Welcome to what I hope will be a continuing series of articles on psychic powers for your 40K game. I'll presenting psychic disciplines created from whole cloth along new powers for existing disciplines. Feedback is welcomed along with ideas of what you the reader would like to see. The series begins with the Photokinesis discipline.
Photokinesis
A rare and unusual psychic discipline rarely seen in these grim days though fragments of lore held in ancient data looms indicate it was better known in the Age of Strife. Photokinetics, colloquially known as the Illuminated use their affinity for light to generate frightening blasts reminiscent of las weapons, create light from nothing or banish it completely, and are even rumored to be able to disappear from sight.
Argent Lance
Alternate Name:
Sol’s Hammer
Value:
400xp
Prerequisite:
Psy Rating 4, Lumen Control, Chromatic Barb
Action:
Half Action
Focus Power:
Challenging (+0) Willpower Test
Range:
50 meters per Psy rating
Sustained:
No
Subtype:
Attack
Description:
A brilliant beam of pure light erupts in front of the psyker and strikes with the fury of the sun. Just as day conquers night so does the pysker overwhelm even the mightiest of foes.
This power is a Psychic Bolt that deals 2d10 Energy Damage, +3 per point of Psy Rating Damage with a Pen of Psy Rating with the Felling (Psy Rating) and Tearing qualities.
Blinding Flash
Alternate Names:
Flare, Dazzle
Value:
100xp
Prerequisites:
Lumen Control
Action:
Half Action
Focus Power:
Routine (+10) Willpower Test
Range:
4m x Psy Rating Radius
Sustained:
No
Subtype:
Attack, Concentration
Description:
The psyker generates a brilliant, eye-searing blast of light blinding all within line of sight who see it. Beings lacking visual organs and those with optical protection (e.g. Good-craftsmanship photo-visor) are unaffected. Everyone affected must make an Agility Test or be blinded (see page 257 of Black Crusade) for a number of rounds equal to 1d10 times the psyker’s Psy Rating. For every two degrees of success on the Focus Power roll increase the difficulty of the Agility Test by -10. The psyker is immune to the effects of this power and similar effects.
Chromatic Barb
Alternate Name:
Prismatic Spear, Sol’s Fist
Value:
200xp
Prerequisite:
Lumen Control
Action:
Half Action
Focus Power:
Ordinary (+10) Willpower Test
Range:
40 meters per Psy rating
Sustained:
No
Subtype:
Attack
Description:
The psyker amplifies the ambient light through the lens of his will generating a multi-hued beam of light that burns through his target. This power is a Psychic Bolt that deals 1d10 Energy Damage +1 per point of Psy Rating with a Pen of one half Psy Rating and the Felling (one half Psy Rating) quality.
Distort Vision
Alternate Names:
#
Value:
100xp
Prerequisites:
Lumen Control
Action:
Free Action
Focus Power:
Routine (+20) Willpower Test
Range:
Self
Sustained:
No
Subtype:
Reaction
Description:
The psyker vanishes from sight and a replica of him appears up to 10 meters away from his original location. The psyker is invisible to visual sensors and creatures until the start of his next turn. The psyker cannot be attacked unless his presence is revealed by non-visual means (thermal scope, Psyniscience Test etc.), even then all attacks against him suffer a -3o penalty.
Hologram
Alternate Names:
#
Value:
500xp
Prerequisites:
Psy Rating 5, Lumen Control, Distort Vision, Phantasmagoria, Intelligence 40+
Action:
Full Action
Focus Power:
Hard (-20) Willpower Test
Range:
20m x Psy Rating
Sustained:
Half Action
Subtype:
Concentration
Description:
The psyker creates a convincing illusion in the visual, infrared and ultraviolet spectrum of anything he can imagine. The illusion covers an area up to 3m x Psy rating. The illusion lasts for Psy rating in rounds if static or the psyker can choose sustain the power to have the illusion react to events. If a viewer suspects the illusion he sees is false he may make Challenging (+0) Intelligence test to disbelieve the illusion.
Lumen Control
Alternate Name:
Eye of Light and Darkness
Value:
100xp
Prerequisite:
none
Action:
Half
Focus Power:
Routine (+20) Willpower Test
Range:
50 meters per Psy rating
Sustained:
Free Action
Subtype:
Concentration
Description:
The foundation of an Illuminator’s skills, lumen control allows him to change the lighting in an area. The psyker designates a point within range and increases or decreases the light level in a 2meter x Psy Rating radius by one step (e.g. from darkness to shadows or from lit to shadows) for each degree of success on the Focus Power roll. If the psyker sustains the power he may either increase the double the size of the area affected or move the center of the effect up to 50 meters.
Invisibility
Alternate Names:
#
Value:
400xp
Prerequisites:
Psy rating 4, Lumen Control, Distort Vision
Action:
Half Action
Focus Power:
Difficult (-10) Willpower Test
Range:
Self
Sustained:
Half Action
Subtype:
Concentration
Description: In an ultimate display of his control over light, the Illuminator disappears from sight. This is true invisibility and the psyker cannot be detected in the visible, infrared or ultraviolet ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. Creatures and sensors that do not rely on sight can still detect the psyker. Opponents within in 2 meters of the psyker may make a Hard (-20) Perception test to locate the psyker. Even if successful all Weapon Skill and Ballistic Skill tests against the psyker receive a -30 penalty. Any Weapon Skill or Ballistic Skill tests the psyker makes against foes unable to perceive him gain a +20 bonus.
Phantasmagoria
Alternate Names:
#
Value:
300xp
Prerequisites:
Lumen Control, Distort Vision
Action:
Half Action
Focus Power:
Challenging (+0) Willpower Test
Range:
Self
Sustained:
Free Action
Subtype:
Concentration
Description:
The psyker summons a bewildering array of ever-changing images that surround him in combat. This grants the psyker the equivalent of a Force Field with a field rating of 30 that cannot be overloaded. For every two degrees of success on the Focus Power test the field rating increases by five.