Psionics DC: based on d20 or on flat 10

[Greybar]

Thanks for all the opinions and corrections.

My concern with the d20+lvl+stat method is primarily that a BBEG might get one-shot-killed just due to a lucky high roll on the ol' d20.

That and the frustration that a PC unleashes their uber-augmented power and then finds that even the mooks can make their SV easily against it.

 

[lukelightning]

Plus the D20 roll method leaves itself open to abuse from things like the various luck abilities that let you reroll dice, or with action point type systems.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

10+. Having psi DC's roll 1d20 instead is a bad way of saying "Psionics are different", because it is almost purely mechanical.

 

[Nifft]

Base DC 10, just like spells. Dice should only be rolled by one side.

But I voted for tacos, because I'm hungry. Don't put food on polls around dinner time! Total stew -- I mean, skew!

-- N

 

[davidschwartznz]

That and the frustration that a PC unleashes their uber-augmented power and then finds that even the mooks can make their SV easily against it.

Yeah, in my game that turned what should have been an easy encounter into a rout. Rather than knock out most of the guards in one swoop, the psion merely alerted every single one of them that a low-hp character was trying to break in.

Personally, I found it too much work for too little gain. Go with base 10.

OTOH I did have lots of fun with 2E's critical success/failure.

 

[Dog Moon]

I like the random taco comments in the midst of people trying to be helpful. Really funny. Since I dislike Psionics and don't use them in my game, I voted for Tacos.

Oh and the d20+etc is really broken if used by a compulsive cheater [Perhaps a small reason I dislike psionics] who for some reasons always seems to roll 17+. I doubt you have that problem though.

 

[reveal]

I like the random taco comments in the midst of people trying to be helpful. Really funny. Since I dislike Psionics and don't use them in my game, I voted for Tacos.

So you're saying tacos aren't helpful?

 

[Crimson_Manticore]

I chose Tacos, because I use a 3rd option. I’ve started using that “players make all the rolls” variant from Unearthed Arcana, and I have never seen D20 combat run so smoothly and briskly in all my life! In the case of spell and psionic DCs, the player rolls a d20 + mods, but all creatures and NPCs have a static save value equal to 10 + mods, so the random d20 side is simply shifted to the player. We use the same principle with NPC attack values versus PC defense rolls, and it works beautifully. No more rolling d20s and adding mods for the DM! When a monster attacks, I simply ask the player to make a defense roll (or three) and compare their results against the attack value. I was amazed at how much more manageable D20 combat was to run using this variant. I cannot recommend it high enough. Plus, the players feel like they have more control over the game. If their save-or-die spell fails, it’s not because the DM rolled high on the save, but because they rolled low. The whole feel of the game changes, while the mechanics remain essentially the same.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Total stew -- I mean, skew!

Ice ee how such a typo could happen.

 

[Evilhalfling]

The big problem I have with d20+ lvl+mod is that it adds an extra step, already made more complicated by the fact that some but not all augmented powers raise DC.

I really enjoy Psionics and have used it them in 2(horribly broken) 3.0 (underpowered) and 3.5
(subject to abuse).

BFG - you played a psiwarrior and used powers with saves?
PW are all about the buff and attack- and dipping for a level or 2 gives you a shield spell, or +2 dmg, a secondary bite attack or 8 temp hp/1 per day - all seem worth a 1pt BAB penalty.