This is usually the part where people start screaming...

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Because I can see how things work. What makes things... tick. Like you.


Sylar's Study [Psionic]
You can see how the mind works.
Prerequisites: Heal 12 ranks, Psicraft 12 ranks
Benefit: You may attempt to examine the brain of a fallen psionic creature. The target's head and brain must be intact and be no more than 1 hour since its death. If the brain is killed, such as by mind thrust and psychic crush, then it is not considered intact. Spells such as Gentle Repose or a mindflayer's brain canister can prolong the brain's usability, though must be removed from it's suspended state to examine. To recognize a psionic power the being knew, you must be able to examine the brain and succeed on a Psicraft check, DC 25 + power level. Studying a single power or psi-like ability requires 10 minutes of concentration +1 minute per level of the power. Once you have determined the power or psi-like ability the being possessed you can learn it and add it to your list of powers known as long as its no higher a level than you can normally manifest. To learn additional powers requires another session of concentration. Out of these powers learned only 1 may be kept permanently from each brain. You retain knowledge of the remaining powers and the ability to manifest them for 24 hours or until you sleep, whichever comes first.
Special: This counts as the brain being eaten for the purposes of an illithid slayer's Brain Nausea class feature.

 

[Quartz]

This is rather too good, isn't it? I mean, you can permanently add multiple abilities, all for the cost of one feat. You might want to restrict it to adding one ability, which you can change by studying a new brain. Of course, you can take the feat multiple times.

 

[Flynn]

This is rather too good, isn't it? I mean, you can permanently add multiple abilities, all for the cost of one feat. You might want to restrict it to adding one ability, which you can change by studying a new brain. Of course, you can take the feat multiple times.

Or you could replace one of your own powers with one that you learned from pulling a Sylar. It's another suggestion, anyway.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[The Vorpal Tribble]

This is rather too good, isn't it? I mean, you can permanently add multiple abilities, all for the cost of one feat. You might want to restrict it to adding one ability, which you can change by studying a new brain. Of course, you can take the feat multiple times.

#1. Gotta find this psionic person.
#2. Have to kill them.
#3. Have to make a DC 26 psicraft check for a level 1 power. Maxing out on psicraft ranks and with, say, an intelligence of 21, you still can only learn it half the time at 9th level.

Also, heal is an Egoist only power. So you'd be limited to that one discipline or multiclass.

OR... you could just take the Psychic Reformation power and learn any ability you wished.

As well, we are assuming the psionic creature you examine has abilities you don't already possess. Even Expanded Knowledge at leasts lets you choose the power you learn.

I thought of making it only 1 power per dead person, but would anyone still take the feat?

 

[Nifft]

It lets you emulate part of psychic chirugury, but in reverse. Psychic chirugury is a potent power, restricted to Telepaths of 17th level or above.

So just add "Manifester level 18" to the pre-reqs and you're golden.

Don't forget that if you're playing with Psionics, there are a bunch of skill-boosters that aren't generally available. 1000 gp for a +10 bonus on one check... looks worth it to me.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Sejs]

It adds to your list of powers known.

Ask yourself - what psion wouldn't take this feat?

It scales infinitely.

That's dangerous.

 

[The Vorpal Tribble]

It lets you emulate part of psychic chirugury, but in reverse. Psychic chirugury is a potent power, restricted to Telepaths of 17th level or above.

How many psionic beings are there running around? Not many. Unless you are playing a psionic heavy campaign you won't be dealing with that many psionic creatures.

I have also just specified a bit that everyone seems to be missing. The brain cannot be dead for more than an hour. It takes 11 minutes to study a single 1st level power. Therefore if you kill it and the very next round cut out the brain you can still only learn around 5 powers before it is too degraded to learn any more.

 

[szilard]

Add an xp cost. Then it will be ok.

-Stuart

 

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Add an xp cost. Then it will be ok.

-Stuart

No feat incures XP loss to my knowledge. Also, if you give XP loss it will not be worth having when you can just manifest Psychic Reformation. At that point you can replace any power with any in existence you want for an XP cost.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I think the fact that everyone posting in this thread - except the OP - is saying that the feat is too strong says something. Something like ... this feat is too strong.

Add me to that list.

I really like the idea above of one power per feat taken, and it can be swapped for free upon killing a new creature. That makes it similar to Expanded Knowledge, but just different enough to warrant a new feat. To me, that seems balanced. I don't think many out there would argue that Expanded Knowledge is unbalancing. Use that as your guide. All the other provisions you've built into the feat are really just hoops to go through. A character built for this feat can manage to make those hoops look easy. I'd say get rid of the hoops (1 hour, skill check, blah blah blah). Make it one power per feat that can be swapped at will as soon as a new victim/brain is found.

Think about it another way: Even if you allowed one power per level it is roughly equivalent to adding a free domain to a cleric. Because, while this wouldn't give a domain power, it does have infinate customizability. I don't know too many people that wouldn't say having a feat to give a whole domain to a character isn't strong. I think your suggestion is more powerful that adding a domain to a character for free.

Either way, that it the fun of these boards. Put up an idea, and get feedback. You can choose to listen to or ignore the rising chorus of "This feat suggestion is too strong." Because, of course, it is!