Surgery, but no Diagnosis

[Library Ogre]

So, let us say a character in your game has Psychic Surgery, but does not have Psychic Diagnosis.

What do you allow them to do with no medical skills? With only First Aid? With plenty of medical skills, but still no Psychic Diagnosis? Does the possession of mundane medical skills influence ability with psychic surgery at your table?

[torjones]

So, let us say a character in your game has Psychic Surgery, but does not have Psychic Diagnosis.

What do you allow them to do with no medical skills? With only First Aid? With plenty of medical skills, but still no Psychic Diagnosis? Does the possession of mundane medical skills influence ability with psychic surgery at your table?

"A Psychic Diagnosis must be made before surgery is possible" I take that literally, since it seems to be quite unambiguous. Using Psychic Diagnosis is a prerequisite to using Psychic Surgery. If they are new players, I'd let them, one time only, swap powers out, but for people who this ain't their first rodeo, they should really know better. I don't often give hard "No"s out, but with the book being so clear on the subject, that would have to wind up a house rule, and a discussion would need to be made of it during session zero, which is already full of far more important things, imo.

[Warshield73]

So, let us say a character in your game has Psychic Surgery, but does not have Psychic Diagnosis.

What do you allow them to do with no medical skills? With only First Aid? With plenty of medical skills, but still no Psychic Diagnosis? Does the possession of mundane medical skills influence ability with psychic surgery at your table?

"A Psychic Diagnosis must be made before surgery is possible" I take that literally, since it seems to be quite unambiguous. Using Psychic Diagnosis is a prerequisite to using Psychic Surgery. If they are new players, I'd let them, one time only, swap powers out, but for people who this ain't their first rodeo, they should really know better. I don't often give hard "No"s out, but with the book being so clear on the subject, that would have to wind up a house rule, and a discussion would need to be made of it during session zero, which is already full of far more important things, imo.

This was always my interpretation as well, but I made diagnosis a requirement for surgery. Now I say this was my rule but in reality I never had to, the few PCs that had healing psi might have taken diagnosis without surgery but no one ever asked to take surgery without diagnosis.

Theoretically I might let someone with advanced imaging equipment use that to help them "see" what they need to do and then use psychic surgery to remove bullets or set bones but that would be it. I'm not sure if having a medical skill should have any real impact on the use of this power. IMO

[Captain_Nibbz]

I can definitely see the line of logic for letting medical skills aid in the surgery, but I personally don't think that I would ever wave the requirement for the psychic diagnosis as it is specifically called out for being needed.

As an alternative however, what would you guys think of having a successful skill check with a medical skill give the character a bonus to their chance of success with the psychic diagnosis? I don't have my books in front of me and I don't recall if there is a roll to determine success with the diagnosis, but I feel like the two would be able to compliment each other.

[Mack]

I'll hedge a bit... I'd allow Psy Surgery if it was something as simple as an arrow stuck in a person's thigh. Basically you're using the power to aid in pulling the arrow out.

But using it to, say, remove a kidney stone? That's gonna require a psychic diagnosis even if the character has identified the problem via medical skills.

[Killer Cyborg]

So, let us say a character in your game has Psychic Surgery, but does not have Psychic Diagnosis.

What do you allow them to do with no medical skills? With only First Aid? With plenty of medical skills, but still no Psychic Diagnosis? Does the possession of mundane medical skills influence ability with psychic surgery at your table?

I'd allow skills to perform the diagnosis before a psychic surgery, the same way I'd allow a psychic diagnosis before a conventional surgery.