Psilly Psionics

[dead]

No, no, no! Psionics aren't silly.

I just bought the the XPH because everybody seems to be saying it's so great. And you guys are right! It does look like a vast improvement on the previous book.

I just wanted to ask you guys: How are the "becoming psionically focused" rules working out for everyone? I can see there's a bunch of Feats requiring you to make a DC 20 Concentration check (a full round action) to become psionically focused each time you wanna use a feat. Then you use the Feat on the next round, you expend your focus and, if you wanna use the Feat again, the process starts over . . .

Are these rules working out for folks. I think it might take my players some getting used to. I mean, Wizards and Sorcerers have no parallel in this respect so perhaps it was put in place to *balance* psionics-users?

Thanks.

 

[Spatula]

Yes, that's the idea. You'll notice that the metapsionic feats are less "expensive" in terms of power levels compared to their magic equivalents (except for Extend Power). For example, Empower Spell is normally +2 spell levels. Empower Power is +2 PP, or in essence +1 power level. But it requires that you spend your focus, so it can't be combined with Power Penetration, Maximize Power, etc. the way that a wizard could combine those feats.

For the non-metapsionic feats that requires the focus to be held or spent, you can see that they let the character do things that they normally could not do.

Most psionic characters will pick up Psionic Meditation as soon as possible, which reduces the time spent to regain the focus from a full-round action to a move action.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I just wanted to ask you guys: How are the "becoming psionically focused" rules working out for everyone? I can see there's a bunch of Feats requiring you to make a DC 20 Concentration check (a full round action) to become psionically focused each time you wanna use a feat. Then you use the Feat on the next round, you expend your focus and, if you wanna use the Feat again, the process starts over . . .

Are these rules working out for folks. I think it might take my players some getting used to. I mean, Wizards and Sorcerers have no parallel in this respect so perhaps it was put in place to *balance* psionics-users?

Thanks.

Actually the sum effect is that metapsi-using psionicists will end up spending a feat and a full action casting metamagic spells, and will gain a benefit (take 15) to concentration checks in certain circumstances.

I'd say that spending a feat and gaining the concentration check benefit are basically equal (ie - the ability to take 15 on a concentration check is worth a feat). So no change from a sorceror, who gets no benefits, spends no feats and casts metamagic spells as full-round actions.

In fact, I'd seriously consider taking wild talent for a wizard, just so he can make use of the psionic-focus take-15 rule.

 

[Piratecat]

We really like the focusing rules. We made a "Focused?" card with yes on one side and no on the other; each psionic character has one, and flips it appropriately to keep track. So far it's been no problem at all, and the tactical balance that focusing requires has been a lot of fun.

 

[Thanee]

I mean, Wizards and Sorcerers have no parallel in this respect so perhaps it was put in place to *balance* psionics-users?

Of course. It's the compensation for the bonus they get with the feats. Metapsionics being cheaper in terms of "spell levels added" (one less roughly), and do not have any limits, which spellcasters do have to worry about (no preparation/time increase). Psionic Endowment covers all disciplines not just one like Spell Focus and Psionic Penetration has twice the effect of Spell Penetration.

That's why psionicists need to worry about the focus.

The big hindrance here is, that they can only use one of those feats at a time, so the obvious conclusion is to not learn many of those feats (since they do not stack).

I suppose the average psion will have Psionic Meditation (well, 99% of the psions will have that, really), Greater Psionic Endowment, maybe Psionic Penetration and one metapsionic feat (Quicken Power being far ahead of the bunch in terms of power here), but not much more, which will make use of the focus. Rather pick up Expanded Knowledge a few times instead, or whatever else comes to mind.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Henry]

In my campaign I let the Psionic character take 20 and spend two minutes to become focused, rather than make him roll a bunch of times; he's okay with it, because he only uses his one psionic feat at the beginning of combat, and uses his other abilities after that.

For any more regular Psions, I would have to experiement more; it doesn't however seem like it would add too much of a problem.

 

[Patlin]

In my campaign I let the Psionic character take 20 and spend two minutes to become focused, rather than make him roll a bunch of times; he's okay with it, because he only uses his one psionic feat at the beginning of combat, and uses his other abilities after that.

For any more regular Psions, I would have to experiement more; it doesn't however seem like it would add too much of a problem.

We started a new campaign this weekend, and I was taking twenty to regain focus between combats as well. By level 5, I should be able to take 10 instead and save a lot of time.

Only problem I had was another PC seeing me meditating and sticking his fingers near my face. "Is this bothering you? I'm not touching you. Is it bothering you?"

 

[Selganor]

For a real monster check out the "Permanent Focus" Feat in Hyperconscious (Malhavoc's latest Psionic supplement written by Bruce "WotC Psionics Handbooks" Cordell). This allows "one trick ponies" (Psions who only need the focus for one feat) to ALWAYS having their focus for this one feat... (Prereq. is the Narrow Mind feat from XPH)
Psychic Hand/Shot/Weapon with every attack of a full attack anyone?

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Maybe it's just that I'm still unfamiliar with the rules, but wouldn't you be able to use multiple metapsionic feats by having the Psicrystal Containment and burning both your own as well as the 'stored' Focus? Granted, you'd have to have a Psi Crystal, but at least you'd have one of the bonuses they impart, like a +3 to Concentration.

On a related note, I was wondering how 'visible' a Psi power is when manifested, assuming you've made your Concentration check to manifest the power without a display? It states in the XPsiHB that you're still obvious enough about it to provoke the standard AoO, but if you're in a crowded shop and decide to 'help' your fellow PC by manifesting Telempathic Projection on the shopkeeper... I ask because I've had GM's (in other systems) tell me that, even though the system rules didn't state it, at least the target knew who was doing something to them because of the very link you'd forged to use your Psi powers on them. This doesn't seem to be the case in the 3.5 rules, but I'd like a second (or tenth ) opinion if possible.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Staffan]

On a related note, I was wondering how 'visible' a Psi power is when manifested, assuming you've made your Concentration check to manifest the power without a display? It states in the XPsiHB that you're still obvious enough about it to provoke the standard AoO, but if you're in a crowded shop and decide to 'help' your fellow PC by manifesting Telempathic Projection on the shopkeeper... I ask because I've had GM's (in other systems) tell me that, even though the system rules didn't state it, at least the target knew who was doing something to them because of the very link you'd forged to use your Psi powers on them. This doesn't seem to be the case in the 3.5 rules, but I'd like a second (or tenth ) opinion if possible.

I'd say that unless someone is looking for it (e.g. "I ready to shoot that guy if he manifests a power"), they won't notice the actual manifestation process. As for the power itself, if the target succeeds on his save he'll know that something weird just happened, but probably not what (from the SRD: " A creature that successfully saves against a power that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted power you sense that the power has failed." - a similar rule applies to spells, BTW). However, if the shopkeeper fails his save, he doesn't know that he's being mentally influenced.