1. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory

    Tactile telekinesis

    Discussion in 'Setting Development' started by Lorddread, May 1, 2013.

    A very common way of explaining away physics issues with the "flight, strength, speed and invulnerability" power-set is by claiming it's not because of physically stronger muscles or tough skin, but a form of bodily telekinesis. I was thinking what other effects could that sort of ability have. One would be providing superhuman senses of touch and smell veer acting as a mass spectrometer. Or extracting oxygen underwater.

    Anyone got suggestions?
     
  2. TimHarris

    TimHarris Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    Oslo, Norway
    The possibilities are endless. You could compress matter dense enough that friction will superheat it. That way you can throw fireballs. You can shoot lightning, prevent aging, all depends on much much control you have over the physical world through the telekinesis.

    I once experimented with the idea of telekinesis in a story where the idea was that you could manipulate every aspect of reality, and that a knowledge and understanding of physics were the only real barrier.
     
  3. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    Any rationales for how it could enhance hearing and sight?
     
  4. Xatron

    Xatron New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2013
    Messages:
    566
    Likes Received:
    6
    Telekinesis or Psychokinesis refers strictly to mental movement or motion of solid matter. It couldn't effectively enhance hearing or sight. It could enhance sound on the other hand as well as light but that wouldn't happen for only one person (aka the user) but rather for everyone who would witness it. Similarly one could not acquire superhuman senses of smell or touch since they are not a manifestation of movement of matter but one of the brain processing said movement. If by sense of touch you mean superhuman strength then that would be true. I suppose one could argue that if you had ultimate control of telekinesis then one could affect the movement of the electric currents running through his own nerves to change his responses but again, it is totally implausible.

    What you are describing is probably examples of synesthesia.
     
  5. AVCortez

    AVCortez Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Agreed.

    Unless I'm mistaken it could enhance smell. Aromas come from microscopic particles, vapours and spores; the person could draw more of them in at once to intensify the scent. Though it seems like a semi pointless talent if any kind of focus is required. I don't know much about it, but isn't a sound-wave a sound wave? You might be able throw the sound with telekinesis, but you wouldn't be able to make it louder. If anything it would change the sound completely... All I can think of is Skrillex.
     
  6. Xatron

    Xatron New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2013
    Messages:
    566
    Likes Received:
    6
    The purpose of an enhanced smell or sound power is that you perceive something that you otherwise wouldn't. To enhance a wave or select the specific molecules of a scent to enhance them requires prior knowledge of their existence. Otherwise the user would have to enhance every sound-wave or smell leading to a cacophony of sounds or smells. The deciding factor on perception is whether the brain can process the information that already exists or not.

    This is what i meant by cacophony.
     
  7. Lorddread

    Lorddread Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Messages:
    375
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Australia, Northern Territory
    Any abilities it could be used for assuming touch was required?
     
  8. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    It's all magic anyway. Don't overthink it.
     
  9. MatthewOliverGrey

    MatthewOliverGrey New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2014
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    3
    Perhaps they could use telekinesis to scan an area by sensing things and people like a bat using sonar.
     
  10. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    1) Telekinesis - the ability to control things - could definitely be the most flexible power in the world for a sufficiently creative mind to use. Basically: anything that uses matter, you can do something with.

    2) Maybe emphasize that telekinetic characters can hone their skills through training, but that the smaller, simpler telekinetic stunts are always easier than the larger and more complicated, and thus a telekinetic would probably try to avoid the fancy, unreliable tricks as much as possible (unless he is specifically characterized as unusually reckless)?

    Example: telekinetically flying always sounded harder to me than most writers present, in that you would need to lift every atom in your body in relative such with the rest of your body, and you risk lethal organ damage and internal bleeding if you accidentally apply too much telekinetic pressure to the spleen and not enough to the liver.

    Structural integrity of human tissues notwithstanding, maybe somebody who wants to fly would start by mounting a broomstick and lifting the broomstick until he's comfortable lifting himself directly?

    3) If you have multiple telekinetic characters, maybe they each have different skill-sets, and learning a new set of skills is harder than learning fancier skills within their own established set?

    Example: perhaps you have somebody who's good at chemical manipulation and one who's better at lifting solid objects?

    The "chemist" can hold his breath (by turning CO2 into O2 and C, breathing the O2 while spitting out the "charcoal") and change the lens and fluids in his eyes for better vision, but has trouble making his brain work faster. Likewise, the lifter can hold a computer in the air, manipulate the keys without breaking anything, but has trouble flying without using a prop to ride on.

    The lifter could teach the chemist to float a computer in the air, but the chemist would not be able to type the way the lifter can without breaking the keyboard. Likewise, the chemist could teach the lifter to to hold his breath, but the lifter would melt his eyes out if he tried to give himself better vision the way the chemist can.

    [LIE]On a completely unrelated note,[/LIE] have you ever seen the movie Chronicle?
     
    Lorddread likes this.
  11. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    You realize this thread has been collecting dust since May, and the member asking the question hasn't been here since August, right?
     
  12. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    Oh. Wow, I'll remember to check that next time.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice