Converting Psionic Creatures

[Shade]

Nice catch on the ghazneths!

A minute of draining sounds decent.

 

[Cleon]

Nice catch on the ghazneths!

A minute of draining sounds decent.

Care to rough out a special attack, then?

 

[freyar]

If we want to let it drain permanent magical items, why not just use the same formula as the ghazneths?

So, something like this?

Absorb Magic (Su): A magical leech can absorb spells from nearby spellcasters. For each minute that a spellcaster spends within 3 ft of a magical leach, the caster must make a DC X Will save. On a failed save, the caster loses one prepared spell or spell slot of the highest level remaining, and the leech absorbs a corresponding number of spell levels.

In addition, a magical leech can absorb charges from charged magical items, absorbing one charge per minute of contact. A charge grants the leech as many levels as appropriate to the effect (for example, a charge from a wand of magic missile gives 1 level, but a charge from a wand of fireball gives 3 levels). Charges of non-spell effects grant one level for every two caster levels of the effect (rounded up). The charges are forever lost to the magic item, as if they had been used normally.

Magical leeches may also spend one hour to discharge a permanent magical item (or one with daily charges) completely, rendering it a mundane item. This ability requires continuous contact. The leech gains 10 spell levels per spell level of each effect of the magic item (or 1/2 the caster level of the effect, rounded up).

It also seems we need something like this:

Dampen Magic (Su): Magical leeches reduce the efficacy of magic. Any spellcaster within 3 ft of a magical leech must make a DC X caster level check when attempting to cast a spell. If the check fails, the spell does not function, but the prepared spell or spell slot is lost.

 

[Cleon]

If we want to let it drain permanent magical items, why not just use the same formula as the ghazneths?

So, something like this?

The original Magical Leech drained permanent magic items on a power-by-power or plus-by-plus basis. Do you think that's too fiddly?

Also, I think the item should get a saving throw of some sort (or the Leech needs to make a level check of some kind?) rather than the drain automatically working.

It also seems we need something like this:

Dampen Magic (Su): Magical leeches reduce the efficacy of magic. Any spellcaster within 3 ft of a magical leech must make a DC X caster level check when attempting to cast a spell. If the check fails, the spell does not function, but the prepared spell or spell slot is lost.

I'd just say its spell resistance applies to any spell cast within 3 feet of the leech, probably even if the spell is normally unaffected by SR.

 

[freyar]

Well, that might be a bit fiddly. I could definitely see adding a save and possibly requiring longer contact (like a day or more).

Could go the SR route, too. Works about the same way, I guess, and it's a little more elegant. Sure.

Dampen Magic (Su): Any spell cast within 3 feet of a magical leech is affected by the leech's spell resistance, even if SR does not normally apply to that spell. If multiple leeches are within 3 ft, only the highest SR applies.

 

[Cleon]

Well, that might be a bit fiddly. I could definitely see adding a save and possibly requiring longer contact (like a day or more).

Yes, I'm not in the mood for something that fiddly. (At least today!)

Maybe have the required contact time vary with the CL of the item. Rather than using a set "1 day/level" or something, how about after every day of exposure the leeches make a level check (level = days of contact, max level X) against a permanent magic item, and if successful they drain away its magic?

Could go the SR route, too. Works about the same way, I guess, and it's a little more elegant. Sure.

Dampen Magic (Su): Any spell cast within 3 feet of a magical leech is affected by the leech's spell resistance, even if SR does not normally apply to that spell. If multiple leeches are within 3 ft, only the highest SR applies.

That looks fine to me!

 

[freyar]

How about each day they're in contact with a magic item, the item makes a save, with the DC increasing by +1 each additional day of contact with a given leech?

 

[Cleon]

How about each day they're in contact with a magic item, the item makes a save, with the DC increasing by +1 each additional day of contact with a given leech?

That works as well for me.

Presumably it'll be a Will or Fort save, since most magic items aren't that agile.

It occurs to me we could use Mordenkainen's mage's disjunction as a model...

Hmm, mage's disjunction uses level check for spells and SLAs, Will saves for permanent magic items.

 

[freyar]

A Will save would make the most sense, since loss of "mental" powers like magic usually gets a Will save.

Absorb Magic (Su): A magical leech can absorb spells from nearby spellcasters. For each minute that a spellcaster spends within 3 ft of a magical leach, the caster must make a DC X Will save. On a failed save, the caster loses one prepared spell or spell slot of the highest level remaining, and the leech absorbs a corresponding number of spell levels.

In addition, a magical leech can absorb charges from charged magical items, absorbing one charge per minute of contact. A charge grants the leech as many levels as appropriate to the effect (for example, a charge from a wand of magic missile gives 1 level, but a charge from a wand of fireball gives 3 levels). Charges of non-spell effects grant one level for every two caster levels of the effect (rounded up). The charges are forever lost to the magic item, as if they had been used normally.

Magical leeches may also spend a day or more to discharge a permanent magical item (or one with daily charges) completely, rendering it a mundane item. This ability requires continuous contact. The leech gains 10 spell levels per spell level of each effect of the magic item (or 1/2 the caster level of the effect, rounded up). Each day of contact with the leech, the magic item has a DC X Will save to negate the drain, but the DC increases by +1 for each day beyond the first that the leech maintains continual contact.

The save DC is Charisma-based.

 

[Cleon]

Absorb Magic (Su): A magical leech can absorb spells from nearby spellcasters. For each minute that a spellcaster spends within 3 ft of a magical leach, the caster must make a DC X Will save. On a failed save, the caster loses one prepared spell or spell slot of the highest level remaining, and the leech absorbs a corresponding number of spell levels.

In addition, a magical leech can absorb charges from charged magical items, absorbing one charge per minute of contact. A charge grants the leech as many levels as appropriate to the effect (for example, a charge from a wand of magic missile gives 1 level, but a charge from a wand of fireball gives 3 levels). Charges of non-spell effects grant one level for every two caster levels of the effect (rounded up). The charges are forever lost to the magic item, as if they had been used normally.

The above looks fine as-is. I'd also have the leech gain "levels" from spells dampened by the leech's spell resistance.

Magical leeches may also spend a day or more to discharge a permanent magical item (or one with daily charges) completely, rendering it a mundane item. This ability requires continuous contact. The leech gains 10 spell levels per spell level of each effect of the magic item (or 1/2 the caster level of the effect, rounded up). Each day of contact with the leech, the magic item has a DC X Will save to negate the drain, but the DC increases by +1 for each day beyond the first that the leech maintains continual contact.

Not so fond of this paragraph. How's this:

Magical leeches may also absorb the magic from a permanent magical item (or one with daily charges), eventually rendering it a mundane item. This ability requires continuous contact. Each day of contact with the leech, the magic item must succeed at a Will or be completely drained of magic. The Will save is initially DC X, but increases by +1 DC for each day beyond the first that the leech maintains continual contact. The leech gains 10 spell levels per level of each of the magic item's spell effects (or 1/2 the caster level of the effect, rounded up). A magic leeches ability to absorb magic has no effect on artifacts.