From: "Bruce Cordell" [Deleted]
Subject: Re: Schism and Focus
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 16:27:10 -0700
To: "Ian Chapman" [Deleted]
Ian, you are correct--the first principle is that two psionic focuses
may not be held simultaneously, even by a being who benefits from schism.
On Jul 21, 2004, at 1:53 PM, Ian Chapman wrote:
> Dear Bruce,
>
> I know that you have far better things to do than
> answer rules questions, and I realize that you want us
> to go through Customer Service. However, I (and my
> friends) have tried this and all we seem to get is
> poorly thought out answers that border on the truly
> wretched (in terms of quality). I am including my
> original letter to them on this issue along with their
> response. Judge for yourself
>
> OK, rant over Could you please, *please* give us
> an official clarificion on the following questions:
>
> 1. Does Schism allow you to regain your focus with
> that extra standard action?
No, this explicitly not allowed, since the Concentration check to gain psionic focus is a full round action, and schism allows only standard actions, but...
> If so, do you need
> Psionic Meditation to do this?
Strictly speaking, Psionic Meditation turns your full round action into a move action. However, schism is not intended as a method to circumvent the limits of psionic focus--the secondary mind is just not up to the task of regaining psionic focus. As a splinter, it just doesn't have the capacity to attain the clarity of focus necessary. So Psionic Meditation isn't sufficient to the task being asked of it here.
>
> 2. If Schism does allow you to regain your focus
> does it apply to the entire psion or just the
> secondary "mind" (and who can use said focus and what
> does it affect if this is possible at all)?
See above.
> 3. Does Schism allow you to have more than one
> Psionic Focus at a time? If so why and if not why
> not?
It does not (as per first principle). As a splinter of the full mind,
it can't manage the focus necessary to attain true focus.
Take care,
brc
> For the record my position is the legalistic/exclusive
> one, i.e. if a power doesn't explicitly permit
> something, then it is forbidden (thus since Schism
> doesn't allow a second focus, you can't have one), but
> other friends of mine are taking a more liberal view
> judging from the flavor text (i.e. the power gives you
> two minds in one body...so each mind should have a
> focus).
>
> Who's right officially? Again, you have my sincere
> apologies for asking this, but the answer (as I am
> sure you can well imagine) is critical for how a
> Kineticist (to name but one example) could use this
> power.
> Sincerely Yours,
>
> Ian Chapman
>
> P.S. Here's what Customer Service had to say (for
> what it's worth)
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Subject: RE: Expanded Psionics Handbook: Schism and
> Focus
> Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 09:45:02 -0700
> From: "Wizards Customer Service"
> [Deleted] View Contact Details
> To: "Ian Chapman" [Deleted]
>
>
> You cannot gain a second psionic focus through the use
> of this spell.
> Meditating to gain a psionic focus is a full-round
> action, but schism
> allows your second mind to take standard actions only.
>
> Thanks!
>
> *Please quote this e-mail in any reply.*
>
> Darrin
> Wizards of the Coast Customer Service Department
> Wizards of the Coast
> 1-800-324-6496
