Alternative Psionics

[G'baal]

Well, since Im here...I thought Id run by a system that I have used before for an alternative to the "power point cost" thing. Personally, I hate the power point thing and it dirves me insane...so much, that I created my own way for using psionics. Ok, here it goes. For starters, the power of psionics is based on great mental prowess and so I created one that resembles that in a different way. The key is in a skill that all psions must have...Concentration, the ability to focus the mind on a task. I created a system using concentration checks to manifest powers instead of pp. It works like this...take a power you have in your power list...say Detect thoughts. Ok, Detect thoughts is a 2nd level power and costs 3 pp. So, take this DC formula (DC = 20+power level+pp cost+misc.) and you get something along the lines of DC 25 or so. Now, to manifest this power, the psion makes a concentration check to DC 25. Fail, means a failed power and success means....well, you know. The system is pretty nice. As for psionic feats and reserve pp...you go by the number of concentration ranks you have. So, for example...a 1st level psion could not take mental leap because the max concentration rank is 4 and it requires reserve pp 5. Also, for meta feats...any additional pp costs are added as misc. to the check. Simple. Anyways, just thought Id let you all check it out.

 

[Kamard]

Wow, seems like your DC's are awfully high...maybe I'm crazy.

Also, how do you limit the psion's uses per day?

 

[G'baal]

Theres the trick...the DC's are extremely high but a psion whom is greater in concentration has the ability to succeed more often. Success and failure determine the number per day. There is no true limit except for failure. It works quite well, so for example, a level 19 psion SHOULD be able to manifest low level powers freely as long as they are on his list...this shows how well the psion is at focusing his mind. For another example, withg the same psion, teleport without error (approx. DC 40) would need about a 12 or more to succeed in using that power so it is quite balanced by the level of failure...one whom wishes to keep improving his mind will eventually get better at focusing his mind and thus increase his chances of manifesting. It works quite well.

 

[DreamChaser]

the only problem is that all psionics become based upon a Constitution skill, which has very little to do with concentrating one's thoughts. The skill Concentration should be called Resilience or something like that since it is exclusively a reactionary skill (thus related to Con).

I think it would make more sense (and work with the flavor better) if you had 6 psionic skills, each based on one of the 6 stats and disciplines. Maybe since they are effectively forced to specialize, you could reduce the DCs by 5 or so but it would keep them from taking every super-power from every discipline and would make the character more balanced.

I actually have a player in my current game who was extremely lucky in her initial rolls and so can use most powers from most disciplines and so she is damn powerful. It made me realize that there needs to be a rule that at least half of a psion's powers of any level must be from her primary discipline.

Which leads me to another potential abuse of your system (and even more so to my alteration of your system):
There is no reason whatsoever for a person to chose anythign other than Shaper. A shaper uses Int as his primary stat, which also affects skill points. Since they will only be required to take 1 metacreative power at any given level, they can have no fear of ever needing to choose between raising concentration and learning other skills, in fact, the concentration will not even affect them because it will be only 1 sp per level to keep it maxed so they end up with strong skills and powers *chuckle*

And I have to ask: in my experience, psionics are more flexible and often more powerful than magic as it stands now. You have made it possible for them to do anything they know, as much as they want. And with the Master Dorje feat, they can amass dorjes and become total powerhouses. Have you done anything to boost magic in the process of turning psions into demigods? (pardon the slight sarcasm lol).

Just my ideas.
DC

 

[kolvar]

There is the aditional problem with the concentrations skill and multiclassing: wizards will be rather powerful psionics on first level of multiclassing and somehow I think this could be unbalancing.

 

[G'baal]

I have no problem with sarcasm, its just a system and all have their bad points. Anyways, just so you know, they are still restricted to disciplines...they cannot take any power they wish if the slots are taken. As for choosing shaper...not everyone would choose shaper...personally, I hate the shaper and usually choose telepath, savant, or seer. I like their powers much better. Now, as for psionics being more flexible...well, in some ways yes and some ways no. I hate the little pp value idea and would rather it run more on focus. Your ideas about specific skills or a new skill all together for it sounds great actually and I may simply change the system and add the skill to psionic characters only (sorry wizards and sorcerers...this skill is exclusive). As for demi-god like psions...I dont see them being that strong. Evrything that makes up the class remains save for the fact that they can use their powers often. I have also though about allowing a certain number of manifestations/day then adding a cumulative +1 or so to the DC each time afterward to show tiredness. Also, I have a similiar system for sorcerers in the works. Anyways, what do you thing?

 

[Jeph]

there is potential for horrid abuse of the Lesser Body Adjustment power. With a Check DC only 22, yipee, I heal 1d8 HP or 1 pont of temporary ability damage. You might want to include a limiting factor: If a character fails to manifest a power, they may not attempt to manifest that same power again for 1 minute (10 rounds).

I agree that there should be a different skill for each discipline. Makes the system a bit more balanced, and takes the focus away from Con, which has almost nothing to do with the majority of the Powers.

 

[G'baal]

As I said, it would be interesting...anyways, as I continue modifying this new system I will think through problems such as using body adjustment constantly...also, did you check my previous post about increasing DC's? That could end the constant use of such a power quickly.