suppresion special ability

[Scion]

So, the entry on this has me wondering, what level does this dispel at?

SRD:
Suppression: An opponent or object struck by this kind of weapon is subject to a targeted dispel psionics power. The wielder makes a power check (1d20 + 5 + manifester level, maximum +15) against a DC of 11 + the manifester level of the power to be dispelled. Bows, crossbows, and slings bestow this ability upon their ammunition, but can do so only three times per day.
Moderate psychokinesis ML 10th; Craft Psionic Arms and Armor, dispel psionics; Price +2 bonus.


It says that the weilder makes a power check and gives the equation for it, and yet the ability itself is ML 10 so it could be said that it always dispels at a +15.

What do people here have to say?

 

[Thanee]

Yep it's ML 10th, so +15. Well, or the wielder's ML.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Scion]

yeah, the 'or' is the problem.

Is it the weilders or is it the default of the weapon? It says weilders, and it has the equation, both of which would be meaningless if it was actually always 15.

 

[AuraSeer]

The description says the wielder makes a power check. If he were supposed to use the weapon's level instead of his own, the description would say so.

A recurring theme among psionic items is that they won't work for nonpsionic characters, and this enhancement seems to go along with that.

 

[Scion]

That is what I was thinking, I was just hopeing someone would come up with something a little more concrete.

In the case that I am discussing with someone else we are talking about it on a soulknife, which seems.. well.. not so hot.

Although, if it was always +15 it seems much too strong for a normal +2, there has to be some sort of drawback. But, with it being based on manifestor level then for the soulknife it is likely stuck at +5, which I have no problem with personally, but they had a few, shall we say, harsh words about it

 

[Arkhandus]

All magic items, and all psionic items, are mentioned in the rules as using their own Caster Level or Manifester Level for purposes of their effects, except where explicitly stated otherwise in the item's description. It's in the DMG's magic items chapter, and it's in the psionic items chapter of the PsiHB/XPH. Should be somewhere in the SRD's bits about magic/psionic items too. This is stated in the rules, you just have to find it. Page 178 in the 3.0 DMG, page 123 in the 3.0 PsiHB. I don't have the 3.5 books, so you'll have to find the specific pages in them yourself.

Magic items and psionic items never use their wielder's stats or abilities unless they clearly specify. A Suppression psionic weapon does not specify that the wielder must be psionic. It does not require the wielder to have a manifester level, and the weapon doesn't give a rat's hiney if the wielder does have a manifester level, because the Suppression weapon will always use its own manifester level regardless.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I disagree.

The effect is based entirely on the weapon's caster level, just as the effect of a scroll of Dispel Magic is based entirely on the scroll's caster level (or a dorje, or whatever stupid sci-fi name psionics is using these days ... ).

The Caster / Manifester Level in the stat block is not the prerequisite. It is the normal level that such an enhancement is found at on randomly generated treasure.

Thus, it would be possible to create a weapon with a lower Manifester level, so long as it is possible to manifest Dispel Psionics at a lower Manifester level.

It just so happens that randomly generated swords of supression are maximally effective; aren't you lucky?

For those who disagree, consider the following property:

Dispelling: An opponent or object struck by the this kind of weapon is subject to a targeted dispel magic spell. The wielder makes a caster level check (1d20 + Caster Level, maximum +10) against a DC of 11 + the caster level of the spell to be dispelled. Bows, crossbows, and slings bestow this ability upon their ammunition, but can do so only three times per day.

Moderate Abjuration; CL 10; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, dispel magic; Price: +2 bonus

Would you rule differently in the case of the above weapon? Why?

 

[Scion]

Personally, I use the ML of an item as whatever it is when it is made. It doesnt matter if the person making it is 1st level or 1millionth, the item itself has some intrinsic property that makes it just so resiliant and no more, or less.

But that is neither here nor there really.

I am looking at the supression ability as being just like the psychic ability, it depends on who is wielding it at the time for what effect it will be.

Mainly the distinction to me comes from the wielder making the roll and adding on their manifestor level. The reason it is so high of a ML level itself is to get the extra +2 effect from the augmentation (for a higher cap). Something along the lines of d20+5 (provided by the weapon itself and through the power that is being manifested) +manifestor level (of the one holding it) vs the dc.


This follows the, very confusing, rules on creating certain psionic items decently well. Level 5 manifestor to start, 5 more pp added in (the max that can be added in) which ups the cap by 10 points.

If it was just the weapon manifesting it then it should be d20+10 and not d20+5+manifestor level.