ATTITUDES TOWARDS PSIONICS

Depending upon the place that players and StarMasters wish to accord psionic talents in their game, the attitudes possessed by most people and cultures may vary considerably.

The designers recommend the following attitudinal pattern. In the Terran Union of Federated Planets, psionics are officially tolerated and, if in government service, are actively supported and encouraged. The Adept occupies much the same place as the Lensman in 'Doc' Smith's epic science fiction series, the Jedi Knights from StarWars, etc. The average citizen of the UFP is perhaps a bit mystified by psionic talents, but he is prepared to accept that adepts are not intrinsically 'bad' or 'dangerous' if they are conducting themselves properly or in the service of 'Civilization.' Even so, many will be suspicious or fearful of persons with such power.

However, the attitude of other starcultures towards psionically gifted individuals may prove to be far less tolerant than in the UFP. Superstitious 'primitives' will regard psionic Adepts as sorcerers or witches, and the violence of their fear may result in persecution or even outright lynching. More advanced societies with totalitarian political systems will regard psionics as a direct threat to the continued authority of the dominant party or group, and Adepts will be subjected to rigid control and probably a state approved campaign of distrust and persecution carried out by the fearful citizenry. Psionic Adepts possess, in short, far too much power to be trusted. Adepts operating in such areas should therefore be careful not to reveal their capabilities unless it is really needful to do so.