Editing FederalSpace:Technology (section)

=== Exotic Talents ===

I ''was'' opposed to the idea of psi powers—I go to all the trouble of stripping the magic tech out, and now we want to put magic mental powers ''in?!''—but after consideration, I do like the idea of "exotic talents." Let's say that the usual psi explanation, of manipulation of energy or information at a distance, remains impossible. A Talent is an intriguing edge case, like an idiot savant—they've got some incredible personal knacks and quirks that, in the right combination, can do some incredible things. A person who's incredibly good at reading people's emotional states; a person who's a linguistic savant, rapidly identifying languages and following the tone; a person with pronounced meditative control over their metabolism; a person who can hear and understand minute changes in active machinery; a person who can intuitively sift large amounts of intelligence data. With this setting's improved understanding of psychology and genetics, it's possible to locate these people, and train them to use their knacks more reliably and in concert with conventional skills and technology. It's even possible to ''try'' to manufacture them—nature and nurture being what they are, you'll get hundreds of normally-odd people for each success, but it may be worth the trouble for some organizations.

==== Commentary ====

'''LordDraqo:''' If you've had the opportunity to catch Fox-television's "Lie To Me," or NBC's "The Mentalist," you have seen how people can develop hypertrophied perceptual abilities.  Combine this with training from the cradle, and Betazed "empathy" might not be so far-fetched.


'''Susanoo Orbatos:''' …Councilor Troi isn't Telepathic because she's a Betazoid, she's telepathic because she's a Councilor. The world they were from spent most of its time developing the "Telepathic" skills. So when they joined the Federation they ended up taking up roles in society where "telepathy" would work well Gamblers, Councilors, Diplomats.

Anyone can go to the Betazoid schools for Diplomacy, psychology etc they are just the best in the Federation for such things.

Your "warrior Races' might have an equivalent with things like Gramaton Clerics....