Greetings Oh Hearald of Saridor,
Just finished going over the Gem Dragon Project as part of my Council of the Wyrms (COW) conversion update
Just a few points
1. I don't like the re-introduction of spell-like invisibility as psionic-invisibility (I know - it's my personal "bug a boo" & no one else cares! but I do have to keep on) - only in the D&D3.0 psionics handbook do the two abilities have the same capability! Other than that, psionic invisibility has always been "different" I know - this is a personal thing & no doubt we'll agree to disagree. But I think that the duergar update was a mistake that we shouldn't perpetuate!
2. The web update of MM2 seems to indicate that all Gem Dragons have Planar Travel (no where does it say how often they can use it) & that it's now a Psionic[Sp] ability. The Gem Dragon project doesn't seem to cover this.
3. Gem Dragons are given attack & defence modes (now powers) for free. Though the rules don't indicate at what point these abilities are granted, I've always ruled that they are granted when the Dragon acquires a manifester level. The Gem Dragon project doesn't seem to cover this point either.
4. Just an observation really (please don't shoot me) but I kind of felt that virtual power point system seems a little over complicated (may be it's just me being a tad slow or some such?)
I'd have gone with something along the lines of:
If a Dragon has a psi-like ability & no power point reserve (i.e. no actual Psion level) then he may manifest that ability un-augmented a given number of times per day as indicated in the write up. However if the Dragon has a power point reserve (i.e. has levels of Psion) he may augment that ability as applicable within the limits of his power point reserve & manifester level.
It is also worth noting that a Dragon's psi-like abilities are given a manifester level. If that Manifester level is higher than his actual level in the Psion class, he may ONLY use that higher level for the manifestation of psionic-like abilities NOT powers gains through levels of Psion.
No doubt I've missed the point in a couple of cases - may be you can put me straight? In any case, I did promise a comment or obseration or two & here they are.
Cheers - FMD
PS - Re: your comment over on ENWORLD about the new relative strangth of the Amythyst & the Topaz. You are of course spot on - they are a LOT closer in termsof real power! I've gone back as far as Dragon 36 where the Gem Dragons originally appeared & the Topaz has ALWAYS been significantly weaker than the Amythyst (who after all is supposed to be the Gold/Red of the Gem Dragon brand) - I can't imagine why this decision was taken in conversion! But for the purposes of my COW conversion - I'm going to have to address it!
PPS - Obviously I don't apply my comments to the Obsidien or Ectoplasmic Dragon - they are outside the scope of any expertise that I might claim to possess! Incidentally though - whilse searching the Dragon archive - I came across the "original" obsidien Dragon, it wasn't a psionic or gem dragon at all!!
