My psionics house rules for the XPH

[Zack2216]

What I'll probably do for it is to make the base duration 1 hour per level, 2 pp to increase it to 1 day per level, and then if the player wants to dominate more than one target, he'll have to pay extra pp per extra target as normal (I'm assuming). However, if he dominates more than 1 target, he'll have to divide the duration evenly amongst all targets.

 

[Zad]

Dumb question: I thought the release date was friday. Did you get your hands on an early copy or did I get my information wrong?

 

[Nifft]

Call your FLGS. I got my copy last Friday (the 9th).

-- N

 

[Zad]

Unfortunately I only have LGS's. Because the local ones are idiots, and hence not my favorite. ;(

 

[Michael Tree]

Unfortunately I only have LGS's. Because the local ones are idiots, and hence not my favorite. ;(

If you don't mind driving almost an hour, Beyond Books just across the DE border has copies.

I guess that would be a FGS, not a FLGS.

 

[Michael Tree]

Okay, I think the problem is that we're trying to fit in two orthogonal Augmentations. Basically, what's fair for a humanoid is broken for a giant, and insane for a dragon or outsider.

I'm definitely like this idea, but your suggestion still is overly weak compared to the magical versions. Besides, for combat purposes there's very little difference between 1 hour, 1 day, and 1 day/level. Chances are the thing you dominate will be killed in the first fight or two you use it in. However, for political/plot purposes, there's a huge difference.

I would rather the augmented psionic version of Dominate were functionally identical to the magic spell versions. Say:

+2 pp to dominate a humanoid with a duration of 1/day per level.
- This makes it functionally identical to the 5th level spell Dominate Person, with the same cost (9 pp=5th level) and duration.

+6 pp to be able to dominate a giant, etc. with a duration of 1/day per level. (This includes the +2 augmentation cost for being able to dominate these types).
- This essentially makes it a 7th level, more limited version of Dominate Monster.

+10 pp to dominate an abberration, dragon, etc. with a duration of 1/day per level. (This includes the +4 augmentation cost for being able to dominate these types).
- This makes it functionally identical to the 9th level power Dominate Monster, with the same cost (17pp=9th level) and duration.

 

[Psion]

As with Nifft, it sounds like requiring psionic focus for so many psi-warrior critical feat nerfs them a lot.

As for what to do about it, I'll wait until I get the book to make a judgement.

 

[Nifft]

Looking at Charm, Psionic, I could be convinced that 1 hour/level is a fair Augmentation. I don't think that a multi-target Power should be able to scale for free by level, though. I think you should have to pay for every day's increment.

(Note that PsiCharm DOES scale with level, but DOES NOT allow multiple targets.)

Perhaps a variant of PsiDominate that allows only a single target, but lasts for 1 hour/level, and Augments to 1 day/level, would be fair?

As the Power stands, I think PC and I have hammered out a viable solution.

-- N

 

[Nifft]

Oooo, another thing: don't forget that Wild Surges can affect any power, since Wilders can take that "know extra power" feat.

Also, take a serious look at the Thrallherd: it allows manifestation of Dominate with a reduced cost, so you can augment it for longer durations at lower level.

I think my high costs make sense, and that the time should NOT scale with level. Otherwise the Thrallherd is broken.

-- N

 

[Michael Tree]

Oooo, another thing: don't forget that Wild Surges can affect any power, since Wilders can take that "know extra power" feat.

Also, take a serious look at the Thrallherd: it allows manifestation of Dominate with a reduced cost, so you can augment it for longer durations at lower level.

I just wrote up my house rule for Dominate

Dominate, Psionic
Add the following Augmentations.
4. If you spend 2 additional power points, this power’s duration against humanoids increases to 1 day/level.
5. If you spend 6 additional power points, this power gains the benefit of augment 1, above, and the duration increases to 1 day/level.
6. If you spend 10 additional power points, this power gains the benefit of augment 2, above, and the duration increases to 1 day/level.
Spending power points to achieve these effects increases this power’s save DC as normal.

The way these are written, the thrallherd's special abilities don't affect them. Its abilities would only affect the concentration versions, making the PrC the master of short-term concentration domination, but no better at long term automatic domination (for balance reasons). In contrast, your version would let a Thrallherd dominate a "tier 3" monster type for a full hour for only 11pp, which is more than long enough for several combats.

As for wild surges, Wilders get so few powers and abilities otherwise that I don't see a problem if they spend one of their precious feats on Dominate and take the risk at the surge.