Psionics for MgT2 - Temporal Cognition

Temporal Cognition is the ability to perceive the past and future, and to a lesser extent influence future events. While it is similar in some ways to Clairvoyance, it is much rarer in most sophonts; it occurs with a frequency on par with Teleportation, at a DM+0. Of all psionic talents, Temporal Cognition is the one most often confused with supernatural or divine powers. Temporal Cognition offers some disturbing implications about the nature of space and time, and of fate and free will. The referee will have to decide exactly how much information they give to a player when this talent is used. In general, clues will come in the form of visions, symbols, and impressions rather than in clear certainties. After all, the future is always in motion. These abilities are covered in existing 1e materials, but this is my hot take on it. 

Danger Sense

The most rudimentary form of Temporal Cognition, this ability is focused entirely on the immediate well-being of the psion. It operates passively, so long as the user is conscious and aware. If the psion is asleep, it will still function but at a greatly reduced reliability. In such a role, the user receives their PSI bonus as a DM to Recon, Survival, and Initiative in any situation where surprise or sudden danger is a factor; it will also act as a negative DM added to the penalty provided by diving for cover or parrying. It will only work against threats within a couple hundred meters, or in cases more distant where the threat is another sophont who is focused upon the psion specifically; a distant sniper, for example, might trigger Danger Sense if they are intent upon killing the psion specifically. This minor edge can sometimes be the difference between life or death, and represents a "bad feeling about this". 

Danger Sense can also be used deliberately, through an act of will. In such a case, the user makes the check below and adds their Effect to Recon, Survival, or Initiative in any surprise situation involving sudden danger of any sort. In narrative terms, this reflects a sudden flash of insight as to the general nature of the threat. 

Check: Average (8+), Temporal Cognition (1D/2 seconds, PSI)

Reach: Long

PSI Cost: 1

Psychometry

The psionic individual is able to gain clues and insights about the past history of items or beings in close proximity by examining them. The ability is called "Object Reading" in some cultures. A psion is able to scan an object or person's history going back up to PSI cubed years, e.g. PSI of 10 allows a thousand-year reading. The higher the Effect, the greater the clarity of information the psion is able to perceive. This information is limited to general impressions of the object's origins, the nature and personalities of users, and shocking or traumatic events that the item or individual was part of. "Impression" is a useful concept, as the stronger an impression an event would make on an observer, the deeper the psionic imprint it leaves on an object. 

Check: Difficult (10+), Temporal Cognition (1D minutes, PSI)

Reach: Personal

PSI Cost: 2

Precognition

Perhaps the most mystifying of psionic abilities, Precognition is the ability to predict or even influence the future outcome of events. The higher the Effect, the greater clarity the psion's vision affords, allowing for more opportunity to act upon that information. It should be noted that this ability is far from exact. The future is somewhat fluid, though nobody is certain to what degree, and acting on foreknowledge changes the future. In general, the further down the timeline that one looks, the murkier the information one gains. The in-setting mechanics of Precognition are extremely fuzzy, but in general, predictions are more accurate for subjects that are more narrow in focus or closer in time. "Who is the next person to enter this room?" will garner a better result than "What does the next decade hold for the Imperium?". This ability requires effective GM judgment, perhaps more so than any other psionic ability. 

A psion with Precognition is able to make predictions about the future out to PSI squared days, gaining impressions and hazy visions about future events rather than anything especially clear-cut. The Psion attempts the Precognition task, and their Effect determines the quality and clarity of the information they perceive. If they manage an Effect of 6+, some specific insight will allow them to grant a Boon to a single skill roll directly related to the question. Each attempt to divine the future about a particular subject muddies the time stream. A second attempt to get a better result will suffer a Bane, while any additional attempts will result only in a headache. 

Check: Difficult (10+), Temporal Cognition (1D minutes, PSI)

Reach: Personal

PSI Cost: 3