Converting Psionic Creatures

[freyar]

How do we want to do the draining? Can absorb a power point per round/minute/?, Will save negates? Victim doesn't know about it?

 

[Cleon]

How do we want to do the draining? Can absorb a power point per round/minute/?, Will save negates? Victim doesn't know about it?

Yes something like that.

We can also turn to the SRD Psionic Monsters for some inspiration. For example, the Brain Mole uses power leech and Power Conversion.

Power Conversion (Su): When a brain mole drains a power point by means of its power leech power, it immediately heals 1 hit point. If it is already at full normal hit points, it instead gains psionic sustenance sufficient to supply its need for nourishment for 24 hours.

Power Leech
Telepathy (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Psion/wilder 4
Display: Visual; see text
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: Any psionic creature
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round/level; see text
Saving Throw: Will negates
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 7

Your brow erupts with an arc of crackling dark energy that connects with your foe, draining it of 1d6 power points and adding 1 of those points to your reserve (unless that gain would cause you to exceed your maximum).

The drain continues in each round you maintain concentration while the subject of the drain remains in range. If the subject is drained to 0 power points, this power ends.

Concentrating to maintain power leech is a full-round action (you can take no other actions aside from a 5-foot step) instead of a standard action.

 

[freyar]

Ok, I looked back but didn't see if anyone had suggested something already. I like the power conversion, but I do have some reservations about power leech, especially the rate of power point drain (seems kind of high). Then again, maybe I just don't know how many power points someone would have.

 

[Cleon]

Ok, I looked back but didn't see if anyone had suggested something already. I like the power conversion, but I do have some reservations about power leech, especially the rate of power point drain (seems kind of high). Then again, maybe I just don't know how many power points someone would have.

Yes, I wasn't going to copy it over exactly. Probably make it 1 point of power per round (or even minute), with a range in feet or inches.

 

[freyar]

1 per minute, 1 ft range works for me. Does the leech need a power point reserve? What do the points do?

 

[Shade]

1 per minute, 1 ft range works for me. Does the leech need a power point reserve? What do the points do?

This:

When touched, psionic leeches release their energy in the form of a psychic blast that causes 1 point of damage for every PSP stolen by the leech in the last 8 hours. Mental defenses such as tower of iron will or mindblank can reduce the draining effects of the leech or the damage caused by its psychic blast by half.

 

[freyar]

Ahh, right. So I guess we really need two abilities tied together. I think I'd drop the mindblank stuff and just go with the will save (as in the power leech power and psionic blast). For the "blast," just base it on psionic blast? That doesn't do hp damage but seems more appropriate flavor-wise.

 

[Shade]

Ahh, right. So I guess we really need two abilities tied together. I think I'd drop the mindblank stuff and just go with the will save (as in the power leech power and psionic blast). For the "blast," just base it on psionic blast? That doesn't do hp damage but seems more appropriate flavor-wise.

Yes, that seems the best approach.

 

[freyar]

Since psionic blast is stunning for 1 round, maybe we could change the blast radius based on power points absorbed, set a minimum to blast, or something.

 

[Cleon]

Ahh, right. So I guess we really need two abilities tied together. I think I'd drop the mindblank stuff and just go with the will save (as in the power leech power and psionic blast). For the "blast," just base it on psionic blast? That doesn't do hp damage but seems more appropriate flavor-wise.

I'd rather it did damage like the original, and not have it much resemble a psionic blast.

Stunning an opponent for 1 round is not a great defense for these things. Its enemies would just squash it a round later when the stun wears off, and the leech can only do it once per day. What's the leech supposed to do while its foes are stunned? It's too slow to run away from anything faster than a snail.

Unless there's another monster around to attack the leeches' enemies when they're stunned it's just putting off the (nigh) inevitable.