Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DM-Scott 06-21-07, 02:04 AM	This is not intended to be a "fix" to the psicrystal in any form. Most of what follows expands on the fact psicrystals gain hit dice (which is considered a mistake by some). The following ideas are being considered for revising some of the aspects of the psi-crystal for my gaming group. Ideas, critisim, and criticism (preferrably constructive) are welcome. Please share your thoughts. Also, since I don't know how to do that spiffy click-drop down box thing, my personal notes will be placed in "qoute" boxes throughout this post where relevant, yet seperate from the actual rule ideas. Most of what follows is a way of making the psicrystal more like an actual construct, following HD progression for a construct more closely, as well as altering the way some of its abilities function. Expanded Psicrystals Psicrystals are diminuative constructs, a crystalized manifestation of psychic power and an aspect of a psychic entity or character's soul made manifest. Psicrystals have the following statistics. Psicrystal Special Abilities: Your manifester level determines the abilities gained by your psicrystal (as described on pg. 22 of the XPH). In the case characters with multiple manifesting classes, add the manifesting levels together and use the total to determine the psicrystal's powers (thus a 3rd level wilder / 2nd level psychic warrior = 5th level manifester for the purpose of psicrystal abilities). HD: A psicrystal has a number of hit dice equal to their master's total manifester level (that is, the combined total of manifesting classes the character possesses). Hit Points: A psicrystal gains 5 hit points at every odd HD, and 6 hit points at every even HD. In addition, it gains 1 bonus hit point for each level in a manifesting class its creator has. Base Attack: A psicrystal has an average base attack bonus (+3/4HD, see pg. 22 PHB) as a normal construct. Saving Throws: A psicrystal's fortitude, reflex, and will saves follow the poor saving throw progression (see pg. 22 PHB) as a normal construct. Abilities: A psicrystal's starting ability scores are: Str 1, Dex 15, Con _, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 10. A psicrystal adds 1 point to an ability score other than Constitution at 4th HD and every four HD after (8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th). When its self-propulsion ability is not activated, a psicrystal has no Strength score and has no Dexterity score. Skills: A psicrystal gains 2 + int modifier skill points for each of its hit dice (4 points at 1st HD) as all constructs. A psycrystal gains two bonus skill points for each manifester level its master has, as well as the "open minded" feat twice at 1st HD (a 1HD psicrystal begins play with 16 skill points). A psicrystal with is self-propulsion ability activated uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its Strength modifier on Climb checks. It has a +8 racial bonus on climb checks and can always choose to take 10, even when rushed or threatened. The skills Listen, Hide, Move Silently, Search, and Spot are considered class skills for the psicrystal, as well as any skills that are considered class skills of its master. Feats: The psicrystal gains the open minded feat twice, as bonus feats. In addition the psicrystal gains 1 feat at 1st HD, and every 3HD after (3rd, 6th, 9th, etc). The psicrystal must qualify for each feat taken. A psicrystal's master does not gain direct benefit from the psicrystal's feats. If a Psicrystal is destroyed, its personality and traits are absorbed back into the deep subconcious of their master's mind, and doesn't reform until the master replenishes his or her power points through rest. The BAB of the psicryastal is now mentioned. Saving throws and skill points are as low as a typical construct, however both gain favorable advantages based on the master's manifester levels. The psicrystal no longer gains an automatic 4 ranks in Listen, Move Silently, Search, and Spot, nor does the psicrystal gain ranks equal to its master's ranks in skills. This means that the psicrystal may loose out potentially on skill points, but also has a greater degree of flexibility in what skills it has, and can allow the psicrystal a more unique identity. The bonus open minded feats are to compensate for the psicrystal's low starting intelligence and skill points, and allows further customization for the psicrystal. :lightbulb The psicrystal's abilities and statistics otherwise remain the same as described in the XPH. Here is a monster style entry for the updated Psicrystals. Psicystal Diminuative Construct Hit Dice: 1d10+1 (6hp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 30ft (6 squares), climb 20ft (4 squares)* Armor Class: 16 (+4 size, +2 dex) Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-17 Attack: _ Full Attack: _ Space/Reach: 1ft / 0ft Special Attacks: _ Special Qualities: Construct traits, hardness 8, psicrystal granted abilities (improved evasion, personality, self-propulsion, share powers, sighted, telepathic link). Saves: Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0 Abilities: Str 1*, Dex 15*, Con _, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 10. Skills: Climb +10*, Hide +14, Listen +4, Move Silently +4, Search +5, Spot +4. Feats: Skill Focus (Search), Open Minded x2 (b) Enviorment: Any Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: _ (Included with master) Treasure: None Alignment: Any (As master) Advancement: _ Level Adjustment: _ COMBAT Construct Traits : A psicrystal has immunity to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, desease, death effects, necromancy effects, mind-affecting effects (charms, cumpulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), and any effect that requires a fortitude save unless it works on objects or is harmless. It is not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. It cannot heal damage, but it can be repaired. Psicrystals do not have the usual construct traits of darkvision and low-light vision. Psicrystal Granted Abilities: The psicrystal described here has the special abilities of self propulsion, alertness, improved evasion, share powers, telepathic link, sighted, and personality, as described on page 21 of the XPH. (If the master chooses not to activate the self-propulsion ability, the psicrystal reverts to a speed of 0 feet and has no Strength score and no Dexterity score.) Skills: A psicrystal (with its self-propulsion ability activated) uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its Strength modifier on Climb checks. It has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened. A psicrystal gains 2 bonus skill points per manifester level of its master. The psicrystal has just enough skill points at 1HD with its bonus skill points and open minded feats to put 4 ranks into its usual skills (listen, move silently, search, and spot). This particular psicrystal has taken skill focus (search) to help its master find stuff he's lost. :D Updated: I added a result of a psicrystal's destruction. The penalties are relatively mild, but currently no penalties exist for psicrystal destruction, and many allow the psicrystal to be reformed within 24 hours, so I placed it at one day (probably 12 hours), and provided some flavoring as to how the psicrystal reforms. Some may find the relatively low penalties for psicrystal destruction in comparison to familiar death too kind. I believe that XP penalties and extended loss of your class features / feats is not very conductive to good gaming. Furthermore, I have a large problem with the Wizard/Sorcerer familiars in the fact they crush their owners upon death (those frail things die easily) and then punish you further by preventing you from resummoning them, or another familiar for "a year and a day". Neither is conductive to good gaming, IMO, and takes away from the fun of the game. Updated: Altered the psicrystal so that it doesn't gain alertness as a bonus feat, because the psicrystal's alertness feat isn't a bonus feat. Alertness can however still be chosen as one of the psicrystals regular feats. Also fixed the psicrystal's creature entry to match the loss of the alertness bonus feat. Note- The master still gains the Alertness feat from the psicrystal as normal. Updated: Fixed some of the wording. Pointed out that except where noted, the psicrystal's BAB, Saves, and Skill progression is following that of a typical construct. Added the psicrystal's bonus skill points to the creature entry. Reworded the psicrystal's bonus class skills from its master. Was considering removing it for balance, but left the effect the same. Thier skill and ability points are somewhat limited, and shouldn't cause a problem in game. Currently the psicrystal's abilities still increase based on manifester levels, so soul-knives don't benefit from them much unless they are multiclassed. Not really sure if I should change that though. Psychic warriors qualified for the psicrystal affinity feat, and so the problem with their abilities not advancing for them is solved by the "manifester levels" adjustment. However soulknives as a class never qualified for the psicrystal to begin with without multiclassing, so this may not be a bad thing. However I'm currently debating with myself as to whether it would be good to try and make it function more smoothly with the soul-knife, or other characters. As the XPH says "Psionic Classes" it seems fairly vague. The feat improved psicrystal suggests (to me) that the psicrystal was intended to be based on manifester level anyway (with the level confusion due to the fact it's written as if it were a class ability of the psion). Improved Psicrystal [Psionic] You can upgrade your psicrystal. Prerequisites: Psicrystal Affinity. Benefit: You can implant another personality fragment in your psicrystal. You gain the benefits of both psicrystal personalities. Your psicrystal’s personality adjusts and becomes a blend between all implanted personality fragments. From now on, when determining the abilities of your psicrystal, treat your manifester level as one higher than your normal manifester level. Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time, you implant a new personality fragment in your psicrystal, from which you derive the noted benefits, and you treat your level as one higher for the purpose of determining your psicrystal’s abilities. I think I may leave it all based on manifester level as well. It seems like the best way to clear up confusion, and keep everything functional. Updated: Fixed minor error on the psicrystal's creature entry.
DM-Scott 06-21-07, 02:25 AM	Hmmm, quick update. Wanted to give some sample psicrystals for fun, and for further examples of this particular ruleset. Lazulian Lazulian is a psicrystal manifested into being by Terayha Stormrunner, a young kinetisist. While she was slowly developing her control over physical reality, and exibited a lot of promise in that field, she was shy and had a difficult time relating to others to carrying on conversations and frindships with others around her. When she spawned Lazulian from deep within her subconcious mind, she found a friend as well as a teacher. Lazulian was the crystilized embodiment of her desire to have friends and companions. Lazulian is still a bit slow by human standards, haven recently been formed. However her personality it strong indeed, and she continously assists her master Terayha with making friends, and instructing her social skills. Lazulian can typically be found hanging like a necklace on Terayha's neck, or hiding throughout her clothing. Lazulian helps her master socially whenever possible. Not only does she help her master communicate with others and guide her in her social graces, but she is also quite adept at judging characters. To protect her master from being hurt by lies, while she instructs her master, she listens out for lies and deceptions and warns her master of them the moment she notices something amiss. Lazulian has all the stats of a standard 1HD psicrystal, with a few adjustments. Her master's total manifester levels equal 1 (Kinetisist). -Feats: Lazulian has taken the skill focus (Sense Motive) feat at 1st HD, which she uses to pick up on ordinary lies during conversations, or sniff out the proverbial rat-fink. -Skills: Lazulian's skill points were placed in Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive (cross class). Spot +4, Listen +4, Sense Motive +5. Despite the fact her master has yet to awaken the art of sensing lies, deceptions, and making character judgements, she has become fairly adept at it to protect her master's feelings and safety from those who would deceive her.
DM-Scott 06-21-07, 04:04 AM	Another sample Psicrystal. This one comes with a character attatched. If you like these rules, feel free to dump this NPC into one of your games or run it as a character. She's open for all. Quarthas Quarthas is a psicrystal who embodies the essence of the hero. Rough, rugged, and fearless. His master tried to reject her heroic tendencies, trying to cast away her thoughtful attitude towards others and "foolish" desires and dreams of being a heroine, and protecting the innocent. Instead of tearing that aspect from her soul, she instead formed a psicrystal out of her inner desires to be a fearless and stalewart person. Quarthas remains bound to his masters wishes, but continues to whisper of what could be, and what great deeds she could do, and always pushes her to help others. His influences seem ignored all to often, however. Quarthas sees the spark of righteousness and heroic fury in his master's heart and soul, and does everything in his power to bring that out in her physically. He has become accustomed to watching her back throughout their time together. Quarthas is identical to an average psicrystal, with the following exceptions. -HD: 6d10+6 -HP: 39hp -Base Attack / Grapple: +4/-13 -Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +4 (+2 insight bonus to all saves) -Abilities: Quarthas increased in wisdom at 4th HD, bringing his wisdom to 11. -Skills: Quarthas began with 4 ranks in Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Gather Information. He gained 3 skill points per HD, and focused on Listen, Spot, and Gather Information. His skills are Diplomacy +2, Listen +9, Sense Motive +9, Spot +9, Gather Information +11, Search +0. Feats: Open Minded x2(b), Investigator, Skill Focus (Sense Motive), Negotiator. Personality: Hero Drassila Knightmares LN Human Psion (Telepath) 6 HD: 6d4+12 (28hp) Abilities: Str 8, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 10. Feats: Overchannel, Talented, Psicrystal Affinity, Expanded Knowledge (Astral Construct), Boost Construct, Psycrystal Containment. Powers (44 PP) 3rd- Crisis of Breath, Hostile Empathic Transfer, Energy Wall. 2nd- Ego Whip, Psionic Suggestion, Brain Lock, Read Thoughts 1st- Astral Construct, Psionic Charm, Entangling Ectoplasm, Energy Ray, Vigor, Inertial Armor. Drassila Knightmares is a woman who would rather assume she is above, or perhaps below such trivial things such as emotions, feelings, and other such things. She began guarding against emotional pain early in her life, as her father awoke her psionic potential early on in her youth. His cold and cruel way of training her mind to be a strong tool for his use left her very empty emotionally, but a strong telepath who was believed to no longer feel natural emotions. She is a fine looking human woman of about 23 years of age, yet her expression generally seems empty and chilled. Drassila attempted to purge her soul of emotions, particularly those that would drive her to be reckless, or care about others. She split her mind and instead of destroying her heroic aspect, gave it an embodied form in Quarthas. Almost like a split personality, Quarthas is like the father figure she never had. Quarthas is someone to look up to, and yet someone to argue and rebel against at times. They form a symbiotic relationship, and truely need one another just to exist in a relatively sane existence. Drassila dresses in ebony colored masterwork studded leather, wears a cotton weaved cloak and hood when traveling, and has a number of odd markings which appear much like tatoo designs across her face which causes her to have an exotic other-worldly appearance. Her eyes are a cold yet bright green, which contrasts her fair and almost pale skin and jet black hair. Drassila considers Quarthas to be her only friend in the world, and the two look after one another, so to speak. Though she does not fear Quarthas being destroyed, as she can recall his essence easily, she cares for his mind as a person and though she seems to care little about emotions as a whole, Quarthas's mood always seems a high concern of hers. As a team Drassila and Quarthas combine their skills nicely. She often uses him to find out many secrets for many reasons. Often dropping him into the inventory of "marks" who she wants information about, or from, as he gathers the info needed while posing as a simple gemstone. Alternatively the pair will use his diminuative frame and self propulsion to act as a spy and lookout when it is nessicary. Quarthas tries to slowly bring out Drassila's emotions again, and help her regain the unity of her mind that was shattered by her father's harsh telepathic training. Whenever he feels the slightest inkling in her heart to act out and act the hero or unyielding spirit, he whispers to her and pushes her in that direction. Despite the fact she outwardly displays an uncaring attitude, even to Quarthas's suggestions and sentiments, she in fact lives for his ideals, thoughts, and his words. However, she isn't really fully aware of it herself so deeply burried within her own mind.
DM-Scott 06-21-07, 06:56 PM	Hmmm. I was hoping I would have gotten some feedback or at least first impressions be somebody by now. Here are some aspects to consider about this particular set of rules for the psicrystal for anyone interested. Psicrystal Progression Psicrystals under this ruleset advance at a more steady pace, and two psicrystals will have similar statistics at equal HD, but a variety of small differinces. It's likely that your psicrystal will actually be more durable than your character is (particularly in the case of pure psions). It has 8 hardness, and will gain 13hp every 2HD it advances, beginning at 6hp. Psion psicrystals will have more HP than they do quite fairly often, though probably less hit points than your average psychic warrior (assuming the psywar doesn't skimp on his/her con bonus), particularly at higher levels. Overall the increased hit points will probably mean the psicrystal is going to be more durable than standard psicrystals. The psicrystal's advancement is completely tied to their master's manifester level. Unless actively advancing your manifester level, the psicrystal will not become more powerful. This is important to keep in mind when dealing with prestige classes which do not advance manifester levels, or with multiclassing. Psicrystal Combat Psicrystals using these rules are easy to stat and could have some uses in combat. The most notable aspect is the use of their base attack bonus to deliver touch powers as per their psicrystal ability gained through increased manifester levels by their masters. A good strategy for a "combat crystal" would be the weapon finesse feat, to help the psicrystal make touch attacks without a terrible penalty in melee. However, beyond delivering touch powers for its master, a psicrystal lacks a lot in being a helpful combatant at any level. Firstly, while its hit points, hardness, and size bonuses help prevent it from being smashed in combat (requiring you to reform it later) it lacks a physical reach. This means that it cannot help flank an opponent, and lacks any attacks of its own. Even if the master wishes it to deliver a touch power, it provokes an attack of opportunity if it tries to touch something because it must move into that creature's space. Psicrystal Usefulness Psicrystals are aspects and archtypes of a manifester's subconcious mind. They are also tools, and allies of their masters. Psicrystals can be used for a variety of fun and useful things. Psicrystals can be useful for their skills. They are small, and don't appear readily threatening. They can be slipped into places easily to gather information, telepathically relaying things such as conversations, looking for documents, or even searching rooms. A psicrystal who is adept at search could be dropped into a room and continually "take 20" to search and entire room of things, relaying any findings to its master telepathically. This can help parties who need to find something but for some reason don't have the time to sneak off and ransack a room (such as a Duke's bedroom), or need to do it discreetly. There are a variety of ways to use your favorite psicrystal. Note: Many of these strategies are perfectly acceptable even when not using the expanded psicrystal rules, as standard psicrystals are potentially capable of doing much of the above anyway. Building Your Piscrystal When building your expanded psicrystal, there are some things to keep in mind. The most customizable features of your psicrystals are skills and feats. This version of psicrystals allows for deeper customization of your psicrystals, however it's very possible that you will actually have fewer overall skill ranks than standard psicrystals. Psicrystals have five class skills (Listen, Hide, Move Silently, Search, and Spot), in addition to any class skills their master has as class skills. They may also take cross class skills using the normal rules for cross class skills (costing twice as much and limited to half ranks). However, a psicrystal can focus on some skills fairly well if built for such. For example, feats such as "negotiator" and "skill focus" which are often considered poor choices for player characters are staples for psicrystals that are intended to be mini-skillmonkies. Example: A gnome egoist wants a psicrystal that can help him with some tasks on a regular basis. His psicrystal spends his 16 skill points on Search, Heal (egoist class skill), Spot, Use Rope (cross class). At 6th Egoist level it has 6HD, so 3 feats. We take skill focus (use rope), skill focus (search), and investigator (our gnomes looses his shoes far too often, and needs help finding them. Good for finding a hidden gem laying under a skull too). We started with 16 skill points at 1st HD, gained 3 skill points for HD 2, 3, 4, 5, and 4 at 6th (because the psicrystal's intelligence rose to 8) for a total of 32 skill points. We place 9 skill points in each of our chosen skills, bringing us to 9 ranks in Heal, Search, Spot, and 4.5 in Use Rope (cross class). At 4th HD he improved the psicrystal's dexterity by 1 point, bring it to 16 when self-propulsion is activated. Our psicrystal's skills are Heal +9, Search +13 (-1 Int, +5 feats), Spot +11 (+2 alertness feat), and Use Rope +10 (+3 dex, +3 feat). Our gnome has his psicrystal search for things for him, tend to wounded allies who have fallen in battle when no one can reach them, tie knots, ropes, and the gnome's shoe strings, and keep a watchful eye out for trouble or oddities. That's about it for right now. I may add some more stuff later and make sure the rules are clear on certain things. If this works out well in our current campaign, I'm considering reworking the way familiars are handled in the PHB as well. Familiars are fun and cool, but some of the ways they are handled in the rules are a bit odd, and familiars are often considered a weaknesses by a lot of players, rather than a boon (particularly in how easy it is for a familiar to be killed, the harsh XP penalties involved, and the dull / stupid year and a day rule before being able to summon another). Peace out, Game on. :cool:
DM-Scott 06-22-07, 12:08 AM	Updated the original ruleset I posted with an idea on what happens to a psicrystal upon its destruction and how long a character must wait before the psicrystal reforms.
DM-Scott 06-22-07, 03:46 PM	Updated to fit even more closely to the core rules. Feats coming soon.
Racinante 06-22-07, 05:12 PM	Expanded Psicrystals HD: A psicrystal has a number of hit dice equal to their master's total manifester level (that is, the combined total of manifesting classes the character possesses). Here we run into one of the odd nuances in the XPH. According to the psicrystal entry Under Psion: Psicrystal abilities are based on the owner's levels in psionic classes. This allows a Soul Knife's levels to count for advancing the abilities of the psicrystal. However gaining one is still subject to: Psicrystal Affinity Prerequisites:Manifester level 1st. Unfortunately, the monster entry states: A psicrystal's characteristics depend on its master. Its Hit Dice are equal to its master's Hit Dice (counting only levels in psion or wilder)... Therefore, a 1st level Psion / 19th level Soul Knife with a psicrystal has one that has one HD, natural armor adjustment of +9, and int adjustment of +9, and all of the special abilities through channel power. My contention is that since A psicrystal is a fragment of a psionic character's personality, brought into physical form and a semblance of life It's hit dice should be equal to its character level, since a character, once it acquires the psionic subtype, is considered a psionic character, even if he never take levels in a psionic class. Expanded Psicrystals Hit Points: A psicrystal gains 5 hit points at every odd HD, and 6 hit points at every even HD. In addition, it gains 1 bonus hit point for each level in a manifesting class its creator has. Why the bonus hit point? An easier way to say this would be, the psicrystal has average hit points plus one hp / master's manifester level. Base Attack: A psicrystal gains a base attack bonus as a psychic warrior of equal level (+3/4 BAB per HD). Base attack as a standard construct (+3/4 BAB per HD). Saving Throws: A psicrystal's fortitude, reflex, and will saves follow the poor saving throw progression (see pg. 22 PHB). Saving throws as a standard construct... In addition, the psicrystal gains an insight bonus to its saving throws equal to 1/3 its creator's levels in manifesting classes. Again, why the fixation on manifesting classes? Also, this will give the construct saves equal or better than a dragon or monk at each level. Why? Insight is so rare that the fact that it is not part of their base saves will rarely come into play. Abilities... Need to define how the other abilities are determined. Skills: ... As construct.... A psycrystal gains two bonus skill points for each level in a manifesting class its creator has, as well the "open minded" feat twice at 1st HD (a 1HD psicrystal begins play with 16 skill points). Why not give the psicrystal the same mental stats as its master and let that drive the amount of skill points. Why the example psicrystal has an intelligence of 6 is beyond me, since the Inevitables (intelligent constructs) generally have at least a base of 10. A more intelligent master should have a more skillful psicrystal. In addition, any skill its creator has as a class skill is also a class skill for the psicrystal. This could get tricky. If a multiclassing psion picks up levels in rogue, for example, he can only pick up psion only skills at a cost of 2/1 for his rogue levels, but the psicrystal can get them 1/1. Is this what is intended? Feats: The psicrystal gains the open minded feat twice, as bonus feats. In addition the psicrystal gains 1 feat at 1st HD, and every 3HD after (3rd, 6th, 9th, etc). The psicrystal must qualify for each feat taken. Why does the psicrystal need bonus feats or extra skill points? Remember that the presence of a psicrystal should not change the challenge rating of the owner. If a Psicrystal is destroyed, its personality and traits are absorbed back into the deep subconcious of their master's mind, and the psicrystal's master must wait one day as the psicrystal regains its physical form, which takes about 12 in game hours. How about when the manifester replenishes his power point reserve and obtains psionic focus?
DM-Scott 06-22-07, 05:37 PM	Here are some feats designed specifically for psicrystals. Warning: These feats are test versions. They have not yet been extensively testing for balance issues, and are in prototype and idea stages. Psionic Gift (Psicrystal) A psicrystal with this feat learns to channel its psionic powers to other creatures with psionic power. Prerequisites: A power point reserve. Benefit: As a standard action this psicrystal may expend its psionic focus to spend a number of power points equal to half its HD or less (minimum 1) to bestow the same amount of power points to another psionic character (usually its master). The psicrystal may not spend more PP than it has. It gains its power points back through rest when its master does. Power Stone (Psicrystal) This psicrystal gains the ability to manifest powers. Prerequisites: A power point reserve, HD 3+. Benefit: A psicrystal with this feat gains a manifester level equal to its hit dice. In addition the psicrystal gains a highest level power known equal to 1/3 the psicrystal's HD +1 (2nd at 3HD, 3rd at 6HD, etc). This feat does not grant a psicrystal any power points or powers known from this feat, and the psicrystal may not manifest powers from items (such as power stones and dojres). Psychic Bomb This psicrystal can release a burst of raw psychokinetic energy, however this causes the psicrystal's physical structure to crack and break apart under the stress. Prerequisites: A power point reserve. Benefit: As a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, this psicrystal may choose to detonate itself, releasing a burst of psychokinetic force to everything within a 10ft burst centered on its location. This burst deals 1d4 points of psychokinetic damage per psicrystal HD. The psicrystal suffers 3d4 damage per HD when this occures (the psicrystal's hardness does not apply). Psychic Nova The power of the psicrystal's Psychic Bomb ability increases in destructive power. Prerequisites: A power point reserve, Psychic Bomb. Benefit: The psicrystal increases the damage dealt by the Psychic Bomb feat by 1 per HD for those caught in the burst radius, and 2 per HD to itself. Gonna have to test these a bit. For those that don't understand the Power Stone feat, it requires a lot of other feats to make it work properly. Wild Talent + Power Stone + Expanded Knowledge can get a Psicrystal a power to manifest. However it must use power points from feats such as Wild Talent and Psionic Talent to manifest these powers. The Bomb & Nova feats are intended to easily "kill" your psicrystal, which under this ruleset means you have to wait 12 hours to reform the psicrystal, and requires a power point reserve to be taken. So it would be about 3rd level before it would be available. However, I fear these may be a bit over the top / too much for the most part. Each could possibly give a manifester more unique abilities than they really warrent, as they master isn't spending their feats for any of these.
DM-Scott 06-22-07, 06:39 PM	Ahhh, thank you Racinante. I'm really glad you decided to give your thoughts on this. I'm just one person and as any psion might say, more minds are better. This is a work in progress, and I'm still figuring out the kinks in it. So your input is greatly appriciated. As for manifester levels... I was basing the manifesting requirement off of two things. Firstly, the requirement for the psicrystal is manifester level 1, and secondly 3 out of the 4 base classes in the psionics handbook are manifesting classes - with soul knife being odd-man-out. :( I was trying to remain cautious about who exactly got a psicrystal, and how its powers advanced. It seemed like tying its abilities to manifester classes made it less likely to be terribly abused. :plotting: Yes I can change the wording for the psicrystal's BAB. The insight bonus to the saving throws could indeed be removed I suppose. It was included before due to the fact they have terrible saving throws and things at higher levels have much high better saving throws through ability scores, magic items, and a variety of other effects. The hit point bonus is perhaps redundant, but works the same either way, and provides relatively mild increase in hit points. Also the way you suggest it being said would be better, because it's more loving to the prestige classes. I'll list their abilities, and I need to make a note that increasing their strength and dexterity at every 4th HD affects their scores when under self-propulsion's effect. As for the psicrystal's intelligence and skill points. A psicrystal is a fraction of a person's mind / persona, an embodies an archtype from within the psion's mind like a collective conciousness (the way I see it, I could be wrong or perhaps thinking too deeply). A psicrystal has its own "mind" essentially, which is why its wis / cha scores are 10, but begins fairly weak minded as far as intelligence goes. They gain increased intelligence as they advance anyway. Also, it functions as a double edged sword focused on balanced. Since its skill points are essentially set, beyond feats (such as more open minded feats), it will have a set amount regardless of the master's scores (meaning having a lower INT won't hurt your crystal, nor will having a higher INT give them an advantage). If a multiclassing psion picks up levels in rogue, for example, he can only pick up psion only skills at a cost of 2/1 for his rogue levels, but the psicrystal can get them 1/1. Is this what is intended? Hmmm, not quite. I may have to word this a little more carefully. Yes, as written I believe you can do that. Though it sounds like it could be abused. I may need to rework it so that it is a little more limited. As for the bonus skill points and feats the psicrystal gains (including other feats the psicrystal gains), these are not carried over to the master themselves. These shouldn't have any affect on the challenge rating of the master. How about when the manifester replenishes his power point reserve and obtains psionic focus? That's not a bad idea. I think I'll alter it so that it reforms when they get their 8 hours of rest.
DM-Scott 06-22-07, 07:35 PM	Updated, yet again.
DM-Scott 06-25-07, 03:39 AM	Another minor update. Currently trying this ruleset in a game that started at 1st level yesturday. I may post some information as to how it effects the game. It hasn't affected the game at all yet. Also, I believe I will write something like that for familairs of our poor wizard and sorcerer friends to enjoy in the near future. :)