Converting Psionic Creatures

Shade · Sep 20, 2007

Shall we stick with a normal cat's physical ability scores? Int is Exceptional (15-16)...shall we put the other mental scores in a similar range? Maybe a slightly higher Cha?

JiCi · Sep 20, 2007

Shade said:
Shall we stick with a normal cat's physical ability scores? Int is Exceptional (15-16)...shall we put the other mental scores in a similar range? Maybe a slightly higher Cha?

Well, psi-like abilities are Charisma-based, so a high charisma helps a lot, I say Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18

Shade · Sep 24, 2007

JiCi said:
Well, psi-like abilities are Charisma-based, so a high charisma helps a lot, I say Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18

Sounds good. Updated in Homebrews.

Shade · Oct 2, 2007

Shade said:
All known psionic cats (called Magenta’s Cats) are reputed to be of the same deepest black color as the original. About two thirds of these cats are female. All have exceptional night vision, allowing them to see well in anything but absolute darkness, and very sensitive hearing. These senses make the cats impossible to surprise. The silence with which they move and their dark color allows them to surprise opponents on a 1-5 in shadowed areas and at night.

Racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks? Improved Hide bonus in areas of darkness or shadowy illumination? Improved Initiative?

Shade said:
Magenta’s Cats are intelligent in the extreme, and can apparently communicate with all feline creatures by means of a sort of limited empathy/telepathy. They may speak up to three languages besides the feline tongue and the language of neutral alignment. It is 90% likely that at least one of these other three languages will be the common tongue, and 60% likely that another will be elven.

Speak Common, Elven, and one other language?

How's this?

Speak with Felines (Su): A Magenta's cat can communicate with any feline creature, as if using a speak with animals spell. This ability cannot be dispelled.

Shade said:
Magenta’s Cats are aloof and somewhat conceited; they all seem to feel they are vastly superior to any other thinking creature, although they are not given to “broadcasting” their powers. It is likely that any Magenta’s Cat aware it is being watched will act like a normal cat, not revealing its true nature until it chooses to or is forced to.

Bonus on Disguise checks to resemble a standard housecat?

Shade said:
Though these creatures usually travel alone, it is possible to run into a small group of them, all adults, who have gathered to exchange information, feed, or mate. Singly or in groups, these cats are only known to inhabit towns and cities. Litters have 3-5 kittens, with only a 10% chance of each offspring having the special powers of the psionic parent(s). The chance is the same whether one or both parents are psionic.

Environment: Any urban?

Organization: Solitary, family (1 Magenta's cat plus another cat or Magenta's cat and 3-5 noncombatant young), or pack (3-6)?

Shade said:
A magic-user of true neutral or partneutral alignment who has psionics may receive a Magenta’s Cat for a familiar if the spell Find Familiar is cast successfully and a black cat is indicated as the type of familiar received. The base chance is 5%, plus an additional 1% per level of experience of the magic-user over the first. For a magic-user of true neutral alignment, this chance of success is unmodified; however, subtract 2% from the figure arrived at if the magicuser is neutral good, neutral evil, lawful neutral or chaotic neutral. Magic-users of other alignments will not be able to find a Magenta’s Cat for a familiar even if they are psionic.

How's this?

A Magenta’s cat can be acquired as a familiar by a 7th(?)-level arcane spellcaster with the Improved Familiar feat of any nonlawful or nonchaotic alignment. See page 200 of the DMG for more information.

Shade said:
In addition to the normal powers of a black cat familiar, the Magenta’s Cat makes the magic-user impossible to surprise and can add its psionic strength points to its master’s in multiple psionic operations. The magic-user may likewise add his or her points to the cat’s to extend its powers, but the magic-user will not gain the cat’s psionic disciplines as his or her own, or vice versa. If the Magenta’s Cat familiar is killed, the magic-user immediately loses twice as many hit points as the cat had, permanently, and also loses all of his or her psionic powers forever. Like all other familiars, the Magenta’s Cat gets a saving throw vs. magic when the Find Familiar spell is cast.

Perhaps an ability that allows master and familiar to share some psionic power points?

Shade said:
There is a 5% chance that a Magenta’s Cat will be acting as a familiar if encountered normally. If so, it will be linked to a Wizard of 11th to 18th level (d8 + 10, to generate level randomly) who will react with all powers possible if his or her familiar is threatened. There is a fair chance the cat will be wearing a jeweled (and possibly enchanted) collar of considerable value, as determined by the Dungeon Master.

Treasure: None (standard goods in the form of a bejeweled collar if acting as a familiar)?

freyar · Oct 2, 2007

All that's looking good. This seems like a complicated conversion!

Shade · Oct 8, 2007

It's not so bad.

Any other opinions on the last post?

Shade · Oct 18, 2007

Any thoughts on this?

Shade said:
Perhaps an ability that allows master and familiar to share some psionic power points?

Shade · Nov 7, 2007

Ahh, psionics...you remain the red-headed stepchild of D&D.

Anyone have any thoughts on this fella, or have psionics scared you off?

dhaga · Nov 7, 2007

I dabbled in psionics in 2nd Edition, but haven't touched them in 3rd Edition at all.

Shade said:
Any thoughts on this?
Perhaps an ability that allows master and familiar to share some psionic power points?

Considering the original description, I think this would be a good idea.
Could simply call it "Shared Power". I don't know how "power points" work (are they like mana?), so I'm at a loss for an actual power description.