Power Stones

[KerlanRayne]

Can you buy or create a Power Stone of Dissolving Weapon with a Manifester Level of 3?

Here's the problem. Dissolving Weapon is a 2nd Level Psychic Warrior power that requires 3 pp to manifest which would normally be at ML 3, but Psychic Warriors don't know any 2nd level powers until level 4.

One argument I have seen is that 3rd level Psychic Warriors COULD manifest a 2nd level power, they just don't know any yet. This means that a power stone could be created at ML 3 instead of 4.

Here's a quote to backup this claim:

A psychic warrior can manifest any power that has a power point cost equal to or lower than his manifester level.

So, what do you think?

KerlanRayne

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Interesting point. In that case, 3rd level psychic warriors actually CAN manifest 2nd level powers by either addressing a power stone of a 2nd level power and using it or by addressing another psion/psychic warrior and using a 2nd level power from their list.

One argument I have seen is that 3rd level Psychic Warriors COULD manifest a 2nd level power, they just don't know any yet. This means that a power stone could be created at ML 3 instead of 4.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

Untill you pointed out that quote I always said no, but now I'm having second thoughts.

Another point that validates your claim is that there are not different prices listed for psion and psychic warrior power stones. If a psychic warrior had to use the minimum level he could learn the power at, psychic warrior stones of the same power level would be more expensive. I had always thought this was an oversite, but now I'm starting to think maybe it wasn't.

 

[KerlanRayne]

Anyone Else?

 

[RisnDevil]

I say it is legit, but might put some type of drawback on it.

Isn't there a game mechanic for casting a spell from a scroll that you cannot cast yet due to level? I would use that as a base....

And also, when crafting items, you can set a lower CL than you are, can't you?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I say it is legit, but might put some type of drawback on it.

Isn't there a game mechanic for casting a spell from a scroll that you cannot cast yet due to level? I would use that as a base....

Yeah. As long as you can meet the caster level of the scroll, you're fine. A 5th level sorcerer, for instance, can't cast 3rd level spells, but can read a scroll of fireball or haste (clvl 5) without any difficulty. Similarly, a 6th level paladin can't cast 2nd level spells but his caster level or 3 means that he can read a scroll of eagle's splendor just fine.

 

[VorpalStare]

I think a Psychic Warrior of 4th level or higher should be able to imprint a power stone with Dissolving Weapon (or other 2nd level power he knows) at manifester level 3. And a PW of of 3rd level should be able to activate such a stone.

The minimum PP expenditure for Dissolving Weapon (and all 2nd level powers) is 3, and that sets the minimum manifester level. Powers can be manifested at any level from the minimum manifester level to the manifester level of the manifester, as explained on p. 54 of the XPH. Accordingly, a 4th or higher level Psychic Warrior could imprint a 2nd level power into a power stone at manifester level 3.

The rules contradict themselves on how a 3rd level Psychic Warrior would use such a stone, however. A 3rd level PW with sufficient wisdom should be able to automatically activate the stone according to the rules for power stones on p. 168 of the XPH. The rules for power completion items on p. 158, however, state: "To use a power completion item safely, a character must be of high enough level in the appropriate class to manifest the power already. If he can't already manifest the power, there's a chance he'll make the a mistake (see Brainburn, page 168)." Since a 3rd level PW isn't high enough level to manifest any 2nd level powers on his own, there is supposed to be some risk in using such an item.

In this case, I would use only the rules on p. 168 of the XPH, since they are referred to directly and are consistent with the equivalent rules for spell completion items in the core rules.

Note also that a psion could also craft and use such a stone if he acquired knowledge of the power through Expanded Knowledge or the optional power research rules.