Open State

Moderate

Effect: While channeling a Psionic Talent: cannot take other Actions, cannot make Reactions, can only Shift (no Scramble/Rush/Sprint/Take Cover). Vulnerable to Disruption.

Duration From the Tick you declare Channeling until the Tick the Talent resolves (Tempo 4–9 for most Talents)

Inflicted By

Declaring a Channeling action (any Psionic Talent)

Cleared By

Talent resolves at its Tempo (automatic)
Channeling fails (Disrupted, Fumbled, or voluntarily aborted)

The Open State is the Psionic’s necessary vulnerability. Between the moment of declaration and the moment of resolution, the caster’s attention is inward, holding the channel open while shaping the Current. They are not defenseless; they can still Shift (move up to their Speed) out of obvious danger. But they cannot Scramble, Rush, Sprint, Take Cover, Parry, Intercept, or take any other Action.

This window is when the Psionic is most likely to be Disrupted. See the Disrupted condition. Damage during the Open State forces a Focus check (ECHO + Focus vs. TN 8 + damage taken) or the Talent fails outright, resources spent and an extra 1 Strain of feedback. Salt is worse: a Salt Round hit causes automatic Disruption with no save.

The longer the Talent’s Tempo, the more dangerous the Open State. Rank 5 Miracles at Tempo 9 leave the caster vulnerable for nearly a full Beat. This is a deliberate balancing tradeoff: high-rank power costs proportional exposure.

(See also: the Open State keyword for conceptual framing, and the Disrupted condition for what happens when the vulnerability is exploited.)