I am not a great fan of magic and psionic in the same setting. OTOH, it may be only another set of specific powers like chi. One point to address if you introduce psi powers is the way it interacts with magic (does a dispel magic affects a psi power,...).
What about creating racial spell lists to reflect some specific racial abilities. For example, the Volyri could have racial access to a Shape Energy list which includes your proposed powers and based on willpower or constitution for power points.

Yesterday, I stumbled upon an idea: why not use combat boon points with the dodge maneuvers ? Regular boon points are OK, but some combat boon points could have great tactical effects.
I don't think that "skilled attack" or other damaging options should be used, but others such as combat shuffle, defensive posture, initiative boost... could give a tactical edge to the nimble character.
 

I am trying to figure out how to handle mounted combat with quick and dirty rules, that is simple modifiers to AP, DEF, AB, Damage (like other combat moves) and maybe AR.

I think there are two main advantages in mounted combat :

1. increased line of sight on a battlefield,
2. improved mobility.

I am not sure whether the first point is relevant in most roleplaying games or not. There are no rules for that when dismounted so certainly no need for them when mounted. Maybe it just offers the possibility to see beyond a wall or a crowd.
For the second point, you just have to use the mount base movement instead of the rider's.

As for the effects of being mounted on attack resolution (AP, DEF, AR, AB, Damage), I would like to have your opinions. Though I am not a rider, I imagine :

3. Directing your horse while fighting is certainly more difficult than doing either separately. So I would make it a complex action requiring 6 AP. That means basically 1 attack every other round (except maybe with specific talents or boon points). I would the make a riding skill check vs TN20 with +/- 1 to the attack roll for each 3 points above/below 20. Boon points could be used to reduce required AP on a 1/1 basis.
4. I would lower DEF by 2 points to simulate the reduced dodging possibilities (that is if you mean to stay on your horse). Maybe the bulk of your mount may be a kind of protection and this -2 mod is not relevant ?
5. I can't see any influence of mounted combat on AR, except that without polearms dismounted opponents may be more likely to hit your legs. I am not sure it's worth a ruling though.
6. Damage. I see two points there.
6a. When charging, the increased momentum will allow tremendous damage (something like moving strike with the possibility to use all 5 AP and maybe an increased damage multiplier to make for the momentum, +10 damage by AP for example with polearms...).
6b. When fighting from horseback, I imagine that you are neither as accurate nor as powerful than when swinging your sword with your feet on the ground. So I suggest a -2 to damage.

From these considerations, I would say for mounted combat :
- Make a Riding skill check TN20 :
- AB +/- 1 by 3 points of difference
- AP +2 (any boon point may reduce required AP by one (allowing 1 attack per round).
- DEF -2
- Damage : -2 if "static", +xx if charging
- AR + 0

What do you think of this ?

Here comes an updated (v0.5) version of the Novus Excel character sheet. Feel free to modify it and add to it.

I was thinking of a talent allowing to gain an extra boon point if you earn one. Such a talent would be tied to an individual skill.
For example, a "French cook extraordinaire" earning a boon point from a high roll would get a second boon point from his talent but only when making a Cooking roll.
I feel it could be a good way to make characters more efficient with one skill. OTOH, some skills are broader than others and this could be abused. A "Spellcaster extraordinaire" would gain this benefit each time he casts a spell. Or maybe this talents could be tied to an individual spell ?
Anyway, I feel this should be a costly talent (10 CP ?).
Any input ?

First, I find Novus combat system very good.

Lately, I was thinking of a possible simplification of Novus combat skills. Instead of having one skill by weapon category, I was toying with the idea of having only three skills : melee, thrown, missile. That would give you very broad AB. That way, you are sure that a fighter with a high skill with a broadsword would not be too clumsy with a mace or a staff, which is not ridiculous per se and rather realistic. OTOH, I am aware that it is very generous as a few ranks in a single skill give you a benefit with many weapons. It may be that it is unbalancing regarding character development.
For more specialization, I was considering using talents. For example, a character could develop a affinity with swords or bows by acquiring a talent equivalent in scope with the current weapon groups (axes & hammers, bows...). Each of this talent, rather than give you additional AB, would grant you access to combat moves and/or styles, but only for the considered weapon group.

Maybe it could be better with more combat skills, for example 1-handed, 2-handed, polearms... instead of just 3 broad combat skills ?
Any thoughts ?

BR
Fidoric

I may be misunderstanding something about boons and snags (-12 on my rule understanding roll  .
As I read it, the rule says that as soon as you roll higher than the TN up to 10 points above, you earn a boon point, between 11 and 20 you earn 2... And same thing for the snags: as soon as you roll under the TN, you earn snags (1 between -1 and -10...).
Is it OK ?
Or should I rather understand that you earn 1 boon or snag for each full 10 points above/below TN. That is if you have TN20, you earn 1 boon point when you reach 30 or 1 snag when you roll 10 or under ?
The second explanation seems more logical to me, allowing for normal successes or failures.