Telelinguistics (*2): New Telepathy skill. 

[Note: Most campaigns should probably require Telesend and Telereceive at
at least 12 as prerequisites.  I created this skill to simulate an ability
from the old Tomorrow People TV show for a campaign, and don't plan to
require the Telereceive prerequisite in order to more closely simulate the
effect in the show.]

Telelinguistics is a sort of "universal translator" skill.  It is related
to both Telereceive and Telesend but is more specialized.  It allows a
telepath to speak and understand spoken languages of which she has no
knowledge.  The skill works by "skimming the surface" of the subject's
mind, tapping directly into the language centers of his brain for a
simultaneous two-way translation. It cannot be used to detect lies or
emotions, read thoughts, or perform any other function besides bypassing
language barriers.  It works on any sentient being within normal Telepathy
range.  It can be switched on and off instantaneously with no effort if
desired. 

Exceptions: it will not work on anyone who does not use spoken language to
communicate, as in the case of an alien race that communicates by smell, a
deaf person who communicates only by sign language, or a feral child
raised by wolves who never learned to speak.  It cannot be used to tap
into the Secret Communication racial advantage unless the psi also has
Secret Communication.  The skill does not work with written languages, or
on subjects outside Telepathy range (i.e., on television, on the phone,
etc).  If sentient computers are subject to Telepathy in the game world,
this skill will work on them.

Part of the value of Telelinguistics is its subtlety, if one wishes to
pass as a native.  Most subjects will not even notice that the telepath is
using this skill;  they will simply "hear" the user speaking in the
subject's own native language, fluently and with no accent.  If the
subject is multilingual, he will "hear" whichever language seems most
appropriate to the situation as determined by the GM; a Greek slave in
ancient Rome who speaks Latin fluently as a second language might hear the
user speaking Latin, for example, simply because he expects people around
him to speak Latin. People with different native languages may hear the
telepath differently from each other, however, and compare notes. 

A telepathic subject should roll against her highest Telepathy skill to
realize that the person they are talking to is using Telelinguistics to
communicate.  Mind Shield blocks the use of this skill just like any other
Telepathy skill; Telelinguistics is usually a "friendly" contact, unless
the Mind Shield user wishes to block it for some reason (e.g. to have a
private conversation in another language without the Telelinguist
overhearing).  The GM may or may not wish to allow a non-telepathic
subject with Linguistics a skill roll to realize that something weird is
going on.

In a game world where psi is openly known, psionic translators might be
highly prized specialists.  In a low-tech game world, open use of this
skill might be looked upon as the "gift of tongues," which could either be
the mark of a saint or a witch.... 

Telelinguistics can be used "globally" at full Telepathy range, not the
normal 1% radius.  The Selective Effect enhancement will allow the user to
be understood by some individuals within range but not others.  Otherwise,
the skill works on either a single individual or everyone within Telepathy
range who can hear the telepath's voice, no "pick and choose" possible. 

The skill ordinarily works automatically on languages available at the
user's skill level per the chart below, with skill level representing the
range of languages the Telepath can understand. 

The phrase "native language" on the table below also applies to languages
which the user has at a skill level of 15 or better (high enough to think
in).  The GM is the final arbiter of which group applies to a language in
question.  On a successful Telelinguistics skill roll, a language from the
next higher group (but no higher) can be understood in terms of broad
concepts only:  "Danger," "food,"  "go away." 

Telelinguistics skill 8 or less: Allows user to understand and speak other
dialects of his/her own native language fluently.

9-12: As above, plus closely related languages (those which default to
native language-4 or better). For a native English speaker, this would
include languages such as French, Spanish, and Latin.

13-16: As above, plus languages for which the user's default skill is
native language-6 or better.

17-18: Most other languages for which the user has no default, such as
Japanese or Navajo for a native English speaker, but not alien languages.

19+: All languages, including truly alien ones.

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This article is (c) 1997 by Jason Puckett.  Please feel free to distribute
it for personal use, as long as this paragraph is left intact.  If you use
this skill in your own game, please send me suggestions or comments at
jpuckett@gsu.edu.