Post/Author/DateTime

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ck2001wendt 05-19-07, 07:24 AM

I think a lot about alternative ways to make minor or "focused" psionic or magical characters...characters with a handful of highly-specialized powers that can however be used at full efficiency. Here's one idea I've been kicking around. Latent Talents are more powerful than Host Feats (which are awful) or similar attempts to provide spell-like abilities, (I feel they are similar in power level to Heritage Feats), but do you all consider them generally overpowered, underpowered or otherwise mechanically flawed?: Latent Talent [General] While lacking the formal training or long practice of a dedicated manifester, the character has learned to martial their inner potential to produce a specific psionic effect. Latent Talents who delve further into the mysteries of their Gift tend to focus on one path, such as a Bard improving their Telepathy or a Monk their capacity for Psychometabolism. Prerequisites: 1st Level, +3 Levels for every additional Latent Talent known. The character may have no levels in a manifesting class. Benefit: The character learns one Psionic power of any Discipline as a Psi-Like Ability usable 3/Day. Unlike a standard Psi-Like Ability, any XP costs to manifest the power must still be provided. The maximum Level of the Talent learned may not exceed 1+the number of previous Latent Talents held by the character. The Manifester Level of a Latent Talent and the number of "effective Power Points" spent is equal to the character's Level. A character may choose to manifest less than the maximum effect; any "effective Power Points" left over in this manner dissipate immediately and are lost. Special: Latent Talent may be taken multiple times. A character may choose the same Latent Talent multiple times (increasing the uses/day) or may choose a new Latent Talent. If a character chooses a Latent Talent of higher than 1st Level, they must know a Latent Talent of the same Discipline one level weaker than the new power. Talented Amateur [General] Through practice and experimentation, a character who has expanded their Latent Talent learns that the barriers between their various abilities are more permeable than once thought. Prerequisites: Two or more Latent Talents. Benefit: A character may apply uses of one Latent Talent toward another, so long as that Talent is of a lower Level. Mechanical Realities: -The character is trading off one scarce resource (feats) to gain what is essentially a class ability under other circumstances. -The Character is trading versatility within Psionics and within their character (very few Talents known; all Talents come from one discipline; no general feats for everyday use) for efficiency and focus (all Talents can be manifested at maximum effect). -A character with one Talent will have an advantage in that Talent early on than a straight manifester (manifested more efficiently levels 1/3), but they will not get access to higher level powers until roughly three levels after their manifesting counterpart. -Pre-Epic, a character will be unable to know no more than 6 Talents, including up to one 6th Level Talent, but characters that want higher level powers must use additional feats to reach those higher levels, which could mean sub-optimal selections from the player's perspective. -Characters that advance heavily up a Talent tree will be less likely to multi-class (lacking the feats to enter PrCs). -If a character uses 6 feats to gain 6 Talents, and is able to regularly use those Talents, they will be expending roughly 360 PP, about 90% of a Psion 20 but 200% of a Psychic Warrior or Lurk. However, considering the restrictions on selection, under what circumstances will this actually occur? -Realistically, the largest balance problems I see come from is the hit to full Manifesters with few powers or few PP (Wilders, Psychic Warriors, Lurks) or from classes that have a large of feats (reducing the opportunity cost). The question then becomes (especially for the former) if the other class abilities and access to 6 extra racial feats (not used for the talent) balance the comparative weakness in powers or PP. So, uh, pretty long, but comments? I'm also thinking of splitting this up into Arcane, Divine, and Psionic, whith a character being able to focus on one branch of the "Supernatural", then further focus in one Discipline within that branch (for example a Barbarian who is also a Faith Healer).