GURPSよろず

The essence of Telekinesis (TK) is moving distant objects with no more effort than a stare or a gesture – a gift seemingly possessed by every other god, psi, spirit, and wizard. TK isn’t always supernatural, though; spaceopera “tractor beams” and super-powered magnetism are also common explanations. The many faces of TK include:

Animated Objects: A spirit that uses Possession to occupy an object (like a statue) can use TK with Animation (-30%) to make it move around. If the spirit can only use its TK in conjunction with Possession, add an Accessibility limitation (-10%). A sorcerer who makes tables gallop and mannequins dance has Animation, too – with Independent (+70%), if the items keep doing what they’re doing without his attention. Together, Animation and Independent can animate one object per second. Total HP can’t exceed TK level, but homogenous objects count as having half their HP.

Attraction/Repulsion Field: Some force fields push everything nearby away from the user, or draw objects to him. Simulate this using Area Effect (+50%/level), Emanation (-20%), and one of Attraction (-60%), Repulsion (-60%), or Attraction/Repulsion (-30%). If the field is magnetic, add Magnetic (-50%), too. Being unable to turn this off is genuinely limiting – Always On is worth -20%.

Poltergeist Effect: Certain people are the nexus of random acts of telekinetic violence when under stress. Parapsychologists refer to this phenomenon as “recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis” (RSPK) or “the poltergeist effect.” Represent this with Area Effect (+50%/level), Emanation (-20%), Unconscious Only (-20%), and Uncontrollable (-30%). In general, combinations of Area Effect and Uncontrollable always cause chaos over a wide area.

Psychokinesis: Classic psionic psychokinesis is TK with the Psychokinesis power modifier (-10%).

Super-Magnetism: Some supers direct magnetic forces with laserlike precision. This isn’t realistic – all it has in common with real-world magnetism is that it can only affect ferrous metals, which calls for Magnetic (-50%). Increased Range (+10%/level) is common but not required.

Tractor Beam: Superscience devices that project force beams capable of pushing or pulling distant objects are found on starships, robots, and mecha. These “tractor beams” typically have high levels of Increased Range (+10%/level) and either Attraction (-60%) or Attraction/Repulsion (-30%), and are often Visible (-20%).

Telekinesis can have Area Effect, obviously. In combat, it must affect groups of foes in exactly the same way. Roll separately for each target, at a penalty equal to the number of targets, less one; see Area Effect (p. 100). Out of combat, it can aid any long task resolved using a single die roll (e.g., an Engineer roll to assemble a machine). The GM may let heroes use the rules under Time Spent (p. B346) to hasten such tasks.
For all collective uses, calculate Basic Lift from TK level and compare the weight of everything affected to find encumbrance level. Objects in the area travel at a Move equal to TK level, reduced by encumbrance as usual.

Alternatives
Flight (p. 50) with Enhanced Move (Air) (p. 49) costs fewer points than TK for levitation at a given top speed – although it doesn’t permit instant acceleration to full speed like TK does. Similarly, Innate Attack (p. 53) is less expensive than buying enough TK to inflict comparable damage with a telekinetic “punch.” It’s also more appropriate for force beams.
To get a force field that can lock onto and prevent damage from attacks that come in too fast for TK, buy Damage Resistance (p. 45) with Force Field. For a short-range force field that works a lot like Telekinesis, compare Stretching (p. 78) with Force Extension.
Some supers explain extraordinary strength as “zero-range telekinesis.” Represent this by buying ST and selling back the associated Hit Points. At 10 points per level for ST and -2 points per missing HP, this comes to 8 points per +1 ST. The GM may wish to allow modifiers on this ST; see Attributes as Abilities (p. 13) for guidelines.

New Special Enhancement
Super-Effort: The GM may allow the Super-Effort enhancement from Lifting ST (p. 58) on TK, too. This affects extra-effort lifts – not speed, damage, skill, or anything else. The only differences from the Lifting ST rules are that TK with Super-Effort works at a range and that its bonus adds to levels of TK that lack this modifier, not to personal ST (e.g., TK 20 gives ST 5,000, or adds 5,000 to unmodified TK, if any).

New Special Limitations
Specific (p. 112) is common for TK that originates from elemental powers. Some other limitations of importance:

Animation: Your TK works by enabling inanimate objects to flex. The minimum level required to animate something equals its HP if unliving, half its HP if homogenous (see Object Hit Points Table, p. B558). An animated object can grab, lift, strike, and throw with ST equal to the TK level needed to animate it. It has your DX. It can walk and jump if it isn’t fixed in place; Move equals your TK level minus the level needed to animate it. You can use skills through animated items – but note that objects other than statues and mannequins usually have No Fine Manipulators. Objects return to their rest state once you give up control. Adding Independent (p. 108) lets you animate multiple objects, but you must split your TK level among them. Your TK can’t reach inside things at all. -30% if the object can’t fly; -20% if it can, provided it has wings, rotors, etc. (like a toy dragon or model helicopter).

Attraction/Repulsion: Your TK can only move things directly toward or away from you. Take a Ready maneuver to move an unresisting object, or an Attack maneuver to affect an active opponent. Your TK can’t strike blows, manipulate objects, or hold an enemy in place or prevent him from attacking. Attraction simply causes objects to move until they’re in contact with you, whereupon they’re held there with your telekinetic ST until you turn off your ability. Repulsion shoves objects away from you until they reach the maximum range of your ability. In either case, objects can only move or be moved in the opposite direction if the mover wins a Quick Contest of his ST or TK level against your TK level. This limitation is incompatible with Animation. -60% for Attraction or Repulsion; -30% for Attraction/Repulsion (it takes a Ready maneuver to switch between the two).

Lift Only: Levels of TK with this limitation don’t add to telekinetic Move. -20%.

Move Only: Levels of TK with this limitation don’t add to telekinetic ST. -40%.

Powering Up
Telekinesis is the definitive element of Psychokinesis power, which is traditionally psionic. However, magical and spirit powers are equally likely to include TK, most gods can move objects with their cosmic powers (and enable their servitors to do the same via divine powers), and supers with elemental powers often use gravity, magnetism, or wind to produce similar effects. Talent adds to all DX and IQ rolls to use TK, and to TK level in Contests of ST (but not in general).

Telekinesis requires continuous concentration. There is no “activation time” – it begins working when you start concentrating and stops when you do. To use TK and take an action on your turn, buy Compartmentalized Mind (pp. 13-14. Furthermore, modifiers such as Reduced Time and Extended Duration cannot be added to this advantage (but see below).

Special Enhancements
Animate Life-Forms: Your TK works like Animation (GURPS Powers, p. 83), but you aren’t limited to controlling inanimate objects. You can take control of a person’s or animal’s body. This requires a Quick Contest of your telekinetic ST against the target’s ST. If you win, the target acts with its own ST and with your DX; its Move cannot exceed your margin of victory in the Quick Contest. +100%.

Animate Life-Forms, Partial: As above, but you can control just one body part of your target. This is easier to do; use the part’s hit location modifier as a bonus to your effective telekinetic ST. See Independent Body Parts (GURPS Powers, p. 52) for the capabilities of separate body parts. +20%.

Based on (Different Attribute): Telekinesis with this enhancement uses the same attribute for all rolls. For example, a psi with TK (Based on IQ) would roll against IQ to grapple a person, to wield a sword, or to help pick a lock. He could substitute (for example) an IQ-based Broadsword skill roll, if higher, to use the sword. +20%.

Reduced Time: In a cinematic campaign, the GM may allow Reduced Time solely to shorten the time it takes your TK to pick something up. For example, Reduced Time 1 would allow you to lift objects up to 8\BL in two seconds, up to 2\BL in one second, and up to BL as a free action, allowing you to pick it up and throw it on the same turn.

Special Limitations
Cannot Affect Self: Due to feedback issues or a lack of action-reaction, you cannot pick yourself up with your TK. This only refers to your use of the Telekinesis advantage; you are still allowed to buy Flight and justify it as “teking yourself.” -20%.

Cannot Punch: Your TK is the ability to move objects, specifically. You cannot punch a foe with an invisible fist; you need to pick something up and hit him with it. -10%.