Psionics: One thing I don't get.

[hong]

Under 3.5, it doesn't depend on those stats.

In 3.0, I saw it as a bit of eastern mysticism, wherein mastery and purity of the body was the key to deeper secrets.

While I'm quite partial to mysticism and stuff, I would much rather represent this in game terms as being able to use your mental stats for things that physical stats are typically used for, rather than the other way round. Eg feats like Zen Archery or the monk's Wis AC bonus.

 

[Davelozzi]

Well, except that Wizards don't get as much use out of skill points as psywars [or rather everyone] gets from con.

I stongly disagree. The wizards and psions almost never get into the thick of the battles in my games, so hp are rarely much of an issue. But the benefit of their skills plays a major role. The wizard is the closest thing to a sage in our party, with lots of knowledge and language skills. The psion (a telepath) is our party diplomat, as well as our source of knowledge on all things psionic and a few other fields. I'd say their high skills have almost as high of an impact on the game as our rogue, with each one shining in a different area.

If you use the 3.5 suggestion of different knowledge fields relating to different types of monsters, knowledfe skills are pretty important.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Since most 1st level wizards and psions are expected to have INT scores in the mid-to-high teens and thus get a nice bonus, I think this is offset well by only getting 2 skill points per level with their class.

 

[s/LaSH]

What came first: the chicken, or the egg?

It's possible that the ability score does not allow the powers, but rather, the powers allow the ability score and they are both expressions of some deeper quality you don't write on the character sheet ('psionic power', say). So I'm bigg and strongg, but doing weights didn't make me a psychic powerhouse: being a psychic powerhouse made me big and strong, as psychokinetic energy flooded my muscles.

Or something like that.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

What came first: the chicken, or the egg?

It's possible that the ability score does not allow the powers, but rather, the powers allow the ability score and they are both expressions of some deeper quality you don't write on the character sheet ('psionic power', say). So I'm bigg and strongg, but doing weights didn't make me a psychic powerhouse: being a psychic powerhouse made me big and strong, as psychokinetic energy flooded my muscles.

Or something like that.

Except Psychokinesis used to be based on Con. Basing it on Strength made no sense anyway - I don't recall Yoda being that buff

It also directly breaks the polymorph spell, which happens to be in a core rulebook and cannot be ignored when it comes to designing psionics (and that's not including powers like mind switch and psychofeedback which directly broke MAD).

I stongly disagree. The wizards and psions almost never get into the thick of the battles in my games, so hp are rarely much of an issue.

And I disagree with you. Staying in the back does not make you safe. You will face summons, flying creatures, direct damage, archery, mobile enemies... and when those circumstances occur, you will need hp.

 

[Stalker0]

And I disagree with you. Staying in the back does not make you safe. You will face summons, flying creatures, direct damage, archery, mobile enemies... and when those circumstances occur, you will need hp.

In fact in my mind con is more important for wizards a lot of times. As a fighter I can get away with a 10 con, sure I won't be the full beef, but with a d10 hd I can get it done.

But with a d4, every hp counts, I rarely play a wizard with less than a 12 con and I always try to have 14 or better.

 

[Al]

I stongly disagree. The wizards and psions almost never get into the thick of the battles in my games

I think you mean 'almost never try to get into the thick of the battles'. At mid-to-high levels, most intelligent enemy strategies are to go for the primary spellcasters first (and particularly wizards). The tank fighter is undoubtedly dangerous, but nothing on the 15d6 Empowered Fireballs that the guys in robes are lobbing at 10th level.

 

[Psion]

Except Psychokinesis used to be based on Con. Basing it on Strength made no sense anyway - I don't recall Yoda being that buff

Not that I do think it would make sense to base it on Str, but I certainly wouldn't use Yoda (or any other Star Wars figure) for justification. (An example, maybe. Justification, no.)

 

[notjer]

My english sux sry

streng, dex and con... I dont know much about psion, but I have idea that they must use very much consentration to cast their spells, when u got a good health u have easier to consentrait, u are more clear ind head. u cant be a good rally driver if u dont have a good healt(con) and dex+str are a little based on that, when u are more clear u can think faster and have better reflex. can u see it or should I try to find a better example? or maybe better English >.<?

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I think you mean 'almost never try to get into the thick of the battles'. At mid-to-high levels, most intelligent enemy strategies are to go for the primary spellcasters first (and particularly wizards). The tank fighter is undoubtedly dangerous, but nothing on the 15d6 Empowered Fireballs that the guys in robes are lobbing at 10th level.

actually I usually find the fighters to be more dangerous than an empowered fireball. True I don't want to mess with the save or dies much but an empwered fireball is only 50ish points of damage on a failed save and no energy resistance. Still mages are usually a first target not because of there power but because they are so fragile, and they are powerful enough to be a worthwhile target. Its fairly easy to drop a mage with a singe rounds worth of attacks from 1 foe. Its just generally better to drop one of your foes so they don't throw anything at you next round even if they aren't the deadliest, that to whittle one foe down and face all your foes attacks next round.