[psionics handbook] What does an Astral Construct look like?

[Doppleganger]

Does somebody want to give me an interesting and descriptive "textblock" of what an astral construct might (exactly) look like?

"Clumps of ectoplasm with a vaguely humanoid shape" is about as vague a description as I've ever seen.

When my players encounter one, what kind of "read aloud text" would capture the fantasy feeling of the ectoplasmic humanoid they see in front of them. I long to be as long-winded and detailed as possible, and I'm having trouble coming up with enough "wind" to stir their imaginations and make Astral Constructs seem entertaining and interesting.

 

[Anabstercorian]

Isn't there a picture of an astrally constructed minotaur-thing in the book?

 

[Hypersmurf]

-Hyp.

 

[reiella]

Roughly whatever you want it to look like.

Possibly color tinted to blueish ectoplasm (As the picture in psihb).

HOwever, it isn't necessary, note some of the construct graphics from Mind's Eye.

Big thing is that they look roughly like whatever you want. For specific creatures, make use of Craft (Sculpture) as stated.

 

[Piratecat]

From a recent story hour:

"Like smaller crystals off a larger chandelier, lesser blobs of solidified thought are dribbling down from the dangling blob of ectoplasm. Those smaller drops of fluid are glowing as well... One of the little tiny crystal things hits the ground nearby and sizzles slightly; it appears to be made out of translucent fluid-filled stone, and the oozing crystal picks up the sunlight streaming from Mara and reflects it outwards. Mara catches little tiny glimpses of herself in the ectoplasm, almost as if there were thousands of mirror facets within it."

Ectoplasm is pretty much solidified thought, right? So it's an oozing and pulsing mass of congealed astral essence, held together by mental power. Distant stars wink in its depth. Occasional nightmare shapes from each PCs' past occasionally surface and dive back down into its skin, because it is picking up stray thoughts from each person nearby. Each hit it makes splatters mucous-like fluid on nearby objects, but this steams away into pure thought almost immediately.

Astral constructs are cool.

 

[Ruined]

In one of my games a few years back, the Astral Construct an NPC used was 'vaguely panther-like in shape, formed of an amber energy veined with shifting streaks of silver'.

I tend to think that the forms reflect the creator, as they are mental constructs. You know the adage how pets reflect their owners?

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I'd say it certainly depends on the manifester, a Yuan-Ti shaper would probably throw astral constructs that look like snakes, while at least one human shaper would probably have astral constructs shaped roughly like themself. A Illithid's astral constructs might be masses of tentacles or tadpole like things with tendrils. Someone else might have armoured warriors for constructs, another would have dragon-like constructs.

 

[Zhure]

 

[Anubis the Doomseer]

Does somebody want to give me an interesting and descriptive "textblock" of what an astral construct might (exactly) look like?

Anything the shaper wants it to look like, within the limitations of the power (so no exact duplicates of individuals, no flying if that power isn't selected, etc).

I tend to go for simple, but effective forms - basic creatures that contain some individual style for the Shaper (sort of an artists signature).

- Ma'at

 

[Zhure]

I also give each psion a signature astral construct. The exact look depends on their personality. For example, one of the evil psions has these astral constructs that look like inky shadows, but clearly they aren't undead.