Psionic bonuses should change to trade value

[Bezborg]

Why does psionic give bonuses to energy? Why not trade value? Presumably, telepathy would be a major advantage in commerce… but operating power plants and generators? I’d sooner give that to cyborgs than psionics.

Weird, no?

 

[Pale Blue]

Psionic trait was made when there was no trade value. Just food, minerals and energy existed at that time and some rare resources which could not be produced like living metal, neutronium or dark matter.

 

[Dementor4]

True from a historical perspective. The real question is, then, why is it STILL an energy bonus instead of trade?

I mean, I can justify in my head why psionic aliens might make good technicians. The jobs which populate generator districts presumably represent the guys who maintain and repair the generators, and one can see how some level of extra-sensory perception or precognition would help with that. Telekinesis could help with interacting safely and precisely with high-voltage and radioactive components.

But here we're getting into another issue: what sort of psions are your species? Do they all possess the full range of mental powers? I think it would be interesting if you started off with a baseline psionic trait that you could grow expand to include different bonuses by researching psionic "technology". Maybe telekinesis could be a buff to your worker jobs, ESP would represent your research boost, telepathy might include a trade bonus.

 

[Grindcore]

To continue your idea, perhaps it makes sense that cyborgs would make better technicians and miners because they are stronger and speak the language of the rest of the machines

 

[TrotBot]

True from a historical perspective. The real question is, then, why is it STILL an energy bonus instead of trade?

I mean, I can justify in my head why psionic aliens might make good technicians. The jobs which populate generator districts presumably represent the guys who maintain and repair the generators, and one can see how some level of extra-sensory perception or precognition would help with that. Telekinesis could help with interacting safely and precisely with high-voltage and radioactive components.

But here we're getting into another issue: what sort of psions are your species? Do they all possess the full range of mental powers? I think it would be interesting if you started off with a baseline psionic trait that you could grow expand to include different bonuses by researching psionic "technology". Maybe telekinesis could be a buff to your worker jobs, ESP would represent your research boost, telepathy might include a trade bonus.

i think telepathy would help a lot with research too, like networked minds haha

 

[Dementor4]

i think telepathy would help a lot with research too, like networked minds haha

That's coming pretty close to hivemind territory though. Actually networking their brains together in that way seems like something that shouldn't really be possible for anything but a true hivemind, just conceptually. I've always assumed the research bonus represented ESP guiding them to the correct conclusions.

 

[TrotBot]

That's coming pretty close to hivemind territory though. Actually networking their brains together in that way seems like something that shouldn't really be possible for anything but a true hivemind, just conceptually. I've always assumed the research bonus represented ESP guiding them to the correct conclusions.

well, i wouldn't mind choice trees for psionics and a way to ascend to hive, or to ascend to powerful individual psionics, depending on your choices

 

[Dementor4]

well, i wouldn't mind choice trees for psionics and a way to ascend to hive, or to ascend to powerful individual psionics, depending on your choices

There are arguments for all three ascension types being able to lead to a collective consciousness. I don't mind the idea, but I don't think it should be an option unique to psionics.

 

[TrotBot]

There are arguments for all three ascension types being able to lead to a collective consciousness. I don't mind the idea, but I don't think it should be an option unique to psionics.

that would be pretty cool. maybe i make utopian abundant synths trying to liberate the galaxy and they become rogue servitor in the end game lol

 

[Bezborg]

True from a historical perspective. The real question is, then, why is it STILL an energy bonus instead of trade?

I mean, I can justify in my head why psionic aliens might make good technicians. The jobs which populate generator districts presumably represent the guys who maintain and repair the generators, and one can see how some level of extra-sensory perception or precognition would help with that. Telekinesis could help with interacting safely and precisely with high-voltage and radioactive components.

But here we're getting into another issue: what sort of psions are your species? Do they all possess the full range of mental powers? I think it would be interesting if you started off with a baseline psionic trait that you could grow expand to include different bonuses by researching psionic "technology". Maybe telekinesis could be a buff to your worker jobs, ESP would represent your research boost, telepathy might include a trade bonus.

Well, at the very least we have many references to mind-reading, with monitoring thoughts, telepaths as enforcers etc… so it’s definitely time to update the energy bonus to a trade value bonus

 

[Bezborg]

I've always assumed the research bonus represented ESP guiding them to the correct conclusions.

For me, I always thought they would be able to convey knowledge and data seamlessly and instantly between each other, over vast distances.

 

[Bezborg]

To continue your idea, perhaps it makes sense that cyborgs would make better technicians and miners because they are stronger and speak the language of the rest of the machines

Yep, fully agreed. Psionics should favour trade value and research as aspects of the mind, non-material values…

 

[Bezborg]

Psionic trait was made when there was no trade value. Just food, minerals and energy existed at that time and some rare resources which could not be produced like living metal, neutronium or dark matter.

Thank you for reminding me… it’s safe to say it’s time for another look, by the Custodians