Psi World

In Psi World, players take on the roles of character who have psionic powers.{{cite book|last=Schick |first=Lawrence|author-link=Lawrence Schick|title=Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games|publisher=Prometheus Books |year=1991|isbn=0-87975-653-5|page=357}} The gamemaster decides whether the campaign will feature psionic characters oppressed by an intolerant society and hunted by the police, or held up as heroes for using their powers to benefit humanity.

The boxed set contains a 32-page booklet "Role Playing Game of Psionic Powers", a 30-page booklet "The Psi World Adventure", a cardstock gamemaster's screen, a sample character sheet, and dice.{{cite web|url = https://www.legrog.org/jeux/psi-world/psi-world-en | date=2009-05-08|title= Psi World |website=Guide du Rôliste Galactique| access-date= 2023-11-28 |language=fr}}

During character creation, players can choose from a number of skills, which can be either Level or Non-Level. Level skills, such as unarmed combat, can vary in how well the skill can be done. Non-Level skills, such as swimming, are simply a qualitative yes or no — the character can either swim or cannot swim.

Players also choose either one major psionic power such as Teleportation or Precognition, or two minor powers such as Pyrokinesis.

The rules cover combat, and "the World." Two introductory scenarios are included.

Psi World was designed by Del Carr and Cheron, with art by Bill Willingham, Matt Wagner, Bill Cucinotta, Janet Jackson, Rich Rankin, and Cheron, and was published in 1984 by FGU

In 1985, William H. Keith Jr. and J. Andrew Keith expanded into FGU's game lines including Psi World.{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}{{rp|75}}

In 1985 FGU published the supplement The Hammer Shall Strike that contained new psionic powers and two scenarios.{{cite web|url = https://www.legrog.org/jeux/psi-world/hammer-shall-strike-en | date=2009-05-08|title= Hammer Shall Strike (The) |website=Guide du Rôliste Galactique| access-date= 2023-11-28 |language=fr}} FGU also released five sequentially-linked scenarios for Psi World. The first three were in Underground Railroad (1985);{{cite web|url = https://www.legrog.org/jeux/psi-world/underground-railroad/underground-railroad-en | date=2009-05-08|title= Underground Railroad |website=Guide du Rôliste Galactique| access-date= 2023-11-28 |language=fr}} two more scenarios were published in Cause for War (1986).{{cite web|url = https://www.legrog.org/jeux/psi-world/underground-railroad/cause-for-war-en | date=2009-05-08|title= Cause for War |website=Guide du Rôliste Galactique| access-date= 2023-11-28 |language=fr}}

In Issue 44 of Different Worlds, Scott A. Dillinger liked the character generation, psionics and combat rules. However, Dillinger was not enthralled with the moral issues around "reverse healing" — every power that has the ability to heal also has the ability to harm. Dillinger also thought the lack of direct psionic vs. psionic combat was a missed opportunity. Dillinger concluded by giving the game a solid 3 out of 4, saying, "It's a lot of fun for a little money."{{cite magazine|last=Dillinger|first=Scott A. | date=November–December 1986 |title=Game Reviews|magazine=Different Worlds| issue=44|pages=28–29}}

Chris Baylis reviewed Psi World for Imagine magazine, and stated that "I would suggest that this is a system for the slightly more mature player, not for the young and blood-thirsty beat-'em-up brigade. Much thought and planning is required by both GM and player, and character interaction and party cooperation is a must for survival and enjoyment."{{cite magazine| last = Baylis |first = Chris | title =Notices | magazine= Imagine | issue = 21| pages =21| date=December 1984}}

In Issue 24 of the French games magazine Casus Belli, Michel Serrat noted with approval, "The sociological problems linked to the development of parapsychological powers are addressed precisely." Serrat also pointed out that the psionics rules could easily be transplanted to another role-playing game, saying, "Indeed this game is very scalable and the referee can easily place it in any RPG campaign." Serrat concluded, "Psi World should be well accepted - despite some shortcomings."{{cite magazine | last =Serrat| first =Michel| title =Têtes d'Affiches | magazine = Casus Belli | issue =24| pages =8| date =1985| language =fr }}

Stewart Wieck reviewed Psi-World in White Wolf #7 (1987), rating it a 7 out of 10 and stated that "Thru and thru, Psi-World is an interesting and pleasing game. It is fairly simple, but does not achieve this by sacrificing either playability or campaign development."{{Cite magazine |last= Wieck|first= Stewart |authorlink=Stewart Wieck|date=1987 |title= Review: Psi-World |magazine= White Wolf Magazine |number=7|page= 19-20, 27 |url=https://imgur.com/a/zjO4AKs}} and [https://imgur.com/a/B1dJI0I]

In his 1990 book The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games, game critic Rick Swan called the game "an interesting premise for an RPG ... generally well done and reasonably engaging." Swan concluded by giving the game a rating of 2.5 out of 4, saying, "Psi World is an interesting alternative to standard fantasy RPGs, but its focus is ultimately too narrow for extended play."{{cite book | last =Swan | first =Rick | author-link=Rick Swan |title =The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games | publisher =St. Martin's Press | date =1990 | location =New York | pages =164–165}}

In his 1991 book Heroic Worlds, Lawrence Schick commented: "Feel persecuted just because you're better than everyone else? This game is for you!"

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Category:Fantasy Games Unlimited games

Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1984

Category:Science fiction role-playing games