Curbludgeon wrote:For everyone else, I was looking at the Psi-Dampener (Nightbane:Shadows of Light pp 89-90). It seems like the class' Dampening Field ability would react with a currently active Mind Block in perhaps a different way than might be seen with similar abilities, such as those of the Psi-Nullifier or Sea Inquisitor.
Here's a hypothetical: A 2nd level Psi-Dampener with a M.E. of 12 scrambles abilities which cost 22 ISP or less. They move within the area of effect of an active Group Mind Block. One of the psychics previously affected by the now scrambled Group Mind lock uses a power which costs more than 22 ISP, such as Mentally Possess Others. If that ability is used on the Psi-Dampener they could be forced to shutdown their dampening field, but for this example they are made to move far enough away that the dampening field doesn't interact with the previously active Group Mind Block. Does the Group Mind Block reactivate, and if so what happens with the Mentally Possess Others effect?
Greetings and Salutations. So, I'll start by noting what I can make of the Psi-Dampener ability.
Even many psychic squads like to have a Psi-Dampener as part of their team, even though it turns off the abilities of any other agent within the character's range of influence.
3. Dampening Field: Psi-Dampeners continuously radiate a sort of psychic scrambling signal that negates all psychic abilities ...
[snip]
Basically, any psychic ability ... [snip] ... is turned off ...
We're told that the power is negated, and specifically that the powers are "turned off" (we are told this at least twice). While this is noted as scrambling signal, since we're told that the powers are turned off I'd have to go with the powers are deactivated (not just the effects). I went through a few different ways it would work, but the only way that ended up making sense to me is the following ...
While it is a signal scrambler, it doesn't jam the signal in the sense of scrambling the area around it. Instead, it would work more like scrambling the parts of the brain the send and receive psychic signals. Instead of thinking it like a radio scrambler, I'm going to use the concept of a EMP (more the type you see in movies, which is more the Palladium style anyways, so let's not get into real world specifics). Psychic abilities (and other things affected by this power) are the machines being shut off by the EMP. Once the EMP is done (the Psi-Dampener leaves) you could try to turn things back on (or repair anything damaged), but they don't just turn back on automatically (though I suppose that may happen in some movies too, that's not the analogy I'm going for).
So, in the case of the Psi-Dampener and Mind Block, considering we ruled the Psi-Dampener took precedence over Mind Blook*, the Group Mind Block would need to be reactivated. The power wasn't interrupted, but negated/shut off. So the Mentally Possess Others psychic would be fine, at least until the Group Mind Block was reactivated**. Of course, one would have to ask how these psychics know when they can and cannot use their psionics. So unless they metagame, they'd have to use actual clues available to them, and that could be a lot harder.
* Note 1: This could be open for some debate. I'm inclined to believe that the Psi-Dampener would take precedence, as suggested in the quoted post. My logic is that the Psi-Dampener is always active, and that it stops all psionics within its range. So, a Group Mind Block would have to enter into the range of the Dampening Field (and be negated) before it could technically reach the Psi-Dampener. Though I think this could also be argued to be an immovable object vs. unstoppable force concept, and opinions may vary.
** Note 2: Whether or not Group Mind Block would cancel an ability such as that, I'm not entirely sure. In my personal opinion (and I'll admit I'm basing this on my belief, and not necessarily supported by text of the book), while the Group Mind Block does prevent psionics in general, psionics that function out of body work a little bit different. Mind Block would erect a wall/barrier sealing off the mind. However, in the case of something like Mentally Possess Others, Telemechanic Possession, Ghost Machine, Astral Projection, etc. (these are from memory, so I may have included something that shouldn't have been, or forgotten something that should be included) involve the psychic's mind leaving the body and going somewhere else. So a psychic using Astral Projection would NOT be kicked back to their body, but would be prevented from using any other psionics. And a psychic using Mentally Possess Others would be prevented from other psionics, but would continue to inhabit the body (though I may provide a victim another Saving Throw). Though, I guess, technically, Mentally Possess Others does not provide a Saving Throw but ... you know, I'm okay with house ruling that too.
Anyways, that's just my take on the situation. Hope some of that helps. Farewell and safe journeys.