[Psionics] Non-Psionic "Hard-Headedness" Is Dumb,

[angramainyu]

Hmmm.... what are some possible options?

-stunned
-dazed
-ability damage
-hit point damage
-temporary hit point damage
-confused
-nauseated
-shaken/frightened/panicked
-blinded
-exhausted/fatigued
-paralyzed

you could pick out different conditions that go with the different attack modes.

 

[Henry]

I don't mind the stunning, but I think the "mental hard-headedness" is kinda silly, myself.

I almost like Planesailing's idea, myself - just do away with the "mind-to-mind" combat entirely. It's not like it adds a huge amount of flavor, and in truth, it makes psions far too vulnerable to having their powers stripped out from under them. After all, there are only a few spells that can take away a wizard's ability to cast spells, but EVERY psion can strip another psion of his highest level abilities? Eh... I don't see it.

Anyone care to enlighten me?

 

[DreamChaser]

FWIW I think that the whole "mental combat" aspect of psionics is a stupid thing!

Personally I love the flavour of psionics in every respect except psionic combat which seems like a lame holdover from pulp sci-fi novels and 1e D&D - especially since psionic combat is more of a liability for the psionic characters than a benefit.

Psions in my campaign are called Mages, they use a very different kind of magic to the other classes (the psionics rules) and no mind-to-mind combat. They have so far proven much more popular than wizards or sorcerers (although I can't think why!). Mind Blast is a 5th level telepathy power, and all the other modes and defences disappear.

I did something similar. I replaced psionic combat with bonus feats and did away with it completely. My reasoning was this:

1. psionic combat only comes into play in a psi heavy game. When I played Dark Sun I used psionic combat all the time but I don't think I have ever used it since.
   I agree that all in all, psionic combat hurts the psions more than anyone else. Sorcerers have no real way of destroying another sorcerer's ability to cast spells. I don't think psions should either.
   I felt like they were left in as a "sacred cow" because they had been there in the back of the 1e PHB. They don't match the system at all. The are the one part of the PsHB that I can think of not meshing.
   None of my players who play psions ever remember to use them. Not that I can blame them. They don't really know until its too late whether a target is psionic. Once they know that, there are generally more important things to do than mental sparing.
   [/list=1]
   
   If psionic combat was going to be left in, I think it should have been as a simple, unified system, especially if I could be transfered over to work for wizards & sorcerers with ease--much like the psionics system was changed to fit with the existing spell system.
   
   That's just my .02.
   DreamChaser

 

[el-remmen]

Well, I like the idea of psionic combat - and since psi is so rare in Aquerra - the idea that psions are particularly vulnerable to other psions works for me. . .

My trouble is with psions vs. non-psions. . . . Well, I have to come up with something tonight - because tomorrow it is being introduced. . .

wish me luck.

 

[Falconer]

This is silly, after having looked over those rules they're fine.

This is one of the reasons that psionics are so disliked. The old ability of a psion to run roughshod over any non-psionic opposition because they had no defenses nor could they raise any.

 

[el-remmen]

How is it silly to want the psionic attacks to acually have some flavor?

This is what I ended up doing:

Ego Whip: Non-Psionics suffer a -1 competence bonus to all attack and damage rolls, skill checks and saving throws for 1d4 rounds. This is because their ego is whip up into a swollen over-confident thing, making them sloppy.

Id Insinuation: This simply does the temporary ability score damage to non-psions as well, as their super-ego is supressed and their Id insinuates itself into the primary consciousness. (Note: I changed this to the INT attack mode instead of Strength one. It just made more sense to me that way).

Mind Thrust: Unchanged.

Psychic Crush: This does 1d4 points of temporary Wisdom damage to non-psions (half as much because of their buffer).

That's it.

 

[Rinndalir]

I agree with you that psionic combat sucks as is. I'm nuking it altogether from my campaign, although changing it up as you have is also a good option.

I'm still not quite willing to use "psionics is different" yet though - still reeling from the days of 2e...