Psionic Awakening
There are many means by which an individual may activate their inherent psionic potential. Most often, this occurs due to a character's intense training and meditation, his conscious mind peeling away the barriers that hold him back and 'switching' his psychic capabilities on. However, there are several other methods by which a body might awaken his psi talents (or, as it happens, see them activated).
Trained Psis
The most reliable and consistent manner in which sentient beings can activate their psionic potential is with proper schooling to that effect. A character that has worked long and hard to awaken their inherent psi power is known as a trained psi. These characters usually study relentlessly in an intensive, highly structured fashion to awaken specific powers, of their own choice, as their experience with psionics grows.
These psis will excogitate in a regimented fashion regardless of their chosen manner. This regimen means that when acquiring psi powers (either during character generation or later on, during character advancement), they will do so in the order of art, talent and skill, before starting over again. This forces the trained psi to exercise vastly different portions of his brain, ultimately leading to the mastery of his chosen goals.
Further complicating the matter however is the fact that one may be schooled in psionics in one of three different fashions. These three methods of psionic schooling each have their advantages and disadvantages, and the manner in which a character is schooled will determine the ultimate variety and potency of his psi powers. The three methods of psionic schooling are traditional, intermediate and casual study.
Traditional Study
The least flexible and most regimented form of psionic learning, traditional studies are often preferable to players who see themselves investing a lot of time (and Karma) into their character. In effect, traditional study requires that a psi-active student choose one discipline of power to begin with, and not even contemplate the study of another until he has mastered his first.
Once he has achieved mastery of a discipline, the traditional psi may then continue his studies of the first, primary discipline, or he may instead begin to study another. The traditional psi may also do both at the same time, as he sees fit, though he can only have one discipline at a time which he has not achieved mastery of. This limits the range of powers the psi may choose from somewhat, but has several benefits.
The intensive focus of a traditional psi reduces the cost of purchasing new powers by twenty five percent, whether he's mastered a discipline or not. Secondly, as the psi must master a discipline before starting up another one, he gains the benefits of doing so. Finally, the traditional student may eventually overmind in a discipline of power if he studies it long enough, a benefit no other trained psi has access to.
Intermediate Study
While a bit more regimented than casual methods of psionic training, the intermediate mode of psi study is nonetheless more flexible than the traditional vein of psychic education. This is because the intermediate trained psi is allowed to change disciplines of study after learning only three powers in said discipline if he so desires, instead of the nine required to master it with traditional schooling.
The end result of this is that, while a bit more flexible than traditional study, intermediate schooling is still structured enough to eventually allow mastery of a discipline, and even the eventual acquisition of every power within one. Also, an intermediate psi need not begin study of a discipline with its 'root' power if he chooses not to, as must a traditional psi, though he won't master a discipline until he does so.
Although the flexibility of intermediate study allows a psi to dip his toes into many disciplines of power at once, it does come with a price. Intermediate psis do not gain a discount when purchasing new psi powers - though they have no penalty, either. Furthermore, their lack of a supreme focus prevents them from ever gaining the benefits of overminding in a discipline; they must learn all a discipline's powers the hard way.
Casual Study
The psi participating in a casual study of psionics powers (such as it is) will have a madly variant selection of powers, as he's not bound by most prevailing theories of psi mastery. When selecting his powers, the casual psi can draw from a different discipline each and every time he chooses a new power, whether during character generation or later on in his adventuring career.
This is much more convenient than either the traditional or intermediate modes of psi study, in that a casual psi will have a vastly diverse selection of powers to choose from. He might even start with one power from each of his available disciplines, if so desired. Of course, this wild flexibility comes with several costs, though normally the benefits at least balance out the hassles in most cases.
For one thing, a casual psi must pay twenty five percent more Karma to purchase new powers, as he generally draws upon less complementary knowledge of himself in the mastery of new powers. This lack of focus also hampers the mastery of disciplines down the line (but doesn't make it impossible). Finally, not only can a casual psi not overmind in a discipline, but there are some powers in each discipline that they simply cannot learn.
Natural Psis
The flip side of the trained psi, a natural has acquired the use of psionic abilities without bothering with that whole 'study' thing - much less even trying, typically. As such, their powers don't really come about due to any coherent rhyme or reason, and the power set a natural psi possesses may in fact be (relatively) unique to them. Of course, this puts the natural psi at something of a disadvantage.
This is because, while the natural psi does not have to gain powers in the order a trained psi does (the art, talent and skill progression) during character generation, he does not readily have the ability to acquire new psi powers later on. Unless he finds some way to study psionics with a mentor, it's possible the natural psi may never acquire additional powers at all - his power selection is considerably more finite.
The most dangerous of natural psis transform this seeming weakness into an impressive strength. You see, not splitting his focus amongst the mastery of dozens of powers, a natural psi can concentrate on getting the most bang for his buck out of the limited abilities he does have access to. Thus, while more limited in power selection compared to a trained psi, a natural usually has the edge in the use of his specific powers.
Natural Psi Causation
A lot of the time, a natural psi will occur due to a moment of extreme stress in their lives. Perhaps they've been faced with a moment of mortal peril (or terror), and instead of folding when the chips were down, something 'clicked' in their heads somehow. Refusing to give in, the very mind of the character would not let itself be extinguished, and suddenly one or more psi powers were activated to rectify the situation.
Another thing that can cause natural psi activation is exposure to like powers. Psi isn't a 'common' phenomenon, so it's not something most characters readily experience (depending on the campaign, of course). So when someone's mind is assaulted for the first time, it's quite possible that their own consciousness will reflexively defend itself, causing the manifestation of new powers 'out of the blue'.
Finally, some people just have a sort of natural tendency for psionic ability. Maybe their heads are wired a bit differently than other folks, or they just think in a way that doesn't really line up with their peers - or almost anyone else on earth, really. Often, edge cases like this can develop psi abilities instead of 'mere' quirks to denote unusual abilities, being much more pronounced in nature.
Developing Natural Psi Abilities
So something caused these strange abilities to manifest - what next? A lot of the time, when something fantastic and unusual happens, a person will simply rationalize it away somehow. Sure, you were able to lift that car off of your ailing grandmother, but it must've been a weird fluke. People just can't do that sort of thing, can they? Never mind that you don't actually remember touching the car at all.
People who write off their brush with the fantastic often don't bother to develop their psionic potential - in fact, they may never use such powers again. Alternately, a person may very much wish to repeat the occurrence but simply doesn't know how. This sort of natural may attempt to repeat the chain of events that caused their psi power to switch on momentarily... often with positive results, but occasionally with lethal consequence.
But sometimes, just sometimes, a body who manifests psi powers irregularly can get a handle on them and their use, and may develop them properly. These characters can't necessarily learn new powers like a trained psi, but they can easily work with what they've got to become quite effective in their own right. Their seemingly random powers, backed by a series of power stunts, can almost allow them to match a trained psi in overall capability.
Natural Psis with Psi Study
And then there's the natural psi who, after finding someone to instruct him properly, might actually develop a set of trained powers as well as those he's managed to activate by dumb luck or chance. A psi of this variety will have natural psi powers per the above, but will also back that up with 'official' training in one of the three standard methods. A character of this variety has considerable flexibility.
For one thing, his trained powers need not be from the same discipline(s) as his natural psionic abilities, meaning that even a traditional psi might have some quirky powers that don't fit within his rigid educational structure. This can be a great boon to a student of the psionic arts, as one's natural psi powers are a convenient 'crutch' to back themselves up with when the powers they're studying proper can't get the job done.
On the other hand, a student who does indeed study a discipline he has natural powers in can master it much faster, gaining the benefits of doing so (if he so chooses). This is often the path a psi mentor will adopt when 'growing' a young epsilon, the idea being to build upon what they already know in order to hasten their education considerably. Either path is acceptable to the natural psi who seeks formal training.
Believers
Lying somewhere between the natural and trained psi, a believer is someone who is an ardent supporter of some philosophy, movement or principle who is so absolutely certain they're right that they manifest abilities reflecting this world view. This differs somewhat from faith, in that it is not a religious fervor (though ecclesiastic influence may be involved), but instead an imagined precept of how the multiverse works.
This process works because a believer, due to the astounding strength of his ideology, actually manages to reorder the way his very mind functions. The believer will thus activate specific portions of his psi potential that reinforce this ideology, whether or not the believer is actually aware of these powers, much less their function. They 'just work', probably because the believer believes he is right.
Thus, a believer might be so absolute in his convictions that he may very well seem divorced from 'reality' as others see it - and may demonstrate a variety of psychological tics to represent this. Not all believers are criminally insane, though a few may well appear to be once you get to talking to them. But at the same time, seeing them demonstrate the power of their belief can make it hard to debunk their arguments.
Believer Beliefs
In order for a believer to take shape, a character must first have something to believe in. The philosophy or ideology of a believer is what shapes their psi powers, both in availability and overall intensity, and usually will differ from the prevailing attitudes in their society - or else everyone might have the same or similar psionic capabilities as a general matter of course.
This belief can be just about anything really, and can revolve around the nature of the universe, humanity in general or just the specific character in question. It need not even make too much sense, depending on the believer involved, as long as it's generally a serious belief. The belief that everyone is energy might allow for energy manipulating abilities, while insisting the world is tapioca might just land one in the nuthouse.
The critical thing to keep in mind is that this belief will shape the character's every action. He eats, drinks and breathes in his beliefs, which is kind of the reason he developed special powers related to them in the first place. He need not expound on the merits of his beliefs every second of every day, but he genuinely believes in the ideas behind them, and lives only to further their aims and/or acceptance.
Conviction or Insanity
Sometimes there is a fine line between a believer and a crazy person, and sometimes there isn't at all. There are facilities full of people with all kinds of kooky ideas about the world and how it works, usually with padded walls and a selection of straight jackets in a wide variety of sizes. The problem there is that most people in the madhouse don't have the focus or the conviction to become proper believers.
Even more, some people housed within mental health facilities just might have that conviction, but their beliefs are so off the wall that whatever abilities they do manifest might not be readily available to them, much less effective enough (or applicable) to attempt an escape - or living a normal life. Maybe they just subtly alter the moods of everyone in their vicinity, or perhaps they can see into other universes.
Worse still is the truly insane believer who can get it together enough to go his own way. One need only visit their local multiplex to see films showcasing such individuals, often maniacal monsters that possess seeming super human powers, who relentlessly pursue whatever mad agenda set them in motion to begin with. Slasher films in particular seem to love this brand of believer villain.
Belief and Followers
The thing about a believer though is that, if he's charismatic and successful enough, he might be able to demonstrate the merits of his beliefs to the point that he sways others to his line of thought. When a believer draws followers to his line of thinking, they often inspire him to greater heights of power. A believer with a flock (even if it's just one true devotee) gains the benefit of +1 CS on all believer power ranks.
Where this gets interesting is that such reinforcement works both ways. A believer's followers can see their inspiration made manifest in the form of the believer's special abilities, and often develop convictions powerful enough to awaken similar psi powers. Typically these will be lesser in rank or variety than the original believer's psi powers, but can show just how devoted to one's belief structure he really is.
In fact, there may even be 'tiers' of believers working beneath the original leader of such a group, some with no special powers, some with one or two psi abilities, and still more with powers approaching that of (or matching) the belief's originator himself. This lends itself to large philosophical or ideological movements, and such groups, once they put their minds to a specific task, may very well change the world with their convictions.
Believers with Psi Study
On the other hand, some believers who realize the nature of their powers - or perhaps just pursue psionics as a separate end entirely - might seek out proper psionic schooling. They may do so as a way to supplement the power of their beliefs, perhaps as a means to reinforce them in the eyes of others, or often as an incidental adjunct to their path of power (instead of becoming a high tech hero or sorcerer, maybe).
A believer with trained psi ability generates each group of psionic powers he possesses according to the normal rules for such. He'll first set up his belief-based abilities and then those that are derived from his psionic schooling, whether traditional, intermediate or casual in nature. A believer with training has the same amount of starting powers as anyone else, just divided between the two sources.
A character following this particular path gains all the benefits that a natural psi with added schooling receives. If they pursue a discipline they already wield powers within, they'll master it that much faster (if applicable), or alternately can 'lean' on their belief-based abilities when their trained psi powers fail them in a given situation. Other than the differing origins of their inherent powers, the two characters otherwise 'behave' the same.