Adding 2 lower level powers instead of one higher level one [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adding 2 lower level powers instead of one higher level one [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sarmoon
07-01-07, 10:39 PM All,
Are there any rules in regards to taking multiple, lower level powers instead of one higher one? For example, a 7th level Pschic Warrior is awarded one new 3rd level power. Could that player opt to take two second level powers instead? It would seem unfair to only be able to take on lower level power in exchange.
calronmoonflower
07-01-07, 10:57 PM You cannot do it under the rules as written.

There is a good reason for this. Lower level powers can be augmented for higher level effects.
sarmoon
07-01-07, 11:15 PM I can appreciate your point, but there is a precedence here. In Dragon Magic, a Sorceror can make a pact with a Red Dragon to give up one 3rd level spell slot. In return, the character receives 3 first and 1 second level spell in return as innate abilities. Assuming this is to be considered an even exchange (Dragon's certainly aren't going to be on the short end of anything), why shouldn't there be an equation for choosing lower level spells.

Secondly, if you can augment a lower level power to be better than a higher level power, then questions come in to play about whether or not the items were play tested before being released. You can augment the higher level power as well - shouldn't the pay off be better than a lower level power?
Azzy
07-01-07, 11:15 PM All,
Are there any rules in regards to taking multiple, lower level powers instead of one higher one? For example, a 7th level Pschic Warrior is awarded one new 3rd level power. Could that player opt to take two second level powers instead? It would seem unfair to only be able to take on lower level power in exchange.

No, there aren't any such rules.
InkBlot
07-01-07, 11:41 PM Secondly, if you can augment a lower level power to be better than a higher level power, then questions come in to play about whether or not the items were play tested before being released. You can augment the higher level power as well - shouldn't the pay off be better than a lower level power?
In psionics, you get what you pay for. If you pay 11 power points, you get something that's roughly equal to a 6th level spell -- whether you're manifesting an unaugmented 6th level power or an augmented 2nd level power.

Power levels are there because some effects shouldn't be in the game, even in an extremely weakened form, before a certain level. Other times, higher level powers are there because they would be mechanically awkward as an augment of a lower level power. Often it's a combination of both.

You can already use your higher level power-known slots to learn lower level powers. A 20th level psion could know nothing but 1st level powers if he wanted. Thirty-six 1st level powers. He wouldn't really be too bad off either. If he took astral construct or psionic charm, and focused otherwise on ray powers (Weapon Focus, Improved Crit, Power Specialization, Split Ray, et cetera).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sarmoon 07-01-07, 10:39 PM	All, Are there any rules in regards to taking multiple, lower level powers instead of one higher one? For example, a 7th level Pschic Warrior is awarded one new 3rd level power. Could that player opt to take two second level powers instead? It would seem unfair to only be able to take on lower level power in exchange.
calronmoonflower 07-01-07, 10:57 PM	You cannot do it under the rules as written. There is a good reason for this. Lower level powers can be augmented for higher level effects.
sarmoon 07-01-07, 11:15 PM	I can appreciate your point, but there is a precedence here. In Dragon Magic, a Sorceror can make a pact with a Red Dragon to give up one 3rd level spell slot. In return, the character receives 3 first and 1 second level spell in return as innate abilities. Assuming this is to be considered an even exchange (Dragon's certainly aren't going to be on the short end of anything), why shouldn't there be an equation for choosing lower level spells. Secondly, if you can augment a lower level power to be better than a higher level power, then questions come in to play about whether or not the items were play tested before being released. You can augment the higher level power as well - shouldn't the pay off be better than a lower level power?
Azzy 07-01-07, 11:15 PM	All, Are there any rules in regards to taking multiple, lower level powers instead of one higher one? For example, a 7th level Pschic Warrior is awarded one new 3rd level power. Could that player opt to take two second level powers instead? It would seem unfair to only be able to take on lower level power in exchange. No, there aren't any such rules.
InkBlot 07-01-07, 11:41 PM	Secondly, if you can augment a lower level power to be better than a higher level power, then questions come in to play about whether or not the items were play tested before being released. You can augment the higher level power as well - shouldn't the pay off be better than a lower level power? In psionics, you get what you pay for. If you pay 11 power points, you get something that's roughly equal to a 6th level spell -- whether you're manifesting an unaugmented 6th level power or an augmented 2nd level power. Power levels are there because some effects shouldn't be in the game, even in an extremely weakened form, before a certain level. Other times, higher level powers are there because they would be mechanically awkward as an augment of a lower level power. Often it's a combination of both. You can already use your higher level power-known slots to learn lower level powers. A 20th level psion could know nothing but 1st level powers if he wanted. Thirty-six 1st level powers. He wouldn't really be too bad off either. If he took astral construct or psionic charm, and focused otherwise on ray powers (Weapon Focus, Improved Crit, Power Specialization, Split Ray, et cetera).