Low Level Psionic Enchantments - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Low Level Psionic Enchantments

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
star_gazer_02
Jul 12, 2003 2:21:31 Ok, here's what I want to do, I wan to create a small, modular (and therefore extensible) system that allows dual class Magic (Arcane/Divine)/Psionic users under level 21 to combine the two, porducing unique and novel effects that serve to enhance the main thrust of Dark Sun. Ideally, this would evolve into a whole supplement, with history, flavortext, new PrCs, monsters, magic items and adventure ideas.

1) It should be magically, not psionically, oriented, the psionics should boost the magic, not the other way 'round. Psionics schould be secondary.

2) It should contain both entirely new spells and modular enhancements to old ones - ala metamagic feats, but different in scope and, for lack of a better word, feel.

3) PP's should be a required expenditure, as well as spell slots.

4) Point of Entry to these abilities should be a feat or feat chain, not a PrC. This is for reasons that will be explained later, just take it as a given for now.

5) New spells should have new abilities, like attributes, and new descriptors, like (conditional) and (intelligent) and (agent).

6) Applications of these new spells should be geared towards helpful and defensive spells, they should be flexible, first and foremost.

7) None of these spells should in any way be more powerful than a 9th level spell. There should be new spells of 7th - 9th level, with increasing demands on psionic ability and knowledge, though going as far as 5th leve isn't such a bad idea.

8) Again, it should be modular, I want to be able to construct new spells by picking from an extensible list of abilities and attributes, rather like astral constructs. Though being able to construct new spells at casting time may or may not be a good idea.

There are several reasons for this:
1) It's just a cool idea
2) It provides a ready, in game reason for the existence of full power psionic enchantments.
3) It provides a darn good rationale for multiclassing before characters can possibly have enough power and knowledge to know about advanced beings.
4) It will partially make up for the small DCs that multiclassed spellcasters suffer.
5) I want to steer away from the idea that a Mystic Theurge type class is necessary to meet the requirements for becoming an advanced being. They suffer too many drawbacks to be truly useful in a situation like this, first and formost being the total lack of bonus feats.
6) A PrC would take up 10 levels of development that doesn't need, quite honestly to be taken up. Not only that, It would turn these new spell abilities into something akin to class abilities, dependent on level explicitly, when there are better ways to accomplish the same thing.

My 0.2cp

Star Gazer
#2
zombiegleemax
Jul 12, 2003 10:30:51 Sounds like a great idea! I like it.

I've no idea what the abilities or pwoers would end up being, but maybe its just early and I need more coffee. Anyhow, I especially like the idea of not using PrCs to access into it. Chunk it up and see what happens.
#3
star_gazer_02
Jul 12, 2003 13:39:47 Actually, I was hoping for ideas from the general community, I'm good at organisation, but creativity can sometimes be troublesome. I tend to suffer from writer's block, a lot.

Any ways, here's an interesting (and hopefully balanced) way to piggy back onto existing spells:

LESSER PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT {METAPSIONIC, METAMAGIC]
As a full round action, a Psion/Magic User (arcane or divine) can apply any metamagic or metapsionic feat to any spell she is currently able to cast.
Prerequisites: Ability to cast arcane or divine spells of 5th level or higher.
Ability to manifest psionic powers of 3rd level or higher.
Knowledge (Arcana): 10 ranks, Knowledge (Psionics): 6 ranks.
Any other metapsionic feat.
Any other metamagic feat.
Benefit: By paying a cost in PPs, either determined by the metapsionic feat, ie Persistent Power at +8, or a +2 PP per level of enhancement for metamagic feats, a spell can have any metamagic or metapsionic feat attached to it. The total accumulated spell level cannot exceed 10.
Normal: Arcane and Divine spellcasters cannot pay PPs to enhance their spells.
Special: The spellcaster cannot spend more PPs on any one spell than the PP cost of the highest level power she is able to manifest. For example, a 5th level Preserver/5th level Psion cannot spend more than 5 PPs this way.
#4
star_gazer_02
Jul 17, 2003 0:55:20 Ok, have a revision to make and a few new feats to add:

LESSER PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT]
When preparing spells, you can apply any two metapsionic feats that you know.
Prerequisite: Any two metapsionic feats. Knowledge (Psionics): 6 ranks. Knowledge (Arcana): 8 ranks OR Knowledge (Religion): 8 ranks OR Knowledge (Nature): 8 ranks.
Benefit: Choose any two metapsionic feats. When preparing spells for the day, you may now psionically enchant a given spell with one or more metapsionic feats. You must pay the manifestation cost for each feat when you are preparing or this feat will fail. You may not exceed your psionic power point cap for any particular spell. A spell is considered to cost an equivalent number of PPs as a power of its level, though you do not actually pay power points for the spell, just the metapsionic feats that you apply to it. If you are using the 'Psionics is different' rules, psionics and magic are no longer different for you.
Normal: You may not use metapsionic feats with spells.
Special: You may take this feat multiple times, its effects do not stack. Each time it applies to different metapsionic feats.

PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT]
When casting spells, you may apply a metapsionic feat to it.
Prerequisite: Lesser Psionic Enchantment
Benefit: Choose any metapsionic feat that you already know. When casting a spell you may apply that feat by paying it's manifestation cost. You may not exceed your psionic power point cap. A spell is considered to cost an equivalent number of PPs as a power of its level, though you do not actually pay for the spell, just the metapsionic feats that you apply to it.
Normal: You may not use metapsionic feats when casting spells
Special:You may take this feat multiple times, its effects do not stack. Each time it applies to different metapsionic feats.

MODIFY AREA OF EFFECT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT]
You may modify the area of effect of spells or powers
Prerequisite: Lesser Psionic Enchantment
Benefit: You may manipulate the area of effect of any area spell or power as you see fit, down to a minimum of 5'x5', and a maximum of how many 5'x5' squares the spell or power would produce unmodified. All squares must be contiguous. The modified area of effect spell or power costs a number of PP's equal to its standard cost + 2 or it is a spell of its level + 2PPs.
Special: The rules for PP caps in the feat Lesser Psionic Enchantment apply.

WARP AREA OF EFFECT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT]
The modified area of effect for a spell or power no longer need be contiguous.
Prerequisite: Modify Area of Effect
Benefit: You may place the area of effect squares in any locations you choose, so long as no two are separated by more than 10' and all squares are within the spell or power's range. As with Modify Area of Effect, the area can be reduced to as few as one 5'x5' square or may consist of as many squares as the spell would produce unmodified. The warped spell or power costs a number of PPs equal to its standard cost + 6 or it is a spell of its level + 6 PPs.
Special: The rules for PP caps in the feat Lesser Psionic Enchantment apply.

Other ideas for psionic enchantment feats:
retain spell (+8PPs) You don't lose it from memory
intelligent spell (+8PPs) (+XP cost!?!?)
Double spell (+8PPs) Same spell, different target.
Place spell (think spell bomb)
+2 bonus to DC for dispelling
highest spell or power buff on target is dispelled before spell takes effect
highest spell or power buff on target is displaced before spell takes effect
combine dispell w/ another spell.
count manifester levels and caster levels when determining spell and power save DCs.
#5
Otakkun
Jul 17, 2003 16:08:39 Well, this is really interesting for a psionic theurge (or somethink akin) build, don't you think so?

Edo.
#6
star_gazer_02
Jul 17, 2003 21:02:05 Heh, actually... I was trying to avoid the Psychic Thurge thingy... it's too limiting and you'd need more than 10 levels in it - possibly before you hit 21st level - to gain access to 9th level spells and powers.

The other thing I am trying to accomplish is to give psionics and magic a reason for being combined at high levels.

The real reason I think, for the Mystic Theurge type of class is that multi-class characters get the shaft from save DCs and this is a way to avoid that w/o crippling a character, which is what the * Theurge type classes do.
#7
taotad
Jul 18, 2003 13:01:06 If they are OGL, you might consider merging the scaling rules of psionic into the mix, introduced in If thoughts could kill and Mindscapes:

+1 PP = +1 damage die

Max 5 PP's

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 star_gazer_02 Jul 12, 2003 2:21:31	Ok, here's what I want to do, I wan to create a small, modular (and therefore extensible) system that allows dual class Magic (Arcane/Divine)/Psionic users under level 21 to combine the two, porducing unique and novel effects that serve to enhance the main thrust of Dark Sun. Ideally, this would evolve into a whole supplement, with history, flavortext, new PrCs, monsters, magic items and adventure ideas. 1) It should be magically, not psionically, oriented, the psionics should boost the magic, not the other way 'round. Psionics schould be secondary. 2) It should contain both entirely new spells and modular enhancements to old ones - ala metamagic feats, but different in scope and, for lack of a better word, feel. 3) PP's should be a required expenditure, as well as spell slots. 4) Point of Entry to these abilities should be a feat or feat chain, not a PrC. This is for reasons that will be explained later, just take it as a given for now. 5) New spells should have new abilities, like attributes, and new descriptors, like (conditional) and (intelligent) and (agent). 6) Applications of these new spells should be geared towards helpful and defensive spells, they should be flexible, first and foremost. 7) None of these spells should in any way be more powerful than a 9th level spell. There should be new spells of 7th - 9th level, with increasing demands on psionic ability and knowledge, though going as far as 5th leve isn't such a bad idea. 8) Again, it should be modular, I want to be able to construct new spells by picking from an extensible list of abilities and attributes, rather like astral constructs. Though being able to construct new spells at casting time may or may not be a good idea. There are several reasons for this: 1) It's just a cool idea 2) It provides a ready, in game reason for the existence of full power psionic enchantments. 3) It provides a darn good rationale for multiclassing before characters can possibly have enough power and knowledge to know about advanced beings. 4) It will partially make up for the small DCs that multiclassed spellcasters suffer. 5) I want to steer away from the idea that a Mystic Theurge type class is necessary to meet the requirements for becoming an advanced being. They suffer too many drawbacks to be truly useful in a situation like this, first and formost being the total lack of bonus feats. 6) A PrC would take up 10 levels of development that doesn't need, quite honestly to be taken up. Not only that, It would turn these new spell abilities into something akin to class abilities, dependent on level explicitly, when there are better ways to accomplish the same thing. My 0.2cp Star Gazer
#2 zombiegleemax Jul 12, 2003 10:30:51	Sounds like a great idea! I like it. I've no idea what the abilities or pwoers would end up being, but maybe its just early and I need more coffee. Anyhow, I especially like the idea of not using PrCs to access into it. Chunk it up and see what happens.
#3 star_gazer_02 Jul 12, 2003 13:39:47	Actually, I was hoping for ideas from the general community, I'm good at organisation, but creativity can sometimes be troublesome. I tend to suffer from writer's block, a lot. Any ways, here's an interesting (and hopefully balanced) way to piggy back onto existing spells: LESSER PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT {METAPSIONIC, METAMAGIC] As a full round action, a Psion/Magic User (arcane or divine) can apply any metamagic or metapsionic feat to any spell she is currently able to cast. Prerequisites: Ability to cast arcane or divine spells of 5th level or higher. Ability to manifest psionic powers of 3rd level or higher. Knowledge (Arcana): 10 ranks, Knowledge (Psionics): 6 ranks. Any other metapsionic feat. Any other metamagic feat. Benefit: By paying a cost in PPs, either determined by the metapsionic feat, ie Persistent Power at +8, or a +2 PP per level of enhancement for metamagic feats, a spell can have any metamagic or metapsionic feat attached to it. The total accumulated spell level cannot exceed 10. Normal: Arcane and Divine spellcasters cannot pay PPs to enhance their spells. Special: The spellcaster cannot spend more PPs on any one spell than the PP cost of the highest level power she is able to manifest. For example, a 5th level Preserver/5th level Psion cannot spend more than 5 PPs this way.
#4 star_gazer_02 Jul 17, 2003 0:55:20	Ok, have a revision to make and a few new feats to add: LESSER PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT] When preparing spells, you can apply any two metapsionic feats that you know. Prerequisite: Any two metapsionic feats. Knowledge (Psionics): 6 ranks. Knowledge (Arcana): 8 ranks OR Knowledge (Religion): 8 ranks OR Knowledge (Nature): 8 ranks. Benefit: Choose any two metapsionic feats. When preparing spells for the day, you may now psionically enchant a given spell with one or more metapsionic feats. You must pay the manifestation cost for each feat when you are preparing or this feat will fail. You may not exceed your psionic power point cap for any particular spell. A spell is considered to cost an equivalent number of PPs as a power of its level, though you do not actually pay power points for the spell, just the metapsionic feats that you apply to it. If you are using the 'Psionics is different' rules, psionics and magic are no longer different for you. Normal: You may not use metapsionic feats with spells. Special: You may take this feat multiple times, its effects do not stack. Each time it applies to different metapsionic feats. PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT] When casting spells, you may apply a metapsionic feat to it. Prerequisite: Lesser Psionic Enchantment Benefit: Choose any metapsionic feat that you already know. When casting a spell you may apply that feat by paying it's manifestation cost. You may not exceed your psionic power point cap. A spell is considered to cost an equivalent number of PPs as a power of its level, though you do not actually pay for the spell, just the metapsionic feats that you apply to it. Normal: You may not use metapsionic feats when casting spells Special:You may take this feat multiple times, its effects do not stack. Each time it applies to different metapsionic feats. MODIFY AREA OF EFFECT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT] You may modify the area of effect of spells or powers Prerequisite: Lesser Psionic Enchantment Benefit: You may manipulate the area of effect of any area spell or power as you see fit, down to a minimum of 5'x5', and a maximum of how many 5'x5' squares the spell or power would produce unmodified. All squares must be contiguous. The modified area of effect spell or power costs a number of PP's equal to its standard cost + 2 or it is a spell of its level + 2PPs. Special: The rules for PP caps in the feat Lesser Psionic Enchantment apply. WARP AREA OF EFFECT [PSIONIC ENCHANTMENT] The modified area of effect for a spell or power no longer need be contiguous. Prerequisite: Modify Area of Effect Benefit: You may place the area of effect squares in any locations you choose, so long as no two are separated by more than 10' and all squares are within the spell or power's range. As with Modify Area of Effect, the area can be reduced to as few as one 5'x5' square or may consist of as many squares as the spell would produce unmodified. The warped spell or power costs a number of PPs equal to its standard cost + 6 or it is a spell of its level + 6 PPs. Special: The rules for PP caps in the feat Lesser Psionic Enchantment apply. Other ideas for psionic enchantment feats: retain spell (+8PPs) You don't lose it from memory intelligent spell (+8PPs) (+XP cost!?!?) Double spell (+8PPs) Same spell, different target. Place spell (think spell bomb) +2 bonus to DC for dispelling highest spell or power buff on target is dispelled before spell takes effect highest spell or power buff on target is displaced before spell takes effect combine dispell w/ another spell. count manifester levels and caster levels when determining spell and power save DCs.
#5 Otakkun Jul 17, 2003 16:08:39	Well, this is really interesting for a psionic theurge (or somethink akin) build, don't you think so? Edo.
#6 star_gazer_02 Jul 17, 2003 21:02:05	Heh, actually... I was trying to avoid the Psychic Thurge thingy... it's too limiting and you'd need more than 10 levels in it - possibly before you hit 21st level - to gain access to 9th level spells and powers. The other thing I am trying to accomplish is to give psionics and magic a reason for being combined at high levels. The real reason I think, for the Mystic Theurge type of class is that multi-class characters get the shaft from save DCs and this is a way to avoid that w/o crippling a character, which is what the * Theurge type classes do.
#7 taotad Jul 18, 2003 13:01:06	If they are OGL, you might consider merging the scaling rules of psionic into the mix, introduced in If thoughts could kill and Mindscapes: +1 PP = +1 damage die Max 5 PP's