I am not quite certain how using some powers at fettered strength works. Especially many of the telepathy powers that require a contested roll against the target. Can anyone clarify how the auto-succeeding fettered strength power would work with a power that required a contested roll?

I'm assuming you are referring to Table 6-1, where it says "No check, the power is activated."

As I read it, It's a poorly worded piece of text that doesn't convey the information it intends. Now, I am not very well versed in the Astropath rules, but I think I understand what's going on.

Activating a power requires a test, said test is modified by psy rating. The different levels of fettering modify your psy rating, and also your likelihood of causing phenomena. The "No check" refers to not checking for phenomena, as you cannot cause them at fettered strength.

So to answer your question, fettered powers do not auto-succeed, so no problems.

KarmicCycle said:

If it requires an opposed roll, you can't auto succeed unless the GM decides that your opponent's characteristic is just so small they wouldn't be able to resist the psyker even at fettered strength. The only auto successes that a player can really rely upon are minor effects that really have no major consequences. Affecting an NPC rarely is a minor act with no consequences.

If you're referring to table 6-1, the "no-check" clause for fettered is not referring to the focus power action, it is referring to checking if the power generates psychic phenomena or not. After all, why would a power used at it's weakest strength automatically succeed while one that's fully charged stand a chance of failing?

Edit: beaten to the punch...

I am forced to disagree. The rules state: "No check, the power is activated."

Seems to me that the power is activated and no check is made. Now, for Opposed powers, I would say that when used Fettered, you get only a basic success... the target would make his Opposed roll normally and would therefore be much more likely to resist the effect than if the power was used Unfettered.

Graver said:

This is my basic reasoning, too. And, if you are determined to follow the rules precisely as written, consider also that the description of the Focus Power action (Same Page) States that the use of any psychic power requires a focus power test.

So the RAW contradicts itself, and a judgement call needs to be made. Chalking it up to an editing oversight seems the simplest, and if we are to believe Ockham, the correct, solution.

LuciusT said:

Interpreting it that way doesn't make much sense.

Why would psychic power used at half strength automatically succeed, one used at full strength stand a chance of failure, and one used at greater then full strength have a better chance of success then one used at full strength but not as great of a chance of success as one used at half strength? There's no real logic or pattern there. However, a psychic power having the lest chance of success at half strength, greater chance of success at full, and best chance of success at greater then full makes numerical sense and has a clear pattern.

Beyond that, if the power auto-succeeds, then what of psychic Phenomena? Dose phenomena automatically happen, or do you have to roll something separate to see if it dose or doesn't as, if your interpretation is correct, then the table says nothing about whether phenomena occurs at featured strength or not and, if it might, how one would determine if it dose on a particular occasion or not. If no phenomena occur, then why would anyone ever use anything but Fettered strength? You auto succeed and no phenomena occurs to boot. Seems like the sweetest of all deals to me.