Psionics: Balance and Integration

[Nail]

This is not a moot issue. In order to have your psion gain 50% of his items as psionic (the other 50% magical) in a four PC group, 25% of your encounters where items could be acquired would on average have to be against NPCs who happen to have 50% psionic items.

Granted, a given DM could force this, but I suspect that with so few psionic creatures in the various books, this would be a rare occurrence in MOST campaigns.

Which again proves my point.

One of the central balance problems is integration. Psionics does not work well, mechanically speaking, within the system. There are many mis-matches....and this equipment problem is one of them.

As an aside; since some PCs get their magic items from Ye Olde Magic Shoppe, a Psion could too. He's just unlikely to get something from an encounter in the dungeon.

The only ways to psionicly fly are: Ectoplasmic Form (Egoist 3),...

I know a Sor and a Wiz that would *kill* for access to this power as a spell. (DR 10/Psionics! Very few monsters could overcome this....) Oh and look....it's the same level as fly!

 

[Seeten]

I know a Sor and a Wiz that would *kill* for access to this power as a spell. (DR 10/Psionics! Very few monsters could overcome this....) Oh and look....it's the same level as fly!

Are there not rules for creating your own spells? Whats stopping them from creating an Arcane version?

 

[Nail]

Are there not rules for creating your own spells? Whats stopping them from creating an Arcane version?

Uhmmm....time and money and opportunity?

The time issue is especially important. Have you looked over these rule recently? I, too, thought it was an easy thing......

 

[Thanee]

And it's kinda unlikely that any DM will allow a ~3rd level spell that grants 10/psionic DR.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Seeten]

Uhmmm....time and money and opportunity?

The time issue is especially important. Have you looked over these rule recently? I, too, thought it was an easy thing......

I'm a big fan of downtime. I allow lots of it.

 

[Nail]

I should start taking notes, then....

 

[Nail]

And it's kinda unlikely that any DM will allow a ~3rd level spell that grants 10/psionic DR.

Wait...are you saying this core psionics power isn't balanced? Shocking.

 

[Vurt]

Wait...are you saying this core psionics power isn't balanced? Shocking.

Dude, take a look at the 3rd level Wiz/Sor spell gaseous form, which is, almost word for word, the exact same thing as ectoplasmic form. In addition to the usual benefits, gaseous form grants... wait for it... DR 10/magic.

Hmmm... Wait, what were those psionic/magic transparency rules again?

Cheers,
Vurt

 

[Nail]

Dude, take a look at the 3rd level Wiz/Sor spell gaseous form, which is, almost word for word, the exact same thing as ectoplasmic form. In addition to the usual benefits, gaseous form grants... wait for it... DR 10/magic.

Nice try.


Really: nice try.


Read Gaseous Form again. You'll see this:
"It can’t attack or cast spells with verbal, somatic, material, or focus components while in gaseous form."

And in the "psionic version", you can manifest powers, with a Concentration check.

 

[Vurt]

Nice try.


Really: nice try.


Read Gaseous Form again. You'll see this:
"It can’t attack or cast spells with verbal, somatic, material, or focus components while in gaseous form."

And in the "psionic version", you can manifest powers, with a Concentration check.

Sure, the concentration check is 20+spell level. Also the power is PsyWar and Egoist only, so 5/6th of the psion disciplines must also spend a feat to get it at 9th+ level. PsyWars get access to it at 7th level.

PsyWar powers are mainly physical buffs, so they're not likely going to be attempting to nuke something while in ectoplasmic form.

Assuming you're an Egoist at low levels, unless you've maxed out feats to pump up your Concentration check it's about 50/50 in terms of actually getting the power off while in ectoplasmic form. At higher levels it gets better obviously, but then that's when arcane casters are adding metamagic feats to their their own spells to also cast while in gaseous form.

So, you were saying?

Besides, I thought the discussion was regarding the DR 10/psionics being overpowered. What's with the ole bait 'n switch? *GRIN*

Cheers,
Vurt