Psions & Incarnate

[ZSutherland]

I've read several posts here about how Psions got shafted in 3E, and I have to say I agreed at first. However, I continually went over the PsiHB looking for some measure of balance or reason to choose this class over another in a purely mechanical fashion, because I enjoyed the RP concept of it. I think I've finally found it, but it was so amazing I spent three hours staring at the wall in contemplation and finally decided there must be an errata for this. I haven't seen it, though if there is.

Don't have my books with me, but from memory Incarnate (a 5th level Metacreativity power) works on any 6th level or lower psionic power that doesn't have a duration of permantant or instantaneous, and doesn't have it's own exp cost. It costs exp equal to 400 times the level of the power incarnated if it affects a creature. 600 x power cost if it affects an object or location. So, by those rules a 10th level psion who's primary discipline was Metacreativity and who knew Animal Affinity (which works like the Bull's Strength & Cat Grace line of spell all rolled into one power) could give himself a permanent +5 to all six of his stats for a piddly 4800 XP, 200 XP less than it would cost a much higher level wizard to Wish one of his stats higher by only one point. This is incredible in and of itself, not to mention that they can give themselves, similarly and cheaply, permanent low-light and darkvision, 360 vision making them immune to flank, immunity to gaze affects, & conversion of a # of pts of damage from every attack (regardless of type or origin) equal to their strength modifier auto-convert to subdual permanently.

This seems a bit much for me, so if I'm missing something, please point it out.

Z

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'll put it to you this way. In the words of game designer Sean K Reynolds:

"I wouldn't have let him Permanency True Seeing."

The Sage has an excuse for making AA an unnamed bonus; he got bad advice.

For starters, I don't think they playtested Fortified Animal Affinity or Empowered Bull's Strength; I don't like keeping psions down, but I think there's the occasional overpowered combo that needs putting down.

I don't know how he messed up the Incarnate question, though. The book itself says to use Permanency as a guide, and you can't Permanency Bull's Strength.

If you really want to, use the conversion 1 XP = 5 gp. So if you get a +2 bonus to Strength, you don't pay 4000 gp, you pay 800 XP. Actually, pay double, since it doesn't take up an item slot.

You're better off taking the crystal master PrC. At least there's some balance to it.

I don't really have an opinion on the other powers, although an unflankable Seer appeals to me.

 

[Spatzimaus]

Permanency/Incarnate doesn't make it undispellable, it just can only be dispelled by someone greater in level than you were when you cast the spell. Admittedly, if you were level 20 at the time they'd have to be 21 or higher, but there are probably ways around that. I'd hate to spend thousands of XP on stat boosts, only to lose half of them the first time someone casts Greater Dispelling.

 

[Zhure]

Incarnate says the dispeller has to be higher level than the manifester and be using either Incarnate or Psychic Chirurgery.

Greg

 

[ZSutherland]

Psi, I can't find where it says to use permanency as a guide for Incarnate in the Power Description, though I admit I don't have the books with me.

However, if the concensus of everyone else is, "Yes, you could maximize Animal Affinity and Incarnate it for 800 XP. Yes, you could do it once for each stat as well as give yourself a few other useful powers (including possibly True Seeing), but it could be dispelled." I have to say I'd be tempted to do it anyway. I might wait until I had 6th level powers so anytime I entered an encounter where I thought a powerful Dispel was likely I could put up a higher level power, hoping that would eat the dispel (since one version of dispel starts highest and works down but only eliminates one thing I think,) but even if some of your Incarnated stat increases and other bonuses got dispelled, chances are the DM or other player can't roll well enough to get all of them unless they far exceed you in levels. So, you might lose a few each time you got hit by a big dispel, but from then on it would just be upkeep to put them back in place, far less expensive than the original change. I'm pretty sure I'd do this.

Z

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Incarnate
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 5
Display: Ma
Manifestation Time: 2 rounds
Range: See text
Target, Effect, or Area: See text
Duration: Permanent (see text)
Saving Throw: None
Power Resistance: No
Power Points: 9, XP cost

You invest other powers with self-sustaining energy so that they become permanent. You must be at least the minimum level required to manifest the power. This power has no effect on powers that already create a permanent effect. You can’t incarnate a power with no duration or a duration of instantaneous. You can’t incarnate a power with an XP cost of its own, nor can you incarnate a power of level 6 or higher. You must expend XP when manifesting this power. You can never spend so much XP that doing so would drop you one or more levels (though you could forgo gaining a level in order to incarnate a particularly costly power). The XP costs vary depending on the target.
Incarnate can be negated by a high-level psion who also manifests incarnate or psychic chirurgery.
The DM may not allow some powers to become permanent through incarnate. (Use the permanency spell description for a guide to what can and cannot be made permanent). You know before you attempt to incarnate a power if you can or cannot make it permanent.
XP Cost: To make a power permanent in regard to yourself, you must expend a number of XP equal to the power’s level x 300. To make a power permanent in regard to another creature, you must expend a number of XP equal to the power’s level x 600. To make a power permanent on an object or location, you must expend a number of XP equal to the power’s level x 900.