Illithid Psionics Conversion Question

[BOZ]

Hey. I’m almost done working on the elder brain and two other illithid-kin. About all I have left to do is work out the psionics. Since I don’t happen to have the psionics handbook with me, and I’m nowhere near knowledgeable enough about psionics to figure this out off the top of my head, I’m looking for a helping hand. How should I work this out? give them spell-like power type psionics like mind flayers have in the MM? Or list them as psionics are listed in the PsiHB? Give me a hand with this conversion, if you can. thanks!

Psionic abilities for these creatures are as listed in The Illithiad, including some unique powers from that book.

The minimum psionic ability of an elder brain:

Level 20
Dis/Sci/Dev – 6/21/31
Att/Def – EW, II, MB/All
Score = Int
PSPs – 1d200+450
Players’ Option rules: #AT 2; MTHACO 7; MAC 0

Clairsentience – Sciences: clairaudience, clairvoyance; Devotions: all-round vision, know location.
Psychokinesis – Sciences: create object, molecular rearrangement, telekinesis; Devotions: ballistic attack, control body, control light, create sound, inertial barrier, levitation.
Psychometabolism – Sciences: complete healing, energy containment, metamorphosis; Devotions: body control, body equilibrium, suspend animation.
Psychoportation – Sciences: banishment, probability travel, teleport, teleport other; Devotions: astral projection, time shift, time/space anchor.
Telepathy – Sciences: domination, ejection, mass domination, mind blast, mindwipe, probe; Devotions: awe, ESP, false sensory input, id insinuation, mind thrust, post-hypnotic suggestion, taste link, psychic crush.
Metapsionics – Sciences: empower, psychic surgery, ultra-blast; Devotions: cannibalize, magnify, prolong, psionic inflation, psychic drain.


Urophion:

Level 9
Dis/Sci/Dev – 3/2/8
Att/Def – EW, II, MB/All
Score = Int
PSPs – 1d100+100
Players’ Option rules: #AT 1; MTHACO 11; MAC 5

Psychokinesis –Devotions: control body, levitation.
Psychometabolism –Devotions: body equilibrium.
Telepathy – Sciences: domination; Devotions: awe, ESP, post-hypnotic suggestion, taste link.


Ulitharid:

Level 10
Dis/Sci/Dev –
Att/Def – EW, II, MB/All
Score = Int
PSPs – 1d100+350
Players’ Option rules: #AT 1; MTHACO 10; MAC 5

Psychokinesis –Devotions: control body, levitation.
Psychometabolism –Devotions: body equilibrium.
Psychoportation – Sciences: probability travel, teleport; Devotions: astral projection.
Telepathy – Sciences: domination,; Devotions: awe, ESP, post-hypnotic suggestion, intrusive taste link.

Alternatively, ulitharids as they appear in MC Annual One, “have the following spell-like powers which they can employ, one at a time, once per round, as a 10th-level wizard: astral projection, charm person, charm monster, ESP, eyebite, forget, legend lore, levitate, plane shift, suggestion, telekinesis, and true seeing. All saving throws vs. these powers are rolled with –4 penalties.”

 

[Shade]

BOZ,

I'm no expert on psionics, but I can tell you that they have added them to the SRD. No need to bring your book!

I'd prefer the conversion to follow the psionics as spell-like abilities of the Monster Manual, as opposed to true psionics from the Psi Handbook. But it might be most beneficial (though more work) to convert it both ways to please everyone.

Good luck!

 

[BOZ]

anyone got any ideas?

 

[Krishnath]

I agree with Shade on this one, some people (myself included) prefer the way it was handled in the psiHB, while others prefer the MM version.

 

[BOZ]

oh, i agree with that too. what i was looking for was an idea of just how these old powers will translate into 3E psionic powers and spell-like abilities. some of course, should be obvious, but other may not be so. i'll take a look into it when i get a moment, and see what i can figure out myself.

 

[BOZ]

some more creatures i'd like suggestions for:

From Dragon #150:

These stats are for 4 illithid-like creatures. They are in 1st Edition psionic terms.

Cessrid
Psionic Ability: 90
Attack/Defense Modes: B,E/F,G
“Cessirids may use the following psionic disciplines at the 6th level of mastery: body equilibrium, ESP and dimension door.”

Embrac
Psionic Ability: 80 + 1d20
Attack/Defense Modes: A/F
“Embracs may employ the following psionic disciplines at the 5th level of mastery: empathy, ESP, invisibility, and mind bar. They may also produce illusions that are like a spectral force at the 5th level of casting in all respects except that the illusion has no potential to cause direct damage. The cost of this latter psionic discipline is two strength points per round.”

Kigrid
Psionic Ability: 90 + 2d20
Attack/Defense Modes: A,E/F,G,H
“Kigrids have the psionic disciplines of ESP, body equilibrium, levitation, and invisibility.”

Saltor
Psionic Ability: 130 + 2d20
Attack/Defense modes: A/F,G
“Saltors… of average intelligence have psionic power plus the disciplines of levitation, ESP and body equilibrium, all at the 5th level of mastery.”
“Exceptional saltors have 1-3 of the following psionic disciplines, determined at random:

1d6 – Discipline
1 – Domination
2 – Hypnosis
3 – Dimension door
4 – Dimension walk
5 – Mind Bar
6 – Astral projection”

 

[Gish Makai]

Is it you don't have the Psionics book or that you just don't have it handy? I can help you however I can since I have dealt with this before in my conversions.

 

[Devon]

I'm no expert on psionics, but I can tell you that they have added them to the SRD. No need to bring your book!

They have no power descriptions in the SRD (last time I checked, which was yesterday). All they have are the power headings (name, cost, components, range, etc.), which may be all you need.

The SRD does have the psionic creatures section, which may be just the guidance you need to pattern your conversions. There is one illithid-based creature there--the Neothelid--the powers of which operate similarly to those of the mind flayer:

Psionics (Sp): At will-body equilibrium, charm monster, clairaudience/clairvoyance, detect thoughts, levitate, suggestion, teleport, and true telekinesis. These abilities are as the powers manifested by an 18th-level psion.

The PsHB has more info on their relation to illithids--I can't recall at the moment. I think this may nevertheless be enough of a precedent to make it less of a psionicist character and more like a monster with spell-like abilities.

- Devon

 

[Krishnath]

The Neothelid is what happens when an illithid tadpole is not inserted into a host body. Usually when a group of high level adventureres, or an army of other subterranean races wipe out an Illithid city, and kills the elder brain. The tadpoles living in the briny fluid in which the Elder Brain resides eventually run out of food, and then it turns into survival of the fittest, they go canniballistic. The tadpoles start eating their smaller siblings, until only one is left, usually a 'worm' several feet long, an infant Neothelid. When the young Neothelid grow sufficiently hungry, it leaves the briny pool, and starts to hunt the underdrark for larger and larger prey, until the creature is the size of a purple worm, and able to level small cities. unfortunatly, the prosses leaves the poor being completely insane. And insanity is deadly when the loon is a powerful psion.

 

[BOZ]

i do have the psionics handbook. i keep it mostly as a reference work. i never have, and possibly never, actually psionics it in a game. i've never fully grasped the concept (which is why i'm having problems), but i keep trying all the same.

ok, here's what i'm going to do. when i get home, i'm going to try to do some cross-over conversions of the psionic powers, and post them if i get far enough along. those of you who are more familiar with psionics than myself can compare my conversions to the information above and tell me if it's too powerful, not enough, or whatnot.

along with elder brains and urophions, neothelids were in The Illithiad. of course, since neothelids were in the psionics handbook, i'm not going to be converting them.