3rd Party Psi supplements [Archive] - Wizards Community

3rd Party Psi supplements [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Netherek
02-12-07, 04:52 AM I am looking for new material, only have WotC stuff. What is the best?

I heard of Hyperconcious, concerning this how well does the Mindscapes incorporate into the XPH? How does it work?

Any other material worth batting an eye at?

My main use will be in Dark Sun, though Eberron and Planescape to a lessor degree, so I am curious as to how the material would fit in those games.
Milo HoBo
02-12-07, 07:24 AM A must have is Dreamscarred Press' Untapped Potential.

I don't own Hyperconscious, so I can't answer that question.

For other material, please refer to a thread in the sticky called "Index: 3.5 Psionics Outside the XPH"
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=544215

Good gaming.
Tempest Stormwind
02-12-07, 09:13 AM I am looking for new material, only have WotC stuff. What is the best?People generally cite Hyperconscious and Untapped Potential as "best", although there's also Dark Sun 3 (which really isn't a supplement so much as a setting, and a very good one at that) and Metablades Expanded (which I actually don't have, so I can't comment on it).I heard of Hyperconcious, concerning this how well does the Mindscapes incorporate into the XPH? How does it work?Seamlessly. It comes down to one extra roll every time initiative resets.Any other material worth batting an eye at?Untapped Potential comes to mind, although I'm no doubt biased as I co-wrote it. See the links in my sig.

Dark Sun 3 (www.athas.org) also is worth looking at for obvious reasons.My main use will be in Dark Sun, though Eberron and Planescape to a lessor degree, so I am curious as to how the material would fit in those games.Hyper makes some assumptions regarding dreams in your campaign that make it difficult to integrate into most games. However, with some reflavoring (Dark Plea -> Dreaming Dark, Shallows -> special effect of Dal Quor manifest zones) it can fit in Eberron just fine. Dark Sun might work with it as well, but you have to be very creative with how to fit that material in. Or, you can just not use the Shallows-related mechanics (a few feats, a few powers, and at least one prestige class) and it becomes setting-neutral. UTP is deliberately campaign-neutral, but includes a mini-adventure-setting as context to tie it all together if you want to introduce it somewhere.

I despise Planescape at least as much as its sycophantic zealots love it, though, so I really can't speak on how well it'd fit in Planescape. I'm willing to bet "easily, since nothing really makes sense in that setting anyway, how can this destabilize it further?", but I'm no doubt biased here.
Netherek
02-12-07, 03:59 PM So with the Mindscapes you make a roll on initiative for a modifier to using Psi?

I guess what I am wondering is if it's anything like the Harbingers from the Will and the Way? Does it give a different mental forms that the attack or defense gains a modifier in relation to the opposing defense form?

What I want to capture is the way Psi functions in the Dark Sun novels to some degree. Untapped sounds pretty good, seems to have more useful material at the least.
Bacris
02-12-07, 04:08 PM I'll have to break out my book later, or someone else can post, with regards to Mindscape... but it's not a modifier to using Psi - it's a modifier against the opponent - bonus to attack, bonus to DC, etc.

You make a Mindscapes roll, they make a Mindscapes roll, winner gets the associated benefit.

Edit - and you choose the benefit by selecting your "resting mode" which determines what your roll modifier is. There are a variety of modes to choose, and since you know what mode you're using, you know what the result is.
Tempest Stormwind
02-12-07, 04:14 PM So with the Mindscapes you make a roll on initiative for a modifier to using Psi?

I guess what I am wondering is if it's anything like the Harbingers from the Will and the Way? Does it give a different mental forms that the attack or defense gains a modifier in relation to the opposing defense form?

What I want to capture is the way Psi functions in the Dark Sun novels to some degree. Untapped sounds pretty good, seems to have more useful material at the least.It's not QUITE like the Harbingers, but rather it works like this.

You start off in a resting mode. When intiative is rolled, you roll a mode check -- 1d20+your base mode check bonus + a bonus based on your mode (there's also a mindscape modifier -- certain modes work better in certain kinds of mindscape). You get a bonus based on your mode against everyone you beat -- for instance, if you're in Id Feint, you get a bonus on Tumble checks made against anyone you beat on the psionic combat check, while if you were in Body Tank you have DR against those people, and Psychic Subdual gives you a boost on your mode check the following round. Every round, everyone can change their mode before the check -- this lets them adjust their tactics in response to the opponent.

The mode can be thought of as a type of psionic combat style, fought by mental avatars in a psychoplane that springs up when hostile psionic creatures get close to each other.
Netherek
02-13-07, 03:15 PM Thanks for the quick response.
AntiDjinn
02-13-07, 03:27 PM Green Ronin has a skills and feats psionics system in their Complete Psychics book (the basics of the system are reprinted in The Advanced Player's Manual). This is not, however, a supplement for 3.5 psionics but an alternated system (you could use both in the same game, but why?). It is worth a look, much of it was done right. Much of it is also broken: Your human psychic who concentrates on telepathic feats can have mind switch at first level.

Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed and Arcana Evolved features classes such as the Mind Witch and Akashic (taps into a universal memory) which have a psionic feel. The material is good, but it is balanced against itself not against core 3.5; the books essentially replace the PHB and attempting to drop one of Monte's races or classes into a D&D game takes some tweaking. The spell-casters, in particular, are hard to port over because their class abilities assume you will be using Monte's spell system.
SlanderPanic
03-05-07, 10:34 AM I finally got around to buying Untapped Potential this weekend. What kind of turnaround time can I expect on that order?

I know I've taken some people to task for mentioning it in helpful ways (I was wrong to do so; I'm sorry) but I honestly can't wait to get my copy.
angellis_ater
03-05-07, 11:34 AM It depends on if you bought the PDF or the Print version - PDFs are usually delivered immediately while Prints depend on what shipping you choose. This is "standard" with almost all publishers which sell their wares over the Internet.
SlanderPanic
03-05-07, 11:49 AM I bought the print version. Turnaround time is the amount of time it takes for an order to be processed and shipped. My shipping time will be about a week, maybe two via USPS.
Bacris
03-05-07, 12:19 PM To avoid CoC issues, I'll send you an email :)
SlanderPanic
03-12-07, 09:38 PM Just got my copy of Untapped Potential in about an hour ago. I haven't read it in-depth, but I'm pretty impressed, overall. Good job, guys! You've made a believer outta me!
Yadot
03-12-07, 11:04 PM Would you, those that have them, recomend buying Hyperconcious or Untapped Potential to someone that is going to buy only one. Based off of the material density and quality of course.
Tempest Stormwind
03-12-07, 11:08 PM Would you, those that have them, recomend buying Hyperconcious or Untapped Potential to someone that is going to buy only one. Based off of the material density and quality of course.

What are you looking for? They serve slightly different niches.

Hyperconscious has some campaign-altering ideas in it, such as the Mindscapes psionic combat system, an adventure, several dream-related feats, powers and prestige classes (many of which rely on the nature of dreams as described in the book), and a huge array of monsters. On the downside, it has several legacy errors from 3.0 psionics in there if you're looking for them.

Untapped Potential has a few base classes, several prestige classes, more powers and feats, and fewer monsters, plus no adventure. On the other hand, it has no campaign-specific mechanics in it, and it's cheaper.

Generally, I'd suggest Hyperconscious for DMs and UTP for players, unless you're in it for a particular thing (such as the mindscapes system or some of the base classes). I'm obviously biased, though, since I co-wrote one of them.
AntiDjinn
03-12-07, 11:52 PM Although they are for an entirely different system, HERO games' Ultimate Mentalist and Ultimate Mystic contain lots of flavor and background information. The Hero authors appear to put a lot of time into researching psychic and supernatural phenomena. Both books are worth a look if you are a DM looking to go back to the real world sorce material from which D&D psionic concepts are drawn.
Soel Griffin
03-13-07, 03:37 AM Metablades has some good material in it for psychic warriors. Many feats, powers, prcs, items and even epic material.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Netherek 02-12-07, 04:52 AM	I am looking for new material, only have WotC stuff. What is the best? I heard of Hyperconcious, concerning this how well does the Mindscapes incorporate into the XPH? How does it work? Any other material worth batting an eye at? My main use will be in Dark Sun, though Eberron and Planescape to a lessor degree, so I am curious as to how the material would fit in those games.
Milo HoBo 02-12-07, 07:24 AM	A must have is Dreamscarred Press' Untapped Potential. I don't own Hyperconscious, so I can't answer that question. For other material, please refer to a thread in the sticky called "Index: 3.5 Psionics Outside the XPH" http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=544215 Good gaming.
Tempest Stormwind 02-12-07, 09:13 AM	I am looking for new material, only have WotC stuff. What is the best?People generally cite Hyperconscious and Untapped Potential as "best", although there's also Dark Sun 3 (which really isn't a supplement so much as a setting, and a very good one at that) and Metablades Expanded (which I actually don't have, so I can't comment on it).I heard of Hyperconcious, concerning this how well does the Mindscapes incorporate into the XPH? How does it work?Seamlessly. It comes down to one extra roll every time initiative resets.Any other material worth batting an eye at?Untapped Potential comes to mind, although I'm no doubt biased as I co-wrote it. See the links in my sig. Dark Sun 3 (www.athas.org) also is worth looking at for obvious reasons.My main use will be in Dark Sun, though Eberron and Planescape to a lessor degree, so I am curious as to how the material would fit in those games.Hyper makes some assumptions regarding dreams in your campaign that make it difficult to integrate into most games. However, with some reflavoring (Dark Plea -> Dreaming Dark, Shallows -> special effect of Dal Quor manifest zones) it can fit in Eberron just fine. Dark Sun might work with it as well, but you have to be very creative with how to fit that material in. Or, you can just not use the Shallows-related mechanics (a few feats, a few powers, and at least one prestige class) and it becomes setting-neutral. UTP is deliberately campaign-neutral, but includes a mini-adventure-setting as context to tie it all together if you want to introduce it somewhere. I despise Planescape at least as much as its sycophantic zealots love it, though, so I really can't speak on how well it'd fit in Planescape. I'm willing to bet "easily, since nothing really makes sense in that setting anyway, how can this destabilize it further?", but I'm no doubt biased here.
Netherek 02-12-07, 03:59 PM	So with the Mindscapes you make a roll on initiative for a modifier to using Psi? I guess what I am wondering is if it's anything like the Harbingers from the Will and the Way? Does it give a different mental forms that the attack or defense gains a modifier in relation to the opposing defense form? What I want to capture is the way Psi functions in the Dark Sun novels to some degree. Untapped sounds pretty good, seems to have more useful material at the least.
Bacris 02-12-07, 04:08 PM	I'll have to break out my book later, or someone else can post, with regards to Mindscape... but it's not a modifier to using Psi - it's a modifier against the opponent - bonus to attack, bonus to DC, etc. You make a Mindscapes roll, they make a Mindscapes roll, winner gets the associated benefit. Edit - and you choose the benefit by selecting your "resting mode" which determines what your roll modifier is. There are a variety of modes to choose, and since you know what mode you're using, you know what the result is.
Tempest Stormwind 02-12-07, 04:14 PM	So with the Mindscapes you make a roll on initiative for a modifier to using Psi? I guess what I am wondering is if it's anything like the Harbingers from the Will and the Way? Does it give a different mental forms that the attack or defense gains a modifier in relation to the opposing defense form? What I want to capture is the way Psi functions in the Dark Sun novels to some degree. Untapped sounds pretty good, seems to have more useful material at the least.It's not QUITE like the Harbingers, but rather it works like this. You start off in a resting mode. When intiative is rolled, you roll a mode check -- 1d20+your base mode check bonus + a bonus based on your mode (there's also a mindscape modifier -- certain modes work better in certain kinds of mindscape). You get a bonus based on your mode against everyone you beat -- for instance, if you're in Id Feint, you get a bonus on Tumble checks made against anyone you beat on the psionic combat check, while if you were in Body Tank you have DR against those people, and Psychic Subdual gives you a boost on your mode check the following round. Every round, everyone can change their mode before the check -- this lets them adjust their tactics in response to the opponent. The mode can be thought of as a type of psionic combat style, fought by mental avatars in a psychoplane that springs up when hostile psionic creatures get close to each other.
Netherek 02-13-07, 03:15 PM	Thanks for the quick response.
AntiDjinn 02-13-07, 03:27 PM	Green Ronin has a skills and feats psionics system in their Complete Psychics book (the basics of the system are reprinted in The Advanced Player's Manual). This is not, however, a supplement for 3.5 psionics but an alternated system (you could use both in the same game, but why?). It is worth a look, much of it was done right. Much of it is also broken: Your human psychic who concentrates on telepathic feats can have mind switch at first level. Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed and Arcana Evolved features classes such as the Mind Witch and Akashic (taps into a universal memory) which have a psionic feel. The material is good, but it is balanced against itself not against core 3.5; the books essentially replace the PHB and attempting to drop one of Monte's races or classes into a D&D game takes some tweaking. The spell-casters, in particular, are hard to port over because their class abilities assume you will be using Monte's spell system.
SlanderPanic 03-05-07, 10:34 AM	I finally got around to buying Untapped Potential this weekend. What kind of turnaround time can I expect on that order? I know I've taken some people to task for mentioning it in helpful ways (I was wrong to do so; I'm sorry) but I honestly can't wait to get my copy.
angellis_ater 03-05-07, 11:34 AM	It depends on if you bought the PDF or the Print version - PDFs are usually delivered immediately while Prints depend on what shipping you choose. This is "standard" with almost all publishers which sell their wares over the Internet.
SlanderPanic 03-05-07, 11:49 AM	I bought the print version. Turnaround time is the amount of time it takes for an order to be processed and shipped. My shipping time will be about a week, maybe two via USPS.
Bacris 03-05-07, 12:19 PM	To avoid CoC issues, I'll send you an email :)
SlanderPanic 03-12-07, 09:38 PM	Just got my copy of Untapped Potential in about an hour ago. I haven't read it in-depth, but I'm pretty impressed, overall. Good job, guys! You've made a believer outta me!
Yadot 03-12-07, 11:04 PM	Would you, those that have them, recomend buying Hyperconcious or Untapped Potential to someone that is going to buy only one. Based off of the material density and quality of course.
Tempest Stormwind 03-12-07, 11:08 PM	Would you, those that have them, recomend buying Hyperconcious or Untapped Potential to someone that is going to buy only one. Based off of the material density and quality of course. What are you looking for? They serve slightly different niches. Hyperconscious has some campaign-altering ideas in it, such as the Mindscapes psionic combat system, an adventure, several dream-related feats, powers and prestige classes (many of which rely on the nature of dreams as described in the book), and a huge array of monsters. On the downside, it has several legacy errors from 3.0 psionics in there if you're looking for them. Untapped Potential has a few base classes, several prestige classes, more powers and feats, and fewer monsters, plus no adventure. On the other hand, it has no campaign-specific mechanics in it, and it's cheaper. Generally, I'd suggest Hyperconscious for DMs and UTP for players, unless you're in it for a particular thing (such as the mindscapes system or some of the base classes). I'm obviously biased, though, since I co-wrote one of them.
AntiDjinn 03-12-07, 11:52 PM	Although they are for an entirely different system, HERO games' Ultimate Mentalist and Ultimate Mystic contain lots of flavor and background information. The Hero authors appear to put a lot of time into researching psychic and supernatural phenomena. Both books are worth a look if you are a DM looking to go back to the real world sorce material from which D&D psionic concepts are drawn.
Soel Griffin 03-13-07, 03:37 AM	Metablades has some good material in it for psychic warriors. Many feats, powers, prcs, items and even epic material.