Molecular Transmutation

Molecular Transmutation is a Tier Four Psionic discipline that converts all kinds of Hypos and ammunition clips, along with Medical Kits, Annelid Healing Glands and Annelid Psi Organs, into Nanites.

Transmutation affects only one "clip" worth, if the stack in the inventory slot is larger than a single clip (6 bullets or shells, or 3 grenades; for hypos a "clip" is 1). You should not use transmutation on a less-than-full clip, since it costs just as much but you'll get fewer nanites.

Nanite formula

The formula for this discipline is:

$Y = \left\lfloor\left[ 0.8 + 0.2 \times \min(\psi, 10)\right] \times \min(\mathrm{input\ stack\ size}, \mathrm{full\ clip\ size}) \times f\left(\mathrm{item\ type}\right)\right\rfloor$

Where Y is the Nanite yield, ψ is the player's effective PSI level, and f gives a Molecular Transmutation factor specific to that item or class of items.

An example would be using the discipline on a stack of 5 Fragmentation Grenades. Frag Grenades have a Molecular Transmutation factor of 8, and a normal clip size of 1. Assume a player with an effective PSI level of 10.

$\begin{align} Y & = \left\lfloor\left[0.8 + 0.2 \times \min(10, 10)\right] \times \min(\mathrm{5}, \mathrm{1}) \times 8\right\rfloor \\ & = \left\lfloor\left(0.8 + 0.2 \times 10\right) \times 1 \times 8\right\rfloor\\ & = \left\lfloor\left(0.8 + 2\right) \times 8\right\rfloor\\ & = \left\lfloor 2.8 \times 8\right\rfloor\\ & = \left\lfloor 22.4\right\rfloor\\ & = 22 \end{align}$

We would be left with a stack of 4 Fragmentation Grenades and 22 more Nanites. For comparison, using the Recycler on a single Fragmentation Grenade would yield 2 Nanites.

A less ideal situation would be seen here - if the player only had 2 PSI, and was processing a full clip of Rifled Slugs, with a factor of 1,25:

$\begin{align} Y & = \left\lfloor\left[0.8 + 0.2 \times \min(2, 10)\right] \times \min(\mathrm{3}, \mathrm{3}) \times 1.25\right\rfloor \\ & = \left\lfloor\left(0.8 + 0.2 \times 2\right) \times 3 \times 1.25\right\rfloor \\ & = \left\lfloor\left(0.8 + 0.4\right) \times 3.75\right\rfloor \\ & = \left\lfloor 1.2\times 3.75\right\rfloor \\ & = \left\lfloor 4.5\right\rfloor \\ & = 4 \end{align}$

Molecular Transmutation would give 4 Nanites for one clip of Slugs, while the Recycler would give 3. Once the cost of Psi Hypos is factored in, this would surely be a losing enterprise.

Nanite yield of full-clip of items at all psi levels

Item type	PSI
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Psi Hypo	8	9	11	12	14	16	17	19	20	22
Medical Hypo	4	4	5	6	7	8	8	9	10	11
Anti-Toxin Hypo	3	3	4	4	5	6	6	7	7	8
Anti-Radiation Hypo	3	3	4	4	5	6	6	7	7	8
Strength Booster	3	3	4	4	5	6	6	7	7	8
Psi Booster	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
Speed Booster	3	3	4	4	5	6	6	7	7	8
Standard Bullets	6	7	8	9	10	12	13	14	15	16
Anti-Personnel Bullets	9	10	12	14	16	18	19	21	23	25
Armor-Piercing Bullets	9	10	12	14	16	18	19	21	23	25
Rifled Slugs	3	4	5	6	6	7	8	9	9	10
Anti-Personnel Shotgun Shells	3	4	5	6	6	7	8	9	9	10
Fragmentation Grenades	8	9	11	12	14	16	17	19	20	22
Proximity Grenades	2	3	3	4	4	5	5	6	6	7
Incendiary Grenades	2	3	3	4	4	5	5	6	6	7
EMP Grenades	2	3	3	4	4	5	5	6	6	7
Disruption Grenades	2	3	3	4	4	5	5	6	6	7
Prisms	8	10	12	14	15	17	19	21	22	24
Worm Clusters	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28
Medical Kit	6	7	8	9	10	12	13	14	15	16
Annelid Healing Gland	4	4	5	6	7	8	8	9	10	11
Annelid Psi Organ	4	4	5	6	7	8	8	9	10	11

Notes

• This Power is best for the pure psionic character, who has no use for ammunition anyway.
• The amount of Nanites gained is proportional to your PSI, so boost it as high as possible before using this Power. Molecular Transmutation is one of few Psionic abilities that benefit of PSI skill level higher than 8 (up to a total of PSI 10).

---

---