around 50 years ago
russia, china and the US were developing psychic programs, with varied but proven results
read

Psychic DO exist in the Fallout Universe, but they are VERY rare. The four psykers and The Master were psykers, and The Master was specially powerful. Try going though the Corridor of Revulsion without any protection. By the time you reach the Master, you will be pretty weakened by the Psychic attacks.

I think Psychic powers in the Fallout Universe are less flashy and more intricate. Illusions, hallucinations, mind reading, mental control, memory alternarion and maybe minor telekinesis. The Beastmasters were mutated by continuous exposure to radiation near their caverns, which made them able to control most animals with simple brains - Except humans and Deathclaws, who were smart and had brains complex enough to be immune to their attacks.

Then there's Harold's Fallout 3 incarnation. As he grows he's beginning to unlock some psychic abilities, transcending his personal conciousness and becoming one with the surrounding vegetation.

It doesn't have to be anything psychic. He simply is physically connected to the surrounding vegetation.

Well my thoughts on the subject would be that straight psionics would not be the best move. If I was designing things I'd go for more mutations like the old "Gamma World" game.

That said, I've kind of been wondering if Bethesda plans some kind of alternative advancement system for the upcoming "to level 30" content simply because it's already possible to maxx your skills with some planning in Fallout 3 (I didn't min max like that personally). I'm thinking they must be planning to add something new into the game for that last 10 levels.

Given the ending (no specific spoilers from me) I'd say it leaves the possibility of the protaganist perhaps being mutated in some extraordinay and unusual fashion wide open.

>>>----Therumancer--->