A few Psionics questions

[Uller]

1) I don't have my PsiHB with me(I lent it to a friend). We have a Psion in our party and almost everytime she tries to use a power she can't see her target(she's a chicken and hides a lot). The DM will ask "Do you need line of sight for that power." To which she always responds "No."

Does a Psion need to be able to see his target to use a power on it?

In the PHB p. 146 under Target or Targets, it says a spell caster must be able to see or touch his target. Does the same rule apply to Psions?

2) Can Psions wear armor? What is the affect of armor on psionics(if any)?

3) Does a psion have to move to use a power or is there any external sign that he is using a power? I know powers have a sensory component, but is there any other way to tell?

 

[graydoom]

1) I don't have my PsiHB with me(I lent it to a friend). We have a Psion in our party and almost everytime she tries to use a power she can't see her target(she's a chicken and hides a lot). The DM will ask "Do you need line of sight for that power." To which she always responds "No."

Does a Psion need to be able to see his target to use a power on it?

In the PHB p. 146 under Target or Targets, it says a spell caster must be able to see or touch his target. Does the same rule apply to Psions?

On page 32 of the PsiHB, it says "Unless otherwise noted in the power description, you must designate the location by either seeing it or defining it." So, in general, if the Psion can define an area for the power to orginate in, a line of sight is not needed. Keep in mind that some powers may function differently.

2) Can Psions wear armor? What is the affect of armor on psionics(if any)?

Yes, they can wear armor. The non-proficiency penalties apply if they are not proficient with the armor they choose to wear (keep in mind that by default Psions and proficient with absolutely no armor. Armor has no negative or positive effect on manifestation of Psionic powers.

3) Does a psion have to move to use a power or is there any external sign that he is using a power? I know powers have a sensory component, but is there any other way to tell?

No, he does not have to move to use a power. Psions manifest their powers purely using their minds.

 

[Striderman]

There are telltale signs for most powers that show that the psion is manifesting that power. read up again about the displays with the powers. A lot of people think they are stupid, but I like them, it adds a nice little flavor, and if a person doesn't like them, then they can get the Hide Power metapsionic feat.

 

[zorlag]

zorlag

Hide Power sucks...

You need to pick this feat separately for EACH display (five times) to hide all your powers...Even worse is that some powers have three displays to hide, costing you +6 power points...I have already modified the feat so that you can hide any display you want if you pick it and each display costs only 1 power point to hide...

Z.

 

[Uller]

So...just to be clear here: Our party was attacked by a Rogue/Sorcerer on a city street late at night(we lured him into an ambush). Once he realized he was in trouble, he climbed up onto a roof and disappeared from sight. At this point, our Psion could use...say...inflict pain on him even though she could no longer see him?

Wow...that seems unfair considering our cleric(that's me!) couldn't cast Hold Person on him because of the rule from the PHB on targetting spells.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

You need to see your target to manifest targeted powers (like inflict pain) or spells (like hold person).

Yo need to define an area for area of effect powers (like mass concussion) or spells (like fireball).

You only need Hide Power visual. The other displays show up at the power's effect, not on you. If you manifest mass concussion (display is material), ectoplasmic goop shows up in the area of effect. However, the psion themself is untouched. Of course, people might want to know why they're messing up their face like that (the same reason why you know a dragon is using a spell-like ability; no components, but you can still tell).

The displays can be eliminated by your opponents without harming you. For instance, if you manifest greater concussion, which has an aural display, and a stupid cleric silences you, it makes absolutely no difference. You can still manifest it. Casting silence on a sorcerer, on the other hand, is fun to watch (even if they have Silent spell, it takes them longer to cast, and its really easy to break their concentration).

The displays have been errata'd to last only one round (see WotC errata center for PsiHB errata).

Psions aren't proficient in any armor, but you can wear masterwork studded leather at no penalties to attack rolls or skills. But some people think this is *cheap* for some reason.

 

[Galfridus]

Psions aren't proficient in any armor, but you can wear masterwork studded leather at no penalties to attack rolls or skills. But some people think this is *cheap* for some reason.

If that's cheap, then what do they call rogues carrying around masterwork bucklers?

 

[Uller]

You need to see your target to manifest targeted powers (like inflict pain) or spells (like hold person).

Yo need to define an area for area of effect powers (like mass concussion) or spells (like fireball).

So now we have two answers...which is it. I'm inclined to agree with this one as I can't find a reference in my PsiHB or the SRD's Psionic Powers on aiming targeted powers so I think the targetting spells applies(since psionics are spell-like abilities).

 

[Azoriel]

Read carefully.

So now we have two answers...which is it. I'm inclined to agree with this one as I can't find a reference in my PsiHB or the SRD's Psionic Powers on aiming targeted powers so I think the targetting spells applies(since psionics are spell-like abilities).

No. Look over what was written very carefully; this is one answer, made in two parts. There are two different kinds of spells: target-specific (such as charm person) and area (such as fireball). Both are treated differently.

"You need to see your target to manifest targeted powers (like inflict pain) or spells (like hold person)." (Bold added for emphasis.) In order to cast a target-specific spell (or manifest a target-specific power), you must be able to discern your target in some way, shape, or form. If a target is invisible and cannot be otherwise pinpointed, target-specific spells and powers cannot be used against it. A target-specific spell or power is any spell or power which has a "target" in its descriptive text rather than an "area".

"Yo need to define an area for area of effect powers (like mass concussion) or spells (like fireball). " (Again, bold added for emphasis.) In order to cast an area spell (or manifest an area power), you must define the area of effect in terms which you can discern in some way, shape, or form. You cannot say "I cast fireball in the area where invisible stalker is hiding" if you do not know the location of the invisible stalker (though you can always guess and try based off of your assumptions). Though you can use area effects blindly, you must determine where these area effects land yourself, in terms which you can identify. An area spell or power is any spell or power which has an "area" in it's descriptive text rather than a "target". (An exception to this rule is mindfog, as the writters of the PHB appearently accidently wrote "effect" instead of "area", when the spell quite clearly effects an area.)

Occassionally, a spell (such as dispel magic) can be used as a target-specific spell OR an area spell; the caster must determine in which manner the spell will be used when he starts casting the spell, and then the spell will become either a target-specific spell or an area spell.

The long and short of it is that psionic powers work almost exactly like spells (except one is called powers and the other is called spells). A slap on the wrist for the psionicist for taking advantage of the incompetent DM, and a slap on the wrist for the incompetent DM for being so incompetent.