Converting Psionic Creatures

[freyar]

I'd say so!

 

[Shade]

Ability scores of other "trees"...

Night Twist (L): Str 39, Dex 6, Con 29, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 21
Bloodthorn (L): Str 20, Dex 17, Con 19, Int --, Wis 12, Cha 2
Ironmaw (H): Str 30, Dex 9, Con 23, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 14
Octopus Tree (H): Str 30, Dex 3, Con 20, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 15
Red Sundew (H): Str 29, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8
Death's Head Tree (H): Str 20, Dex 6, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 5, Cha
Bonetree (H): Str 10, Dex 10, Con 20, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 2

We could go either L or H, as it was listed as "L", but "extended to the ceiling".

We know that the braintree has Int 9.

 

[freyar]

Let's go H. From the description, I'd go with very low strength, maybe 1-4.

 

[Shade]

How about Huge and the following scores:

Str 7, Dex 9, Con 21, Int 9, Wis 15, Cha 16?

That still puts the Str below other treelike creatures, but it is still a tree after all.

 

[freyar]

Fair enough.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Each of the seven brains hanging from the tree can attack psionically, but each draws PSPs from a common pool.

The brains hang on flesh stalks, and severing a brain from its stalk or attacking a brain directly requires a successful called shot (-4 penalty to hit). The brains and their stalks have AC 8 and can withstand 6 points of damage. This damage does not count against the creature's main hit point total. The braintree has no treasure.

Psionics Summary: #AT 7; MTHAC0 10; MAC 5; Lv 6; PSPs 450; Psionic attacks--EW, II, MB; Psionic Defenses--All; Psionic Disciplines--control body, body equilbrium, domination, awe, ESP.

We could use the brain collector for inspiration...

Spells: A brain collector casts spells as a 6th-level sorcerer. A brain collector can store additonal spells known in its collected brains, increasing the total number of spells it knows and can cast. If it absorbs a brain, it loses one of its known spells. When it collects a new brain to replace an absorbed brain, it may select a new spell to replace the spell lost. A brain collector may know any number of spells in this manner, although the number of spells known of any particular level cannot equal or exceed the number of spells known of a lower level. The stat block above summarizes a brain collector with a full complement of 12 brains.

 

[freyar]

Hehe, I should go back and read the brain collector again! That's just such a fun monster!

In any case, I think this is a good idea. Do we want to write a sorcerer version, or just psionics?

The alternative is maybe to allow one manifestation per round per brain remaining, with a common set of powers known.

 

[Shade]

Hehe, I should go back and read the brain collector again! That's just such a fun monster!

It sure is.

In any case, I think this is a good idea. Do we want to write a sorcerer version, or just psionics?

We might as well so it blends in better with the other mind flayer creatures.

The alternative is maybe to allow one manifestation per round per brain remaining, with a common set of powers known.

That could work.

Psionics: A braintree manifests powers as a 7th-level psion. A braintree knows one power for each brain it possesses. If it loses a brain, randomly determine the power lost.

Hmmm...since its Int is only 9, it cant manifest even 0-level powers. I see several options:

1.) Raise the Int.
2.) Manifest as a psychic warrior, which uses Wisdom as the relevant abilty modifier. (As it currently stands, its 15 Wis would allow it to manifest 5th-level powers, which is just what we need).
3.) Use psi-like abilities instead of powers, and have each brain allow a single spell-like ability.

I think I prefer option #2. Thoughts?

 

[freyar]

Psionics: A braintree manifests powers as a 7th-level psion. A braintree knows one power for each brain it possesses. If it loses a brain, randomly determine the power lost.

Hmmm...since its Int is only 9, it cant manifest even 0-level powers. I see several options:

1.) Raise the Int.
2.) Manifest as a psychic warrior, which uses Wisdom as the relevant abilty modifier. (As it currently stands, its 15 Wis would allow it to manifest 5th-level powers, which is just what we need).
3.) Use psi-like abilities instead of powers, and have each brain allow a single spell-like ability.

I think I prefer option #2. Thoughts?

I'd go with the psychic warrior option, too. Nice to have something that's not a psion for once!

For the arcane version:

Psionics (Sp): A braintree has one spell-like ability for each brain it possesses, of which it can use a total of 10x/day. These are chosen from the 1st through 3rd level sorcerer/wizard spell lists. If the braintree uses a brain, randomly determine the spell-like ability lost.

Is that reasonable? I feel like it needs work.

I just remembered that Braintree is a stop on the Boston T! No wonder this sounds so familiar!

 

[Shade]

I'd go with the psychic warrior option, too. Nice to have something that's not a psion for once!

Indeed!

Psionics Summary: #AT 7; MTHAC0 10; MAC 5; Lv 6; PSPs 450; Psionic attacks--EW, II, MB; Psionic Defenses--All; Psionic Disciplines--control body, body equilbrium, domination, awe, ESP.

Note that many of these powers are not on the psychic warrior list or are beyond its current manifester level. The Expanded Knowledge can allow it to take powers from other class lists, so we could dedicate any number of its five feats to obtain the desired powers. I would say psionic blast at a minimum (a 3rd-level power) and maybe id insinuation (2nd-level) and read thoughts (2nd-level). Here's a suggested list (without the Expanded Knowledge suggestions)...

Psionics: A braintree manifests powers as a 7th-level psychic warrior. A braintree knows one power for each brain it possesses. If it loses a brain, randomly determine the power lost.

Typical powers known:
1st--dissipating touch, empty mind, inertial armor
2nd--body adjustment, dissolving touch, thought shield
3rd--mental barrier



Let' hold off on the arcane version for now.

I just remembered that Braintree is a stop on the Boston T! No wonder this sounds so familiar!

Don't stop there!