D&D 2E Using Psionics

[S.Woodlander]

I have a questions about how Psionics work. I get that there are Power Points that the Psionist has but I am not sure how a monster with Psionic abilties uses those to attack another..
Using 2e rules, let's say for example I have a creature aberration that has 20 psp's. If he uses Telekinesis (that cost 3 psp) on a target.. how is all that rolled? Can anyone help me understand the mechanics to this?

 

[Mannahnin]

I have a questions about how Psionics work. I get that there are Power Points that the Psionist has but I am not sure how a monster with Psionic abilties uses those to attack another..
Using 2e rules, let's say for example I have a creature aberration that has 20 psp's. If he uses Telekinesis (that cost 3 psp) on a target.. how is all that rolled? Can anyone help me understand the mechanics to this?

Monsters in AD&D don't have ability scores by default, so the 2E psionics rules assign each monster a single power "score" in their "psionics summary" stat block, along with their level, disciplines/sciences/devotions, attack/defense modes, and PSPs. The Score is the number you need to roll equal to or under on a d20 to make a power check.

Some of the stat blocks say something like "=Int" instead of a fixed number, in which case you refer to the Intelligence part of the monster stat block, and determine one if you need to. For example, the entry for Intellect Devourer, Adult in the Complete Psionics Handbook says "=Int", so you refer to intelligence under the statblock, which says "Very (11-12)", so randomize or assign the Intellect Devourer in question's Int of 11 or 12, and there you go. Most powers have a special bonus effect (like a critical) if you roll exactly your power score, and most have a negative effect (like a fumble) if you roll a 20 on the check. These are detailed in the individual power descriptions.

The rules for psionic attacks and defenses are more complex, so you definitely want to review chapter 2 of the handbook in detail.

 

[S.Woodlander]

Monsters in AD&D don't have ability scores by default, so the 2E psionics rules assign each monster a single power "score" in their "psionics summary" stat block, along with their level, disciplines/sciences/devotions, attack/defense modes, and PSPs. The Score is the number you need to roll equal to or under on a d20 to make a power check.

Some of the stat blocks say something like "=Int" instead of a fixed number, in which case you refer to the Intelligence part of the monster stat block, and determine one if you need to. For example, the entry for Intellect Devourer, Adult in the Complete Psionics Handbook says "=Int", so you refer to intelligence under the statblock, which says "Very (11-12)", so randomize or assign the Intellect Devourer in question's Int of 11 or 12, and there you go. Most powers have a special bonus effect (like a critical) if you roll exactly your power score, and most have a negative effect (like a fumble) if you roll a 20 on the check. These are detailed in the individual power descriptions.

The rules for psionic attacks and defenses are more complex, so you definitely want to review chapter 2 of the handbook in detail.

Thanks! Yeah I have been reading and re-reading and it's a little hard to wrap my head around.

I have a boss monster aberration that has a 25 psp (kind of home-brewed for me) but how do I roll for a 25 on a d20? lol
So something is off, I am not understanding something or I am reading the monster wrong.

 

[S.Woodlander]

Thanks! Yeah I have been reading and re-reading and it's a little hard to wrap my head around.

I have a boss monster aberration that has a 25 psp (kind of home-brewed for me) but how do I roll for a 25 on a d20? lol
So something is off, I am not understanding something or I am reading the monster wrong.

Going by the mind flayer stats for psionics - how does this all work? I am trying to create a high level mind flayer boss - perhaps a bit of large aberration based off of this -

Psionic Illithids

Psionics Summary

Level	Dis/Sci/Dev	Attack/Defense	Score	PSPs
10	4/5/15	EW,II/All	=Int	1d100+250

Psychokinesis — Sciences: nil; Devotions: control body, levitation.

Psychometabolism — Science: body equilibrium; Devotions: nil.

Psychoportation — Sciences: probability travel, teleport; Devotion: astral projection.

Telepathy — Sciences: domination, mind link; Devotions: awe, contact, ESP, ego whip, id insinuation, post-hypnotic suggestion.


Psionic flayers, considered the only true illithids by some (including themselves), have most of the same statistics and abilities as other mind flayers. Instead of magic-based abilities, however, theirs are purely psionic. Psionic mind flayers have a beak-like mouth and disdain the stiff-collared robes preferred by their cousins.

Illithids use psionics for attack, mind control, and travel.

 

[PHATsakk43]

Thanks! Yeah I have been reading and re-reading and it's a little hard to wrap my head around.

I have a boss monster aberration that has a 25 psp (kind of home-brewed for me) but how do I roll for a 25 on a d20? lol
So something is off, I am not understanding something or I am reading the monster wrong.

Yes, something is “off.”

PSPs are “psionic skill points” which are the points that power psionic abilities. There is a cost to “cast” the power, and for some a cost to maintain a power per round afterwards.

This is just subtraction. The number rolled against to see if the power is activated is a separate number. In your second post, it would be the Mind Flayer’s INT as that is listed in the MM under the “Score” header.

 

[Mannahnin]

Thanks! Yeah I have been reading and re-reading and it's a little hard to wrap my head around.

I have a boss monster aberration that has a 25 psp (kind of home-brewed for me) but how do I roll for a 25 on a d20? lol
So something is off, I am not understanding something or I am reading the monster wrong.

PSP are psionic power points. You don't roll against them, you spend them. Like spell points.

You roll against the Power Score. These are individual per-power for PCs, but monsters just have a single "score" they roll against. Both the Intellect Devourer I used as an example and the Psionic Illithid you used have "=Int" for their score, so you check the main monster stat block to see what their Intelligence is, and you use that value.

 

[PHATsakk43]

PSP are psionic power points. You don't roll against them, you spend them. Like spell points.

You roll against the Power Score. These are individual per-power for PCs, but monsters just have a single "score" they roll against. Both the Intellect Devourer I used as an example and the Psionic Illithid you used have "=Int" for their score, so you check the main monster stat block to see what their Intelligence is, and you use that value.

Should we tell them about MAC and MTHAC0?

 

[S.Woodlander]

PSP are psionic power points. You don't roll against them, you spend them. Like spell points.

You roll against the Power Score. These are individual per-power for PCs, but monsters just have a single "score" they roll against. Both the Intellect Devourer I used as an example and the Psionic Illithid you used have "=Int" for their score, so you check the main monster stat block to see what their Intelligence is, and you use that value.

So if their INT is 18 (I don't even know what a Mind Flairs Intelligence could be) - That's all the power points they have to spend? What's a average cost for an ability for say telekinesis? I think I have noticed some powers to be something like 30 psp....

Also.. reading the chapter on power checks - what is this mean? I think that is where I am getting the d20 roll from.

Power Checks: When a character wants to use a psionic power, the playermakes a psionic power check by rolling 1d20. If the number rolled is equal to orless than the power score, the character succeeds (in other words, he does whathe intended). The player subtracts the cost of the power from his character'stotal pool of psionic strength points.If the roll exceeds the psionic power score.....

 

[Nikosandros]

So if their INT is 18 (I don't even know what a Mind Flairs Intelligence could be) - That's all the power points they have to spend? What's a average cost for an ability for say telekinesis? I think I have noticed some powers to be something like 30 psp....

Also.. reading the chapter on power checks - what is this mean? I think that is where I am getting the d20 roll from.

Power Checks: When a character wants to use a psionic power, the playermakes a psionic power check by rolling 1d20. If the number rolled is equal to orless than the power score, the character succeeds (in other words, he does whathe intended). The player subtracts the cost of the power from his character'stotal pool of psionic strength points.If the roll exceeds the psionic power score.....

No, there two different scores. One is the number against which you make a power check, the other is number of points that you have to use your powers. They are diffent.

 

[S.Woodlander]

No, there two different scores. One is the number against which you make a power check, the other is number of point that you have to use your powers. They are diffent.

OK.. so I think I need to understand how a powercheck works. Not how to spend the score, etc..