Malhavoc's Mindscapes

[dema]

sounds freaking great -

Can you use the wotc PsiHB with this new one? Are the combat rules open source? (well they have to be huh?) -

This is a book I hope? and not a PDF ?

Good work Monte, and Cordell - isn't it 3rd try is the charm?

Can't wait to page through this book- sounds really promising, and thanks for listening to the fans.

Looks like alot of authors are listening to fans, that's just freaking great.

peace-

-d

 

[Spatula]

It's PDF-only at the moment. I think the print version is coming out in May. More info at:

http://www.montecook.com

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

sounds freaking great -

Can you use the wotc PsiHB with this new one? Are the combat rules open source? (well they have to be huh?) -

This is a book I hope? and not a PDF ?

Good work Monte, and Cordell - isn't it 3rd try is the charm?

Can't wait to page through this book- sounds really promising, and thanks for listening to the fans.

Looks like alot of authors are listening to fans, that's just freaking great.

peace-

-d

Mindscapes is build upon the PsiHB - so you can use it just fine. AFAIK all the rules material is open source....

-Zarrock

 

[EarthsShadow]

especially the new combat rules, which are really superb and make sense to use.

 

[mmu1]

I like the new psionic combat, I really do... But I think everyone is getting a little carried away with the whole "ease of use" thing.

Things are extremely simple and elegant - if there are two people participating in the fight. However, if, like in the example they use, it's something like two characters vs. three enemies, things get complicated very quickly.

Basically, if characters A and B and monsters 1, 2 and 3 are in combat and the initiative order ends up like this:

Enemy 1: 25
Player A: 21
Enemy 2: 19
Player B: 18
Enemy 3: 15

You have to deal with #1 getting one kind of bonus against (potentially) 4 creatures, A getting a different kind of bonus against 3 creatures, and so on. Since the bonus changes depending on what mode the psion is using, and all of the bonuses only apply to certain combatants, things very quickly get complicated.

Now, I'm not saying that the system is bad, just keep in mind that with several psionic characters it's not as simple as a "single roll" anymore - you will in effect be fighting a miniature combat each turn, with all the non-psions twiddling their thumbs.

 

[Particle_Man]

Confused

My second attempt at posting this -- hope it doesn't end up a double post.

I like Mindscapes but have a few concerns about it.

1) Empathic multiplier seems way too powerful compared to the other 11 combat modes. For instance, it adds DICE of damage, while another mode only adds POINTS of damage. A first (or even 5th) level character getting to add 5dwhatever damage to his powers at no extra point cost is a bit too fearsome. (especially combined with concern #3)

2) I would have liked more detail on 3-way and 4-way fights. If Alvin is 58 feet north of Beth, who is 58 feet north of Calvin, do we get one mindscape or two? If douglas and evelyn are in a separate mindscape (70 feet east), and move west and "bump into" Beth's mindscape(s), what happens? If mindscapes can "merge", does the mindcape terrain get "re-rolled?" if they were different terrains initially?

3) There is a feat (admittedly with prereqs, but achievable at 1st level) that pretty much gives one a free chance to lay a little smack down on non-psionics by dragging them into mindscape, and where nothing bad happens if the non-psionic happens to get lucky and win a mindscape roll vs. you. (Combine this with concern #1 and it gets ugly fast).

4) The powers Ego Whip and Brutalize Wounds seem too nasty for their levels, but that may just be me.

Not that I don't like mindscapes. I do. God knows it improved psionic combat, and concerns #1,3, and 4 can be dealt with easily, by banning the relevant modes/feats/powers if nothing else. I just have some concerns, is all. Psion, you are the Caliban of all things psionic. How would you handle these concerns? All others can chime in too. Maybe I just haven't looked at the rules closely enough, since I just got them.

 

[mmu1]

Re: Confused

1) Empathic multiplier seems way too powerful compared to the other 11 combat modes. For instance, it adds DICE of damage, while another mode only adds POINTS of damage. A first (or even 5th) level character getting to add 5dwhatever damage to his powers at no extra point cost is a bit too fearsome. (especially combined with concern #3)

The way to actually get several extra dice of damage is to use the +0 or -4 version of the mode, which means that unless the other guy also gets greedy and uses a -4 version of something else, you'll likely loose the check.

And, since it is Charisma based, it might be there to compensate Telepaths for their limited damage-dealing ability. (not that I used the old rules enough to know if the really need it.)

I haven't read as far as the feat that allows you affect non-psions at no risk to yourself, but if it works like you say it does, then that'd be something of a concern.

 

[Suldulin]

I just got it and have to say it is great

yes empathic multiplier can be troublesome, the best fix so far that I've seen is to remove the word 'die/dice' from the effect

such that it will only add +1 +3 or +5 damage

 

[psionotic]

Empathic Multiplier and other issues

Empathic Mutliplier problem: In a thread over at Monte's website, bruce suggests limiting extra dice of damage to your manifester level, and charing a power point cost of 1pp per extra dice of damage.

He has already posted a good number of clarifications here:
http://pub58.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm18.showMessageRange?topicID=1026.topic&start=1&stop=20

 

[BryonD]

I like the new psionic combat, I really do... But I think everyone is getting a little carried away with the whole "ease of use" thing.

I agree.

I think this is a great improvment over the old system, but there are some wierd issues and complications.

What if 3 or more combatants are spread out so that A is with 60 feet of B and B is with 60 feet of C, but A is not within 60 feet of c?

Why are ability modifiers not used in psionic combat? Why is a DEX 18, CHR 8 psion just as good with CHR modes as with DEX modes? Doesn't that make them not really DEX modes? (I understand that the results tie to DEX, but that seems secondary to the mechanics of combat)