Fun With Mind Reading

[ryanshowseason2]

I always liked the direction a couple different novels took mind reading namely The midnighter's series, The knife of never letting go and the ask and the answer. These all took the approach that mind reading was more like hearing everyone's internal monologue, you know how you think in english or whatever language you speak in your head. The knife of never letting go had an especially good depiction as it would every so often fill an entire page with what the character at that single moment was hearing in their head, the page would have various sizes and types of fonts all writing over each other some phrases and words being indecipherable some that were legible were disturbing it really got the tone down though of what the character was going through every moment of their life. In these books it existed as an always on kind of deal...
 
Which is cool until you realize that people don't stop thinking and the voices compound on each other and you're hearing everything from everyone around you all the time. To put it simply its chaos inside the heads of mind readers, and the ability is almost always more a hindrance than a help. Which is ok for dresden because compels = fate points.

If I were to run it I'd just make it a simple discipline roll to make sense of the chaos you're hearing, to pick out a single correct voice you want. The difficulties would go up depending on how populated the area is.

[Gatts]

I always liked the direction a couple different novels took mind reading namely The midnighter's series, The knife of never letting go and the ask and the answer. These all took the approach that mind reading was more like hearing everyone's internal monologue, you know how you think in english or whatever language you speak in your head. The knife of never letting go had an especially good depiction as it would every so often fill an entire page with what the character at that single moment was hearing in their head, the page would have various sizes and types of fonts all writing over each other some phrases and words being indecipherable some that were legible were disturbing it really got the tone down though of what the character was going through every moment of their life. In these books it existed as an always on kind of deal...
 
Which is cool until you realize that people don't stop thinking and the voices compound on each other and you're hearing everything from everyone around you all the time. To put it simply its chaos inside the heads of mind readers, and the ability is almost always more a hindrance than a help. Which is ok for dresden because compels = fate points.

If I were to run it I'd just make it a simple discipline roll to make sense of the chaos you're hearing, to pick out a single correct voice you want. The difficulties would go up depending on how populated the area is.

While cool, it seems like the kind of complex mechanism I'm trying to avoid. I'd much rather only be able to do it intentionally than have to constantly struggle with hearing everything. The game is set in London, so it would quickly drive anybody insane. 

[ryanshowseason2]

While cool, it seems like the kind of complex mechanism I'm trying to avoid. I'd much rather only be able to do it intentionally than have to constantly struggle with hearing everything. The game is set in London, so it would quickly drive anybody insane.  

Complicated how? Its one roll whenever you want to make use of it. And compels when the GM wants to use it...

I certainly wouldn't go into detail on it every scene of the game, only when it is relevant to the plot. Which is what the system is all about. I don't think going crazy is really a problem either, its just another noise to drown out, I've lived by an airport for 10 years and don't even notice it anymore. The tone of the books is different but making it melodramatic is often the realm of literature.

[Gatts]

Well, at heart that's not really the power itself, it doesn't have any sort of mechanism to let me read minds. That's what I meant by complex, it's purely a complication to an existing power. I'll consider it, because it's interesting and thematic, but it's another level of complexity to a power that I'm having trouble statting up in the first place.

[ryanshowseason2]

Well, at heart that's not really the power itself, it doesn't have any sort of mechanism to let me read minds. That's what I meant by complex, it's purely a complication to an existing power. I'll consider it, because it's interesting and thematic, but it's another level of complexity to a power that I'm having trouble statting up in the first place.

I think I can see what you're saying something like this:

Its more of a condition or trait of the character something that is constantly sustained rather than something that is activated.

I suppose it could be something like opening the 3rd eye, but hopefully less complicated and rulesy, just a discipline to concentrate and then GM compel time.

I'm not convinced much statting up needs be done on something like this either way, slap an appropriate refresh cost on and make a single roll just like a stunt.

I just had a wacky idea that might be more up your alley though, imagine that in the sight you have a 3rd 'ear' instead of an eye between your eyes. Have it work like a directional microphone for thoughts when you "open" or turn it on, or an always on thing. I just like the wacky thought of 3rd ear on the forehead, and having wizards solegaze and then rofling at it.

[Gatts]

I think I can see what you're saying something like this:

Its more of a condition or trait of the character something that is constantly sustained rather than something that is activated.

I suppose it could be something like opening the 3rd eye, but hopefully less complicated and rulesy, just a discipline to concentrate and then GM compel time.

I'm not convinced much statting up needs be done on something like this either way, slap an appropriate refresh cost on and make a single roll just like a stunt.

I just had a wacky idea that might be more up your alley though, imagine that in the sight you have a 3rd 'ear' instead of an eye between your eyes. Have it work like a directional microphone for thoughts when you "open" or turn it on, or an always on thing. I just like the wacky thought of 3rd ear on the forehead, and having wizards solegaze and then rofling at it.

I'm actually having a little trouble grasping what you mean here. What exactly would I be rolling to discover?

[ryanshowseason2]

Whatever you intend it to. I had trouble gauging what you wanted too. Do you want surface thoughts? or the ability to sift through memories and not so current thoughts? subconscious thoughts? Moods? You can make it whatever you want its your power.

[Gatts]

Whatever you intend it to. I had trouble gauging what you wanted too. Do you want surface thoughts? or the ability to sift through memories and not so current thoughts? subconscious thoughts? Moods? You can make it whatever you want its your power.

It was surface thoughts, preferably. Possibly with speed bonus to reading people.

The whole problem may be averted though, the my GM has come up with the idea of refluffing Inhuman Speed to apply to Social Combat. The bonuses going to Empathy and such, rather than Athletics.

[Becq]

I've only lightly skimmed some of the posts, so forgive me if I've missed something.  But some quick thoughts:

If you only want to be able to send/recieve thoughts with a willing person (like a mental radio), then I'd say the price should be low, perhaps -1 refresh.  It's similar to an inverted "Supernatural Sense".

If you want to be able to read the thoughts of an unwilling target, then this sounds a bit like an upgrade to Empathy(Reading People).  I'd price it at -1 again, but require the above power (or make it a -2 package to get both abilities).  This would allow you to make an Empathy roll to learn an Aspect or fact/thought, without the usual Empathy constraint of conversing for a while.

If you want to actually affect/alter the target's thoughts, then I'd use Incite Emotions as a template, but probably change it to a social-based power.  Start the pricing at -2 (which includes the 'Range' option from Incite).  The 'Lasting' and 'Potent' options could be added as normal to make the attack more powerful than the basic maneuver.