Mortal House Rules

Numina: Telepathy

Telepathy is broken down into two types in Rumble Street, each function differently. Many telepaths will have a combination of the two.

Telepathic Sensing

This power allows a psychic to read thoughts and emotions of those around them. This is not as easy as it sounds, for the psychic must learn to interpret varying complex emotions, learn to pick out subtexts, streams of consciousness, and motives in addition to inner monologues and natural impulses of the subject. Even then, what they learn may not always be pleasant. Some of the deepest, darkest secrets found in the World of Darkness can be truly terrifying to those who are unprepared.
Roll: Perception + Empathy
Difficulty: Subject's Willpower

Rank 1 - The psychic can feel the current emotions and sense the mood of one target within visual range. A Telepathic Link will allow the psychic to sense their subject's general direction providing they are within 1 mile.

Rank 2 - The psychic can read the surface thoughts of one target withing visual range. In addition to previous levels, an established link will now allow the psychic to sense their subject(s) approximate distance providing they are within 5 miles.

Rank 3 - The psychic can read the target's recent memories and plans for the near future. The target must still be in sight. In addition to previous levels, an established link will allow the psychic to sense their subject(s) direction and elevation within 25 miles.

Rank 4 - The psychic may now read a target's deep thoughts and plans for the distant future, but they must still be in visual range. In addition to previous levels, an established link will allow the psychic to hear what their subject hears for 1 minute per success, providing the subject is within 50 miles.

Rank 5 - The master telepath may now read the surface thoughts of all those visual contact, all at once. By focusing on a target they may discover the deepest secrets, even repressed memories. In addition to previous levels, an established link will allow the psychic to see through their subject(s) eyes for a scene providing the subject is within 100 miles.

Telepathic Projection

This power allows a psychic to plant emotions, suggestions or even speak with a mental voice into the mind of a target. A master telepath may even implant false ideas into a subject making them very dangerous to cross.

Roll: Intelligence + Empathy
Difficulty: Subject's Willpower

Rank 1 - The psychic may attempt to influence how a target within visual range feels about another person or subject, adjusting the difficulty of a single social roll +/- 2. A telepathic link will allow the psychic to sense their subject's general direction within 1 mile.

Rank 2 - The psychic may attempt to plant a single word, emotion, or idea into the target's mind, providing they are within visual range. In addition to previous levels, an established link now allow the psychic to sense their subject's general mood providing the subject is within 5 miles.

Rank 3 - They psychic may now send full sentences, complex emotions, or even send a stream of their own memories to a target within visual range. In addition to previous levels, an established link will also sense their subject's overall health providing they are within 25 miles.

Rank 4 - The psychic is now able to hold a full, mental conversation with a willing target within visual range. They may also plant false memories within a target, though believably is relative to the number of successes. In addition to previous levels, an established link will now permit a single word or emotion to transmit and receive, providing the subject is within 50 miles.

Rank 5 - The master telepath can now send words, thoughts, and emotions to a target as well as receive words, thoughts and emotions from a willing target with complete clarity. They may also implant false information, memories, and emotions within a target they have visual contact with. If they know of memories the target has (either by having been present, using Telepathic Sensing, Telepathic Link or similar means, the telepath may erase the memory or rewrite it as they see fit. In addition to previous levels, the telepath may connect all of his linked subjects into either a visual or mental web allowing communication between all of them. The web will last for a scene providing each subject remains within the range of 100 miles of the telepath. Those who leave the telepath's range become disconnected from the psychic web.

Telepathic Suggestion
Telepaths who master Telepathic Suggestion learn to affect how their subject perceives them. Most of their powers still depend on their wits and manipulation to bend their subject further to their will after their powers have been enacted. All telepathic suggestion powers require that a telepathic link is established with the subject before hand.

Roll: Manipulation + Subterfuge
Difficulty: Subject's Willpower (+2 vs supernaturals)
* Subject may expend a Willpower to resist the power for one round.

Rank 1 - Subject believes the telepath to be a trustworthy friend. +2 on all social rolls against the subject for a scene.
Rank 2 - The subject will follow any reasonable simple 1-2 word instruction that does not endanger their lives or act against their nature. (ie: sit down, leave, etc). The command may be hidden in a seemingly normal sentence. Keep in mind the subject may take offense if the order is rude, but they will still follow the instructions. One command per success, one command per round.
Rank 3 - The subject will believe one statement/idea/suggestion to be true, so long as it is reasonable sound. (ie: “The alley is secure, I personally saw to it myself” is reasonable, so long as it’s not on fire or filled with hostile men with guns.) One suggestion per success, one suggestion per round.
Rank 4 - The subject will answer one question, even if it is to reveal their deepest darkest secret. (1 Success - Subject may be evasive or misleading. 2 Successes - Answer will be truthful. 3 Successes - Answer will be truthful and exact answer. 4 Successes - Subject will be honest with no intent to deceive and may provide extra details. 5 Successes - Subject will tell you everything openly, with every last detail they can remember.)
Rank 5 - The subject believes the telepath to be their best friend, beloved, or close family member. They will defend and protect the telepath as much as they would protect anyone they love. This will not change a person's nature, and a pacifist won't suddenly be struck to violence, but they will try to their skills to diffuse the situation. This effect lasts for one round per success.

Telepathic Links

Telepaths may establish links with a subject allowing for additional applications of their power. To establish a link, the telepath must have physical contact with the subject at the time the link is established. If a telepath has both Sensing and Projection skills, they may choose which power to establish the link with. Once established, the link may be used for either power the telepath has skills with. The maximum number of links a telepath can maintain is equal to their highest telepathic skill (they do not stack).

Willing and Knowing Target: Automatic

Unwilling or Unknowing Target: Sensing or Projection Power Activation vs Target's Will Power

Ghouling Mortals with Numina

The question has come up, what are the mechanical realities to when you have Numina or other powers and you become a ghoul? The answer is that there are no hard and fast rules for what this does to people that fit within our game. So here is a custom rule for ghouling someone who has another supernatural template.

Psychic or Sorcerous Numina
You will gain a +2 difficulty modifier in your attempts to use your powers for each step in the blood bond that you progress.
This is to illustrate the power of the blood overwhelming your senses and distracting you from your own goals because you NEED to be close to your domitor and doing what you can at all times for them, plus, Vitae, It's a hell of a drug!

When you have hit the third step of the blood bond and are fully bound OR you have reached a +6 difficulty modifier, you lose ALL access to your numina until the bloodbond is broken (a nearly impossible task).
For every year that you have remained a full bound ghoul, you will permanently lose a dot in your highest level of any numina. If you have multiple numina, you will lose a dot in each of your highest levels of numina.

You may also elect to be refunded the cost of your numina dots in XP, at half cost (rounded up), to use towards purchasing vampiric disciplines. In this case you have clearly given yourself over to the ghouling process and will no longer be returning to what you were, or if personal story takes you in this direction then by all means, you go with your bad self!

XP Refund
It takes 80 XP to gain a level 5 in numina (10 for the first dot and then current rating x7 per additional dot) If you refund this you gain 40xp to purchase vampiric disciplines.

● ● ● ● ● - 40 XP
● ● ● ● - 26 XP
● ● ● - 12 XP
● ● - 9 XP
● - 5 XP

If your numina is similar to another Kindred discipline then on a case by case basis it can be reviewed by an ST and if approved can be purchased at IN clan costs, as opposed to OUT of clan costs for ghouls. This excludes disciplines which require a specific teacher in order to learn. EG: Thaumaturgy.

Rumble Street