Psionic Abuse

[Walking Paradox]

I hate psionics. I had exactly one psionic PC in a game that I ran a few years ago. The campaign was going so well before someone joined in who insisted on playing a blind man with a huge level of psionic ability; including the capacity to dominate the minds of others and play them like puppets. In one session, the guy took over an important NPC (he rolled too well for me to ignore it), dictated what the NPC would say for the scene, then grinned at the other players and said “see, we don’t even need a gamemaster!” The game pretty much died after that; there were other reasons but this fellow deciding that he wanted to run the game at the expense of everybody else at the table sapped away all of our enthusiasm.

How do you make psionics work in a game? How do you deal with a PC who either knows what everybody is thinking or who is capable of knowing that? What can be done here?

 

[the Jester]

I hate psionics. I had exactly one psionic PC in a game that I ran a few years ago. The campaign was going so well before someone joined in who insisted on playing a blind man with a huge level of psionic ability; including the capacity to dominate the minds of others and play them like puppets.

What edition was this? What do you mean, "a huge level of psionic ability"? Did you let him start off higher level than the other pcs?

The key to using psionics in a game depends on the rule set. In 3.5 and especially in 4e, psionics are pretty well balanced. Before that, not so much.

 

[Morrus]

Which abilities (in which edition) specifically are you worried about? It may be that they're not being used correctly.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I had a psionicist in my 2e Ravenloft game a looong time ago. He could basically win anything I put in front of them. He didn't, though. He mostly sat back until things got really rough, did something amazing to turn the tides, then went back to give everyone else some time in the spotlight. Good player. But, man, those 2e psionics were fierce. I feel for you having someone with less... restraint.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I don't see anything in that example that couldn't be done by a (pre-4e) wizard with enchantment spells. Seems to me like the problem is something other than a specific psionic ability.

If the campaign world lacks NPCs who can make saving throws, and has no laws against mind control or effective oversight thereof, any number of spells and abilities go from powerful to blatantly abusive.

Also, as with any rules abuse, it seems to originate from an abusive player. That has nothing to do with game rules, but an awful lot to do with social rules.

How do you make psionics work in a game? How do you deal with a PC who either knows what everybody is thinking or who is capable of knowing that? What can be done here?

I use the Psychic's Handbook, modify it to my tastes, and liberally interpret the skills to serve my plot needs. Back when I used 3.0 WotC psionics, I just ran them by the book as they were no more or less balanced than the core magic system.

 

[Oryan77]

“see, we don’t even need a gamemaster!”

You should have packed up your stuff and said, "You are exactly right, cya guys."

I'm not sure what it is, but as a DM, it really is irritating when players make it known out-of-game that they have bested your NPCs. I guess it is a player vs DM way of saying that they beat you which makes it annoying.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

You should have packed up your stuff and said, "You are exactly right, cya guys."

I'm not sure what it is, but as a DM, it really is irritating when players make it known out-of-game that they have bested your NPCs. I guess it is a player vs DM way of saying that they beat you which makes it annoying.

Agreed. The DM's there to try and make the game fun after all.

And perhaps he was right that they don't need a DM, but I do wonder; if you had just gotten up and left them to play with him in charge whether the other players would want their DM back anyways. I think they probably would.

 

[Umbran]

That doesn't sound like you have a problem with psionics. It sounds like you had a problem with a real jerk of a player.

 

[Larrin]

That doesn't sound like you have a problem with psionics. It sounds like you had a problem with a real jerk of a player.

But with psionics he was a big jerk with the rules 100% on his side able to 100% control everything. Thats the problem with early psionics. The biggest jerk fighter can't do that.

 

[Umbran]

But with psionics he was a big jerk with the rules 100% on his side able to 100% control everything. Thats the problem with early psionics. The biggest jerk fighter can't do that.

Rules will not prevent a jerk from being a jerk. Give a jerk a fighter, and they'll still find a way to ruin the game, because the jerkitude is in the person, not the character.

As for 100% controlling everything - honestly, I expect that's because the GM was caught off guard, and surprise keeps you from thinking fast. The character is going to have limits as to how many he can control at once, and other NPCs will notice when their friends start acting funny. The repercussions for being a jerk with mind control are apt to be severe.