Converting First Edition monsters from DRAGON magazine

[Shade]

That was great information, DarkTouch. Thanks for sharing!

 

[BOZ]

There was a fairly significant paradigm shift between 1st Edition and 2nd Edition psionics. You'll notice that while the utukku has psionic abilities, it doesn't have any disciplines. This was fairly common in 1st edition where the main thrust of having psionics was the ability to engadge in psionic combat. Having other abilities was just a perk, not the point.

the odd thing there, is this from the original article:

"Though they are psionic, utukku have no major or minor disciplines."

mr. moore went to the trouble to point that out. of course, this was written fairly late in 1E (1984) and that might have a lot to do with that.

 

[DarkTouch]

the odd thing there, is this from the original article:

"Though they are psionic, utukku have no major or minor disciplines."

mr. moore went to the trouble to point that out. of course, this was written fairly late in 1E (1984) and that might have a lot to do with that.

It could also represent the nature of his gaming group. The paradigm shift that I was talking about refered to the way the rules were written, not so much the way people played. I myself could have cared less about my ability to mind blast an opponent, being able to psionically transform my hand into a blade while walking on water was infinitly cooler.

Psionic combat was always something to be terrified of. Large portions of the psionic damage table involved year long comas and instant death.

 

[BOZ]

thanks for the help and advice - stick around for more, if you like.

Honestly, most 1st Ed. Demons were psionic to one level or another. The utukku seems not much more powerful that way than most other demons.. I would probably drop it. Immunity to [Mind-Affecting] effects should be enough to cover the immunity to psionic Telepathy.

true, true... but this little bugger is fairly unique, and keeping him with psionics would make him even more unique. i vote to keep psionics for him.

 

[BOZ]

OK, rather than let this thing sit forever, I’m making a decision on it. Since, as darktouch pointed out, the psionics rules are due to make an overhaul we’ll just do what we did with the ulitharid – set up the basics, and leave it alone for the moment to be fixed later.

By “Though they are psionic, utukku have no major or minor disciplines” the author was probably (IMHO) inferring that they have no psionic powers, but they do have access to two attacks and defenses each. Now what I want to know is if “BE / FH” really means “B&E / F&H” or if there is some sort of attack/defense mode that I’m unaware of.

Unless someone tells me otherwise, I’m going to assume that’s the case. In 1E those would be:
B. Mind Thrust
E. Psychic Crush
F. Mind Blank
H. Mental Barrier
Mind Blank, I do believe, is now called Empty Mind.

Thoughts?

 

[Shade]

I know very little about psionics. However, a search of the SRD revealed that Mind Blank still exists. The other three don't appear to be around anymore, or have changed names.

Mind Blank
Telepathy (Cha)
Level: Psion 8
Display: Ol
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 day
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Power Resistance: Yes (harmless)
Power Points: 15
The subject is totally protected from all devices and power that detect, influence, or read emotions or thoughts. This protects against all mind-affecting powers and effects, as well as information gathering by Clairsentience powers or effects (except metafaculty). Mind blank even foils extraordinary powers and spells (such as limited wish, miracle, and wish) when they are used in such a way as to affect the subject’s mind or to gain information about him or her. In the case of remote viewing or scrying that scans an area that the creature is in, the power works but the creature simply isn’t detected. Remote viewing and scrying attempts that are targeted specifically at the subject do not work at all.
Mind blank is not effective against psionic attack modes.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Sorry about being late ... holidays and all

Unless someone tells me otherwise, I’m going to assume that’s the case. In 1E those would be:
B. Mind Thrust
E. Psychic Crush
F. Mind Blank
H. Mental Barrier
Mind Blank, I do believe, is now called Empty Mind.

Hmm... there's a big problem here, and that is the nature of psionic combat.

In 3.0, psionic combat (except Mind Blast) only seriously works against psionic opponents. As a result, the monster will have an oddly different CR if he's facing psionic opponents or not.

The second is that 3.0 psionic combat isn't worth the time to use. While he's using a standard action to whittle a psion's stats, he could just ... walk up to him and rip him to pieces, or use a spell-like ability.

(The effect is devastating on a low-level psion, but only in the long-term. It's more of a curse than an attack form.)

Now, by giving it defense modes and declaring it a psionic creature, it is now vulnerable to psionic combat in theory. In practice no one is going to use attack modes on it.

I don't know much about 1e psionic combat, but I think it only worked on psionic opponents too. It was deadlier... probably too deadly. And if it only worked on psionic creatures, then Mind Blast should not be included (since it's basically a power, rather than an attack mode - depsite being treated as an attack mode in the Illithiad).

My suggestion is to either give it a minor anti-psionic ability (such as a power that disrupts the ability to use psionics like a 3.5 silver sword for several rounds) or drop the psionics from the monster entirely.

 

[Krishnath]

Simple fix for the (anti-)psionic problem. Use have it continually emit a 60' radius Catapsi field, it's pretty much an anti magic field against psionics. It's crude, but it should get the effect across nicely.

 

[BOZ]

actually, i'm going to make it really simple. i'm going to leave out the psionics altogether until the PsiHB 3.5 comes out, then reevaluate whether or not i want to give psionics back to them.

 

[Krishnath]

That could work too.