Special Conversion Thread: Aboleths

[Shade]

Sounds good. Getting started on the list...

Psionic Powers: A psionic ruler aboleth manifests powers as an 18th-level psion (telepath). The save DCs are Intelligence-based.

Typical Psion Powers Known (power points 361):
1st—force screen, inertial armor;
2nd—brain lock, cloud mind;
3rd—dispel psionics, hostile empathic transfer;
4th—mindwipe, thieving mindlink;
5th—mind probe, psionic true seeing, shatter mind blank;
6th—mind switch;
7th—crisis of life, insanity, ultrablast;
8th—psionic greater teleport;
9th—assimilate, psychic chirurgery.

It knows 33 powers.

 

[freyar]

Umm, is there a set number per power level?

 

[Shade]

Psions work a bit odd...

Powers Known: A psion begins play knowing three psion powers of your choice. Each time he achieves a new level, he unlocks the knowledge of new powers.

Choose the powers known from the psion power list, or from the list of powers of your chosen discipline. You cannot choose powers from restricted discipline lists other than your own discipline list. You can choose powers from disciplines other than your own if they are not on a restricted discipline list. (Exception: The feats Expanded Knowledge and Epic Expanded Knowledge do allow a psion to learn powers from the lists of other disciplines or even other classes.) A psion can manifest any power that has a power point cost equal to or lower than his manifester level.

Maximum Power Level Known: A psion begins play with the ability to learn 1st-level powers. As he attains higher levels, a psion may gain the ability to master more complex powers--for example, a 3rd-level psion can learn powers of 2nd level or lower, a 5th-level psion can learn powers of 3rd level or lower, and so on.

To learn or manifest a power, a psion must have an Intelligence score of at least 10 + the power’s level. For example, a psion with an Intelligence score of 15 can manifest powers of 5th level or lower.

 

[bykov]

Personally, I am not sold on adding the spellcaster/psion levels. The arguement seems a bit contradictory. We don't want 'epic' SLA/PLAs but we are going to throw 20 spellcaster levels at it.

So, just as a base line, the ruler gets in addition to what the noble (CR 14/15 IIRC) was set up with:

Gargantuan Size
Frightful Presence
Additional SLA/PLAs
AND 20 caster/manifester levels

Could we just concede that this thing is borderline epic (CR 18-20) and pitch the caster/manifester levels? It just appears to me that the decision is between a CL/ML 24 (4 CL/ML above the noble) and granting it 20 levels of spells/powers. I think the increased SLA/PLA CL/ML is marginal compared to all that additional fire power.

But alas, if we pursue this avenue, I would agree with Freyar and say Telepath, though some love could be given to Nomad.

Bykov.

 

[freyar]

I think we are agreed with the CR being in the 18-20 range. The problem is that nonunique monsters with that CR don't generally have SLAs with CL higher than 20 (or psionic version). As Shade points out, angels, etc, are similar, and I think that's a similar change from 2e versions.

The other issue with the SLA/PLA route is knowing what to do with it to make it better than a noble, really. And, besides, I think it kind of makes sense for such powerfully magic/psionic critters to pick up innate casting/manifesting at some point.

 

[Shade]

The other issue with the SLA/PLA route is knowing what to do with it to make it better than a noble, really. And, besides, I think it kind of makes sense for such powerfully magic/psionic critters to pick up innate casting/manifesting at some point.

Good point. Once we hit manifester level 20th with the SLA, going beyond it doesn't add much.

We've also got the precedent of other iconic creature "families" gaining full spellcasting atop their SLAs as they grow in power, such as elder brains and grell patriarchs.

This also allows them to immediately jump into epic casting by taking a class level in psion (or sorcerer, presumably, for the nonpsionic version), as innate spellcasting usually stacks with class levels. They'd also meet the spellcasting prerequisite for aboleth savant prestige class without taking a single class.

 

[freyar]

Ok, back to the powers. Assuming it adds manifesting levels like a PC, what's the max number of powers known at each level? I'm guessing either of you can work that out easier than I can. Or do we not need to worry about that?

 

[Shade]

The breakdown looks like this:

1st - 5
2nd - 4
3rd - 4
4th - 4
5th - 4
6th - 3
7th - 3
8th - 3
9th - 6

That is not an error for 9th-level powers. It has the potential to be top-heavy. Note that any of the higher powers could instead be an additional lower power.

 

[freyar]

Ok, so you can shuffle any spot down in level, then. I get it. This is probably similar to what a wizard would look like just learning the automatic spells at every level.

I'll see if I can think of powers to add to your list above.

 

[Shade]

Psionic Powers: A psionic ruler aboleth manifests powers as an 18th-level psion (telepath). The save DCs are Intelligence-based.

Typical Psion Powers Known (power points 361):
1st—dissipating touch, force screen, inertial armor, offensive precognition, offensive prescience;
2nd—biofeedback, brain lock, cloud mind, inflict pain;
3rd—dispel psionics, energy retort, forced share pain, hostile empathic transfer;
4th—correspond, mindwipe, power leech, thieving mindlink;
5th—mind probe, psionic true seeing, psychic crush, shatter mind blank;
6th—mass cloud mind, mind switch, temporal acceleration;
7th—crisis of life, insanity, ultrablast;
8th—bend reality, psionic greater teleport, true metabolism;
9th—affinity field, assimilate, psychic chirurgery, timeless body.

2 more of any level