Converting Psionic Creatures

[freyar]

When seen, star leviathans each trail a silver cord, so they are obviously using a form of astral projection to travel through the Astral Plane; no one knows which Prime Material Plane they come from, and they have never revealed their home to anyone even under duress or charm. They are apparently a race of psionic whales, normally ocean-dwelling but capable of psionic astral projection which they apparently use for their amusement and curiosity.

Ah, I thought they were just astral projecting to the Astral Plane, but it's all fine.

Well, I'm mostly not going to be very helpful with choosing powers, but we definitely want telekinetic ones. Is there one to catch ranged attacks or opponents?

 

[RavinRay]

I think psionic powers to boost their AC would be good idea, though.

Inertial armor's a perfect choice; plus it's a psychokinetic power.

Well, I'm mostly not going to be very helpful with choosing powers, but we definitely want telekinetic ones. Is there one to catch ranged attacks or opponents?

Based on their personality they don't seem to like the various psychokinetic energy powers that are destructive. However, the three aforementioned powers (telekinetic force, telekinetic maneuver, telekinetic thrust) which combined are the psionic equivalant of the arcane telekinesis, would serve the purpose you mentioned, though the leviathan won't use thrust to hurl objects at opponents.

 

[freyar]

That all sounds good. Any other suggested powers for these to know? Otherwise, I guess we should think about the "charging" ability.

 

[RavinRay]

On that disintegrate effect… there's a psionic disintegrate power which is equivalent to the arcane spell, although both are rays. We can adapt Energy Emanation from Complete Psionic; the description is "Deal 1D6 points of chosen energy damage to surrounding creatures." Or we can use the stats of the various "field" psionic powers as a base.

 

[freyar]

This thing doesn't deal nearly as much damage as disintegrate, though we could always boost it. Also, I don't know how much 50 "psionic strength points" is worth in terms of power points, so I don't have a great feeling about how strong this should be. However, from the flavor, it makes a lot of sense for this to be a mostly defensive effect. OTOH, 4-16 hp damage is mighty low for the likely CR. Here's a try:

Psionic Charge (Su or Ps?): By expending X power points, a star leviathan can create a psionic charge on its body for four rounds (after which the charge dissipates). This psionic field grants the star leviathan DR 20/- (or immunity to all weapon damage?). In addition, all creatures or objects that come in contact with the star leviathan while it is charged are affected as if by the psionic disintegrate power. Unattended nonmagical objects, including ranged weapons, do not receive a save against this power.

 

[Shade]

Getting the powers started...

It gets 36 powers known.

Psionic Powers: A star leviathan manifests powers as a psion (kineticist) of 24th level. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Typical Psion Powers Known (power points 383, save DC 14 + power level): 1st—control body, inertial armor; 2nd—x; 3rd—telekinetic force, telekinetic thrust; 4th—inertial barrier, telekinetic maneuver; 5th—x; 6th—dispelling buffer; 7th—reddopsi; 8th—psionic telekinetic sphere; 9th—x.

*Power can be augmented.

 

[Shade]

Psionic Charge (Su or Ps?): By expending X power points, a star leviathan can create a psionic charge on its body for four rounds (after which the charge dissipates). This psionic field grants the star leviathan DR 20/- (or immunity to all weapon damage?). In addition, all creatures or objects that come in contact with the star leviathan while it is charged are affected as if by the psionic disintegrate power. Unattended nonmagical objects, including ranged weapons, do not receive a save against this power.

This is a good start. I think likening it to psionic disintegrate is a good idea. We'll need to decide on the manifester level, which will determine the total damage. Manifester level 20th? That would yield 40d6 damage (but still 5d6 on a successful save).

Also of note...

It takes one full round to charge the molecular shock field, during which time the star leviathan cannot attack or move; any physical damage it sustains during that round will not stop production of the field, however, which goes into effect at the start of the next round.

It sounds like it should take a full-round action to activate.

 

[freyar]

Oooh, I'd forgotten about these. Yes, the psionic charge should take a full round action. Wait, how does ML 20 give 40d6 damage? I thought it was 22d6, but the only manifester level I see in the power description is in the range.

Thoughts on the power points and DR vs immunity to damage?

 

[RavinRay]

Although it's not officially an epic creature, it already has epic-level abilities, so DR should be formidable. Astral dragons have DR n/holy or unholy (coz they're neutral), and I'll check on the astral dreadnought. Maybe DR 20/silver? I think psionic charge should be (Ps), with at least 17 power points needed (17 points being the minimum for a 9th-level power).

 

[Shade]

Oooh, I'd forgotten about these. Yes, the psionic charge should take a full round action. Wait, how does ML 20 give 40d6 damage? I thought it was 22d6, but the only manifester level I see in the power description is in the range.

Augment: For every additional power point you spend, the damage this power deals to a subject that fails its saving throw increases by 2d6 points. Augmenting this power does not change the amount of damage the target takes if it succeeds on its saving throw.

Since the power starts at 22d6, and a creature with psi-like abilities is assumed to spend a number of power points equal to its manifester level (in this case, 20), that's 9 power points more than the 11 normally required by the power, yielding an additional 18d6 damage.


I agree with everything RavinRay suggested.