as a set - processes of energy or information ting for psionic adventures: transfer that are presently unexplained 1919-1922 – Albert Abrams, an American, popularizes the concepts of a human in terms of known biophysical mecha - energy field and psychic healing via “radionic” devices that emit such life energy. nisms. Despite more than a century of 1924 – German doctor Hans Berger is the first to record human brainwaves scientific inquiry, psi has been too (EEG), inspired by his interest in telepathic research. unpredictable or weak to measure 1939 – First Kirlian photographs taken, in the Soviet Union. Techniques remain clearly. Many doubted its existence. largely unknown in the West until the 1970s. “That changes now. Using the 1973 – First International Congress on Psychotronic Research, in Prague. It’s Wixom-Coldwell mind amplifier and noted for demonstrating the “psychotronic generators” developed by Czech her own unique mental gifts, the young inventor Robert Pavlita and for popularizing the term “psychotronics” as a woman known to you as AL-19 – who synonym for psi-enhancing gadgetry (rather than as an alternative term for I can reveal is Alexandra Lodge, 19 psi, its original coinage). years old – will today demonstrate 1975 – United States Psychotronics Association founded, making it one of the unequivocal proof of the psi function earliest Western organizations to focus on psychotronic psi-tech. known as psychokinesis. SCIENCE AND PSI Psionic technology falls into three broad categories : Bio-psi technology is based on the assumption that psionic capabilities are generated by the brain and have a biochemical Mundane psi technology consists of ordinary equipment basis.
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