The Ustilagor

[BOZ]

A bit of work to do on the psionic powers. Remember, we need a non-psionic (magical) version to use in the main entry, and then a true psionic version to plant in later. If we need to invent powers to imitate the psionic powers, then so be it. My recommendation: first we come up with the ExPsiHB powers, and then the magical MM-style version.

Ustilagors can employ telempathic projection to project the following emotions on an individual during a round: hate for associate, distrust of associate, fear of fungi, loathing of area, or uncertainty. These projected emotions cause attack, bickering, desertion, or dithering, accordingly. Ustilagors also use energy control to protect themselves from spell attacks and the like. They attack psionic individuals only by id insinuation (as related to the strongest basic emotions.) Only a psionic blast will affect them in turn.

Ustilagor can attack by striking an opponent with their tendril while performing their own version of chemical simulation. They never fail when using this power and expend only 1 PSP per attack. Moreover, the acid is so caustic that the victim must save vs. poison or suffer additional damage the next round (1d4+1).

Of course, this is not a highly effective form of attack, and the ustilagor prefers to use either id insinuation or its advanced telempathic projection power. Using the latter, it can force its victims into one of five states of mind during a round: hate for associates, distrust of associates, fear of fungi, loathing of area, or uncertainty These projected emotions cause attack, bickering, desertion, or dithering, accordingly. Note that adult intellect devourers lose this enhanced power, and are only able to perform telempathic projection.

Though they are psionically endowed, ustilagor seem to have no intelligence as defined by humans. Thus, attacks that affect minds (psionically or magical) do not function upon them, with the exception of psionic blast. Due to an unusual fungal growth (see "Habitat/Society"), they are immune to fungal attacks, and any attack that affects an aura.

Finally, ustilagor use their energy containment power to protect themselves from spells and other applicable forms of attack. A ustilagor does not have the advanced form of energy containment associated with their adult form.

All ustilagor are attracted to gems. No one knows why for sure, but it is suspected that ustilagor use the gems for energy containment. These creatures will attack a being who's carrying gems before they attack any others.

Only have:

· Psychometabolism – Sciences: energy containment. Devotion: chemical simulation (see above).
· Telepathy – Devotions: contact, id insinuation, telempathic projection (see above).

note that in the above source, the acid attack (aka chemical simulation power) is psionic in nature, but the other sources don’t suggest that the acid is psionic. I’d recommend keeping that as an Ex ability.

The ustilagor can also attack psionically, first making contact with a victim's mind. It uses aversion to give a victim an aversion to fungus or to a certain area; id insinuation to effectively paralyze the victim; or telempathic projection to increase an opponent's dislike or distrust of companions.
Despite its psionic prowess, the ustilagor cannot be attacked mentally (magically or psionically) except by psionic blast. Its fungal growth interferes with and prevents mental attacks, protects the ustilagor from drying out, prevents cerebral parasites from attacking, and makes the creature immune to fungal attacks and any power that reads or affects an aura.

Intellect devourers have the following psionic powers; ustilagor have only those powers marked by asterisks:
Psychometabolism - Sciences: ectoplasmic form*. Devotions: body equilibrium*, chameleon power, expansion, reduction.
Psychoportation - Devotions: astral projection.
Telepathy - Sciences: domination, mindlink. Devotions: aversion*, contact*, ego whip, ESP, id insinuation*, telempathic projection*.

2E PsiHB lists its manifester level at 3, while Monstrous Manual lists it as 2, and I do believe both sources list mind blank as a psionic defense.

 

[Knight Otu]

For simplicity, I've taken the intellect devourer abilities and scaled them down in a similar manner as it happened in Complete Psionics.

I don't think mind blank makes much sense for the creature, or empty mind, for that matter (since that is what the i d has). I've left it in for now, though.

Psi-Like Abilities: At will—detect psionics, empty mind (+3 on Will saves*), id insinuation (DC 14); 3/day—body adjustment. Manifester level 3th.
The save DCs are Charisma-based.
*Includes augmentation for the ustilagor’s manifester level.

 

[BOZ]

Manifester level 37th.

WOW!

I don't think mind blank makes much sense for the creature, or empty mind, for that matter (since that is what the i d has).

because it's already mindless? if it makes no sense, because it is immune to mind-affecting effects anyway, then we don't really need it I guess.

Also, the following powers were attributed to the ustilagor, above:

telempathic projection - still exists (also, the ustilagor had a power to make a character have a negative reaction to a friend, or to be uncertain what to do)

energy control/energy containment - is now energy adaptation

contact - establishes telepathic contact with another known creature, allows use of psionic powers between user and target

ectoplasmic form - still exists

aversion - still exists

 

[Knight Otu]

WOW!

I have no idea what you are talking about.

because it's already mindless? if it makes no sense, because it is immune to mind-affecting effects anyway, then we don't really need it I guess.

Pretty much. Of course there are some Will saves that are not mind-affecting, so empty mind could remain.

Also, the following powers were attributed to the ustilagor, above:

True, but they were also attributed to the adult intellect devourer, who does not have them in its 3.5 incarnation. That's why I didn't convert them.
As for the improved telempathic projection, that may be turned into a different (Ps) or (Su) ability.

 

[BOZ]

True, but they were also attributed to the adult intellect devourer, who does not have them in its 3.5 incarnation. That's why I didn't convert them.

well, OK. telempathic projection and energy control/containment/adaptation were there from the 1E days, so I want to keep them. I also want to keep aversion, since that copies some of the things it could also do in 1E.

As for the improved telempathic projection, that may be turned into a different (Ps) or (Su) ability.

no, I guess I'll just keep it simple. Or, if there isn't such a power already, we could make something up.

Psi-Like Abilities: At will-aversion, detect psionics, empty mind (+3 on Will saves*), energy adaptation, id insinuation (DC 14), telempathic projection; 3/day-body adjustment. Manifester level 3rd.
The save DCs are Charisma-based.
*Includes augmentation for the ustilagor's manifester level.

There are some additional questions I had regarding those psionic powers:

Ustilagors also use energy control to protect themselves from spell attacks and the like.

Finally, ustilagor use their energy containment power to protect themselves from spells and other applicable forms of attack. A ustilagor does not have the advanced form of energy containment associated with their adult form.

All ustilagor are attracted to gems. No one knows why for sure, but it is suspected that ustilagor use the gems for energy containment.

does energy adaptation protect from spells, as said above, or would that just be spells that deal energy damage? And would gems be useable with that power in any way?

Only a psionic blast will affect them in turn.

Though they are psionically endowed, ustilagor seem to have no intelligence as defined by humans. Thus, attacks that affect minds (psionically or magical) do not function upon them, with the exception of psionic blast.

Despite its psionic prowess, the ustilagor cannot be attacked mentally (magically or psionically) except by psionic blast.

the question here is, with its immunities, would psionic blast otherwise not affect it? If not, then I will have to make up a "Vulnerability to Psionic Blast" for its psionic version.

Due to an unusual fungal growth (see "Habitat/Society"), they are immune to fungal attacks, and any attack that affects an aura.

Its fungal growth interferes with and prevents mental attacks, protects the ustilagor from drying out, prevents cerebral parasites from attacking, and makes the creature immune to fungal attacks and any power that reads or affects an aura.

I guess we can come up with something for "fungal attacks" (spores and things like that, I guess). Would cerebral parasites be able to affect an ustilagor anyway? What exactly is a power that "reads or affects an aura"?

 

[Shade]

the question here is, with its immunities, would psionic blast otherwise not affect it? If not, then I will have to make up a "Vulnerability to Psionic Blast" for its psionic version.

If by "psionic blast" we are referring to mind blast, then its immunities would still leave it vulnerable.

Mind Blast (Sp): This psionic attack is a cone 60 feet long. Anyone caught in this cone must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or be stunned for 3d4 rounds. Mind flayers often hunt using this power and then drag off one or two of their stunned victims to feed upon. The save DC is Charisma-based. This ability is the equivalent of a 4th-level spell.

It says nothing about it being mind-affecting, unless "psionic attack" clearly means so.

I guess we can come up with something for "fungal attacks" (spores and things like that, I guess). Would cerebral parasites be able to affect an ustilagor anyway? What exactly is a power that "reads or affects an aura"?

OK, I'm drawing a blank at the moment, but I could have sworn I just saw a creature that had a similar immunity to fungus.

 

[BOZ]

OK gentlemen… we have one more week to finish the article and send it in. I think we’ve come along quite nicely in the first week or so. The draknor, illithocyte, and nerve swimmer are done as far as I can tell. The gohlbrorn and mind worm are just about done. The voor larva and ustilagor should be done in a day or two, and I hope to get on the brainstealer dragon today to get that one moving as well.

So, while we shouldn’t have anything to worry about as far as making the deadline, we do need to keep putting in work every day to make sure it gets there on time.

If by "psionic blast" we are referring to mind blast, then its immunities would still leave it vulnerable.

It says nothing about it being mind-affecting, unless "psionic attack" clearly means so.

Nope, that would be specifically psionic blast the psionic power.

OK, I'm drawing a blank at the moment, but I could have sworn I just saw a creature that had a similar immunity to fungus.

*shrugs* no idea…?

 

[Shade]

Nope, that would be specifically psionic blast the psionic power.

Well, then that's easy. The power is specificically mind-affecting, so you'll have to write a special vulnerability.

*shrugs* no idea…?

Still looking.

Edit: Should we even care? I can't find the cerebral parasite anywere in an official 3E source.

 

[BOZ]

Vulnerability to Psionic Blast (Ex): Despite being mindless, an ustilagor can be affected by the psionic blast power.

I can't find the cerebral parasite anywere in an official 3E source.

I think it was listed as a hazard in the 3.0 PsiHB, haven’t looked for it in the ExPsiHB.

 

[Knight Otu]

I think it was listed as a hazard in the 3.0 PsiHB, haven’t looked for it in the ExPsiHB.

Page 68 - they are officially a disease.