On 24Aug2021 0916, "Bruce Johnson" - johnson at Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU
(via tml list) wrote:
> On Aug 22, 2021, at 7:46 PM, Thomas Jones-Low - tjoneslow at gmail.com<http://gmail.com> <xxxxxx@simplelists.com<mailto:xxxxxx@simplelists.com>> wrote:
>
> Traveller psionics are, as written, a specialized tool used by individuals in very specific circumstances.
>
> Well, except for the largest single chunk of Humaniti not called  “The Third Imperium”
>
> (which makes the baffling stance of the 3I vis-a-vis psionics really *weird*. More wars have been fought by the 3I with the Zhodani than the Solomani, yet somehow studying the ONE THING that their greatest enemy has as a weapon is somehow right out. I don’t really buy the psychohistory ‘oops’ given in the books. sure you could rile up a lot of people against something…but keep them riled up for almost a thousand years??? In a modern communications-rich universe? )
I blame the Hivers.

I also assume that there's actually a lot more psionic stuff going on in
the black ops arena than anyone is ever told about. However, there's not
that much motivation for the 3I to match the Zhodani, because the Zhos
make remarkably little use of psionics for the thing the Impies seem to
fear most - manipulating Imperial society and leadership. Perhaps they
can't because the 3I use too much psionic shielding around its leaders
or is simply too big, or perhaps the Zhos simply don't care that much.

If the Impies don't want to join Zhodani society and the occasional war
on the border (most of which have cost a lot more clients' lives than
Zhodani citizens') is sufficient to stop them encroaching, why spend
considerable time and effort on something that, should it fail, might
blow up really badly?

Now, if we're in the GURPS Traveller TU, where there's no Rebellion,
etc., and things continue as 'normal', the next time it becomes
necessary to trim the 3I's horns might require more than a border war,
given that 1) is now right up against the Consulate's border, 2) seems
to have learnt how to fight wars and not lose them.

--
Rupert Boleyn <xxxxxx@gmail.com>