Athanasian Mind Lord (Epic PrC)
The mind is eternal but focus is not, so concentrated that focus on the physical we will, for there is still much I have in mind to do.
- Thesik, Mind Lord of the Last Sea
It was the Mind Lords of the Last Sea who foresaw the Cleansing Wars and bulwarked the land of the Last Sea against its deprivations (see The Mind Lords of the Last Sea accessory). Even with their bodies failing they still sought to carry on their life’s work and sent out their inquisitive probing minds far and wide for a method to accomplish this.
What they found and implemented was a method others would have seen as reprehensible: They decided to become incorporeal entities bound to the physical by gigantic obsidian orbs. Even though the Golden Mind as of yet hasn’t been encountered on Athas (though certain Masters of the Way are surely experimenting with such states), what the Mind Lords did does resemble the tenets of said Golden Mind. So much in fact does it resemble those, that the Mind Lords themselves may act as instructors onto the path of the psion uncarnate.
They themselves are powerful, uncarnate intellects of the mind. But where uncarnates are in the danger of losing their touch with the physical world and to solely drift into the realms of the mind, the Mind Lords chose to bind their minds more strongly to the world by investing obsidian orbs with part of their psyche.
Becoming a Mind Lord
Incorporeal psions such as uncarnates may chose to invest part of their mind into a specialized obsidian orb, which then acts as their anchor to the physical. The obsidian orb in this case acts like a powerful psicrystal resembling the phylactery of a lich.
Instead of the required Uncarnate class feature this PrC is also available to the Unbodied as well as the bound psyches of the guardian orbs. For the latter learning said PrC would be a method for them to escape the binding that imprisons their psyches in their orbs. Even though there are no known guardians who escaped in this way, there are rumours of one who had the fortune of having its orb positioned quite near to one of the Orbs of the Mind Lords, who is trying to reach the level of mastery in the Way needed to transcend its bound form.
New Magic Item: Orb of the Mind Lord
A Master of the Way on the verge of becoming a Mind Lord has to transfer the powers of his psicrystal into an obsidian orb further enchanting it to hold even greater parts of his psyche. Crafting it requires the Craft Cognizance Crystal and Craft Universal Item feats. The obsidian orb costs 120 000 Cp and 4800 XP. The orbs are Tiny objects made of psionically hardened perfect obsidian and have 40 hit points, a hardness of 20 and a break DC of 40.
When a Mind Lord’s incorporeal body is destroyed his psyche flees to his Orb just like a lich’s would flee to its phylactery. Unless his Orb is located and destroyed the Mind Lord’s incorporeal body reforms alongside his Orb within 1d10 days after his apparent death.
In all other aspects an Orb of the Mind Lord functions exactly like a psicrystal.
Entry Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 23 ranks
Feat: Psicrystal Affinity
Psionics: Must have the Uncarnate class feature.
Special: Must have created an Orb of the Mind Lord for him/herself.
Athanasian Mind Lord Hit Die: D4
Thats just IMO though
I like the concept. But I've always thought a "mind lord" would be a template vs PrC. I kind of viewed them along the lines of a demi-lich.
Thats just IMO though
Well then our thought's weren't too far apart (in thinking lich that is).
The only problem with demi-lichs is that they have turned away from the physical world whereas the Mind Lords still try to interact with the physical to rule and protect their land and that they try to masquerade as 'living' (albeit powerful revered) beings.Well then our thought's weren't too far apart (in thinking lich that is).
I was refering to the demi-lich more as an example rather than suggesting that it be used for straight up use for a mind lord.
I agree that a mind lord PrC would be cool, but I don't think it would be geared towards being a "unbodied" being. The history of the Mind Lords gave the impression that they mentally transffered their psyches into obsidian orbs as a last ditch effort rather than a long carefully thought out plan. Which is why I felt a template would be a better fit vs a PrC. Don't forget, the peoples of the Green Age reserved psyches being put into obsidain orbs as a punishment rather than a reward and were repulsed by the mere thought.
A mind lord PrC would be better suited to focus on psionic powers and the mind itself (which some of your PrC has addressed) rather than being geared towards the incoporeal being aspect.
Just sharing my take on it
On the other hand, I can see what you mean, Sysane, about the benefits of it being a template, and that the Mind Lords are more geared towards being mentally mighty than incorporeal, but if I remember correctly, and I may not, they spend a LOT of their time roaming around Saragar in mental-projection form. So...... Maybe a template is better. That way, becoming a Mind Lord wouldn't be a staged process, but an instant and complete transformation.
On the other hand, I can see what you mean, Sysane, about the benefits of it being a template, and that the Mind Lords are more geared towards being mentally mighty than incorporeal, but if I remember correctly, and I may not, they spend a LOT of their time roaming around Saragar in mental-projection form. So...... Maybe a template is better. That way, becoming a Mind Lord wouldn't be a staged process, but an instant and complete transformation.
Exactly. The Mind Lords' history made it sound that they used the same process for transfering their psyches was no different than the one they used to punish criminals. I don't think the criminals were taking levels of PrC for their punishment, do you?
Additionally, the Mind Lords were "Mind Lords" for centuries prior to shedding their bodies for their obsidian orbs.
Perhaps the template would grant some of the powers and abilities that the Unbodied and Uncarnate gain.
I think that the Psion Uncarnate PrC is a perfect fit, just add the obsidian orb as a "phylactery". The simplest route seems to work best in this case. Figure they were Epic Psions before becoming Mind Lords, and then just add the Psion Uncarnate PrC, and you have a perfect analog.
Yes my thoughts exatly! That is what I did: Psion Uncarnate PrC and a psicrystal turned into a phylactery.
@Sysane: Well I think being geard towards the incorporeal aspect helps a lot. Especially the Assume Likeness supernatural ability of the Psion Uncarnate PrC just cries to be the explanation for their powers to manifest themselves and apprear alive described in the Last Sea supplement (with telekinetics to provide for interaction).
I agree that psyches were put into obsidian orbs as a punishment in the Green Age. But those psyches were bound tightly to the orbs and could not roam free and interact via psychic projections. That is why the Psion Uncarnate comes into play for the Mind Lords themselvs (but surely won't for the imprisoned psyches in those guardian stones).
Also, replace the 16 manifester levels with Knowledge (psionics) 19 ranks; level requirements are to be avoided.
Lastly, inverse the following two lines...
Every Psi-Secret gained counts as a separate psionic feat for the purpose of the Psionic Body feat. Furthermore, with each Psi-Secret gained the Mind Lord may choose one of the following feats as a bonus feat: Psicrystal Containment, Improved Psicrystal or chose from any metapsionic feat.
...so as to obtain this:
With each Psi-Secret gained the Mind Lord may choose one of the following feats as a bonus feat: Psicrystal Containment, Improved Psicrystal or chose from any metapsionic feat. Further, every Psi-Secret gained counts as a separate psionic feat for the purpose of the Psionic Body feat.
I just edited it to your specifications. I have to admit that I don't understand the first of your suggestions, though:
You can modify the prerequisites so that its clear that characters with the Psicrystal Affinity feat can also take this PrC.
How to do that? In stating that the Psicrystal Affinity is a prerequisit, haven't I already done so?
BTW here is my suggestion for the triad that is the the 'pantheon' of the Last Sea:
Barani: Wilder 10/Psion Uncarnate 10/Mind Lord 8
Kosveret: Psion(Nomad) 11/Rogue 1/Psion Uncarnate 10/Mind Lord 5
Thesik: Psion(Kineticist) 10/Psion Uncarnate 10/Mind Lord 9
How to do that? In stating that the Psicrystal Affinity is a prerequisit, haven't I already done so?
Was the prerequiste always there? I don't recall seeing it on first read...well, I must have missed it. Never mind.
Was the prerequiste always there? I don't recall seeing it on first read...well, I must have missed it. Never mind.
No problem *hugs you* ;)
For potential candidates I suggest reviewing all psionic powers and psionic items in the XPH to see if they can be made into class abilities, not unlike the Unbodied's Telekinetic Force supernatural ability.
Maybe a 10th level ability that has a bit more bang? Not talking damage here, just more juice.
Good God, I just had one hell of a thought! The Epic Bureau tells us the dragon template is the result of the casting of an epic spell...so could the Mind Lord PrC be availlable to those that have the Unbodied template* from the manifesting of an epic psionic power?
An epic psionic power could relatively easily be created that would make you into an Unbodied.
* Unbodied is actually a race, but it would be easy to make it into a template. It already has LA...
I just thought of something.... The Prestige Class can be the bridge that allows the Mind Lords to be different than a criminal encased in an Obsidian Orb as a slave mind. Perhaps the ability to take an incorporeal form would produce the side effect of free will and the ability to travel as a mental construct outside the Orbs, unlike an untrained criminal whose mind is just locked inside and forced to follow instructions.
I was thinking similar. But would they be traveling incorporeally? Could they manifest some sort of body, like via Astral Construct powers? What would the range? Would there be a range? What about duration? Unlimited?
I'd get rid of 2 of the 5 Enhanced Mind-Form abilities and instead replace them with some further theme-related abilities.
Maybe a 10th level ability that has a bit more bang? Not talking damage here, just more juice.
Thank your all for those nice suggestions!
Pennarin you were right to get rid of the Enhanced Mind-Form ability. Instead I know have added the Orb of Power as well as the Mind Orb power.For a 10th level ability with a greater bang I also put in a suggestion.
What do you think now? Is it better?
Regarding the suggestion about the Unbodied as well as the imprisoned minds I added a paragraph regarding them (under Becoming a Mind Lord).
As for the idea with the epic power/spell: I feel epic spellcasting to be the sole province of advanced beings, so the Epic Spellcasting feat should only be available to those who - under 2nd edition rules - were elegible for psionic enchantements.
Thankx again for all of your suggestions!
For the Apotheosis of the Mind: Most 10th level transformational PrCs confer a new racial type upon 10th level, not an actual template, or one as powerful as the demi-lich.
Also, I get where you're coming from with this, and where you're going, but its still weird that you include a non-DS template in your build.
I might have said its also weird that you're against non-AB epic spellcasting/manifesting, but hey, that's a genuine DM decision, so go with it. Still, I would like to see an epic power* that makes you into an Unbodied, and that this PrC is availlable to those same Unbodied.
* I go with the Epic Bureau's view on this: wizards and manifesters can gain access to epic spells and powers without walking all over the AB's unique spellcasting abilities. Suposedly, the difference between the two types - epic spellcasting/manifesting and AB spellcasting - will be made clear in the upcoming Epic rules.
Well, your Mind Orb progression is non-standard in that its not evenly spaced and progresses in abnormal jumps. Pick a number of levels at which it should be gained - something like every 3 levels - and make it affect 1, 2, and 3 powers, respectively.
Thank you for all your suggestions Pennarin! I tried to incorporate most of them and I know like the result much better than my first try!
As for the non-standard progression: That should be corrected now. Mind Obr is now at levels 1, 5 and 10.
I also added a new power for level 8 (Orb Defense).
For the Apotheosis of the Mind: Most 10th level transformational PrCs confer a new racial type upon 10th level, not an actual template, or one as powerful as the demi-lich.
Also, I get where you're coming from with this, and where you're going, but its still weird that you include a non-DS template in your build.
The demi-lich template fit the best of all those I could think of. The Mind Lord is not undead so I will have to adjust that a bit, but as for now I would say that it is ok for the basis of an Apotheosis of the Mind.
As for the power level: Sure the demi-lich template is a powerful one, but please take into account that by the core rules a wizard might turn into a lich as low as 11th level and into a demi-lich at 21st level. The demi-lich example NPC of the Epic Level Handbook actually uses a 21st level wizard as a base charakter.
Whereas for a Mind Lord to gain that template he would have first to progress through an entire 10-level Epic PrC, thus getting that template at about 30th character level. So it is much more difficult for him than for a wizard.
I don't understand what you said about a non-DS template. A lot of templates got adopted for DS, so why not the demi-lich too? Especially if it fits so well for a creature of the Mind whose only physical remains are an object. The jum from the soul stones of the demi-lich to an obsidian orb is not too wide a one I would hope. Or is it?
Furthermore not even Thesik of the Mind Lords of the Last Sea has achieved that level in the PrC as of my write-up. So there is still no psionic demi-lich equivalent character on Athas.
As of now this only is an incentitive for one of my players.
As for the power. Pure Psions don't have access to any of the advanced being PrCs. To balance that a special PrC for them (like this one) doesn't seem such a bad idea, does it?
I might have said its also weird that you're against non-AB epic spellcasting/manifesting, but hey, that's a genuine DM decision, so go with it. Still, I would like to see an epic power* that makes you into an Unbodied, and that this PrC is availlable to those same Unbodied.
Well in the [Epic] Dragon thread I got converted ;) Though I also stated my view of the subject there.
As for an Epic Power that makes you Unbodied ... I think that sounds like quite a nice suggestion. And the Mind Lord PrC would be surely available to them (as long as they aren't bound into their orb). I already edited the Becoming a Mind Lord section to include this possibility.
Xular, maybe you could rewrite the arch-lich template, if its in the SRD, and post it here under a different name, with new abilities. That would be cool.
I just edited my first post to include my first suggestion for what kind of template the Apotheosis of the Mind for the Mind Lord PrC might entail. Any suggestions?
btw Arch-Lich is not in the SRD, for that is Forgotten Realms only. Though the demi-lich certainly is.
Thankx to you and Kalthandrix for encouraging me to think about that.
I hope to be able to also add that Epic Power that turnes one into an Unbodied or a Guardian Stone soon.They avoided death altogether, Argaud, by deciding they wanted to live longer than their normal lifespans, and thus crafted the orbs to transfer their consciousness within, in good old Star Trek fashion.
Isn't that pretty much what liches do with their phylacteries?
Aren't the bodies of the Mind Lords long dead?
I still think they are closer to ghost than to liches, too, at least mechanically
Isn't that pretty much what liches do with their phylacteries?
Aren't the bodies of the Mind Lords long dead?
I still think they are closer to ghost than to liches, too, at least mechanically
Well, when it comes to undeath, there is no "close to" in D&D; you are or you aren't. As far as can be determined from the 2E write-ups, the mind lords were discorporated entities that decided to live in orbs instead of their bodies.
That does not make them undead.
And there is no indication the process was necromantic in nature. One way of achieving that would be to trap someone's soul in the orb and use a psionic power that switches minds from one creature/object to another, effectively switching the soul in the orb with the mind lord's mind, a process that is not necromantic.
I just edited my first post to include my first suggestion for what kind of template the Apotheosis of the Mind for the Mind Lord PrC might entail. Any suggestions?
btw Arch-Lich is not in the SRD, for that is Forgotten Realms only. Though the demi-lich certainly is.
Thankx to you and Kalthandrix for encouraging me to think about that.
Demilich is effectively in the SRD, so go ahead and scavenge 'till your heart's content!
For the epic power, you could start a thread asking the epic bureau (Seker is Online pretty often these days) to design it (i.e. an epic power that permanetly confers the Unbodied template).
I'd like to see my own Epic Schism power come to life too...
As for suggestions to the template for the Apotheosis of the Mind ability, maybe first get rid of any of the idiosyncrasies of the Demilich template, like the soul gems. Try and convert as much of the Demilich's magic abilities to their psionic equivalents before adding any new abilities. Make a list of those abilities you think are finished and well adapted, and another list containing those abilities you're not sure of, so we can clearly see where you need help.
While I was making the changes I realised that with some abilities you seemed to mean the Mind Lord PrC is an open-ended class, continuing beyond 10th level. I'm not sure that is possible due to the way its built, especially since it ends up giving a template at 10th level.
Considering that, I changed the bonuses so that they reflect HD and not X number of Mind Lord levels.
CREATING A ARCH-UNCARNATE
“Arch-uncarnate” is a template that is added to any creature that gains the Mind Lord’s apotheosis of the mind class feature (referred to hereafter as the base creature). It uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. At this stage in the Mind Lord prestige class, the profound psionic studies of the creature have reached a level where his thoughts channelled through and concentrated in his obsidian orb purify and change its composition, bestowing great power unto it. These changes are made manifest in the transformation of the opaque obsidian of the orb to a clear crystal that glows with a crimson inner light.
This new crystal orb has 80 hit points, a hardness of 30 and a break DC of 50.
Hit Dice: As base creature.
Speed: Replace with fly 180 ft. (perfect).
AC: The arch-uncarnate gains an insight bonus to AC equal to its Hit Dice.
Attack: The arch-uncarnate gains an insight bonus equal to its Hit Dice as a bonus on its touch attacks.
Incorporeal Touch: The arch-uncarnate’s Incorporeal Touch attack increases by +5d6.
Psi-Like Abilities: At will—**powers to be determined**; 2/day—**powers to be determined**. Arch-uncarnates use these abilities as manifesters of a level equal to their manifester level, but the save DCs are equal to 10 + the arch-uncarnate’s HD + the arch-uncarnate’s Charisma modifier.
Special Qualities: The arch-uncarnate retains all the base creature’s special qualities and also has those described below.
Assume Equipment (Su): The arch-uncarnate gains the assume equipment supernatural ability (see Psion Uncarnate in Chapter 6 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook). If the arch-uncarnate gains assume equipment from a class, it adds its Mind Lord levels to those of that class for the purpose of the ability. Also, headbands, belts, rings, cloaks, and other wearable psionic items kept in close association with the arch-uncarnate’s crystal orb transfer all their benefits to the base creature no matter how far apart the base creature and the crystal orb are located. The standard limits on types of items utilized simultaneously still apply.
Blindsight (Ex): A arch-uncarnate can “see” by using psychic energy to ascertain objects and creatures within 120 feet.
Psionic Immunity (Ex): Arch-uncarnates are immune to all psionic and supernatural effects that mimic psionic powers.
Perfect Manifestation (Ex): The arch-uncarnate can manifest powers it knows without displays.
Power Receptacle (Ex): The arch-uncarnate can empower his crystal orb, using the orb itself in the creation process of psionic items, forgoing the need for materials. In effect the orb can carry the functions of many psionic items. The arch-uncarnate can empower his orb so as many times as his Charisma modifier. The orb can be empowered into items crafted from the following item creation feats: Craft Psicrown, Craft Universal Item, and Imprint Stone. The items built into the orb are considered to be lying in close association with it, allowing the arch-uncarnate to use its Assume Equipment ability. The standard limits on types of items utilized simultaneously still apply. A built-in item with depleted charges or power points can be “removed” from the make-up of the crystal orb at the cost of 100 exp, leaving a slot open for another item.
Incorporeal Traits: A arch-uncarnate is harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons, powers, spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. It has a 50% chance to ignore any damage from a corporeal source, except for force effects or attacks made with ghost touch weapons. It can pass through solid objects, but not force effects, at will. Its attacks ignore natural armor, armor, and shields, but deflection bonuses and force effects work normally against them. An incorporeal creature always moves silently and cannot be heard with Listen checks if it doesn’t wish to be.
Immunities (Ex): Arch-uncarnates are immune to cold, electricity, polymorph, and mind-affecting attacks.
Damage Reduction (Su): A arch-uncarnate loses any previous damage reduction and instead has damage reduction 15/epic and bludgeoning (15 points of damage is subtracted from all melee attacks unless the weapon used is both an epic and a bludgeoning weapon). Vorpal weapons, no matter their enhancement bonus, ignore this damage reduction but do only half damage to a arch-uncarnate (arch-uncarnatees cannot be beheaded).
Resistances (Ex): Arch-uncarnatees have acid resistance 20, fire resistance 20, and sonic resistance 20.
Saves: Same as the base creature.
Abilities: A arch-uncarnate gains +10 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.
Skills: Arch-uncarnatees receive a +20 racial bonus on Bluff, Disguise, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks. Otherwise same as the base creature (this overlaps with the previous racial bonus gained by the base creature; it does not stack).
Epic Feats: Arch-uncarnates gain Improved Manifestation and Power Knowledge.
Climate/Terrain: Same as base creature.
Organization: Solitary or small group.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 6.
Treasure: Same as base creature.
Alignment: Any.
Advancement: By character class.
Demilich is effectively in the SRD, so go ahead and scavenge 'till your heart's content!
Yep I told you so ;)
For the epic power, you could start a thread asking the epic bureau (Seker is Online pretty often these days) to design it (i.e. an epic power that permanetly confers the Unbodied template).
I'd like to see my own Epic Schism power come to life too...
Well I hope the epic bureau ist busy with Advanced Beings and we will soon see more from them in that regard. I already created a Mind Lord PrC so I will try my hand at those epic powers too.
As for suggestions to the template for the Apotheosis of the Mind ability, maybe first get rid of any of the idiosyncrasies of the Demilich template, like the soul gems. Try and convert as much of the Demilich's magic abilities to their psionic equivalents before adding any new abilities. Make a list of those abilities you think are finished and well adapted, and another list containing those abilities you're not sure of, so we can clearly see where you need help.
Well you already saw that I got rid of the soul gems. And used a template that was a bit more low powered than that of the demi-lich (like you suggested I think).
Thankx for posting your version of my template! I do appreciate the help! I will edit my own a bit soon to mesh both our visions. Though I think that an all around immunity to mind-effecting spells and powers is a bit too much. That is why I added the Orb Defense (Su) to the PrC.
Also my bonuses are a bit lower than those from the demi-lich template.
Seeing your 'splat' about psi-like abilities: I too was considering what powers might fit.
I hope to be able to update the PrC and template again soon.
All the Mind Lords have is their obsidian spheres, which are hardly unique. Remember criminals in the Last Sea area are executed and their minds bound to spheres to be used as psionic batteries. A rather nasty kind of punishment, much in the Dark Sun flavor, and probably a rather evil practice by most moral standars. The Mind Lords simply modified the device so they can still use their powers from the sphere, they lack physical bodies, but can project mental illusions at distance and use telekinetics thanks to the modified spheres. Hmmm, maybe they could be considered intelligent magical items instead of undead. But the line there is pretty thin.
I find amusing Pennarin keeps insisting the Mind Lords are not undead and then uses the demilich template for them. Demiliches are undead, you know? They are not incorporeal, though, they still have some bones left
Actually it was me who was using the demi-lich template as a basis. I re-read my copy of Mind Lords of the Last Sea. The Mind Lords are not undead. So I don't see why they should be undead in 3.5 when they weren't in 2e.
They didn't want to die so they transfered their souls into obsidian spheres and roamed around incorporeal using telekinesis to interact with the material world.
Rule-wise you can have the incorporeal subtype but not the undead subtype. Just look at the Unbodied or the Psion Uncarnate (both from the XPH).
Your are correct about the projecting thing. I took the liberty of equalling that with an incorporeal form. You too had a similar idea in suggesting the ghost template, didn't you? And regarding the obsidian spheres that house their souls ... when searching for ideas for those, the lich's phylactery came to my mind.
So what do we have: an incorporeal body and an orb that is quite similar to a phylactery. Those were the ingredients I used to start the PrC.
An epic psionic power could relatively easily be created that would make you into an Unbodied.
Here you go Pennarin, I just added the Unchaining of the Mind epic power that does just that
When I mentioned removing allusions to soul gems, I meant from this:
Apotheosis of the Mind: Not even Thesik of the Mind Lords of the Last Sea has achieved this level of power (though he suspects a quite bit). There are only very few other Mind Lords rumoured to be in existence, but those only scratch the beginnings of the PrC.
At this level the Mind Lord transcends even this already transcendent existence becoming probably the frist arch-uncarnate of Athas by adding the Arch-Uncarnate template. with his Orb acting as all the eight soul gems together.
Cool power! The fluff is not what I would have chosen, but the idea of replacing the racial HDs and LA with character levels is a good one; frankly, I would have forgotten to do that, why I don't do that kind of stuff...
Hm what do you mean by fluff? (Sorry I am no native speaker). You mean the description of the visual display of the manifestation? Well that was in part a bit inspired by the cool pic of the Metaconcert power. ;)
Regarding the HD replacement ... well that is only one suggestion (in Savage Species there are a few more, but for me the one I did present in the spell did work out the best so far in my campaigns).
When I mentioned removing allusions to soul gems, I meant from this:
AHH thankx! I forgot to delete that snipplet from a previous version
I haven't forgotten your other suggeestions for the template and will try to add a few of them asap. You were correct in your assumption that in describing the template I also wanted to keep the opton alive for DMs to have it open-ended (in mine it won't be open-ended though). Why I did take a levels in PrC instead of HD is for balance purposes (so that the bonuses will be about 10 and not nearly triple as high).
By saying I thought you wanted to keep something open-ended, I was refereing to the PrC (since templates are fixed things that do not progress).
The problem with having this particular PrC open-ended (i.e. having it continue beyond 10th-level) is that it has a clear beginning and end, so its not well suited to advancing beyond the 10th-level (although I never seriously looked at epic PrCs before, so I might be wrong all over the place).
I didn't quite get that last paragraph...
By saying I thought you wanted to keep something open-ended, I was refereing to the PrC (since templates are fixed things that do not progress).
The problem with having this particular PrC open-ended (i.e. having it continue beyond 10th-level) is that it has a clear beginning and end, so its not well suited to advancing beyond the 10th-level (although I never seriously looked at epic PrCs before, so I might be wrong all over the place).
Ok I have now incorporated quite a few changes in my version of the arch-uncarnate template, based upon your suggestion regarding the template. Its still not finished by I like it better and better.
Thankx for those suggestion and your write-up of the template!
Yes I too was referring to the advancement of the PrC. I too see it as being fixed at 10 levels. But I do leave the final say in the hands of individual DMs and I hope my new wording of the respective features in the arch-uncarnate template helps make that clear (or at least clearer than before).
The Dragon Epic PrC is open-ended so I wanted to leave that option open in my Mind Lord PrC as well for DMs who want it to be this way.
In basing a few template-powers on the level in the Mind Lord PrC I also keep the bonuses lower than those compared to the demi-lich template that uses HD for the same features.
Prestige Class proposal inspired by the Mind Lords of the Last Sea accessory as well as the Psion Uncarnate of the XPH.
Unchanging of the Mind
Psychometabolism
Psicraft DC: 32
Display: Mental, Visual
Manifesting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 300 ft.
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Power Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 288 000 Cp; 6 days; 11 520 XP. Seed: Transform (DC 21). Factors: (-5 DC if manifested by an Egoist), change type to incorporeal (+10 DC), for Su, Psi-like and other abilities abilities (ad hoc +18 DC), duration from permanent to instantaneous (ad hoc modifier of x3 DC). Mitigating factors: casting time to 10 minutes (-20 DC), blacklash (duration is instantenous, therefore dmg. is rolled only once) 10d6 (-10 DC), 5 additional participants manifesting a 9th level power each (-85 DC).
The epic psion and his five additional manifesters stand in a circle around the target of the spell, their positions at the points of a heptagram symbolising the six disciplines of the mind. When manifestation begins a slight vibration can be felt in the minds of all those around and silver light begins to pour forth from the eyes of the participants. The master of this ritual, standing on the point of the heptagram symbolizing Psychometabolism, weaves the silver beams into an intricate heptagram by knitting all those lines together. First they shoot from manifester to manifester and then they converge on the recipient whose body begins to glow in silver light. The combined energies pouring into his body infuse him with psychic energies up to the point of bursting. At the moment where his body wouldn’t be able to withstand the onslaught any longer, the prime manifester takes the excess energy upon himself (incurring the blacklash damage), whereas the target, filled to the brink with silver light, makes the transformation into an Unbodied (see XPH p.215 f). To successfully survive the Unchanging of the Mind the recipient has to have a least 8 levels which are converted into the 4 racial levels and the 4 levels for the level adjustment of 4 of the Unbodied respectively. Excess levels of the target are kept.
Of the Mind Lords of the Last Sea Barani as well as Thesik are rumoured to have developed this power.
Some of the only things that I would change with this discription is some of the wording (i.e. casting time, spell). This is a psionic power if I read everything else correctly.
I have to say that I really like the things that you have done with this.
:bounce:Some of the only things that I would change with this discription is some of the wording (i.e. casting time, spell). This is a psionic power if I read everything else correctly.
Ahhh ... and I thought I caught all of those ...
Well now at last I hope it is consitent.I have to say that I really like the things that you have done with this.
WOWWW Thankx!!
The next epic power is in the making. In the meantime I added a paragraph with adventure ideas.
Nada.
Where is it mentionned that psicrystals have specific colors? I looked in the monster section and in the psion entry.
Nada.
You are right. Sadly that is not mentioned anywhere. The color-change is more a flavor-text than anything else. It should just visualize the purification/change of the orbs from black obsidian to crystalline, colored purer and more powerful ones.
The actual color is up to the respective PC/NPC (just like hair color).
Thanks for finding this thread, Me and Lyric and Khaine are working on a PrC right now that is related to this one.
You're welcome
Don't suppose you know the answer to my question?It's just a little thing.... but the term should be "Athasian", not "Athanasian". Athanasian is reference to a follower of Athanasius, which is a Greek patriarch of Alexandria and defended Christianity against Arianiam. Athasian would be something of Athas, the world of Dark Sun.
Well of course it is
Everyone knows that silly 
:D :DYou're welcome
I have no idea.
Question: If at tenth level of the PrC the character achieves the Arch-Uncarnate template...does it have a level adjustment and if so how would you work it exactly? I saw a CR adjustment listed in the template description, but no LA. Is the level adjustment just assumed to be inherent to the PrC advancment somehow?
Sorry for my late reply. :embarrass But here is at least a short one:
Thank you for bringing this up. I would say the ruling for this should be the same as for all those other PrC that give you a template at their climax (like the one that changes you to a half dragon in the DMs guide core rulebook).
For my campaign I didn't assingn a Level Adjustment to it, as the Apotheosis should be considered a bonus class feature for which the PC/NPC already hat to go through a lot (at least enought adventures to advance her/him to the 10th level in the PrC). Furthermore this transformation is similar to the Athasian Dragon PrC and the Methamorphosis Spells for those too don't use a LA as of now.