Thought Shield -- PR 13 enough?

[Kannik]

Any thoughts on Thought Shield (pun intended)? I am considering taking it (manifester level 4), and I'm curious how PR 13 sounds to everyone else. To myself, it seems somewhat low, though I supposed against an equally-powerful manifester it does mean a 50% failure chance, which isn't bad at all. Anyone have any experience with such/this?

Kannik

 

[jgsugden]

This is a great power in 3.5. Notice that it is capable of being augmented to increase the PR and duration for little cost. This is an incredibly powerful ability, especially as it can be activated as an immediate action when someone decides to target you with a spell/power. It is on my short list of power powers.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Even augmented, the best you can do is PR 14 for 2 rounds. Still, it's an immediate action and PR 14 will be useful for quite a few levels yet, especially as your manifester level increases.

I call it a no-brainer.

 

[Scion]

Of course with a higher manifestor level you can make this thing really go up. At manifestor level 10 having that PR of 20 is still nice, and it lasts for 8 rounds which may very well be the whole battle..mmm

If really needed combining with overchannel can be a painful but effective measure.

 

[Ringmereth]

It's quite good, though I haven't used it myself in the past. If your campaign is psionics-heavy, uses the magic-psionics transparency rule, or both, having the option of raising a defense that gives you a half chance (or better with Overchannel) of completely ignoring magic/psionics from casters of your level is great. Even if you're fighting a higher-level caster with Spell or Power Penetration, you still stand a good chance.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Ive never taken it, as it only affects mind effecting powers, ignoring the energy attacks, and Constructs. This may have something to do with the fact that I am mostly designing NPCs
and the players have avoided concentrating on mental attacks. If there was somone who knew that telepaths would be a major problem it would be worth it. It would be great for anyone fighting MindFlayers.

 

[Christian]

Even augmented, the best you can do is PR 14 for 2 rounds.

um ... what? It's one extra round and +1 to PR for each additional power point invested. Effectively, PR 10 + manifester level for one round + one round per manifester level over three, assuming the psion augments to the maximum for his level. (Or higher yet, for a surging wilder or a character overchanneling ...)

That can add up to a lot of PP for a defensive power, of course ...

 

[Kannik]

Sounds like it's a keeper

The forum says: yes. }

Thought Shield it is. The GM recently began using mental attacks against us, so I think it will come in use and perhaps even relatively often. That, and he's threatened something about the plane of madness...

Thanks everyone,

Kannik