How to play a Newtype

In previous runs NT level was expressed with a number from 0-10. While this worked for game statistics, it was often hard for players to understand and roleplay correctly. Therefor, the following system of categories was created. This tutorial consists of basic explanations of what newtypes are and how they are different from normal humans, followed by explanations of each specific newtype category, and how one NT level differs from another. Newtype Basics A Newtype is supposed to be the next stage of human evolution, a sort of human that has evolved to accomodate life in space. They are physically identical to normal humans, but have a more complex brain chemistry. The differences are hard for even trained medical physicians with state of the art equipment to detect, but they are very real. For nerds who are unfamiliar with Gundam, they're pretty similar to Jedi. Newtypes have a sixth sense, a sort of spacial awareness that allows them to sense the presence of people they cannot see or hear. They do this by sensing a sort of energy that is reportedly released by peoples emotions. A newtype standing outside of a building will be able to tell how many people are inside the building, as well as where in the building each person is specifically. At higher levels of proficiency with their sixth sense, the Newtype can not only sense a persons location, but also their emotional state. Powerful newtypes are rumored to be able to see the future. This is not exactly true. What they can sense is a persons emotions and intentions before they do something, which will likely betray what the person is about to do. At even higher levels of proficiency, the Newtype can project forms of emotional energy onto other people. This allows newtypes to communicate with each other in a sort of telepathic way, although it is done through emotional prompts, not with actual words. In trained hands it is just as effective as real conversations. Powerful newtypes can communicate in this way with normal humans, but the Oldtype cannot respond. At the highest levels, Newtypes have been known to do some pretty magical things, explained in detail in the Appendixes pages. These skills are not innate powers that the Newtype can manipulate from birth. They is a trained skill, and some newtypes are much better at them than others. Furthermore, using newtype powers can at times require a great deal of concentration and can cause extreme fatigue and painful migraines. Newtypes and Roleplaying Newtypes exist in the Universal Century, but to the majority of the human population they are a myth. It is hard to impossible for the best trained doctors to identify the brain chemistry changes that show the person is a newtype, and their existance has NOT been scientifically confirmed. For believers they are a thing of faith, for skeptics they are just people who are exceptionally skilled pilots or oddly lucky. Many people living on Earth have never even heard the word newtype before. Both the Earth Federation and Zeon militaries have highly classified programs designed to find newtypes and train them for military applications. A newtypes ability to sense emotions is one of the only forms of both detection AND communication that is uninhibited in a Minovsky Particle Environment. Because most newtypes live in space, Zeon has had more success in these endeavors than the Earth Federation. Newtypes in the Earth Federation In the Earth Federation newtypes are still mostly a myth. Very few people believe in them. The EFSF's classified newtype program is still fledgling, and many newtypes within the Earth Federation military go completely unnoticed. Most do not even realize that they are newtypes, because they have no idea what a newtype is, other than some weird Zeon propaganda. They are just good pilots, or lucky SOB's who always seem to know who is in their immediate vicinity. Newtypes in the Duchy of Zeon In the Duchy of Zeon newtypes are a little different. The Zeon propaganda machine heralds them as proof that Spacenoids are genetically superior to Earthnoids. People who are "registered" newtypes in the military wear bright red uniforms, and are paraded throughout the media in propaganda as living proof of Zeons superiority. Of course, Zeons methods for detecting a newtype, while better than the Federations, are still terrible. At least half of the Duchys "registered" newtypes are not actually newtypes. Many more actual newtypes go unnoticed, and are just as oblivious to the reality of their situation as Federation newtypes are. They at least know what the word means, and are more likely to believe in their existance. Rogue Newtypes Newtypes that are not in a military organization are less likely to realize their abilities than EF or Zeon newtypes. With no classified programs looking for them and not as much combat stress put on them, they are more likely to think of their powers as luck, or religious magic, or etc. They may even think they're psychic. Spacenoids however are still more likely to believe in Newtypes, and come to the correct conclusion eventually. Newtype Categories There are 4 categories of Newtype. Each category has 3 levels, identified with a + or a - sign, for 12 overall levels of Newtype proficiency. They are ranked as follows: 0 = Oldtype 1 = Newtype Sensitive - 2 = Newtype Sensitive 3 = Newtype Sensitive + 4 = Newtype - 5 = Newtype 6 = Newtype + 7 = Newtype Adept - 8 = Newtype Adept 9 = Newtype Adept + 10 = Newtype Prophet - 11 = Newtype Prophet 12 = Newtype Prophet + At joining, a character's newtype sensitivity will be rolled for, and they will be either an Oldtype or one of the 3 ranks of Newtype Sensitive. Through good RPing they can then progress to higher ranks of Newtype-dom. Each of the 4 types of Newtype is described below, along with all of their in-game abilities: Newtype Sensitive These people likely do not know they are Newtypes, although they may figure it out after coming into contact with a more powerful Newtype. They are able to sense the presence and emotions of other Newtypes, and in exceptional or stressful circumstances those of Oldtypes as well.   • In game bonuses to Patrol, Scouting, Detection, Interrogation & Escape rolls.   • Limited ability to control a Psycommu, with concentration. Doing so can cause Fatigue scores in battles. Newtype These people have realized their special abilities and are starting to understand them. They can sense the presences and emotions of everyone around them, Newtype and Oldtype.   • In game bonuses to Patrol, Scouting, Detection, Interrogation & Escape rolls.   • Ability to control a Psycommu.   • Increased combat performance from sensing the combat intents of those around them.   • Telepathy with other Newtypes when concentrating. Doing so can cause Fatigue scores in battles. Newtype Adept These more advanced newtypes are not only able to sense peoples emotions, but able to communicate on a telepathic level with other newtypes and sometimes oldtypes as well. Rather than communicating through thoughts, this works by projecting feelings onto another individual, allowing them to understand your message without hearing any actual words.   • In game bonuses to Patrol, Scouting, Detection, Interrogation & Escape rolls.   • Acts as an in-game Detector (D) unit.   • Ability to control a Psycommu.   • Increased combat performance from sensing the combat intents of those around them.   • Telepathy with other Newtypes.   • Telepathy with Oldtypes when concentrating. Doing so can cause Fatigue scores in battles. Newtype Prophet The final stage of Newtype Evolution, these people are often able to do strange, superhuman things such as control the emotions of people around them or move things with their minds. Oldtypes are generally uneasy around them, as they seem to see straight through you, know everything you are thinking and everything you are about to do. While a newtype cannot actually read a persons thoughts, at this level the ability to read emotions is so strong that they can accurately guess a persons thoughts anyway. Characters of this level are able to retain consciousness after death, in a way very similar to Star Wars Jedi.   • In game bonuses to Patrol, Scouting, Detection, Interrogation & Escape rolls.   • Acts as an in-game Detector (D) unit.   • Ability to control a Psycommu.   • Increased combat performance from sensing the combat intents of those around them.   • Telepathy with both Newtypes and Oldtypes.   • Access to 1 Newtype Power per Prophet level.   • 5% reduced chance of Unexpected Complications ~