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Psionatrix Interference

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ashanti
Jun 19, 2006 10:24:26 I'm getting ready to run the Dragons Crown adventure and am a bit concerned by the psioinc interference of the Psionatrix. It seemed fine to nix only psionics in 2nd ed, but in 3.5 it seems a bit out of place.

I reckon nixing all magic/psionic abilities is more in keeping (non-magic/psionic characters would have a fine time to shine). My players are fine with this but the stumbling block we have is what effect can the Psionatrix have?

At the moment we plan to have a 10% chance of having to roll on the Wild Magic chart in the 2nd ed Tome of Magic. My player are fine with this (as a level of severity of interference) but I wonder if you guys can think of something more 'Athas'.

We will be runnnig Dregoth Ascending afterwards so I would like to steer clear of anything similar to the divine magic level caps introduced by the godspell.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Larni
#2
dirk00001
Jun 19, 2006 14:05:18 IMO there's no reason to change how the Psionatix works, 3e or not. Just because you're using magic-psionic transparency rules doesn't necessarily mean that everything has to work equally between the two - for instance, there are several spells and powers that, even with transparency rules in effect, only apply to one or the other (such as Catapsi and, unless you're being a real transparency-friendly GM, spells such as Spell Immunity and perhaps even Spell Turning).

Beyond the rules, I think that making the Psionatrix "interfere" with arcane magic takes too much away from the entire plot of the adventure - The Order is trying to stop all psionic use, not magic, and from a logical perspective it's bad enough that they didn't realize it would affect Thri-kreen the way it did...but odds are they would have accounted for arcane magic, as that at least relates to psionics in a more tangible, easily thought of way.

Just my 2 ceramics on it. I say leave it as it is, only affecting psionics, then let the clerics get hit in Dregoth Ascending. If you want the mages to suffer as well, all you really need to do is play up the "kill the evil wizard!" stereotypical response of the common Athasian peasant and they'll have more than enough problems to deal with. ;)
#3
zombiegleemax
Jun 20, 2006 2:32:52 My two beads worth.....

The Psionatrix was a HUGE campaign event in my DS campaign. The Psionatrix caused an ecological disaster - the absence of psionics for a few months - by way of the plants and animals that use psionics to hunt, communicate, and move were suddenly unable to do those things. The PCs came across many critters that had died due to starvation. Trade with deep silt ports completely stopped - no lifters - and the balance of power between city-states shifted on the Tablelands... just to name a few.

Oddly enough, I used the Psionatrix as a predule to Dregoths invasion of Raam (which occured five years ago - long before the "Dregoth Ascending" was available), so the outcome was different...

Leave the Psionatrix and torment your players... for Athasians, it would be like losing a limb or suddenly going blind or deaf... :-)
#4
dunsel
Jun 20, 2006 12:23:17 When I ran my players through the Dragon's Crown adventure, they hated the lack of psionic powers. They only had one shard to help them and the character holding it was loath to pass it around.

Those persons who were controlling others with psionics were suddenly defenseless and many who were once rulers were overthrown.

As far as the affects of the Psionatrix, I ran it to affect only psionics and the preserver had a good time making fun of the psionicist.

My campaign is run on the "psionics are different" premise. I like this option better as it divides the classes and makes them special. This especially makes sense in dark sun b/c the arcane users would be less likely to do the research to counteract psionics.
#5
brun01
Jun 20, 2006 17:46:16 Check out my sig.
#6
ashanti
Jun 22, 2006 5:59:41 Thanks all, my group uses partial transparency as magic trumps psionics in my campaign.

I think I' going to go with having to make a concetration check (thanks brun01) for all casters as when I last ran the Dragons Crown (way back in the 90s with character trees) my pcs just activated non-psionic characters to use).

I think 20 plus spell/power level is about right (mean ECL is 11th, so most of my pc are looking at a concetrate of about 17+).

This should give a small chance of casters fizzling their spells without going over board.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ashanti Jun 19, 2006 10:24:26	I'm getting ready to run the Dragons Crown adventure and am a bit concerned by the psioinc interference of the Psionatrix. It seemed fine to nix only psionics in 2nd ed, but in 3.5 it seems a bit out of place. I reckon nixing all magic/psionic abilities is more in keeping (non-magic/psionic characters would have a fine time to shine). My players are fine with this but the stumbling block we have is what effect can the Psionatrix have? At the moment we plan to have a 10% chance of having to roll on the Wild Magic chart in the 2nd ed Tome of Magic. My player are fine with this (as a level of severity of interference) but I wonder if you guys can think of something more 'Athas'. We will be runnnig Dregoth Ascending afterwards so I would like to steer clear of anything similar to the divine magic level caps introduced by the godspell. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Larni
#2 dirk00001 Jun 19, 2006 14:05:18	IMO there's no reason to change how the Psionatix works, 3e or not. Just because you're using magic-psionic transparency rules doesn't necessarily mean that everything has to work equally between the two - for instance, there are several spells and powers that, even with transparency rules in effect, only apply to one or the other (such as Catapsi and, unless you're being a real transparency-friendly GM, spells such as Spell Immunity and perhaps even Spell Turning). Beyond the rules, I think that making the Psionatrix "interfere" with arcane magic takes too much away from the entire plot of the adventure - The Order is trying to stop all psionic use, not magic, and from a logical perspective it's bad enough that they didn't realize it would affect Thri-kreen the way it did...but odds are they would have accounted for arcane magic, as that at least relates to psionics in a more tangible, easily thought of way. Just my 2 ceramics on it. I say leave it as it is, only affecting psionics, then let the clerics get hit in Dregoth Ascending. If you want the mages to suffer as well, all you really need to do is play up the "kill the evil wizard!" stereotypical response of the common Athasian peasant and they'll have more than enough problems to deal with. ;)
#3 zombiegleemax Jun 20, 2006 2:32:52	My two beads worth..... The Psionatrix was a HUGE campaign event in my DS campaign. The Psionatrix caused an ecological disaster - the absence of psionics for a few months - by way of the plants and animals that use psionics to hunt, communicate, and move were suddenly unable to do those things. The PCs came across many critters that had died due to starvation. Trade with deep silt ports completely stopped - no lifters - and the balance of power between city-states shifted on the Tablelands... just to name a few. Oddly enough, I used the Psionatrix as a predule to Dregoths invasion of Raam (which occured five years ago - long before the "Dregoth Ascending" was available), so the outcome was different... Leave the Psionatrix and torment your players... for Athasians, it would be like losing a limb or suddenly going blind or deaf... :-)
#4 dunsel Jun 20, 2006 12:23:17	When I ran my players through the Dragon's Crown adventure, they hated the lack of psionic powers. They only had one shard to help them and the character holding it was loath to pass it around. Those persons who were controlling others with psionics were suddenly defenseless and many who were once rulers were overthrown. As far as the affects of the Psionatrix, I ran it to affect only psionics and the preserver had a good time making fun of the psionicist. My campaign is run on the "psionics are different" premise. I like this option better as it divides the classes and makes them special. This especially makes sense in dark sun b/c the arcane users would be less likely to do the research to counteract psionics.
#5 brun01 Jun 20, 2006 17:46:16	Check out my sig.
#6 ashanti Jun 22, 2006 5:59:41	Thanks all, my group uses partial transparency as magic trumps psionics in my campaign. I think I' going to go with having to make a concetration check (thanks brun01) for all casters as when I last ran the Dragons Crown (way back in the 90s with character trees) my pcs just activated non-psionic characters to use). I think 20 plus spell/power level is about right (mean ECL is 11th, so most of my pc are looking at a concetrate of about 17+). This should give a small chance of casters fizzling their spells without going over board.