Psionics VS. Sythetics.

[Exanthos]

Wouldn't the psi armies be useless against synths? And what about materialist peoples? If they don't belive in psionics, and they get rekt by a telepath, what then?
lol

[Arcos]

Materialists can research psyonics if they get a researcher with that speciality, so just a bit luck needed. So they basicly only belevie in what they can see and proof. Synthetics can have moral as they can be happy or unhappy. The only arguable army in regards of that would be robotic.

[Exanthos]

Originally posted by Arcos:

Materialists can research psyonics if they get a researcher with that speciality, so just a bit luck needed. So they basicly only belevie in what they can see and proof. Synthetics can have moral as they can be happy or unhappy. The only arguable army in regards of that would be robotic.

Never knew that, thanks.

But still, mind-readers shouldn't be able to read a mechanical mind...since its mechanical...

[Arcos]

Why not? If it is just a syntetic brain working the same way as a human brain just not built out of the same materials. Realy depends how this theoretic psichic power works exactly. Syntetic isn't a robot.

[Oku]

Originally posted by Tetrodotoxin:

Originally posted by Arcos:

Materialists can research psyonics if they get a researcher with that speciality, so just a bit luck needed. So they basicly only belevie in what they can see and proof. Synthetics can have moral as they can be happy or unhappy. The only arguable army in regards of that would be robotic.

Never knew that, thanks.

But still, mind-readers shouldn't be able to read a mechanical mind...since its mechanical...

They aren't JUST mind readers. Psionics encompasses basically anything that would involve using the force of mental willpower to affect the physical realm through psychic energies. An army of Psionics would be able to use telekenetic powers to tear open vehicles/buildings, clear obstacles and throw theings at enemies, project psychic barriers around themselves to protect against gunfire, use precognition to be able to dodge attacks or know exactly where to strike. Psi Armies are described as prefering melee weapons, so it can be assumed that they use their powers to levitate or enhance their speed to attack from weird angles, empower their weapons with energy, or teleport short distances if you want to get really creative.

And as for the original OP, Psionics aren't "faith", in Stellaris' universe they are an actual physical thing that some species can aquire, it's just that highly religious groups are focusing so much on the spiritual world that their thoughts often cross in to the Shroud, whereas materialists are so focused on the physical world they won't ever come accross it on their own.

[Exanthos]

Ah, okay. Makes sense. Thanks

[MarQan]

The "spiritual world" in Stellaris happens to be a real place, where psionics draw their powers from. Being spiritualist connected them to this realm more than others.
Becoming psionic is not a question of belief, it's just that some cultures are closer to the key than others, materialists being the farthest.

Psionic power also affects the material world (like telekinesis), not just the mind, so they can fight slightly more effectively against even robotic armies, than normal humans.
But since Robot and Droid armies are immune to morale damage, "mind tricks" won't work.

I think the Utopia DLC goes into this a lot more than the base game.

[qualified turtle ship]

psi is just modern magic w/o the need for incantations. So it works on whatever and however they say it works :p

[Inner Sight]

Don't think of it like Proffessor X. Think of it like Green Latern. Willing physical obsticles. Physical pressure.

[Arcos]

Maybe go more the direction of mind over matter. The universe bows to our will, or reality is just a dream of ours. Well a slong paradox doesnt give us the exact definition, all just mindgames anywayXD

[Saxon]

When I think Psionic I think more of the Protoss in Starcraft which had some pretty devastating battlefield skills besides mind control.