Iron Heroes/The Psyhic's Handbook

[Tetsubo]

I lucked out and got a gift card for my birthday last month. I picked up Iron Heroes. I'm not done reading it yet but it looks very good so far. One thing occurred to me already though. I think it would work well with Green Ronin's Psychic's Handbook.

The Psychic abilities in that book are Feat and Skill based. Using a psychic power does Non-lethal damage to the user. So the system is self-regulating. I think it would balance well with Iron Heroes.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kenson]

I tend to agree. In fact, I think Iron Heroes skill challenge and feat mastery rules would be a good fit for the system in the Psychic's Handbook: higher levels of psychic power could be done as "stunts" of existing skills with a suitable skill check (or DC) penalty, and the psychic talent feats (or other psychic feats) could have higher levels of mastery, "unlocking" additional psychic abilities. Plus the system generally suits the "low-magic" style of the setting (few empowered items, mostly innate powers, etc.).

I might just have to play around with this idea some...

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Well, if'n Steve likes it, it probably should work.

When I saw the title of the thread I, myself, went: "... yea ... yea, that'd work."

I don't even think a Psychic would feel all that out-matched by IronHeroes classes if you added a few things to give them some juice. They're pretty well balanced with other D&D classes, as it is, and the Psychic AdC is actually a little TOO powerful in a d20Modern game (with extreme skill pimpage).

--fje

 

[Bynw]

I agree, if Steve likes it. I'm generally all for it. Even if I am moving way from d20 gaming.

 

[Michael Tree]

I don't even think a Psychic would feel all that out-matched by IronHeroes classes if you added a few things to give them some juice. They're pretty well balanced with other D&D classes, as it is, and the Psychic AdC is actually a little TOO powerful in a d20Modern game (with extreme skill pimpage).

I find the Psychic a bit weak compared to D&D spellcasting classes, but that's more a comment on the severe power of D&D spellcasters than on the psychic.

The Iron Heroes skill group mechanic would probably work well with the way powers are organized in IH. The Psychic could treat each talent as its own skill group, and gain ranks in all of its powers that he qualifies for for a single skill point. Other characters would be able to spend skill points on powers if they had the right feats, but only the Psychic would be the master of such powers.

Then just change the psychic's BAB, saving throws, skills, and hit points to work like the other classes in IH. Then maybe look at the psychic prestige class, and turn some of their class abilities into mastery feats.

The only change I'd make to the power system itself would be to alter the saving throw and drain DCs for psychic powers, as they tend to be a bit low compared to the +1/level saves of IH characters. The damaging powers could also use a bit of a boost in the damage they deal.

 

[Committed Hero]

It's a big drain on skill ranks and feats; that's my only (minor) complaint. The Psychic's Handbook has got more in it than books twice its size, otherwise.

 

[Nebulous]

Yeah, the psychic's handbook rocks. Good work Mr. Kenson.

 

[Acid_crash]

I'd like to see an Iron Heroes Psychic class. That would totally rock.