Difference between revisions of "Psycasts"

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{{Royalty}}
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{{About|the individual abilities added by the [[Royalty DLC]]|the group activities of a similar name added by the [[Anomaly DLC]]|Psychic rituals}}
 +
'''Psycasts''' are psychic powers available to pawns with psylink levels, added by the [[Royalty (DLC)| Royalty DLC]].
 +
== Lore ==
 +
<onlyinclude>An organic connection to a larger psychic field. This allows a person to psychically induce a distant [[archotech]] superintelligence to influence reality in ways that seem impossible. Higher levels of psylink permit the use of more powers. Regardless of psylink level, a person can only use specific powers that they have learned. Psylink comes from a variety of sources. Single-use [[psylink neuroformer]] devices can create a psylink. Tribal peoples also know how to develop it through ritual linking with the legendary [[anima tree]]. As a physical phenomenon in the brain, psylink is poorly-understood by scientists, not least because it seems to actively conceal itself if studied too closely. One thing most agree on is that it somehow connects people to archotechs and harnesses their power, possibly through some sort of negotiation or sympathy mechanism.</onlyinclude>
  
'''Psycasts''' are psychic powers available to pawns with [[Psychic amplifier]]s, added by the [[Royalty (DLC)| Royalty DLC]].
+
== Acquisition ==
 +
To use psycasts, a pawn must first have a Psylink level equal to or greater than the level of the chosen psycast. A pawn may have up to 6 levels of psylink, and these levels can be gained through several different methods:
 +
#  Acquire a [[Psylink neuroformer]] through [[Quests|questing]].
 +
#  Gain Royalty [[Titles]] by accepting [[Titles#Honor|Honor]] as a quest reward.
 +
#  Pawns can meditate at an [[Anima tree]] to grow anima grass. Once 20 grass has grown, a ritual can be performed, consuming the grass and granting one Psylink level to a pawn with the [[Psyfocus#Natural|Natural]] Meditation focus type.
 +
#  {{IdeologyIcon}}Pawns who get blinded through a Satisfying or Spectacular [[Rituals|Blinding Ceremony]] have a chance to get a psylink level, even if the pawns in question have a different [[Ideoligion]] without the [[Blindsight]] meme. The ceremony can be performed again if the pawns regain their sight through any means including a [[bionic eye]], [[healer mech serum|healer]] or [[resurrector mech serum]], or [[Biosculpter pod#Bioregeneration|biosculpter pod]]. Note that pawns with [[Ideoligion#Blindness|pro-Blindness]] ideoligions at the time of their biosculpting will not have their eyes repaired.
 +
 
 +
A random psycast of the new level will be learned when gaining a new level of Psylink - i.e. a random level 1 psycast is gained when a pawn gains their first level, a level 2 psycast is learned when gaining their second, etc.
 +
 
 +
Further psycasts can be gained by using a [[Psytrainer]] which grants the specific psycast mentioned in their name. Additional psycasts are available for purchase from traders, with Empire bases and traders having the most, and tribals having the least. A psycaster can learn any number of psycasts through psytrainers, up to and including every psycast in the game, and limited only by the availability of psytrainers themselves.
  
== Acquisition ==
+
'''Note:''' If using a psytrainer for a level higher than the current psylink level of the user, the learned psycast will replaced the one usually gained for that level when that level is achieved. Given using the psytrainer after gaining that level either grants an additional power or does not work and thus does not consume the psytrainer, it is always best to only use psytrainers '''after''' the required psylink level has been achieved.
  
A random psycast of the new level is gained when using a [[Psychic amplifier]] - i.e. a random level 1 psycast is gained when a pawn uses their first amplifier, a level 2 psycast is gained when using their second, etc. Further psycasts can be gained by using a [[Psytrainer]] which grants the specific psycast mentioned in their name.
+
Also note, if a Psylink neuroformer or Anima ritual has been used to gain a psylink level above what is given for the current title, additional titles will not grant psylinks beyond what they normally do for that title. So if a neuroformer has been used to gain psylink level 1, and then the title of Yeoman is gained and bestowed, the pawn will still only have psylink level 1. This means using neuroformers or rituals on pawns that will gain titles is ultimately a waste, or vice versa.
  
 
== Mechanics ==
 
== Mechanics ==
A psycaster's effectiveness is controlled by two primary factors: their [[Psychic Entropy Limit]] and the [[Psychic Sensitivity]] of their target.
+
A psycaster's effectiveness is controlled by three primary factors: their Neural Heat Limit, their available Psyfocus and the [[Psychic Sensitivity]] of their target.
 +
== Neural Heat ==
 +
{{Quote|Despite being called "heat", neural heat is not a measure of temperature. It refers to a type of chaotic psychic energy in the mind which is built up when using psychic powers and dissipates over the course of a few seconds or minutes. If neural heat is pushed past normal limits, it may cause temporary psychic breakdown and unconsciousness due to psychic shock. These conditions don't cause permanent damage.|Neural heat description}}
 +
==== Neural Heat Limit ====
 +
[[File:Neural Heat Unlimited.png|frame|right|Neural Heat Limiter Off]]
 +
[[File:Neural Heat limited.png|frame|right|Neural Heat Limiter On]]
 +
A psycaster's neural heat limit is the primary limitation to how many psycasts they can perform in a given period of time. Each psycast gives the caster a certain amount of neural heat. As long as a pawn stays within their neural heat limit, they'll suffer no ill effects. By default, a pawn will not use a psycast if the neural heat gain would cause them to exceed their limit. This will be represented by the psycast's icon being greyed out on the UI. A pawn can be instructed to ignore their normal heat limit by clicking on the "Neural Heat Limiter", but exceeding the limit can cause [[Psycasts#Psychic breakdown|psychic breakdown]].  
  
A psycaster's psychic entropy limit is the primary limitation to how many psycasts they can perform in a given period of time. Each psycast gives the caster a certain amount of entropy. The more they exert themselves, the closer they get to their limit and the more powerful the debuff they receive while recovering. Should they exceed the limit (by disabling the limiter) there is even a risk of permanent damage. While the default psychic entropy limit is 30 it modified by a number of factors including psychic sensitivity, the number of psychic amplifiers.  
+
The neural heat limit is affected by both the psycaster's psychic sensitivity and psylink level. A pawn with a level 1 Psylink and 100% psychic sensitivity will have a neural heat limit of 30.
The resulting value follows the equation
+
 
 +
The equation for a pawn's neural heat limit is:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
| Psychic Entropy Limit = 30 * Psychic Sensitivity * (0.66... + (0.33...*Number of Psychic Amplifiers))
+
| Neural Heat Limit = 30 * Psychic Sensitivity * (0.66... + (0.33... * Psylink level))
 +
|}
 +
or simpler:
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
| Neural Heat Limit = (2 + Psylink level) * 10 * Psychic Sensitivity
 
|}
 
|}
Entropy naturally decreases over time, with faster rates provided by additional psychic amplifiers. The default rate of 5 every 30 seconds with no amplifiers (though this will only be seen when using Entropic Link as otherwise they cannot generate entropy). The first amplifier improves the rate by 4, to 9 per 30 seconds. Each additional amplifier improves it by an additional 0.5 to a limit of 11.5 at six amplifiers.
 
  
Psychic equipment such as [[Psyfocus shirt]],[[Psyfocus vest|vest]], [[Psyfocus robe|robe]], [[Psyfocus helmet|helmet]], and [[Psyfocus staff|staff]] improve a psycaster's abilities by providing additional psychic sensitivity and directly increasing the Entropy recovery rate. In addition, each percent of pain increases the rate of recovery from psychic entropy by 1.5%.
+
Assuming 100% psychic sensitivity, this in the following:
 +
{| {{STDT| sortable c_07 text-center}}
 +
|-
 +
! Psylink Level !! Limit
 +
|-
 +
! 1
 +
| {{#expr: 30 * 1 * (0.66666 + (0.33333 * 1)) round 0}}
 +
|-
 +
! 2
 +
| {{#expr: 30 * 1 * (0.66666 + (0.33333 * 2)) round 0}}
 +
|-
 +
! 3
 +
| {{#expr: 30 * 1 * (0.66666 + (0.33333 * 3)) round 0}}
 +
|-
 +
! 4
 +
| {{#expr: 30 * 1 * (0.66666 + (0.33333 * 4)) round 0}}
 +
|-
 +
! 5
 +
| {{#expr: 30 * 1 * (0.66666 + (0.33333 * 5)) round 0}}
 +
|-
 +
! 6
 +
| {{#expr: 30 * 1 * (0.66666 + (0.33333 * 6)) round 0}}
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
The in-game meter for neural heat is rounded to the nearest integer, but in-game behavior suggests that the actual decimal value of heat is tracked by the game, as psycasts may sometimes say they have insufficient heat limit to cast even when the spare heat displayed on the pawn's neural heat meter exactly equals the casting cost.
 +
 
 +
==== Neural Heat Recovery Rate ====
 +
Heat naturally decreases over time, with faster rates provided by additional levels of psylink. Unlike the neural heat limit, it is not affected by the pawn's [[psychic sensitivity]]. The default rate of reduction for a pawn without a psylink or with a level 1 psylink is 0.54/s. Every additional psylink level increases the rate by 12.5%.  In addition, the [[pain]] currently felt by the psycasting pawn ''adds'' an additional increase in rate proportional to the primary rate multiplied by three times the pain percentage e.g. at 100% pain, the psycaster will recover neural heat at 400% of their normal rate.
  
The targets psychic sensitivity is important as well, with it acting as a modifier to the duration, and sometimes the magnitude, of the psychic effect. For example, a [[Traits|Psychically Hypersensitive]] (Sensitivity of 1.8) pawn will be affected by the Beserk psycast for 54 seconds instead of the normal 30, while a Psychically Dull (Sensitivity of 0.5) pawn would only be affected for 15 seconds, and a Psychically Deaf (Sensitivity of 0) pawn would be immune.
+
'''Note:''' Offsets to this value, such as from [[eltex]] items, occur to the base recovery rate and are thus subject to the multiplier from the psylink level and pain level - i.e. a normal [[quality]] [[eltex skullcap]] will improve a Psylink Level 1 Psycaster's recovery rate by 0.091/s but increase the rate of a Psylink Level 6 Psycaster's by 0.148/s.
  
===Psychic Hangover ===
+
The resulting value follows the equation, assuming at least 1 level of psylink.
After entropy fades back to 0, the colonist gets Psychic Hangover, found in the health tab. It gives a -12 mood penalty for the duration, and has different effects depending on severity.  
+
{| class="wikitable"
*Forming: ?
+
|-
*Buzzing: 80% consciousness, 150% hunger rate, 150% tiredness
+
| Neural Heat Recovery Rate = ((0.54+Gear Offsets)*(0.875 + 0.125*Psylink level)) * (1+3*Pain percentage)
 +
|}
  
== Psycasts ==  
+
{| {{STDT| sortable c_07 text-center}}
A psycast is the ability performed by the psycaster. A Psycaster can only perform psycasts of a level equal to or below the number of psychic amplifiers they have implanted. For example, to manifest Beckon, the psycaster would require 3 psychic amplifiers.  
+
|-
 +
! Psylink Level !! Multiplier !! Base rate
 +
|-
 +
! 1
 +
| 1.000x
 +
| {{#expr: 0.54*1}}00/s
 +
|-
 +
! 2
 +
| 1.125x
 +
| {{#expr: 0.54*1.125}}/s
 +
|-
 +
! 3
 +
| 1.250x
 +
| {{#expr: 0.54*1.250}}0/s
 +
|-
 +
! 4
 +
| 1.375x
 +
| {{#expr: 0.54*1.375}}/s
 +
|-
 +
! 5
 +
| 1.500x
 +
| {{#expr: 0.54*1.500}}00/s
 +
|-
 +
! 6
 +
| 1.625x
 +
| {{#expr: 0.54*1.6250}}/s
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Psychic breakdown ====
 +
{{Rewrite|section=1|reason = Should be replicated or transcluded on to the [[ailments]] page, but bears discussion}}
 +
{{Quote|Deep psychic destabilization of the mind. Psychic breakdown last for days, causing mental disturbances of various kinds. It resolves itself with time.|Psychic breakdown description}}
 +
A pawn can be instructed to exceed their neural heat limit clicking the icon next to the neural heat gauge to disable the limit. Exceeding the pawn's neural heat limit can cause an effect called Psychic Breakdown.  The severity of the Psychic breakdown has elements of randomness to it, but will generally be more severe the farther past the neural heat limit a pawn goes, and the longer they are past their heat limit. 
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Heat level !! Heat Range !! Breakdown gain
 +
|-
 +
! Safe
 +
| 0% - 99%    || -
 +
|-
 +
! Overloaded
 +
| 100% - 132% || +2 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours
 +
|-
 +
! Very overloaded
 +
| 133% - 165% || +4 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours
 +
|-
 +
! Extreme
 +
| 166% - 199% || +6 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours
 +
|-
 +
! Overwhelming
 +
| 200%+      || +8 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours. [[Psychic shock]] (10% max [[Consciousness]] for {{ticks|7500}})
 +
|}
 +
For example, this means that if a pawn is consistently kept at 170% of the neural heat limit, they will, on average, increase the severity of their psychic breakdown by +6 every 2 hours. Note that this is only an average value over time.
 +
 
 +
In addition, if a pawn reaches twice their normal neural heat limit, they'll immediately be incapacitated by [[psychic shock]] for 3 in-game hours, in addition to the effects of any psychic breakdown that may develop.
 +
 
 +
Psychic breakdowns come in 3 levels of severity:
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Name !! Severity Range !! [[Consciousness]] !! [[Mood#Situation_Special|Mood]] !! [[Mental breaks]]
 +
|-
 +
!Minor
 +
|  0 - 4  || -25%                    || -6  || Minor [[mental break]], MTB 5 days
 +
|-
 +
!Major
 +
|  5 - 10 || -50%                    || -12 || Minor or Major [[mental break]], MTB 5 days
 +
|-
 +
!Total
 +
| 10 - 15 || 10% max (Unconciousness) || -18 || -
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
Psychic breakdowns last a variable number of days, depending on the severity. Severity decreases at a rate of 1 per day. Thus, minor breakdowns last from 1-5 days, major breakdowns last from 6-10 days, and total breakdowns last from 11-15 days.
 +
 
 +
Because the severity and duration of the psychic breakdown, as well as the chances of it in the first place, depend on how long and by how much your pawn has exceeded their heat limit using [[#Psycasting stat modifiers|equipment that improves psychic sensitivity or neural heat loss]] can help minimize or even avoid psychic breakdowns even if you have to turn off the neural heat limit during combat.
 +
 
 +
== Psyfocus ==
 +
{{Move|section=1|destination=Psyfocus|reason=Detail and structure missing from there should be moved. This should be repurposed as a quick summary (i.e. its mana that places a mid term limit not just a short term limit like heat, this is short list of focuses types and the comparison table, see [[Psyfocus]] for more detail)}}
 +
{{quote|Psyfocus is a special type of mental structuring which is necessary to use psychic powers. Psyfocus dissipates over time, and must be built by regular meditation. Losing all psyfocus makes someone unable to use psychics, but has no other consequences. Higher levels of psyfocus permit higher-level powers, but also increase the rate of psyfocus dissipation|In-game Description}}
 +
{{Main|Psyfocus}}
 +
In addition to the neural heat increase, each psycast consumes a certain percent of psyfocus. Unlike neural heat, psyfocus costs are the same for every caster, and there is no way to exceed or bypass a psyfocus cost. If the psycaster has insufficient psyfocus for the psycast, it cannot be cast at all. Level 3+ psycasts also require the user to have a minimum level of psyfocus stored in order to be useable:
 +
*Level 3-4: 25% psyfocus minimum
 +
*Level 5-6: 50% psyfocus minimum
 +
 
 +
Even without psycasting, psyfocus will naturally degrade by a small amount per day, relative to the amount of psyfocus the psycaster currently has. Below 25% psyfocus, the psyfocus falls at 3.5% per day, between 25 and 50%, psyfocus falls 5.5% per day, and above 50% it falls at 7.5% per day.
 +
 
 +
===Meditation===
 +
{{Main|Psyfocus#Meditation}}
 +
In order to replenish psyfocus, a pawn can spend time meditating. Each pawn will gain a base of 50% psyfocus per day, or 2.08% psyfocus an hour. Meditation foci further improve these rates by adding their listed strength. For example, a meditation foci of +44% would have mediation give 94% psyfocus per day.
 +
 
 +
There are 6 different types of objects that a pawn can meditate to:
 +
*'''Natural:''' Available to most, but not all, Tribal [[backstories]]. Natural meditation objects are most effective when no artifical buildings are nearby. Uniquely, a pawn with natural meditation can grow [[anima grass]] and perform the [[anima tree]] linking ritual, allowing pawns to gain psylink levels independent from psylink neuroformers.
 +
*'''Minimal:''' Available to [[Ascetic]] pawns only. Allows meditation at any wall.
 +
*'''Artistic:''' The default meditation type, available to any non-tribal that is not Ascetic. Meditate at sculptures - the higher the quality, the better.
 +
*'''Morbid:''' Available to pawns with certain [[trait]]s, like [[Psychopath]] or [[Jealous]]. Meditate at graves and sarcophagi - deceased family members or loved ones give a bonus.
 +
*'''Dignified:''' Available to anyone holding a royal [[title]]. [[Meditation throne]]s are improved by having a throne room befitting of the pawn's title.
 +
*'''Flame:''' Available to [[Pyromaniac]]s. Meditate at lit campfires and other burning light sources.
  
Psycasts performed by a pawn without the required [[Titles|title]] have a chance to incur the wrath of the [[Empire]]. This chance is 0.5% per psychic entropy gain, and causes a -4 reduction in faction relations.
+
The rate of psyfocus gain from meditation can further be increased in the following ways:
 +
* Using [[Wake-up]] increases the psyfocus gain from meditation by {{+|20%}} per day for the [[Wake-up#Wake-up high|duration of its high]].
 +
* The [[Persona traits#Psy-meditative|Psy-meditative]] persona trait grants an additional {{+|10%}} psyfocus gain per day of meditation, while the weapon is held in hand.
 +
* Each [[psychofluid pump]]{{BiotechIcon}} increases {{+|5%}} psyfocus per day of meditation from a completed [[deathrest]], up to a maximum of {{+|20%}} from 4 pumps. This bonus lasts until the next deathrest.
 +
* [[Genes#Psy-sensitive|Psy-sensitive]] and [[Genes#Super psy-sensitive|Super psy-sensitive]] genes{{BiotechIcon}} increase psyfocus gain per meditation day by {{+|10%}} and {{+|20%}} respectively. Note that these genes are mutually exclusive.
  
{| class="wikitable sortable"
+
<div style="float: left;">
 +
{| {{STDT| sortable c_07 text-center}}
 +
|-
 +
! Meditation Focus !! Focus Type !! Base Strength !! Psyfocus/Hour<br>@ Base|| Max Strength !! Psyfocus/Hour<br>@ Max
 +
|-
 +
! ''None''
 +
| ''All''
 +
| -
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| -
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
|-
 +
! [[Anima tree]]
 +
| [[Psyfocus#Natural|Natural]]
 +
| +28%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.28)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +36%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.36)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
|-
 +
! [[Animus stone]]
 +
| [[Psyfocus#Natural|Natural]]
 +
| +34%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.34)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +42%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.42)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
|-
 +
! [[Small nature shrine]]
 +
| [[Psyfocus#Natural|Natural]]
 +
| +22%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.22)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +30%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.30)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
|-
 +
! [[Large nature shrine]]
 +
| [[Psyfocus#Natural|Natural]]
 +
| +30%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.30)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +38%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.38)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
|-
 +
! [[Grave]]
 +
| [[Psyfocus#Morbid|Morbid]]
 +
| +6%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.06)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +34%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.34)/0.24 round 1}}%
 
|-
 
|-
! Name !! Level (Title) !! Description !! Effects !! Entropy Gain !! Casting Time !! Duration !! Range !! Area of Effect
+
! [[Sarcophagus]]
 +
| [[Psyfocus#Morbid|Morbid]]
 +
| +10%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.10)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +38%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.38)/0.24 round 1}}%
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Burden''' || 1 (Yeoman)|| Slow the target for a short time by suppressing motor activity in the brain || ''Psychically-induced difficulty in locomotion''
+
! [[Small sculpture]]
* [[Moving|Maximum movement speed]] capped at 40%
+
| [[Psyfocus#Artistic|Artistic]]
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
+
| +12 - 28%
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.12)/0.24 round 1}} - {{#expr: (0.5+0.28)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 8
+
| +44%
|| 0.25s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.44)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 20s
+
|-
|| 30 tiles
+
! [[Large sculpture]]
|| Target
+
| [[Psyfocus#Artistic|Artistic]]
 +
| +12 - 28%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.12)/0.24 round 1}} - {{#expr: (0.5+0.28)/0.24 round 1}}%
 +
| +44%
 +
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.44)/0.24 round 1}}%
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Painblock''' || 1 (Yeoman) || Block pain pathways in the target's brain for a short time. This can allow a person to move and act even with grievous injuries which would normally incapacitate them || ''Psychically-induced pain insensitivity.''
+
! [[Grand sculpture]]
* Target Pain Factor x10%  
+
| [[Psyfocus#Artistic|Artistic]]
|| 10
+
| +12 - 28%
|| 0.25s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.12)/0.24 round 1}} - {{#expr: (0.5+0.28)/0.24 round 1}}%  
|| 120s
+
| +44%
|| 25 tiles
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.44)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Stun''' || 1 (Yeoman) || Momentarily disrupt motor function in target's [sic] brain, preventing any movement. ||  
+
! [[Terror sculpture]] {{IdeologyIcon}}
''Psychically-induced.''
+
| [[Psyfocus#Artistic|Artistic]]
* Stuns the target
+
| +12 - 28%
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.12)/0.24 round 1}} - {{#expr: (0.5+0.28)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 12
+
| +44%
|| 0.25s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.44)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 3s
 
|| 20 tiles
 
|| Target
 
*
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Blinding Pulse''' || 2 (Esquire) || Induce noise in the visual centers of the brain, obscuring vision of everyone near the target point. || ''Psychically-induced partial blindness.''
+
! [[Large stele]]
* [[Sight]] * 0.5
+
| [[Psyfocus#Artistic|Artistic]]
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
+
| +15%
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.15)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 20
+
| +15%
|| 1s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.15)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 30s
 
|| 20 tiles
 
|| 4 tiles
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Entropy Link''' || 2 (Esquire) || Form a psychic link between caster and target, so that gain and loss of psychic entropy is shared between both equally. The link lasts for some time, but will break if the the two move far apart. || ''A psychic link with another individual. Gain or loss of psychic entropy incurred by one will be shared equally between both.''
+
! [[Grand stele]]
* Target and Caster share a combined Entropy Pool with combined entropy loss rate so long as both pawns stay within 10 tiles of each other. Target does not require a psychic amplifier to be linked, but does not gain any psycasts either.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Artistic|Artistic]]
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies
+
| +18%
|| 10
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.18)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 1s
+
| +18%
|| 120s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.18)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 3.9 tiles
 
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Beckon''' || 3 (Knight/Dame) || Psychically command the target to approach the caster. || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
! [[Walls]]
* Target is unable to make ranged attacks and is forced to follow the caster.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Minimal|Minimal]]
|| 20
+
| +22%
|| 0.25s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.22)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 8s
+
| +22%
|| 20 tiles
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.22)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Chaos Skip''' || 3 (Knight/Dame) || Teleport the target to a random position near where he started. || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
! [[Brazier]]
* Target is teleported to a random tile between 7 and 25 tiles away from its starting location
+
| [[Psyfocus#Flame|Flame]]
* 1s Stun after teleporting
+
| +15%
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.15)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 18
+
| +31%
|| 0.25s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.31)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| ''Instantaneous''
 
|| 25 tiles
 
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Vertigo Pulse''' || 3 (Knight/Dame) || Interfere with the spatial orientation sense of everyone near the target point, causing intermittent loss of balance. Flesh creatures will become extremely nauseous as well. || ''Psychically-induced loss of spatial orientation. This will cause flesh creatures to vomit.''
+
! [[Darklight brazier]]{{IdeologyIcon}}
* Targets within the radius become dizzy and wander in a 3 tile radius from their initial position
+
| [[Psyfocus#Flame|Flame]]
* Living targets have a chance to vomit.
+
| +15%
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.15)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 30
+
| +31%
|| 1s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.31)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 20s
 
|| 20 tiles
 
|| 5 tiles
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Smokepop''' || 4 (Praetor) || Skip dust particles up from under the ground surface to form a thick cloud. This reduces the accuracy of any shot fired through it, and preventing [sic] turrets from locking on entirely. || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
! [[Campfire]]
* Creates a 7 tile diameter smoke at the targeted location.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Flame|Flame]]
|| 30
+
| +12%
|| 1s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.12)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| ''Instantaneous'', Smoke dissipates in ~30 seconds
+
| +28%
|| 20 tiles
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.28)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| Tile
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Skip''' || 4 (Praetor) || Teleport the target to a desired position not too far from his starting point. || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
! [[Torch lamp]]
* Target is teleported to a selected tile visible to the caster.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Flame|Flame]]
* 1s stun after teleporting.
+
| +10%
|| 25
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.10)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 0.25s
+
| +18%
|| ''Instantaneous''
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.18)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 25 tiles
 
|| Target/Tile
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Focus''' || 4 (Praetor) || Psychically focus the target's mind, boosting their sight, hearing and moving capacities. || ''Psychically-induced mental focus, increasing sight, hearing and movement capactities.<sup>[sic]</sup>''
+
! [[Darktorch]]{{IdeologyIcon}}
* [[Sight]] * 1.3
+
| [[Psyfocus#Flame|Flame]]
* [[Hearing]] * 1.3
+
| +10%
* [[Moving]]  *1.3
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.10)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 15
+
| +18%
|| 0.25s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.18)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 60s
 
|| 25 tiles
 
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Wallraise''' || 4 (Praetor) || Form a temporary wall by skipping rubble and soil up from deep under the ground. || ''A fragile wall made of rubble. It will collapse in time.'
+
! [[Fungus darktorch]]{{IdeologyIcon}}
* Creates a cross-shaped set of wall 3 blocks across and 3 blocks wide at the target location. Wall has 100 HP and lasts for 4 hours.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Flame|Flame]]
|| 35
+
| +10%
|| 1s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.10)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| ''Instantaneous'', Wall disappears after ? seconds
+
| +18%
|| 20 tiles
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.18)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| Tile
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Berserk'''  || 5 (Baron/Baroness) || Induce an angry psychosis in the target's mind, causing them to attack anyone nearby. || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
! [[Meditation throne]]
* Target goes [[Mental break#Berserk|berserk]], attacking the nearest creature regardless of previous affiliation.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Dignified|Dignified]]
* -15 Faction Relations when used on allies.
+
| +15%
|| 40
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.15)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 0.25s
+
| +33%
|| 15s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.33)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 15 tiles
 
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Invisibility''' || 5 (Baron/Baroness) || Psychically manipulate the visual centers of everyone nearby, rendering them unable to perceive a particular individual for a short time. || ''Psychically-induced invisibility. This actually affects others nearby, making their brains unable to percieve [sic] the sight of this individual, even if the eyes are unaffected.''
+
! [[Grand meditation throne]]
* Targeted creature cannot be attacked or targeted by any non-AoE psychic powers. This includes psycasts on self.
+
| [[Psyfocus#Dignified|Dignified]]
|| 45
+
| +15%
|| 1s
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.15)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| 15s
+
| +33%
|| 15 tiles
+
| {{#expr: (0.5+0.33)/0.24 round 1}}%
|| Target
 
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Berserk Pulse''' || 6 (Count/Countess) ||  Generate an overwhelming rush of undirected rage in everyone near the target point. || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
|}
* All creatures within the radius go [[Mental break#Berserk|berserk]], attacking the nearest creature regardless of previous affiliation.  
+
</div> <br style="clear:both" />
* -75 Faction Relations when used on allies.
+
 
|| 60
+
Many meditation foci can be improved by having other buildings in its radius. For example, a [[sculpture]] can be improved by having other, high [[quality]] sculptures in its radius. Conversely, most natural foci are weakened by nearby artificial structures.
|| 1s
+
 
|| 60s
+
In any case, foci will never truly "add up". Each nearby sculpture past the first only increases psyfocus by +1-2%, rather than its full psyfocus value. Having multiple unrelated foci together will not have an extra effect. For example, a pawn cannot use a [[meditation throne]] and [[brazier]] at the same time, even if they have access to both the Dignified and the Flame meditation types. The better of the two foci will be used in any scenario.
|| 25 tiles
+
 
|| 3 tiles
+
===Alternative psyfocus===
 +
{{Stub|section=1|reason=Order of operations for calculating meditation gain with base, focus, wakeup, and psymeditative persona weapon - wakeup and psymed are additive with each other, but are they additive or mutiplicative with the others}}
 +
Other than meditation, the following methods will increase a pawn's psyfocus:
 +
* Using [[Go-juice]] instantly refills a psycaster's psyfocus by {{Good|15%}}.
 +
* [[Ideoligion]] [[rituals]] {{IdeologyIcon}} can select the fully refilling the psyfocus of all participants as a reward for sufficiently high quality outcomes.{{Check Tag|Detail|Specific terms, mechanics, details etc. E.g. what outcomes specifically?}} .
 +
* The Kill-focused [[persona trait]] grant an instant {{+|20%}} psyfocus on killing an enemy. Note that psyfocus is gained for directly killing a pawn. This includes killing wild animals, downed hostiles, friendly NPCs, colonists, and even [[Animals#Slaughtering|slaughtering]] colony animals will grant psyfocus as long as the weapon is held in hand whilst doing so. Age and body size do not affect this rate. Excess colony animals, especially from rapidly-breeding animals such as [[chicken]]s, can thus be turned into into massive psyfocus gain, allowing continuous use of utility psycasts such as [[Word of inspiration]] or [[Word of trust]] or high cost combat options such as [[Berserk pulse]].
 +
 
 +
== Psychic Sensitivity ==
 +
A user's psychic sensitivity increases the [[neural heat]] they can use. The user's sensitivity does not directly increase the duration, impact, or range of any psycast, unless they are also the target.
 +
 
 +
In addition, the ''target'''s psychic sensitivity can determine how long a psycast lasts. For many psycasts, psychic sensitivity is a multiplier to duration.  For example, a [[psychically hypersensitive]] (Sensitivity of 1.8) pawn will be affected by the Berserk psycast for 54 seconds instead of the normal 30, while a [[psychically dull]] (Sensitivity of 0.5) pawn would only be affected for 15 seconds. A [[psychically deaf]] (Sensitivity of 0) pawn would be immune to these psycasts.
 +
 
 +
Out of all the psycasts, only Blinding Pulse has its ''impact'' increased by the target's sensitivity. Increased sensitivity results in higher blinding.{{Check Tag|Verify|According to the page itself.}}
 +
 
 +
=== Psycasting stat modifiers ===
 +
{{Stub|section=1|reason=needs effective neural heat change like eltex items have (see their pages)}}
 +
Psychic equipment can improve a psycaster's abilities by providing additional psychic sensitivity and/or by directly increasing the Heat recovery rate.
 +
The following modifiers exist:
 +
{{Psychic Sensitivity Factor Table}}
 +
Thus the maximum psychic sensitivity possible would be a psychically hypersensitive pawn, genetically modified with the deathrest gene, super psy-sensitivity, having deathrested with four psychofluid pumps, is psychically bonded to a pawn on the same map, blinded and with the Blind psysense precept, with a legendary Eltex staff, vest, shirt, robe and skullcap and an implanted psychic sensitizer for a total value of {{Hover title|link=no|<!--Base-->100%<!--Psychofluid pump-->+100%<!--Psychically Hypersensitive-->+80%<!--Eltex staff-->+75%<!--Eltex skullcap-->+60%<!--Sight-->+50%<!--Super psy-sensitive-->+40% <!--Eltex robe-->+30%<!--Blinded with blind psysense-->+30%<!--Psychic sensitizer-->+25% <!--Eltex vest-->+23%<!--Eltex shirt-->+15%<!--Psychic bonding-->+10%|{{#vardefineecho:maxPsySense|{{#expr:<!--Base-->100<!--Psychofluid pump-->+100<!--Psychically Hypersensitive-->+80<!--Eltex staff-->+75<!--Eltex skullcap-->+60<!--Sight-->+50<!--Super psy-sensitive-->+40<!--Eltex robe-->+30<!--Blinded with blind psysense-->+30<!--Psychic sensitizer-->+25<!--Eltex vest-->+23<!--Eltex shirt-->+15<!--Psychic bonding-->+10}}}}%}} psychic sensitivity and a neural heat limit, assuming psylink level 6, of {{#expr: {{#var:maxPsySense}}/100 * 30 * 2.6666 round 0}}. With Anomaly DLC, the multiplicative bioferrite make them mucher better than eltex gears, a pawn with bioferrite mask, plate armor, slave collar and weapon, under voidsight, void touched and psychophage can get to 2131%. Note that blindness is not compatible with void touched.
 +
 
 +
== Psycasts ==
 +
{{Recode|section=1|reason=Once the detail is on the individual psycast pages, this table should be automated - note: Effects will likely have to stay manual - once recoded, add directive to see invidivual pages}}
 +
A psycast is the ability performed by the psycaster. A Psycaster can only perform psycasts of a level equal to or below their psylink level. For example, to manifest Beckon, the psycaster would require psylink level 3.
 +
 
 +
=== Regular psycasts ===
 +
 
 +
{| {{STDT| sortable c_07 text-valign:top}}
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Mass Chaos Skip''' || 6 (Count/Countess) || Skip everyone near a target point to a random location nearby. || ''Psychically-induced.''  
+
! Name !! Level !! Description !! Effects !! data-sort-type=number | Heat Gain !! data-sort-type=number | Casting Time !! data-sort-type=number | Duration !! data-sort-type=number | Range !! data-sort-type=number | Area of Effect !! data-sort-type=number | Psyfocus Cost
 +
|- id="Burden"
 +
! [[Burden]]<br>[[File:Burden.png|64px]]
 +
| 1 || Slow the target for a short time by suppressing motor activity in the brain || ''Psychically-induced difficulty in locomotion.''
 +
* [[Moving]] capped at 40%
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies
 +
| 8
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 20s
 +
| 30 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 1%
 +
|- id="Painblock"
 +
! [[Painblock]]<br>[[File:Painblock.png|64px]]
 +
| 1 || Block pain pathways in the target's brain for a short time. This can allow a person to move and act even with grievous injuries which would normally incapacitate them. || ''Psychically-induced pain insensitivity.''
 +
* Target [[Pain]] Factor x10%
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
| 8
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 120s
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 2%
 +
|- id="Stun"
 +
! [[Stun (psycast)|Stun]]<br>[[File:Stun.png|64px]]
 +
| 1 || Momentarily disrupt motor function in the target's brain, preventing any movement. ||
 +
* Stuns the target
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies
 +
| 12
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 3s
 +
| 20 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 1%
 +
*
 +
|- id="Chunk skip"
 +
! [[Chunk skip]]<br>[[File:ChunkSkip.png|64px]]
 +
| 1 || Skip the closest 5 chunks of rock or slag to scatter them near the target point. This is useful for producing cover during offensive operations.
 +
| Skips the closest 5 chunks to scatter them near the target point. This is useful for producing cover during offensive operations.
 +
| 14
 +
| 1s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 4%
 +
|- id="Solar pinhole"
 +
! [[Solar pinhole]]<br>[[File:SolarPinhole.png|64px]]
 +
| 1 || Generate a microscopic skipgate linked to the core of a nearby star. Solar material leaks through the pinprick in spacetime, illuminating and warming the surrounding area until it closes. The light is enough to work by, but not enough to grow plants. ||
 +
* Lights up a {{#expr:{{Lit Radius|15|{{#expr:217+217+208}}}} round 2}} tile area around it.
 +
* Creates heat at a rate of 10 heat per second (compared to the 21 heat per second of a [[heater]] or [[campfire]]), but only when the temperature is below 20°C.
 +
| 0
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 5000s (5 days)
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| 15 tiles
 +
| 8%
 +
*
 +
|- id="Blinding pulse"
 +
! [[Blinding pulse]]<br>[[File:BlindingPulse.png|64px]]
 +
| 2 || Induce noise in the visual centers of the brain, obscuring vision of everyone near the target point. || ''Psychically-induced partial blindness.''
 +
* [[Sight]] * 0.5
 +
* Effect scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies
 +
| 20
 +
| 1s
 +
| 30s
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| 7 tiles
 +
| 1%
 +
|- id="Waterskip"
 +
! [[Waterskip]]<br>[[File:Waterskip.png|64px]]
 +
| 2 || Douse a target in water, extinguishing fires. The water is archotechnologically skipped from distant bodies of water or underground aquifers ||
 +
* Creates a 3 tile diameter water dump at the targeted location leaving water puddles behind.
 +
| 25
 +
| 1s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| 3x3 tiles
 +
| 1.5%
 +
|- id="Neural heat dump"
 +
! [[Neural heat dump]]<br>[[File:NeuralHeatDump.png|64px]]
 +
| 2 || Instantly dump all your neural heat into someone else. As a side effect, the target will fall into a debilitating but non-damaging coma for about a day. The target must actively accept the psychic invasion, so only conscious allies can be targeted. || ''Psychically induced neural heat cleansing.''
 +
* Caster reduces their neural heat to 0
 +
* Selected allied target within line-of-sight and 25 tiles falls into [[psychic coma]]. Target does not require psylink to receive neural heat.
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies
 +
| 0
 +
| 1s
 +
| 1000s (1 day)
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 0%
 +
|- id="Beckon"
 +
! [[Beckon]]<br>[[File:Beckon.png|64px]]
 +
| 3 || Psychically command the target to approach the caster. ||  
 +
* Target is unable to make ranged attacks and is forced to follow the caster. Lasts full duration or until struck.
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
| 20
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 8s
 +
| 20 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 1%
 +
|- id="Chaos skip"
 +
! [[Chaos skip]]<br>[[File: ChaosSkip.png|64px]]
 +
| 3 || Teleport the target to a random position near where it started. Objects above a certain size cannot be teleported. ||
 +
* Target, pawn or item, is teleported to a random tile between 7 and 25 tiles away from its starting location
 +
** Maximum target [[body size]]: 3.5
 +
** Line of sight to target is necessary, but unlike with "Skip", the destination of the teleport can be through walls, with luck.
 +
** Cannot target an [[Apocriton]]{{BiotechIcon}}
 +
* Stun for between {{Ticks|70}} and {{Ticks|120}} after teleporting
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies
 +
| 18
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 2%
 +
|- id="Vertigo pulse"
 +
! [[Vertigo pulse]]<br>[[File:VertigoPulse.png|64px]]
 +
| 3 || Interfere with the spatial orientation sense of everyone near the target point, causing intermittent loss of balance. Flesh creatures will become extremely nauseous as well. || ''Psychically-induced loss of spatial orientation. This will cause flesh creatures to vomit.''
 +
* Targets within the radius become dizzy and wander in a 3 tile radius from their initial position
 +
* Living targets have a chance to vomit.
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies
 +
| 30
 +
| 1s
 +
| 20s
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| 7 tiles
 +
| 2%
 +
|- id="Smokepop"
 +
! [[Smokepop]]<br>[[File:Smokepop.png|64px]]
 +
| 4 || Skip dust particles up from under the ground surface to form a [[Smoke|thick cloud]]. This reduces the accuracy of any shot fired through it, and prevents turrets from locking on entirely. ||
 +
* Creates a 7 tile diameter [[smoke]] cloud at the targeted location.
 +
| 30
 +
| 1s
 +
| ''Instantaneous'', Smoke dissipates in ~30 seconds
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| Tile
 +
| 2%
 +
|- id="Skip"
 +
! [[Skip]]<br>[[File:Skip.png|64px]]
 +
| 4 || Teleport the target to a desired position not too far from his starting point. Objects which are too large cannot be teleported. ||
 +
* Target, pawn or item, is teleported to a selected tile visible to the target.
 +
** Maximum target [[body size]]: 3.5
 +
** Cannot target an [[Apocriton]]{{BiotechIcon}}
 +
* {{--|15}} Goodwill impact
 +
| 25
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''
 +
| 28 tiles
 +
| Target/Tile
 +
| 2%
 +
|- id="Focus"
 +
! [[Focus]]<br>[[File:Focus.png|64px]]
 +
| 4 || Psychically focus the target's mind, boosting their sight, hearing and moving capacities. || ''Psychically-induced mental focus, increasing sight, hearing and movement capacities.''
 +
* [[Sight]]: {{Good|x1.3}}
 +
* [[Hearing]]: {{Good|x1.3}}
 +
* [[Moving]]: {{Good|x1.3}}
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
| 15
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 60s
 +
| 28 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 3%
 +
|- id="Wallraise"
 +
! [[Wallraise]]<br>[[File:Wallraise.png|64px]]
 +
| 4 || Form a temporary wall by skipping rubble and soil up from deep under the ground. || ''A fragile wall made of rubble. It will collapse in time.'
 +
* Creates a cross-shaped set of wall 3 blocks across and 3 blocks wide at the target location. Wall has 100 HP and lasts for 4 hours or {{ticks|10000}}.
 +
** Walls cannot intersect other walls, but will shunt items out of the way.
 +
| 35
 +
| 1s
 +
| ''Instantaneous'', Wall disappears after 4 hours.
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| Tile
 +
| 2%
 +
|- id="Berserk"
 +
! [[Berserk]]<br>[[File:Berserk.png|64px]]
 +
| 5 || Induce an angry psychosis in the target's mind, causing them to attack anyone nearby. ||
 +
* Target goes [[Mental break#Berserk|berserk]], attacking the nearest creature regardless of previous affiliation.
 +
** Cannot target any of the mechanoid bosses{{BiotechIcon}}, nor can it target a [[Dreadmeld]]{{AnomalyIcon}}
 +
* {{--|15}} Faction Relations when used on allies.
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
| 40
 +
| 0.25s
 +
| 15s
 +
| 20 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 4%
 +
|- id="Flashstorm"
 +
! [[Flashstorm]]<br>[[File:Flashstorm.png|64px]]
 +
| 5 || Use differential-pressure skipgates in the atmosphere to generate a localized flashstorm. The storm will strike the area with lightning for some time before dissipating. ||
 +
* Creates a [[Weather|flashstorm]] at target location.
 +
* {{--|35}} Goodwill impact.
 +
| 65
 +
| 1s
 +
| 164s
 +
| 20 tiles
 +
| 14 tiles
 +
| 4%
 +
|- id="Invisibility"
 +
! [[Invisibility]]<br>[[File:Invisibility.png|64px]]
 +
| 5 || Psychically manipulate the visual centers of everyone nearby, rendering them unable to perceive a particular individual for a short time. || ''Psychically-induced invisibility. This actually affects others nearby, making their brains unable to perceive the sight of this individual, even if the eyes are unaffected.''  
 +
* Targeted creature cannot be attacked or targeted by any non-AoE psychic powers. This includes psycasts on self.
 +
| 45
 +
| 1s
 +
| 15s
 +
| 20 tiles
 +
| Target
 +
| 3%
 +
|- id="Berserk pulse"
 +
! [[Berserk pulse]]<br>[[File:BerserkPulse.png|64px]]
 +
| 6 ||  Generate an overwhelming rush of undirected rage in everyone near the target point. ||
 +
All creatures within the radius go [[Mental break#Berserk|berserk]], attacking the nearest creature regardless of previous affiliation.
 +
* Mechanoid bosses{{BiotechIcon}} and the [[Dreadmeld]]{{AnomalyIcon}} are immune.
 +
* {{--|75}} Faction Relations when used on allies.
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]].
 +
| 65
 +
| 1s
 +
| 10s
 +
| 15 tiles
 +
| 5x5 tiles
 +
| 6%
 +
|- id="Mass chaos skip"
 +
! [[Mass chaos skip]]<br>[[File:MassChaosSkip.png|64px]]
 +
| 6 || Skip everyone in an area to random positions nearby. Objects which are too large cannot be teleported. ||
 
* Targets within radius is teleported to a random tile between 7 and 25 tiles away from its starting location
 
* Targets within radius is teleported to a random tile between 7 and 25 tiles away from its starting location
* 1s Stun after teleporting
+
** Maximum target [[body size]]: 3.5
* -75 Faction Relations when used on allies.
+
** Has no effect on the [[Apocriton]]{{BiotechIcon}}
|| 40
+
* {{--|5}} Goodwill impact.
|| 1s  
+
| 40
|| ''Instantaneous''
+
| 1s  
|| 25 tiles
+
| ''Instantaneous''
|| 8 tiles
+
| 25 tiles
|-
+
| 17 tiles
| '''Manhunter pulse'''|| 6 (Count/Countess) || Drive nearby animals into a manhunting rage using a psychic pulse || ''Psychically-induced.''
+
| 3%
* All animals within the radius go [[Mental break#Manhunter|Manhunter]], attacking the nearest human regardless of previous affiliation.  
+
|- id="Skipshield"
|| 50
+
! [[Skipshield]]<br>[[File:Skipshield.png|64px]]
|| 1s  
+
| 6 || Generate a spherical skipgate that sends all incoming and outgoing ground-level projectiles to some distant place. People and items are not affected. ||
|| 60s
+
* Makes a 4.9-tile radius circle that cannot be shot through, into, or out of. Does not {{Hover title|E.g. from mortars, orbital bombardment targeters, or aerodrone strikes or salvos|block non-ground-level projectiles}}.
|| 25 tiles
+
| 65
|| 28 tiles
+
| 1s
 +
| 15s
 +
| 25 tiles
 +
| 9 tiles
 +
| 4%
 +
|- id="Manhunter pulse"
 +
! [[Manhunter pulse]]<br>[[File: ManhunterPulse.png|64px]]
 +
| 6 || Drive nearby animals into a manhunting rage using a psychic pulse ||  
 +
All animals within the radius go [[Mental break#Manhunter|Manhunter]], attacking the nearest human regardless of previous affiliation.  
 +
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]].
 +
* Makes faction hostile when used on animals of allied caravans.
 +
| 50
 +
| 1s  
 +
| 60s
 +
| 35 tiles
 +
| 57 tiles
 +
| 4%
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
== Tactics ==
+
=== Special psycasts ===
  
Despite their lack of damage, psycasts can be used to a great tactical advantage- provided that you can get in range of the enemy to use them.
+
Officially added in 1.2, these psycasts cost a great amount of psyfocus in return for some useful utility, often outside combat.
  
*'''Burden''' slows the target down.
+
{| {{STDT| sortable c_07 text-valign:top}}
**Very useful for getting one or two more shots on melee attackers before they close the distance. Effective for this reason with a Killbox setup as well. Also very useful for hunters in case of revenge.
+
|-
*'''Painblock''' blocks pain, with an effect similar to [[go-juice]].
+
! Name !! Level !! Description !! Effects !! data-sort-type=number | Heat Gain !! data-sort-type=number | Casting Time !! data-sort-type=number | Duration !! data-sort-type=number | Range !! data-sort-type=number | Area of Effect !! data-sort-type=number | Psyfocus Cost
*'''Stun''' stuns the target for a few seconds.
+
|- id="Word of trust"
**Best used to support a melee attacker against another one.
+
! [[Word of trust]]<br>[[File:WordOfTrust.png|64px]]
**Help melee attackers close the distance to shooters.
+
| 1 || Speak to the prisoner while using psychic suggestion to reduce his resistance to recruitment. This psycast can only reduce a prisoner's resistance, but cannot recruit him. ||
**Peel melee attackers off ranged.
+
* Reduces Resistance of target prisoner by {{---|20}}, scaled by target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]].
*'''Blinding Pulse''' reduces the Sight of enemies.
+
| 0
** This reduces accuracy, giving you the upper hand in combat.
+
| 2s
*'''Entropy Link''' shares psychic entropy between two pawns.
+
| ''Instantaneous''
**Good for helping your psycaster cast more.  
+
| 30 tiles
**Can be cast on enemies to let you cast more for basically no cost.
+
| Target
**Note that if you link it onto allies you'll be sharing the psychic hangover debuff with multiple people.
+
| 60%
*'''Beckon'''
+
|- id="Word of joy"
**Best used to force enemies into melee range for engagement.
+
! [[Word of joy]]<br>[[File:WordOfJoy.png|64px]]
**Great for peeling enemy melee off a vulnerable friendly.
+
| 2 || Speak happy, calming words to someone while using psychic suggestion to implant a joyfuzz loop in his mind. The joyfuzz will suppress uncomfortable thoughts and sensations in the target to improve mood. This has the side-effect of dulling sensation and decision-making, which reduces consciousness.|| ''The affected pawn gains the Joybuzz status, providing 30 joy at the cost of -20% consciousness for 7 days.''
*'''Chaos Skip'''
+
* Duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]].
**Use on enemies that already entered melee range to force them to break distance in a random direction. Be careful of skipping them into your base.
+
* -25 Faction Relations when used on allies.
*'''Vertigo Pulse'''
+
| 0
*'''Smokepop''' is essentially a better version of the [[smoke launcher]].
+
| 2s
*'''Skip''' can be used to manipulate allies and enemies alike.
+
| 5000s (5 days)
**Teleport allied fighters into position quickly, especially melee fighters.
+
| 1 tile
**Skip long-ranged enemies into range.
+
| Target
**Keep enemy melee fighters away from allies.
+
| 40%
*'''Focus'''
+
|- id="Word of love"
*'''Wallraise''' creates a wall of rocks in a cross shape.
+
! [[Word of love]]<br>[[File: WordOfLove.png|64px]]
**Creates impromptu cover for your shooters to shelter behind.
+
| 3 || Speak about someone's romantic virtues while using psychic suggestion to implant romantic desire in the listener. For days afterward, the listener will feel psychically-induced romantic attraction towards the other person. This great increases opinion and makes them much more likely to attempt romantic advances and marriage proposals if they get the chance. This psycast can be used to connect two other people, induce love for the caster, or force oneself to love another. || ''Psychically-induced romantic desire. This increases an individual's opinion of someone else, and increases the likelihood of romantic advances and marriage proposals, while reducing the chance of a breakup.''  
**Use to create LOS blocker against rocket launchers that are about to fire. If you are quick you can even block the rockets mid-flight.
+
* Greatly increases relations between target(s), nearly guaranteeing a relationship forms if recursively cast on two pawns.
*'''Berserk''' forces an enemy to attack nearby targets indiscriminately, including their allies.
+
| 0
**Have enemies aggro on each other while your ranged fighters pick them off.
+
| 2s
**Cause friendly fire as enemies fire at the berserker.
+
| 8000s (8 days)
*'''Invisibility''' makes enemies unable to target your allies.
+
| 1 tile
**It is not broken on attacking making it a good choice for close-ranged attackers.
+
| Target
**Self-cast to allow your psycaster to safely get within range.
+
| 50%
*'''Berserk Pulse''' is similar to Berserk but affects an area.
+
|- id="Word of serenity"
**It causes a dangerous increase in psychic entropy on all but the most well-equipped of psycasters.
+
! [[Word of serenity]]<br>[[File:WordOfSerenity.png|64px]]
*'''Mass Chaos Skip''' skips all units in the area randomly, friend or foe.
+
| 4 || Use calming words and psychic suggestion to end a mental break on a person or animal. The target will fall into a short psychic sleep. The psyfocus cost depends on the intensity of the target's mental break.|| Instantly ends any mental break by forcing the target into a 6 hour [[psychic coma]].
**Skip multiple enemies out of cover at once, exposing them to fire.
+
* The psyfocus cost depends on the level of the mental break; [[Social#Social_Fights|social fights]] and [[Mental break#Minor break|minor breaks]] cost 30% psyfocus, [[Mental break#Major break|major breaks]] cost 50%, and [[Mental break#Extreme break|extreme breaks]] cost 70%.
*'''Manhunter Pulse''' causes all animals in a large area to become manhunter.
+
* Coma duration scales with target's [[Psychic Sensitivity]]
 +
| 0
 +
| 2s
 +
| 250s (6 hours)
 +
| 1 tile
 +
| Target
 +
| 30-70%
 +
|- id="Word of inspiration"
 +
! [[Word of inspiration]]<br>[[File:WordOfInspiration.png|64px]]
 +
| 5 || Speak words encouraging creativity while psychically hypercharging the target's mind with new ideas. The target will experience a random inspiration appropriate to them.|| Targeted pawn will receive a random [[inspiration]] based upon their passions and skills.
 +
| 0
 +
| 2s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''<br>Inspiration lasts its normal duration
 +
| 1 tile
 +
| Target
 +
| 80%
 +
|- id="Farskip"
 +
! [[Farskip]]<br>[[File:Farskip.png|64px]]
 +
| 5 || Skip the caster, along with anyone standing near him, to an ally at a distant location. This can send people far across the planet, but only works if there is a willing ally on the other side to use as a navigation beacon. The skipped people will always appear near a random ally on the target map.
 +
| Stuns for between 3 and 10 seconds; teleports allies within 5 tiles to distant colonist on map; also teleports tamed animals within 5 tiles if not cast on a colony map; if used while in caravan, whole caravan will be teleported (unusable if overburdened).
 +
| 0
 +
| 5s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''
 +
| User
 +
| 5 tile radius
 +
| 70%
 +
|- id="Neuroquake"
 +
! [[Neuroquake]]<br>[[File:Neuroquake.png|64px]]
 +
| 6 || Find a discontinuity in the psychic field and unfold it, releasing a massive amount of psychic energy. Every creature in range but outside of the safe, inner, circle will be driven violently insane. Casting this takes 12 seconds of meditation, and afterwards, the caster will go into a five-day psychic coma. The disturbing neuroquake echoes will inflict pain on everyone for many kilometers around, causing diplomatic consequences with all factions.
 +
|| Causes berserk mental state in a 60-tile radius, except for a 5-tile safe radius around the caster.
 +
* Mechanoid bosses{{BiotechIcon}} and the [[Dreadmeld]]{{AnomalyIcon}} are immune.
 +
* {{--|12}} [[mood]] for all pawns present.
 +
* {{--|10}} Faction Relations for all factions, no matter the distance you are from their bases.
 +
* {{--|75}} Faction Relations if berserk affects allies.
 +
* Caster put in [[psychic coma]] for 5 days.
 +
| 0
 +
| 12s
 +
| ''Instantaneous''<br>5 day coma
 +
| User
 +
| 60 tile radius
 +
| 50%
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
== Version History ==  
+
== Version history ==
*Royalty Initial Release: Introduced
+
* [[Royalty DLC]] Release - Added.
*1.1.2571: Major Rebalance to several psycasts.
+
* [[Version/1.1.2571|1.1.2571]] - Entropy link duration 60 to 120.
*1.1.2647: Overhaul to some mechanics. Empire no longer gets angry at psycast use, removed psychic hangover, added meditation mechanics.
+
* [[Version/1.1.2647|1.1.2647]] - Overhaul to some mechanics. Empire no longer gets angry at psycast use, removed psychic hangover, added meditation mechanics. [[Entropy link]] removed and replaced with [[Neural heat dump]]. [[Waterskip]], [[Flashstorm (psycast)|flashstorm]], [[Bullet shield]] added.
[[Category: Game mechanics]]
+
* [[Version/1.1.2654|1.1.2654]] - Desired psyfocus level now configurable  and pawns will meditate enough to maintain it without needing scheduling. Reduce psyfocus decay rates 0.5% at each level. Wall, Grave, Sarcophagus, Animus stone, Sculptures and Nature Shrine psyfocus gain increased.  
 +
* [[Version/1.2.2719|1.2.2719]] - [[Solar pinhole]], [[Chunk skip]], [[Farskip]], [[Neuroquake]], [[Word of trust]], [[Word of joy]], [[word of inspiration]], [[Word of love]], [[Word of serenity]] added. Meditation focus objects now enhanced by objects placed nearby. Fix: Colonists can lose their psylink entirely when being [[Resurrector mech serum|resurrected]].
 +
* [[Version/1.2.2753|1.2.2753]] - Neural heat overload no longer causes psylink degradation or any other permanent damage.
 +
* [[Version/1.4.3555|1.4.3555]] - Fix: Tribal [[children]] {{BiotechIcon}} who grow up in a colony don't get the 'natural' meditation focus type.
 +
* Between [[Version/1.2.3005|1.2.3005]] and [[Version/1.4.3641|1.4.3641]] - Psylink description changed from ''"An organic connection to a larger psychic field. This allows a person to use specific psychic powers that they have learned to influence reality in ways that seem impossible. Higher levels of psylink permit the use of more powers. Regardless of psylink level, a person can only use specific powers that they have learned. Psylink comes from a variety of sources. Single-use psylink neuroformer devices can create a psylink. Tribal peoples also know how to develop it through ritual linking with psychically-connected lifeforms. As a physical phenomenon in the brain, psylink is poorly-understood by scientists, not least because it seems to actively conceal itself if studied too closely. One thing most agree on is that it somehow connects people to archotechs and harnesses their power, possibly through some sort of negotiation or sympathy mechanism."'' -> ''"An organic connection to a larger psychic field. This allows a person to psychically induce a distant archotech superintelligence to influence reality in ways that seem impossible. Higher levels of psylink permit the use of more powers. Regardless of psylink level, a person can only use specific powers that they have learned. Psylink comes from a variety of sources. Single-use psylink neuroformer devices can create a psylink. Tribal peoples also know how to develop it through ritual linking with the legendary anima tree. As a physical phenomenon in the brain, psylink is poorly-understood by scientists, not least because it seems to actively conceal itself if studied too closely. One thing most agree on is that it somehow connects people to archotechs and harnesses their power, possibly through some sort of negotiation or sympathy mechanism."''
  
 +
{{Nav|psycasts|wide}}
 
[[Category: Royalty]]
 
[[Category: Royalty]]
 +
[[Category: Abilities]]

Latest revision as of 11:02, 2 November 2024

Psycasts are psychic powers available to pawns with psylink levels, added by the Royalty DLC.

Lore[edit]

An organic connection to a larger psychic field. This allows a person to psychically induce a distant archotech superintelligence to influence reality in ways that seem impossible. Higher levels of psylink permit the use of more powers. Regardless of psylink level, a person can only use specific powers that they have learned. Psylink comes from a variety of sources. Single-use psylink neuroformer devices can create a psylink. Tribal peoples also know how to develop it through ritual linking with the legendary anima tree. As a physical phenomenon in the brain, psylink is poorly-understood by scientists, not least because it seems to actively conceal itself if studied too closely. One thing most agree on is that it somehow connects people to archotechs and harnesses their power, possibly through some sort of negotiation or sympathy mechanism.

Acquisition[edit]

To use psycasts, a pawn must first have a Psylink level equal to or greater than the level of the chosen psycast. A pawn may have up to 6 levels of psylink, and these levels can be gained through several different methods:

  1. Acquire a Psylink neuroformer through questing.
  2. Gain Royalty Titles by accepting Honor as a quest reward.
  3. Pawns can meditate at an Anima tree to grow anima grass. Once 20 grass has grown, a ritual can be performed, consuming the grass and granting one Psylink level to a pawn with the Natural Meditation focus type.
  4. Content added by the Ideology DLCPawns who get blinded through a Satisfying or Spectacular Blinding Ceremony have a chance to get a psylink level, even if the pawns in question have a different Ideoligion without the Blindsight meme. The ceremony can be performed again if the pawns regain their sight through any means including a bionic eye, healer or resurrector mech serum, or biosculpter pod. Note that pawns with pro-Blindness ideoligions at the time of their biosculpting will not have their eyes repaired.

A random psycast of the new level will be learned when gaining a new level of Psylink - i.e. a random level 1 psycast is gained when a pawn gains their first level, a level 2 psycast is learned when gaining their second, etc.

Further psycasts can be gained by using a Psytrainer which grants the specific psycast mentioned in their name. Additional psycasts are available for purchase from traders, with Empire bases and traders having the most, and tribals having the least. A psycaster can learn any number of psycasts through psytrainers, up to and including every psycast in the game, and limited only by the availability of psytrainers themselves.

Note: If using a psytrainer for a level higher than the current psylink level of the user, the learned psycast will replaced the one usually gained for that level when that level is achieved. Given using the psytrainer after gaining that level either grants an additional power or does not work and thus does not consume the psytrainer, it is always best to only use psytrainers after the required psylink level has been achieved.

Also note, if a Psylink neuroformer or Anima ritual has been used to gain a psylink level above what is given for the current title, additional titles will not grant psylinks beyond what they normally do for that title. So if a neuroformer has been used to gain psylink level 1, and then the title of Yeoman is gained and bestowed, the pawn will still only have psylink level 1. This means using neuroformers or rituals on pawns that will gain titles is ultimately a waste, or vice versa.

Mechanics[edit]

A psycaster's effectiveness is controlled by three primary factors: their Neural Heat Limit, their available Psyfocus and the Psychic Sensitivity of their target.

Neural Heat[edit]

Despite being called "heat", neural heat is not a measure of temperature. It refers to a type of chaotic psychic energy in the mind which is built up when using psychic powers and dissipates over the course of a few seconds or minutes. If neural heat is pushed past normal limits, it may cause temporary psychic breakdown and unconsciousness due to psychic shock. These conditions don't cause permanent damage.

— Neural heat description

Neural Heat Limit[edit]

Neural Heat Limiter Off
Neural Heat Limiter On

A psycaster's neural heat limit is the primary limitation to how many psycasts they can perform in a given period of time. Each psycast gives the caster a certain amount of neural heat. As long as a pawn stays within their neural heat limit, they'll suffer no ill effects. By default, a pawn will not use a psycast if the neural heat gain would cause them to exceed their limit. This will be represented by the psycast's icon being greyed out on the UI. A pawn can be instructed to ignore their normal heat limit by clicking on the "Neural Heat Limiter", but exceeding the limit can cause psychic breakdown.

The neural heat limit is affected by both the psycaster's psychic sensitivity and psylink level. A pawn with a level 1 Psylink and 100% psychic sensitivity will have a neural heat limit of 30.

The equation for a pawn's neural heat limit is:

Neural Heat Limit = 30 * Psychic Sensitivity * (0.66... + (0.33... * Psylink level))

or simpler:

Neural Heat Limit = (2 + Psylink level) * 10 * Psychic Sensitivity

Assuming 100% psychic sensitivity, this in the following:

Psylink Level Limit
1 30
2 40
3 50
4 60
5 70
6 80

The in-game meter for neural heat is rounded to the nearest integer, but in-game behavior suggests that the actual decimal value of heat is tracked by the game, as psycasts may sometimes say they have insufficient heat limit to cast even when the spare heat displayed on the pawn's neural heat meter exactly equals the casting cost.

Neural Heat Recovery Rate[edit]

Heat naturally decreases over time, with faster rates provided by additional levels of psylink. Unlike the neural heat limit, it is not affected by the pawn's psychic sensitivity. The default rate of reduction for a pawn without a psylink or with a level 1 psylink is 0.54/s. Every additional psylink level increases the rate by 12.5%. In addition, the pain currently felt by the psycasting pawn adds an additional increase in rate proportional to the primary rate multiplied by three times the pain percentage e.g. at 100% pain, the psycaster will recover neural heat at 400% of their normal rate.

Note: Offsets to this value, such as from eltex items, occur to the base recovery rate and are thus subject to the multiplier from the psylink level and pain level - i.e. a normal quality eltex skullcap will improve a Psylink Level 1 Psycaster's recovery rate by 0.091/s but increase the rate of a Psylink Level 6 Psycaster's by 0.148/s.

The resulting value follows the equation, assuming at least 1 level of psylink.

Neural Heat Recovery Rate = ((0.54+Gear Offsets)*(0.875 + 0.125*Psylink level)) * (1+3*Pain percentage)
Psylink Level Multiplier Base rate
1 1.000x 0.5400/s
2 1.125x 0.6075/s
3 1.250x 0.6750/s
4 1.375x 0.7425/s
5 1.500x 0.8100/s
6 1.625x 0.8775/s

Psychic breakdown[edit]

Deep psychic destabilization of the mind. Psychic breakdown last for days, causing mental disturbances of various kinds. It resolves itself with time.

— Psychic breakdown description

A pawn can be instructed to exceed their neural heat limit clicking the icon next to the neural heat gauge to disable the limit. Exceeding the pawn's neural heat limit can cause an effect called Psychic Breakdown. The severity of the Psychic breakdown has elements of randomness to it, but will generally be more severe the farther past the neural heat limit a pawn goes, and the longer they are past their heat limit.

Heat level Heat Range Breakdown gain
Safe 0% - 99% -
Overloaded 100% - 132% +2 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours
Very overloaded 133% - 165% +4 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours
Extreme 166% - 199% +6 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours
Overwhelming 200%+ +8 Breakdown severity, MTB 2 hours. Psychic shock (10% max Consciousness for 7,500 ticks (2.08 mins))

For example, this means that if a pawn is consistently kept at 170% of the neural heat limit, they will, on average, increase the severity of their psychic breakdown by +6 every 2 hours. Note that this is only an average value over time.

In addition, if a pawn reaches twice their normal neural heat limit, they'll immediately be incapacitated by psychic shock for 3 in-game hours, in addition to the effects of any psychic breakdown that may develop.

Psychic breakdowns come in 3 levels of severity:

Name Severity Range Consciousness Mood Mental breaks
Minor 0 - 4 -25% -6 Minor mental break, MTB 5 days
Major 5 - 10 -50% -12 Minor or Major mental break, MTB 5 days
Total 10 - 15 10% max (Unconciousness) -18 -

Psychic breakdowns last a variable number of days, depending on the severity. Severity decreases at a rate of 1 per day. Thus, minor breakdowns last from 1-5 days, major breakdowns last from 6-10 days, and total breakdowns last from 11-15 days.

Because the severity and duration of the psychic breakdown, as well as the chances of it in the first place, depend on how long and by how much your pawn has exceeded their heat limit using equipment that improves psychic sensitivity or neural heat loss can help minimize or even avoid psychic breakdowns even if you have to turn off the neural heat limit during combat.

Psyfocus[edit]

Psyfocus is a special type of mental structuring which is necessary to use psychic powers. Psyfocus dissipates over time, and must be built by regular meditation. Losing all psyfocus makes someone unable to use psychics, but has no other consequences. Higher levels of psyfocus permit higher-level powers, but also increase the rate of psyfocus dissipation

— In-game Description

In addition to the neural heat increase, each psycast consumes a certain percent of psyfocus. Unlike neural heat, psyfocus costs are the same for every caster, and there is no way to exceed or bypass a psyfocus cost. If the psycaster has insufficient psyfocus for the psycast, it cannot be cast at all. Level 3+ psycasts also require the user to have a minimum level of psyfocus stored in order to be useable:

  • Level 3-4: 25% psyfocus minimum
  • Level 5-6: 50% psyfocus minimum

Even without psycasting, psyfocus will naturally degrade by a small amount per day, relative to the amount of psyfocus the psycaster currently has. Below 25% psyfocus, the psyfocus falls at 3.5% per day, between 25 and 50%, psyfocus falls 5.5% per day, and above 50% it falls at 7.5% per day.

Meditation[edit]

In order to replenish psyfocus, a pawn can spend time meditating. Each pawn will gain a base of 50% psyfocus per day, or 2.08% psyfocus an hour. Meditation foci further improve these rates by adding their listed strength. For example, a meditation foci of +44% would have mediation give 94% psyfocus per day.

There are 6 different types of objects that a pawn can meditate to:

  • Natural: Available to most, but not all, Tribal backstories. Natural meditation objects are most effective when no artifical buildings are nearby. Uniquely, a pawn with natural meditation can grow anima grass and perform the anima tree linking ritual, allowing pawns to gain psylink levels independent from psylink neuroformers.
  • Minimal: Available to Ascetic pawns only. Allows meditation at any wall.
  • Artistic: The default meditation type, available to any non-tribal that is not Ascetic. Meditate at sculptures - the higher the quality, the better.
  • Morbid: Available to pawns with certain traits, like Psychopath or Jealous. Meditate at graves and sarcophagi - deceased family members or loved ones give a bonus.
  • Dignified: Available to anyone holding a royal title. Meditation thrones are improved by having a throne room befitting of the pawn's title.
  • Flame: Available to Pyromaniacs. Meditate at lit campfires and other burning light sources.

The rate of psyfocus gain from meditation can further be increased in the following ways:

  • Using Wake-up increases the psyfocus gain from meditation by +20% per day for the duration of its high.
  • The Psy-meditative persona trait grants an additional +10% psyfocus gain per day of meditation, while the weapon is held in hand.
  • Each psychofluid pumpContent added by the Biotech DLC increases +5% psyfocus per day of meditation from a completed deathrest, up to a maximum of +20% from 4 pumps. This bonus lasts until the next deathrest.
  • Psy-sensitive and Super psy-sensitive genesContent added by the Biotech DLC increase psyfocus gain per meditation day by +10% and +20% respectively. Note that these genes are mutually exclusive.
Meditation Focus Focus Type Base Strength Psyfocus/Hour
@ Base
Max Strength Psyfocus/Hour
@ Max
None All - 2.1% - 2.1%
Anima tree Natural +28% 3.3% +36% 3.6%
Animus stone Natural +34% 3.5% +42% 3.8%
Small nature shrine Natural +22% 3% +30% 3.3%
Large nature shrine Natural +30% 3.3% +38% 3.7%
Grave Morbid +6% 2.3% +34% 3.5%
Sarcophagus Morbid +10% 2.5% +38% 3.7%
Small sculpture Artistic +12 - 28% 2.6 - 3.3% +44% 3.9%
Large sculpture Artistic +12 - 28% 2.6 - 3.3% +44% 3.9%
Grand sculpture Artistic +12 - 28% 2.6 - 3.3% +44% 3.9%
Terror sculpture Content added by the Ideology DLC Artistic +12 - 28% 2.6 - 3.3% +44% 3.9%
Large stele Artistic +15% 2.7% +15% 2.7%
Grand stele Artistic +18% 2.8% +18% 2.8%
Walls Minimal +22% 3% +22% 3%
Brazier Flame +15% 2.7% +31% 3.4%
Darklight brazierContent added by the Ideology DLC Flame +15% 2.7% +31% 3.4%
Campfire Flame +12% 2.6% +28% 3.3%
Torch lamp Flame +10% 2.5% +18% 2.8%
DarktorchContent added by the Ideology DLC Flame +10% 2.5% +18% 2.8%
Fungus darktorchContent added by the Ideology DLC Flame +10% 2.5% +18% 2.8%
Meditation throne Dignified +15% 2.7% +33% 3.5%
Grand meditation throne Dignified +15% 2.7% +33% 3.5%


Many meditation foci can be improved by having other buildings in its radius. For example, a sculpture can be improved by having other, high quality sculptures in its radius. Conversely, most natural foci are weakened by nearby artificial structures.

In any case, foci will never truly "add up". Each nearby sculpture past the first only increases psyfocus by +1-2%, rather than its full psyfocus value. Having multiple unrelated foci together will not have an extra effect. For example, a pawn cannot use a meditation throne and brazier at the same time, even if they have access to both the Dignified and the Flame meditation types. The better of the two foci will be used in any scenario.

Alternative psyfocus[edit]

Other than meditation, the following methods will increase a pawn's psyfocus:

  • Using Go-juice instantly refills a psycaster's psyfocus by 15%.
  • Ideoligion rituals Content added by the Ideology DLC can select the fully refilling the psyfocus of all participants as a reward for sufficiently high quality outcomes.[Detail] .
  • The Kill-focused persona trait grant an instant +20% psyfocus on killing an enemy. Note that psyfocus is gained for directly killing a pawn. This includes killing wild animals, downed hostiles, friendly NPCs, colonists, and even slaughtering colony animals will grant psyfocus as long as the weapon is held in hand whilst doing so. Age and body size do not affect this rate. Excess colony animals, especially from rapidly-breeding animals such as chickens, can thus be turned into into massive psyfocus gain, allowing continuous use of utility psycasts such as Word of inspiration or Word of trust or high cost combat options such as Berserk pulse.

Psychic Sensitivity[edit]

A user's psychic sensitivity increases the neural heat they can use. The user's sensitivity does not directly increase the duration, impact, or range of any psycast, unless they are also the target.

In addition, the target's psychic sensitivity can determine how long a psycast lasts. For many psycasts, psychic sensitivity is a multiplier to duration. For example, a psychically hypersensitive (Sensitivity of 1.8) pawn will be affected by the Berserk psycast for 54 seconds instead of the normal 30, while a psychically dull (Sensitivity of 0.5) pawn would only be affected for 15 seconds. A psychically deaf (Sensitivity of 0) pawn would be immune to these psycasts.

Out of all the psycasts, only Blinding Pulse has its impact increased by the target's sensitivity. Increased sensitivity results in higher blinding.[Verify]

Psycasting stat modifiers[edit]

Psychic equipment can improve a psycaster's abilities by providing additional psychic sensitivity and/or by directly increasing the Heat recovery rate. The following modifiers exist:

Name Type Sensitivity Bonus Sensitivity Multiplier Neural Heat Limit [C] Recovery Rate Bonus
Content from Rimworld core game only Sight Capacity +0 – 50%[B] - +0 - 40 -
Content from Rimworld core game only Psychically hypersensitive Trait +80% - +64 -
Content from Rimworld core game only Psychically sensitive Trait +40% - +32 -
Content from Rimworld core game only Psychically dull Trait −50% - −40 -
Content from Rimworld core game only Psychically deaf Trait −100% - −80 -
Content from Rimworld core game only Psychic foil helmet Apparel −90% - −72 -
Content added by the Royalty DLC Prestige recon armor Apparel +5% - +4 +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Prestige recon helmet Apparel +5% - +4 +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Prestige marine armor Apparel +5% - +4 +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Prestige marine helmet Apparel +5% - +4 +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Prestige cataphract armor Apparel +5% - +4 +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Prestige cataphract helmet Apparel +5% - +4 +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Eltex shirt Apparel +5 – 15% [Q] - +4 – 12 [Q] +0.033
Content added by the Royalty DLC Eltex vest Apparel +8 – 23% [Q] - +6 – 18 [Q] +0.05
Content added by the Royalty DLC Eltex robe Apparel +10 – 30% [Q] - +8 – 24 [Q] +0.083
Content added by the Royalty DLC Eltex helmet Apparel +8 – 23% [Q] - +6 – 18 [Q] +0.066
Content added by the Royalty DLC Eltex skullcap Apparel +20 – 60% [Q] - +16 – 48 [Q] +0.091
Content added by the Royalty DLC Eltex staff Weapon +25 – 75% [Q] - +20 – 60 [Q] +0.083
Content added by the Royalty DLC Psychic Hypersensitizer persona weapon [A] Weapon +40% - +32 -
Content added by the Royalty DLC Psychic Sensitivity persona weapon [A] Weapon +20% - +16 -
Content added by the Royalty DLC Psychic Quiet persona weapon [A] Weapon −15% - −12 -
Content added by the Royalty DLC Psychic Fog persona weapon [A] Weapon −30% - −24 -
Content added by the Royalty DLC Neural Cooling persona weapon [A] Weapon - - - +0.15
Content added by the Royalty DLC Psychic sensitizer Implant +25% - +20 -
Content added by the Ideology DLC Blinded with blind psysense Condition +30%[D] - +24[D] -
Content added by the Biotech DLC Psychic bonding Gene +5 – 10%[E] - +4 – 8[E] -
Content added by the Biotech DLC Psy-sensitive Gene +20% - +16 +0.1
Content added by the Biotech DLC Super psy-sensitive Gene +40% - +32 +0.2
Content added by the Biotech DLC Psychofluid pump Deathrest building +25 – 100% [DR] - +20 – 80 [DR] +0.05 - 0.2
Content added by the Biotech DLC Deathrest exhaustion Condition −100% - −80 -
Content added by the Anomaly DLC Psychophage Condition +50% [P] - +40 [P] -
Content added by the Anomaly DLC Psychically dead Condition - ×0% - -
Content added by the Anomaly DLC Voidsight Condition - ×125% - -
Content added by the Anomaly DLC Void touched Condition - ×200% - -
Content added by the Anomaly DLC Bioferrite equipment Apparel / Weapon - ×106 − 120% [QB] - +0.04
^A Psychic sensitivity persona weapon traits are mutually exclusive with each other, but not with Neural Cooling. Persona traits appear on the following weapons: Persona monosword, Persona plasmasword, and Persona zeushammer
^B Sight capacity provides is a 1% bonus for each percentage point below 50% sight. i.e. 20% Sight results in a bonus of +30% psychic sensitivity, while total blindness at 0% Sight provides +50% sensitivity.
^C Neural heat limit increase from the increased psychic sensitivity, assuming psylink level 6.
^D Note that this stacks with the +50% to psychic sensitivity provided just by being having Sight of 0%, for a total of +80% to sensitivity and a +64 to neural heat limit.
^E When psychically bonded to a pawn, +10% to psychic sensitivity and +8 to neural heat limit while they are on the same map, otherwise +5% and +4.
^Q Value scales with Quality. 0.5× -> 0.66× -> 0.83× -> 1.00× -> 1.16× -> 1.32× -> 1.5×. Note that Normal quality is not 1.00×
^QB Value scales with Quality. 1.06x -> 1.08x -> 1.1x -> 1.13x -> 1.15x -> 1.17x -> 1.20x. Note that Normal quality is not 1.00×
^DR Each pump stacks additively, up to a maximum of 4 times.
^P Despite Psychophagy stating that it consumes the psychic sensitivity of the target, neither the target nor invoker's sensitivity affect the result of the ritual, which is always a flat +50% bonus. The invoker's sensitivity does contribute to ritual quality, which increases the duration of the buff.

Thus the maximum psychic sensitivity possible would be a psychically hypersensitive pawn, genetically modified with the deathrest gene, super psy-sensitivity, having deathrested with four psychofluid pumps, is psychically bonded to a pawn on the same map, blinded and with the Blind psysense precept, with a legendary Eltex staff, vest, shirt, robe and skullcap and an implanted psychic sensitizer for a total value of 638% psychic sensitivity and a neural heat limit, assuming psylink level 6, of 510. With Anomaly DLC, the multiplicative bioferrite make them mucher better than eltex gears, a pawn with bioferrite mask, plate armor, slave collar and weapon, under voidsight, void touched and psychophage can get to 2131%. Note that blindness is not compatible with void touched.

Psycasts[edit]

A psycast is the ability performed by the psycaster. A Psycaster can only perform psycasts of a level equal to or below their psylink level. For example, to manifest Beckon, the psycaster would require psylink level 3.

Regular psycasts[edit]

Name Level Description Effects Heat Gain Casting Time Duration Range Area of Effect Psyfocus Cost
Burden
Burden.png
1 Slow the target for a short time by suppressing motor activity in the brain Psychically-induced difficulty in locomotion.
  • Moving capped at 40%
  • −15 Faction Relations when used on allies
8 0.25s 20s 30 tiles Target 1%
Painblock
Painblock.png
1 Block pain pathways in the target's brain for a short time. This can allow a person to move and act even with grievous injuries which would normally incapacitate them. Psychically-induced pain insensitivity. 8 0.25s 120s 25 tiles Target 2%
Stun
Stun.png
1 Momentarily disrupt motor function in the target's brain, preventing any movement.
  • Stuns the target
  • Duration scales with target's Psychic Sensitivity
  • −15 Faction Relations when used on allies
12 0.25s 3s 20 tiles Target 1%
Chunk skip
ChunkSkip.png
1 Skip the closest 5 chunks of rock or slag to scatter them near the target point. This is useful for producing cover during offensive operations. Skips the closest 5 chunks to scatter them near the target point. This is useful for producing cover during offensive operations. 14 1s Instantaneous 25 tiles Target 4%
Solar pinhole
SolarPinhole.png
1 Generate a microscopic skipgate linked to the core of a nearby star. Solar material leaks through the pinprick in spacetime, illuminating and warming the surrounding area until it closes. The light is enough to work by, but not enough to grow plants.
  • Lights up a 11.58 tile area around it.
  • Creates heat at a rate of 10 heat per second (compared to the 21 heat per second of a heater or campfire), but only when the temperature is below 20°C.
0 0.25s 5000s (5 days) 25 tiles 15 tiles 8%
Blinding pulse
BlindingPulse.png
2 Induce noise in the visual centers of the brain, obscuring vision of everyone near the target point. Psychically-induced partial blindness. 20 1s 30s 25 tiles 7 tiles 1%
Waterskip
Waterskip.png
2 Douse a target in water, extinguishing fires. The water is archotechnologically skipped from distant bodies of water or underground aquifers
  • Creates a 3 tile diameter water dump at the targeted location leaving water puddles behind.
25 1s Instantaneous 25 tiles 3x3 tiles 1.5%
Neural heat dump
NeuralHeatDump.png
2 Instantly dump all your neural heat into someone else. As a side effect, the target will fall into a debilitating but non-damaging coma for about a day. The target must actively accept the psychic invasion, so only conscious allies can be targeted. Psychically induced neural heat cleansing.
  • Caster reduces their neural heat to 0
  • Selected allied target within line-of-sight and 25 tiles falls into psychic coma. Target does not require psylink to receive neural heat.
  • −15 Faction Relations when used on allies
0 1s 1000s (1 day) 25 tiles Target 0%
Beckon
Beckon.png
3 Psychically command the target to approach the caster.
  • Target is unable to make ranged attacks and is forced to follow the caster. Lasts full duration or until struck.
  • Duration scales with target's Psychic Sensitivity
20 0.25s 8s 20 tiles Target 1%
Chaos skip
ChaosSkip.png
3 Teleport the target to a random position near where it started. Objects above a certain size cannot be teleported.
  • Target, pawn or item, is teleported to a random tile between 7 and 25 tiles away from its starting location
    • Maximum target body size: 3.5
    • Line of sight to target is necessary, but unlike with "Skip", the destination of the teleport can be through walls, with luck.
    • Cannot target an ApocritonContent added by the Biotech DLC
  • Stun for between 70 ticks (1.17 secs) and 120 ticks (2 secs) after teleporting
  • −15 Faction Relations when used on allies
18 0.25s Instantaneous 25 tiles Target 2%
Vertigo pulse
VertigoPulse.png
3 Interfere with the spatial orientation sense of everyone near the target point, causing intermittent loss of balance. Flesh creatures will become extremely nauseous as well. Psychically-induced loss of spatial orientation. This will cause flesh creatures to vomit.
  • Targets within the radius become dizzy and wander in a 3 tile radius from their initial position
  • Living targets have a chance to vomit.
  • Duration scales with target's Psychic Sensitivity
  • −15 Faction Relations when used on allies
30 1s 20s 25 tiles 7 tiles 2%
Smokepop
Smokepop.png
4 Skip dust particles up from under the ground surface to form a thick cloud. This reduces the accuracy of any shot fired through it, and prevents turrets from locking on entirely.
  • Creates a 7 tile diameter smoke cloud at the targeted location.
30 1s Instantaneous, Smoke dissipates in ~30 seconds 25 tiles Tile 2%
Skip
Skip.png
4 Teleport the target to a desired position not too far from his starting point. Objects which are too large cannot be teleported.
  • Target, pawn or item, is teleported to a selected tile visible to the target.
  • −15 Goodwill impact
25 0.25s Instantaneous 28 tiles Target/Tile 2%
Focus
Focus.png
4 Psychically focus the target's mind, boosting their sight, hearing and moving capacities. Psychically-induced mental focus, increasing sight, hearing and movement capacities. 15 0.25s 60s 28 tiles Target 3%
Wallraise
Wallraise.png
4 Form a temporary wall by skipping rubble and soil up from deep under the ground. A fragile wall made of rubble. It will collapse in time.'
  • Creates a cross-shaped set of wall 3 blocks across and 3 blocks wide at the target location. Wall has 100 HP and lasts for 4 hours or 10,000 ticks (2.78 mins).
    • Walls cannot intersect other walls, but will shunt items out of the way.
35 1s Instantaneous, Wall disappears after 4 hours. 25 tiles Tile 2%
Berserk
Berserk.png
5 Induce an angry psychosis in the target's mind, causing them to attack anyone nearby.
  • Target goes berserk, attacking the nearest creature regardless of previous affiliation.
    • Cannot target any of the mechanoid bossesContent added by the Biotech DLC, nor can it target a DreadmeldContent added by the Anomaly DLC
  • −15 Faction Relations when used on allies.
  • Duration scales with target's Psychic Sensitivity
40 0.25s 15s 20 tiles Target 4%
Flashstorm
Flashstorm.png
5 Use differential-pressure skipgates in the atmosphere to generate a localized flashstorm. The storm will strike the area with lightning for some time before dissipating.
  • Creates a flashstorm at target location.
  • −35 Goodwill impact.
65 1s 164s 20 tiles 14 tiles 4%
Invisibility
Invisibility.png
5 Psychically manipulate the visual centers of everyone nearby, rendering them unable to perceive a particular individual for a short time. Psychically-induced invisibility. This actually affects others nearby, making their brains unable to perceive the sight of this individual, even if the eyes are unaffected.
  • Targeted creature cannot be attacked or targeted by any non-AoE psychic powers. This includes psycasts on self.
45 1s 15s 20 tiles Target 3%
Berserk pulse
BerserkPulse.png
6 Generate an overwhelming rush of undirected rage in everyone near the target point.

All creatures within the radius go berserk, attacking the nearest creature regardless of previous affiliation.

  • Mechanoid bossesContent added by the Biotech DLC and the DreadmeldContent added by the Anomaly DLC are immune.
  • −75 Faction Relations when used on allies.
  • Duration scales with target's Psychic Sensitivity.
65 1s 10s 15 tiles 5x5 tiles 6%
Mass chaos skip
MassChaosSkip.png
6 Skip everyone in an area to random positions nearby. Objects which are too large cannot be teleported.
  • Targets within radius is teleported to a random tile between 7 and 25 tiles away from its starting location
  • −5 Goodwill impact.
40 1s Instantaneous 25 tiles 17 tiles 3%
Skipshield
Skipshield.png
6 Generate a spherical skipgate that sends all incoming and outgoing ground-level projectiles to some distant place. People and items are not affected.
  • Makes a 4.9-tile radius circle that cannot be shot through, into, or out of. Does not block non-ground-level projectiles.
65 1s 15s 25 tiles 9 tiles 4%
Manhunter pulse
ManhunterPulse.png
6 Drive nearby animals into a manhunting rage using a psychic pulse

All animals within the radius go Manhunter, attacking the nearest human regardless of previous affiliation.

  • Duration scales with target's Psychic Sensitivity.
  • Makes faction hostile when used on animals of allied caravans.
50 1s 60s 35 tiles 57 tiles 4%

Special psycasts[edit]

Officially added in 1.2, these psycasts cost a great amount of psyfocus in return for some useful utility, often outside combat.

Name Level Description Effects Heat Gain Casting Time Duration Range Area of Effect Psyfocus Cost
Word of trust
WordOfTrust.png
1 Speak to the prisoner while using psychic suggestion to reduce his resistance to recruitment. This psycast can only reduce a prisoner's resistance, but cannot recruit him. 0 2s Instantaneous 30 tiles Target 60%
Word of joy
WordOfJoy.png
2 Speak happy, calming words to someone while using psychic suggestion to implant a joyfuzz loop in his mind. The joyfuzz will suppress uncomfortable thoughts and sensations in the target to improve mood. This has the side-effect of dulling sensation and decision-making, which reduces consciousness. The affected pawn gains the Joybuzz status, providing 30 joy at the cost of -20% consciousness for 7 days. 0 2s 5000s (5 days) 1 tile Target 40%
Word of love
WordOfLove.png
3 Speak about someone's romantic virtues while using psychic suggestion to implant romantic desire in the listener. For days afterward, the listener will feel psychically-induced romantic attraction towards the other person. This great increases opinion and makes them much more likely to attempt romantic advances and marriage proposals if they get the chance. This psycast can be used to connect two other people, induce love for the caster, or force oneself to love another. Psychically-induced romantic desire. This increases an individual's opinion of someone else, and increases the likelihood of romantic advances and marriage proposals, while reducing the chance of a breakup.
  • Greatly increases relations between target(s), nearly guaranteeing a relationship forms if recursively cast on two pawns.
0 2s 8000s (8 days) 1 tile Target 50%
Word of serenity
WordOfSerenity.png
4 Use calming words and psychic suggestion to end a mental break on a person or animal. The target will fall into a short psychic sleep. The psyfocus cost depends on the intensity of the target's mental break. Instantly ends any mental break by forcing the target into a 6 hour psychic coma. 0 2s 250s (6 hours) 1 tile Target 30-70%
Word of inspiration
WordOfInspiration.png
5 Speak words encouraging creativity while psychically hypercharging the target's mind with new ideas. The target will experience a random inspiration appropriate to them. Targeted pawn will receive a random inspiration based upon their passions and skills. 0 2s Instantaneous
Inspiration lasts its normal duration
1 tile Target 80%
Farskip
Farskip.png
5 Skip the caster, along with anyone standing near him, to an ally at a distant location. This can send people far across the planet, but only works if there is a willing ally on the other side to use as a navigation beacon. The skipped people will always appear near a random ally on the target map. Stuns for between 3 and 10 seconds; teleports allies within 5 tiles to distant colonist on map; also teleports tamed animals within 5 tiles if not cast on a colony map; if used while in caravan, whole caravan will be teleported (unusable if overburdened). 0 5s Instantaneous User 5 tile radius 70%
Neuroquake
Neuroquake.png
6 Find a discontinuity in the psychic field and unfold it, releasing a massive amount of psychic energy. Every creature in range but outside of the safe, inner, circle will be driven violently insane. Casting this takes 12 seconds of meditation, and afterwards, the caster will go into a five-day psychic coma. The disturbing neuroquake echoes will inflict pain on everyone for many kilometers around, causing diplomatic consequences with all factions. Causes berserk mental state in a 60-tile radius, except for a 5-tile safe radius around the caster.
  • Mechanoid bossesContent added by the Biotech DLC and the DreadmeldContent added by the Anomaly DLC are immune.
  • −12 mood for all pawns present.
  • −10 Faction Relations for all factions, no matter the distance you are from their bases.
  • −75 Faction Relations if berserk affects allies.
  • Caster put in psychic coma for 5 days.
0 12s Instantaneous
5 day coma
User 60 tile radius 50%

Version history[edit]

  • Royalty DLC Release - Added.
  • 1.1.2571 - Entropy link duration 60 to 120.
  • 1.1.2647 - Overhaul to some mechanics. Empire no longer gets angry at psycast use, removed psychic hangover, added meditation mechanics. Entropy link removed and replaced with Neural heat dump. Waterskip, flashstorm, Bullet shield added.
  • 1.1.2654 - Desired psyfocus level now configurable and pawns will meditate enough to maintain it without needing scheduling. Reduce psyfocus decay rates 0.5% at each level. Wall, Grave, Sarcophagus, Animus stone, Sculptures and Nature Shrine psyfocus gain increased.
  • 1.2.2719 - Solar pinhole, Chunk skip, Farskip, Neuroquake, Word of trust, Word of joy, word of inspiration, Word of love, Word of serenity added. Meditation focus objects now enhanced by objects placed nearby. Fix: Colonists can lose their psylink entirely when being resurrected.
  • 1.2.2753 - Neural heat overload no longer causes psylink degradation or any other permanent damage.
  • 1.4.3555 - Fix: Tribal children Content added by the Biotech DLC who grow up in a colony don't get the 'natural' meditation focus type.
  • Between 1.2.3005 and 1.4.3641 - Psylink description changed from "An organic connection to a larger psychic field. This allows a person to use specific psychic powers that they have learned to influence reality in ways that seem impossible. Higher levels of psylink permit the use of more powers. Regardless of psylink level, a person can only use specific powers that they have learned. Psylink comes from a variety of sources. Single-use psylink neuroformer devices can create a psylink. Tribal peoples also know how to develop it through ritual linking with psychically-connected lifeforms. As a physical phenomenon in the brain, psylink is poorly-understood by scientists, not least because it seems to actively conceal itself if studied too closely. One thing most agree on is that it somehow connects people to archotechs and harnesses their power, possibly through some sort of negotiation or sympathy mechanism." -> "An organic connection to a larger psychic field. This allows a person to psychically induce a distant archotech superintelligence to influence reality in ways that seem impossible. Higher levels of psylink permit the use of more powers. Regardless of psylink level, a person can only use specific powers that they have learned. Psylink comes from a variety of sources. Single-use psylink neuroformer devices can create a psylink. Tribal peoples also know how to develop it through ritual linking with the legendary anima tree. As a physical phenomenon in the brain, psylink is poorly-understood by scientists, not least because it seems to actively conceal itself if studied too closely. One thing most agree on is that it somehow connects people to archotechs and harnesses their power, possibly through some sort of negotiation or sympathy mechanism."