Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Grymar 12-14-05, 12:28 PM	I'm about to add our first psionic npcs into the game and I was wondering if you guys use the "psionics are different" rule or not. Flavor wise, I think you should. It makes sense to me that it is a completely different form of energy and one can't dispell another. But balance wise, that means that non-psionic creatures are at a distinct disadvantage in combat. I'm not sure which way to go...
DragonWatcher 12-14-05, 12:45 PM	I also like the concept of psionics are different, but I think that you hit it on the mark when you started talking about game balance. If a psion is at least as likely to come up against another psion as he is to come up against a wizard or sorcerer, then I think that it's appropriate to use the psionics are different rules. However, if psions are generally rare, and might only be encountered once in a great while, well... that gives a significant advantage to the PC psion in the group. So, if you plan to make psionics incredibly common in your Eberron game (which they are not by the RAW), then using the psionics is different rules would not cause any harm. However, if you plan on keeping it pretty rare, I think that you will find that using those rules is going to quickly break the game balance, and make your life as a DM much more difficult. Sometimes you have to trade perceived flavor for balance. In this case, I don't think that it kills the flavor too much anyhow.
CzarGarrett 12-14-05, 01:28 PM	I do it that way always. However, being I have my notes and stuff all at home while I am at work, I can only describe it in vague detail. SR = 1/3 PR unless the creature has the use of Psionic powers, in which case SR = PR. Some Psionic creatures I give a PR value based on HD. I also add in counter spells/powers for the different types. Arcane and Divine casters have Dispel Psionics available at the same spell level as Dispel Magic, and Detect Psionics same level as Detect Magic. Non-Psionic creatures that have no SR or anything special about them dealing with magic need no alteration.
DarkWarriorKarg 12-14-05, 02:09 PM	I hold a somewhat opposing view... I don't use "psionics are different" (PaD) for two reasons: 1) I don't have time to modify everything. 2) It's no so much game balance as ease of gameplay. If psionics are different, there is an appearance of imbalance. After all, mage armour & mind blank won't protect you from the psion. But, in return, the psion is equally vulnerable to magical effects. So his version of energy resistance wion't work against fireball, for instance. Basically, you're making new mages or psions after every encounter. They are still balanced, but they are incredibly destructive to each other. I thought about using the slightly different variant, but that was, as well, too much of a headache. So, I use the default rules. KISS principle.
Nivek Loneshadow 12-14-05, 05:05 PM	There were times when I thought that "different" would be more realistic and fun but little questions and problems kept appearing. In the end I went with DarkWarriorKarg. KISS !
DoveArrow 12-14-05, 05:44 PM	If psionics are different, there is an appearance of imbalance. After all, mage armour & mind blank won't protect you from the psion. But, in return, the psion is equally vulnerable to magical effects. So his version of energy resistance wion't work against fireball, for instance. Basically, you're making new mages or psions after every encounter. They are still balanced, but they are incredibly destructive to each other. I think you're a little confused. The "Psionics are Different" rules only apply to things like spell/power resistance, dispel magic/psionics, and antimagic/antipsionic areas or effects. Energy resistance, bonuses to AC, and saves are unaffected by the variant, regardless of whether it's a spell or a psionic power. In other words, a wizard who casts energy resistance on himself, is equally protected from both the spell, fireball, and the psionic power, energy ray. Now granted, under the "Psionics are Different" variant, you could argue that mind blank doesn't protect against mind affecting psionic powers because it doesn't specifically say as much in the spell description. However, the spell does specifically state that it protects against devices, so a psionic device is blocked by the spell, but a psionic power isn't? :uh-huh: Common sense says that psionic powers and effects are either nullified by this spell or they aren't. However, that's ultimately a DM call. Personally, for the sake of simplicity, I would rule that even under the "Psionics are Different" variant, a person casting mind blank is equally protected against mind affecting spells and psionic powers. However, you could just as easily rule that psionic powers and devices aren't affected by this spell. It's really up to you. Later.
DBlizzard 12-14-05, 08:45 PM	I'm taking the middle ground (recommended by Keith, IIRC). Psionics are somewhat different. The things crossover, but at a penalty.
Logos7 12-15-05, 01:24 PM	I thought I used the Psionics are different rule but ala darksun as aposed to general havok , detect's dispel's and Anti's the same other than that no go. That said i never thought that a psionic Mind Blank would be inneffective against a arcane mind affecting spell. I just thought the mind blank provided a mind affecting immunity and that would affect anything that comes at it with the mind affecting sub descriptor Why would my armour bonus from magic armour cease to affect soul blades and the like? why is it any different for a mage armour spell That said Lot's of thing directly reference a school etc (Non Detection comes to mind) and i see how that wouldn't work, spell (and countering unless with a dispel magic would seem to be impossible) So i'm not sure where i sit on the fence but that is how i sit Logos