Psychic paper: Difference between revisions

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Usually, it showed what the holder of the paper wanted the person reading the paper to see ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World]]''), or vice-versa ([[DW]]: ''[[The Idiot's Lantern]]''). It could even be used to open doors in place of a keycard ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]''), and the Doctor once used it in lieu of an [[Wikipedia:Oyster card|Oyster card]] to pay before boarding a bus in London. ([[DW]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'')
Usually, it showed what the holder of the paper wanted the person reading the paper to see ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World]]''), or vice-versa ([[DW]]: ''[[The Idiot's Lantern]]''). It could even be used to open doors in place of a keycard ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]''), and the Doctor once used it in lieu of an [[Wikipedia:Oyster card|Oyster card]] to pay before boarding a bus in London. ([[DW]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'')


In the hands of an untrained user the paper was prone to displaying facts they subconsciously wanted the reader to be aware of, often leading to embarrassment. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'')
Apart from its usual function of subterfuge, the paper could receive messages from beings of sufficient psychic ability, such as the [[Face of Boe]] and, to [[The Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor]]'s initial surprise, Professor [[River Song]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'' and ''[[Silence in the Library]]'') The [[Atraxi]] also sent the Doctor a message telling him that [[Prisoner Zero]] had escaped. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'')


[[File:Physicpaper.jpg|thumb|left|Receiving a message via psychic paper. ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')]]
[[File:Physicpaper.jpg|thumb|left|Receiving a message via psychic paper. ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')]]
Members of the [[Torchwood Institute]] received basic psychic training and as a result were rendered immune to the effects of the paper. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'') Individuals with powerfully creative minds also seemed to be immune to the effect of the paper, although the Doctor appeared to believe this only occurred in truly exceptional cases. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Shakespeare Code]]'')


Apart from its usual function of subterfuge, the paper could receive messages from beings of sufficient psychic ability, such as the [[Face of Boe]] and, to [[The Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor]]'s initial surprise, Professor [[River Song]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'' and ''[[Silence in the Library]]'') The [[Atraxi]] also sent the Doctor a message telling him that [[Prisoner Zero]] had escaped. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'')
When used by an individual with [[psychic power]]s, the psychic paper would sometimes bounce the individual's powers back on them. For example, when used by [[Waechter]], it allowed him to see his own future. ([[NSA]]: ''[[The Story of Martha]]'': ''[[The Weeping]]'')


When used by an individual with [[psychic power]]s, the psychic paper would sometimes bounce the individual's powers back on them. For example, when used by [[Waechter]], it allowed him to see his own future. ([[NSA]]: ''[[The Story of Martha]]'': ''[[The Weeping]]'')
===Limitations===
In the hands of an untrained user the paper was prone to displaying facts they subconsciously wanted the reader to be aware of, often leading to embarrassment. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'')  


When wet, the psychic paper acts rather differently and is unable to translate [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]]'s thoughts properly. ([[NSA]]: ''[[Wetworld]]'')
When the intended thought was too unbelievable, the psychic paper would only display squiggly lines. ([[DW]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'')


When a parking inspector signs [[Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor's]] psychic paper, he believes it won't work anymore until [[Amy Pond]] turns it around the other way, causing messages to appear back to front. ([[NSA]]: ''[[Apollo 23]]'')
When wet, the psychic paper acted rather differently and was unable to translate [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor's]] thoughts properly. ([[NSA]]: ''[[Wetworld]]'')


When the Doctor attempted to pass himself off as a "universally-renowned responsible adult" to the young [[Kazran Sardick]], the psychic paper only displayed squiggly lines, the Doctor realizing that he had finally said something so unbelieveable that the paper "shorted out". ([[DW]]: [[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|''A Christmas Carol'']]).
When a parking inspector signed [[Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor's]] psychic paper, he believed it won't work anymore until [[Amy Pond]] turned it around the other way, causing messages to appear back to front. ([[NSA]]: ''[[Apollo 23]]'')


==Resistance==
==Resistance==
Not everyone falls for the psychic paper. People, or groups, known to be immune to its illusions include:
Not everyone was affected by the psychic paper. People, or groups, known to be immune to its illusions include:
 
*[[Torchwood One]] personnel, due to psychic training. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'')
;[[Torchwood One]] personnel
*[[William Shakespeare]], apparently due to his incredible mind. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Shakespeare Code]]'')
: Due to psychic training. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'')
*[[Ernest Shackleton]], likely due to the explorer's driven and determined nature. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The First]]'')
 
*[[Eve (The Last Dodo)|Eve]] ([[NSA]]: ''[[The Last Dodo]]'')
;[[William Shakespeare]]
*[[Morret]] and other veterans of the [[Telepath Uprising]]. ([[NSA]]: ''[[Judgement of the Judoon]]'')
:Apparently due to Shakespeare's incredible mind. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Shakespeare Code]]'')
*[[GateBot]]s ([[DWM]]: ''[[Attack of the GateBots!]]'')
 
*[[Rosanna Calvierri]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]'')
;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton Ernest Shackleton]
:Shackleton states that such "mentalism" tricks don't work on him. [[Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]] surmises it's due to the explorer's driven and determined nature. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The First]]'')
 
;[[Eve (The Last Dodo)|Eve]]
:Possibly from being an [[android]], possibly from her determined nature. ([[NSA]]: ''[[The Last Dodo]]'')
 
;[[Rosanna Calvierri]]
:Likely due to her knowledge of the Time Lords, or the fact that she wasn't even humanoid in nature. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]'')


==Suggestibility Paper==
==Related Items==
The Doctor also carries rolled up in his sock a sheet of "Suggestibility paper". Presumably it is of a similar concept to psychic paper, but its abilities as yet are unknown. ([[IDW]]: ''[[Fugitive]]'')
*[[Psychic credit card]]
*[[Suggestibility paper]]
[[Category:The Doctor's items]]
[[Category:The Doctor's items]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]

Revision as of 01:40, 9 January 2011

Psychic paper was a blank, white card that had special properties. When shown to a person, it could usually induce them to see whatever the user wished them to see printed on it.

Users

The Doctor was given psychic paper while employed as an agent by the Time Lords' covert organisation, the Celestial Intervention Agency, the CIA having developed the technology. (PDA: World Game)

The Doctor, in his Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh incarnations, habitually carried it, as did Captain Jack Harkness when Rose Tyler and the Doctor first met him in World War II London. Jack said that the paper was a new technology put into use by the Time Agency which had employed him. (DW: The Empty Child)

Properties

Usually, it showed what the holder of the paper wanted the person reading the paper to see (DW: The End of the World), or vice-versa (DW: The Idiot's Lantern). It could even be used to open doors in place of a keycard (DW: Army of Ghosts), and the Doctor once used it in lieu of an Oyster card to pay before boarding a bus in London. (DW: Planet of the Dead)

Apart from its usual function of subterfuge, the paper could receive messages from beings of sufficient psychic ability, such as the Face of Boe and, to the Doctor's initial surprise, Professor River Song. (DW: New Earth and Silence in the Library) The Atraxi also sent the Doctor a message telling him that Prisoner Zero had escaped. (DW: The Eleventh Hour)

File:Physicpaper.jpg
Receiving a message via psychic paper. (DW: New Earth)

When used by an individual with psychic powers, the psychic paper would sometimes bounce the individual's powers back on them. For example, when used by Waechter, it allowed him to see his own future. (NSA: The Story of Martha: The Weeping)

Limitations

In the hands of an untrained user the paper was prone to displaying facts they subconsciously wanted the reader to be aware of, often leading to embarrassment. (DW: The Empty Child)

When the intended thought was too unbelievable, the psychic paper would only display squiggly lines. (DW: A Christmas Carol)

When wet, the psychic paper acted rather differently and was unable to translate the Doctor's thoughts properly. (NSA: Wetworld)

When a parking inspector signed the Doctor's psychic paper, he believed it won't work anymore until Amy Pond turned it around the other way, causing messages to appear back to front. (NSA: Apollo 23)

Resistance

Not everyone was affected by the psychic paper. People, or groups, known to be immune to its illusions include:

Related Items

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