The following rules are established as guidelines for how individuals are affected by psychic shields.
The weakest form of psychic shield, Psychic Defense serves only to bolster the subject's own psychic defenses. This kind of shield will not block Trump contacts, but it will inhibit the user from making any form of psychic attack.
A Psychic Shield is a medium-level shield that will prevent all use of Trump and inhibit the protected individual from using any magics which involve mental contact (casting of, or being affected by). Though not especially vulnerable to external applications of the greater powers, this level of shield does not allow the user to manifest either Pattern or Logrus and keep the shield active. (The shield will shut down if the user calls up either the Pattern or the Logrus.) This level of shield is not glaringly obvious as the Psychic Barrier is, and an individual with high-ranked psyche may be able to find a back door through the shield with a few hours study.
Psychic Neutrality hides the auras of an object or person, such that one cannot ascertain whether the person is real, and what powers he or she might possess. Note that the shielding itself is only perceived if a person concentrates on the individual, at which point he or she will recognize that some kind of shield is in place. Psychic Neutrality does not prevent Trump contact, though it does inhibit psychic contact by magic, eye contact, and physical contact.
Psychic Barriers are loud and obvious to anyone with ranked Psyche. A Psychic Barrier will prevent all use of Trump and inhibit the protected individual from using any magics which involve mental contact (casting of, or being affected by). It is, however, still possible to manifest Pattern or Logrus, though Logrus Sight and the Pattern Lens will not work.
Psychic Invisibility causes the individual to be both invisible to supernatural perceptions and to the naked eye. Essentially, it's a greatly enhanced form of Psychic Neutrality. The individual is hidden, as is everything on his or her person. Only a person of incredible psyche (1st-ranked or Fiona) can even perceive that someone is present, though he or she will not be able to identify the individual. As with a Psychic Barrier, it is impossible to use Trump and some forms of magic while the shield is active. Strangely enough, it is also impossible to manifest Pattern or Logrus while the shield is active.
Psychic Void is a strange sort or shield. Although it is much stronger than a Psychic Barrier, it cannot be perceived from the outside, and anyone who attempts to make psychic contact will be affected by the Void, which can cause serious damage to a person's psyche. The Psychic Void temporarily drains psychic strength from anyone who attempts to make contact with the individual using the shield. The individual may use Trump and cast any spells, and the Void will have no affect. It is only when an outside entity attempts to make contact that the Void is activated.
The Psychic Blocker is a technological tool created on RLW 1289. It is an implant that can force a psychic shield on an individual, thus negating his or her psychic abilities. Activated by mental command, the implant essentially confers a 4-Point Psychic Barrier on the victim, once the wielder has made eye contact or psychic contact. The shield only lasts as long as the individual is within visual range.
[Implant Quality: 10; Confer Quality: 5; Psychic Barrier: 4; Psychic Sensitivity: 1]
The following disadvantages occur when an individual is using a psychic shield.
Please note that these are only guidelines; they are not meant to be 'writ in stone.' If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact the GM.
All text on this page is © 1997-2000 by Matthew Richardson and Kris Fazzari.
Last modified on August 31, 2000 by Kris Fazzari.