Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="master arminas" data-source="post: 5757952" data-attributes="member: 9287">Psionics.  That single word makes more DMs cringe with fear and loathing than any other in the game system.  Although an integral part of the game since the introduction of 1st Edition AD&D, in many ways the powers of the mind have been the red-headed step-child.  Over the various editions and revisions and updates and overhauls, it seems that psionic powers—and those who use them—have never quite fit into the game.  The mechanics have been different, and complex, sometimes overpowering, sometimes barely keeping up with more traditional forms of spellcasting.  But psionics should be a part of the fantasy role-playing game experience.  There are specific settings (such as Katherine Kurtz’s Deryni series) which highlight how these powers do fit into fantasy.With the following class, I have taken as a theme the three most common psionic powers used in literature, film, and drama:  pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and telepathy.  The class that follows is built around using spells (not power points, but spells!) that focus on these three elements of traditional psionic myths and legends.  The class also receives a number of extraordinary, spell-like, and supernatural abilities that augment those powers.  What I hope to do is to make a class that fits into the Pathfinder system and does not require a new set of rules to use.  A class that integrates psionics into the existing framework of how the game works, and that does so in a way that does not overshadow the current classes, but remains true to the literary history and mythology of psionics.  I don’t have all the answers, and many people who are used to the power point system of 3.5 and Dreamscarred Press will not particularly like my take on the concept.  I realize that starting out.  This idea is a starting point for a class and not a finished product.   I would appreciate any advice, critiques, constructive criticisms, and suggestions that you may have to offer.And thank you for bringing an open mind to this work.Master ArminasThe Mind MageThe mind is a powerful thing—as powerful for a select few as piety and study.  The mind mage seeks to harness that power, to understand it, and through it to exert his influence on the world around him.  For the most part, the mind mage is a subtle individual who gently nudges others into doing his will.  But when angered, the mind mage is capable of terrible destruction with his command of fire and purely kinetic energies.  A student of the ‘third’ domain of magic (Mentalism), mind mage’s are often mistaken for more common sorcerers, wizards, and magi—which is often how those who wield the power of the mind prefer it.Role:  The Mind Mage is a powerful full-level caster of magic, akin to the Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard.  Although his skill list is not quite as versatile as that of the Sorcerer, the Mind Mage receives numerous special abilities that augment his powers and make him a force not to be taken lightly.  Depending on the exact spell selection the character makes, the Mind Mage can carry out many different roles, from dealing damage to serving as the face of a party to using utility and transportation magic to move from one place to the next.  This class, as much as any full-spellcaster, is one that demands an inventive and intelligent player to gain its fullest benefit.Alignment: Any Hit Die: d6 Base Attack Bonus: Low Good Saving Throws: Will Class Skills: Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (any) Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).Skill Ranks per Level: 2 + Int modifier. Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The mind mage is proficient with all simple weapons. He is not proficient with any type of armor or with a shield of any kind.  However, a mind mage’s spells are not subject to arcane spell failure and the mind mage may freely cast when wearing armor if he takes the appropriate feats. CLASS FEATURESBonus Feats:  A mind mage gains a bonus feat at 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level which he may select from the following list:  Greater Spell Focus, Greater Spell Penetration, Heavy Armor Proficiency, Light Armor Proficiency; Martial Weapon Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency, Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, or any metamagic feat.Spells: A mind mage casts mentalism spells drawn from the mind mage spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. To learn or cast a spell, a mind mage must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a mind mage’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the mind mage’s Intelligence modifier. Like other spellcasters, a mind mage can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is the same as that of the Sorcerer class. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score. The mind mage’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A mind mage begins play knowing four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of the mind mage’s choice from his spell list. At each new mind mage level, he gains one or more new spells, as per the Sorcerer’s spells known table. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a mind mage knows is not affected by his Intelligence score.) Upon reaching 4th level, and at every even numbered mind mage level after that (6th, 8th, and so on), a mind mage can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the mind mage “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least one level lower than the highest-level mind mage spell the mind mage can cast. A mind mage may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level. A mind mage need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he knows at any time, assuming he has not yet used up his allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level.A mind mage casts Mentalism spells.  Mentalism spells are identical to their listed arcane and divine counterparts, except as listed here.  Mentalism spells require no components (verbal, somatic, or material) or focus.  They are not subject to arcane spell failure.  Mentalism spells do provoke attacks of opportunity like all other spells when cast.  Mentalism spells are not scribed on scrolls, but are instead recorded on power stones.  Mechanically, this is identical to the cost and description of normal scrolls.  A specific spell (such as restoration) that requires a costly material component or focus in order to be cast still requires such an item in order for a mind mage to cast the spell.Talents (Su): Mind mages learn a number of talents, or 0-level spells, as noted under ‘Spells Known’. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume any slots and may be used again. Telepath (Su):  A mind mage gains telepathy out to 100 feet.  He may communicate with another living creature that has a language, even if the mind mage and the creature do not share a language in common.  A mind mage can only communicate with one creature in this fashion at a time.Empathy (Ex):  Starting at 2nd-level, a mind mage becomes able to read the emotional content of people near him.  He gains a competence bonus equal to one-half his mind mage level on all Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive skill checks.Greater Mage Hand (Sp):  A mind mage of 4th-level may use mage hand, as per the spell, as a spell-like ability at will.  This ability allows the mind mage to manipulate both mundane and magical objects weighing up to 5 lbs. per mind mage level.Fire Resistance (Ex):  A mind mage of 6th-level gains fire resistance 10.  This protection increases to fire resistance 20 at 12th-level and fire resistance 30 at 18th-level.Telekinetic Maneuver (Sp):  At 8th-level, a mind mage may, as a standard action, invoke a telekinetic maneuver against a single creature within Medium range (100 feet + 10 feet per level of the mind mage).  He can perform a bull rush, a disarm, a grapple (including a pin), or a trip against the target of this ability.  The mind mage resolves this maneuver as normal, except that the maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity, he uses his mind mage class level in place of his base attack bonus, and he uses his Intelligence modifier in place of his Strength or Dexterity modifier.  A failed maneuver attempt does not result in the mind mage being disarmed or knocked prone (if he is attempting a disarm or trip).  There is no saving throw against this ability, but spell resistance applies normally.  The mind mage may maintain this ability by concentration, for up to 1 round/level.  He may attempt one combat maneuver each round on his action.At 8th-level a mind mage may use this ability twice per day.  At 12th-level, and every four mind mage levels gained thereafter, the mind mage gains one additional daily use of this ability.Greater Telekinesis (Su):  At 10th-level, a mind mage who selects telekinesis as a spell known may hurl twice the weight normally allowed by the spell (50 lbs. per caster level rather than 25 lbs.) and the maximum weight allowed by the spell no longer caps at 15th level.  If a mind mage does not select telekinesis as one of his spells known at 10th-level, but does select it at a later date, the mind mage instead gains greater telekinesis at that level.Mind Probe (Sp):  A 12th-level mind mage may, once per day, probe the mind of a living creature.  This ability requires that the mind mage touch the creature and takes one minute of concentration to activate.  Once activated, the mind mage may ask the creature one question per round.  The creature gets a Will save (DC 10 + one-half the mind mage’s level + the mind mage’s Intelligence modifier) for each question.  If the save is successful, the creature does not have to answer.  If the creature fails the save, he must answer the question truthfully and to the best of his knowledge.  The mind mage may repeat the same question in order to force an answer against which the creature has already saved once; each question allows a Will save on the part of the subject.The mind mage may maintain his mind probe for two rounds per level.  At the conclusion of this ability, the mind mage is fatigued for the next 10 minutes.At 15th-level, and again at 18th-level, the mind mage gains one additional daily use of this ability.Uncanny Dodge (Ex):  At 14th-level, a mind mage can react to danger before his senses would normally him to do so.  He cannot be caught flat-footed, even if the attacker is invisible.  He still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized, or if his opponent successfully uses the feint action against him.Probability Travel (Su):  At 16th-level, a mind mage using plane shift, teleport, or any other form of transportation magic that has a chance of arriving off target, reduces the percentile rolls for distance or mishap by his mind mage class level.Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex):  A mind mage of 18th-level or higher can no longer be flanked.  This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the mind mage by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the mind mage’s class level.Psilord (Su):  At 20th-level, a mind mage gains a +2 bonus to the DC of any spell mind-affecting, fire-based, or telekinetic spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability that he uses.  This bonus stacks with those received from Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus.The mind mage also receives a +2 bonus on all caster level checks made to penetrate Spell Resistance when using a mind-affecting, fire-based, or telekinetic spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability.  This bonus stacks with those received from Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration.When the mind mage casts the spell telekinesis, he may affect a single object weighing up to 2,000 lbs, regardless of the normal weight limits imposed by the spell.  Multiple objects are still limited to the mind mage’s greater telekinesis.When using his probability travel ability, the mind mage receives -30% on the mishap or mis-arrival roll.The mind mage becomes immune to fire upon reaching this level.Mind Mage Spell List0-level Spells: Bleed; Daze; Detect Magic; Detect Poison; Guidance; Know Direction; Mage Hand; Mending; Message; Open/Close; Prestidigitation; Read Magic; Stabilize1st-level Spells: Burning Hands; Calm Animals; Charm Animal; Charm Person; Command; Comprehend Languages; Confusion, Lesser; Endure Elements; Expeditious Retreat; Feather Fall; Grease; Hold Portal; Identify; Jump; Mage Armor; Mind Thrust*; Produce Flame; Shield; Sleep2nd-level Spells: Animal Affinity*; Calm Emotions; Chill Metal; Cure Light Wounds; Darkvision; Daze Monster; Delay Poison; Detect Thoughts; Ego Whip*; Flame Blade; Heat Metal; Hold Animal; Invisibility; Knock; Levitate; Locate Object; Make Whole; Protection from Arrows; Pyrotechnics; Scorching Ray; See Invisibility; Spider Climb; Touch of Idiocy; Undetectable Alignment3rd-level Spells: Clairaudience/Clairvoyance; Cure Moderate Wounds; Delay Poison; Deep Slumber; Discern Lies; Dispel Magic; Dominate Animal; Fireball; Glibness; Hold Person; Nondetection; Psionic Blast*; Protection from Energy; Quench; Restoration, Lesser; Scrying; Suggestion; Tongues; Water Breathing4th-level Spells: Charm Monster; Confusion; Crushing Despair; Cure Serious Wounds; Detect Scrying; Dimension Door; Fire Shield (warm only); Freedom of Movement; Geas, Lesser; Globe of Invulnerability, Intellect Fortress*; Lesser; Invisibility, Greater; Locate Creature; Phantasmal Killer; Remove Disease; Wall of Fire5th-level Spells: Break Enchantment; Command, Greater; Cure Critical Wounds; Dominate Person; Dream; Feeblemind; Hold Monster; Interposing Hand; Magic Jar; Modify Memory; Nightmare; Neutralize Poison; Passwall; Permanency; Restoration; Rusting Grasp; Sending; Telekinesis; Telepathic Bond; Teleport; Tower of Iron Will*6th-level Spells: Air Walk; Antimagic Field; Contingency; Disintegrate; Dispel Magic, Greater; Forceful Hand; Geas/Quest; Globe of Invulnerability; Plane Shift; Scrying, Greater; Suggestion, Mass; True Seeing7th-level Spells: Delayed Blast Fireball; Ethereal Jaunt; Fire Storm; Grasping Hand; Hold Person, Mass; Insanity; Spell Turning; Teleport, Greater8th-level Spells: Charm Monster, Mass; Clenched Fist; Clone; Irresistible Dance; Moment of Prescience; Regenerate9th-level Spells: Astral Projection; Crushing Hand; Dominate Monster; Etherealness; Foresight; Freedom; Hold Monster, Mass; Mage’s Disjunction; Meteor Swarm*New spell, see below for details.New Mind Mage SpellsAnimal AffinityTransmutationLevel:  Mind Mage 2Casting Time:  1 standard actionRange:  PersonalTarget:  YouDuration:  1 min./levelYou gain a +4 enhancement bonus to a single ability score of your choice.  Select Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma when you cast this spell.  You may take a standard action at any point during the spell’s duration to switch the enhancement bonus to another ability score of your choice.  You may only have one animal affinity spell in effect on your person at any one time.  Casting the spell a second time automatically dispels the first casting and resets the duration.Ego WhipEnchantment [Mind-affecting]Level:  Mind Mage 2Casting Time:  1 standard actionRange:  Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)Target:  One creatureDuration:  InstantaneousSaving Throw:  Will partial, see textSpell Resistance:  YesYou unleash a powerful bolt of mental energy that strikes a single target.  You must make a ranged touch attack; if you are successful, the target suffers 1d8 points of damage per caster level (maximum 5d8) and is staggered for one round.  A successful Will saving throw negates the staggered condition.Intellect FortressAbjurationLevel:  Mind Mage 4Casting Time:  1 standard actionRange:  20 feetArea:  20-ft.-radius emanation centered on youDuration:  1 round/levelSaving Throw:  NoSpell Resistance:  NoYou generate a fortress of thought so strong that it offers protection to you and everyone around you.  You and all allies within the area of this spell’s effect gain spell resistance equal to 12 + your caster level.  If an ally leaves the area of effect, they lose the protection offered by this spell.  If the spell’s duration is still active and they return to within 20-feet of you, they once again receive the benefits.Mind ThrustEnchantment [Mind-affecting]Level:  Mind Mage 1Casting Time:  1 standard actionRange:  Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)Target:  One creatureDuration:  InstantaneousSaving Throw:  Will halfSpell Resistance:  YesYou project a bolt of mental force that stabs into your target’s mind, causing intense pain and damage.  You inflict 1d8 points of damage for every two caster levels you possess (maximum of 5d8 at 9th-level).  The target can make a Will saving throw to reduce the damage that he suffers by one-half.Psionic BlastEnchantment [Mind-affecting]Level:  Mind Mage 3Casting Time:  1 standard actionRange:  60 ft.Area:  Cone-shaped burst extended out to 60 ft.Duration:  InstantaneousSaving Throw:  Will halfSpell Resistance:  YesYou project a wave of mental energy that inflicts 1d6 points of damage per caster level (maximum 10d6) to all creatures in the area of effect.  A successful Will saving throw will reduce the damage taken by one-half.Tower of Iron WillAbjurationLevel:  Mind Mage 5Casting Time:  1 immediate actionRange:  20 feetArea:  20-ft.-radius spread centered on youDuration:  1 roundSaving Throw:  NoSpell Resistance:  NoYou encase yourself and your allies in a shimmering bastion of telekinetic force.  The tower of iron will can sustain 10 points of damage per caster level (maximum of 150 points) before it collapses.  Those within the tower suffer no damage from attacks initiating outside the tower until the duration expires or the tower suffers sufficient damage to collapse.  Those inside the tower can freely exit, but any creatures outside the area of effect (hostile or allied) cannot enter the area until the duration expires or the tower has been breached by sufficient damage.</blockquote>

Verification