Bend Reality - What's It Good For? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bend Reality - What's It Good For? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
necrosnoop110
03-21-08, 03:40 PM Seems like a lot of XP for recreating other mid to low level powers. I guess the "produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the above effects" bit could be used creatively. It always seems that this power makes it to the top of great power lists and you always see it in builds. Call me stupid but I'm having trouble seeing it worth the XP drain.

Q: Can someone explain to me why someone should take this power over another 8th level power?

And as a secondary question why the (but not a spell) crap? If it's cool to "produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the above effects" than why not appropriately leveled spells?

Bend Reality
Clairsentience
Level: Psion/wilder 8
Display: Visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: See text
Target, Effect, or Area: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: None; see text
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 15, XP

Bend reality lets you create nearly any type of effect. For example, bend reality can do any of the following:
* Duplicate any psion power of 6th level or lower, provided the power is not of a discipline prohibited to you.
* Duplicate any other power (but not a spell) of 5th level or lower, provided the power is not of a discipline prohibited to you.
* Duplicate any psion power of 5th level or lower, even if it’s of a prohibited discipline.
* Duplicate any other power (but not a spell) of 4th level or lower, even if it’s of a prohibited discipline.
* Undo the harmful effects of many powers, such as psionic dominate, geas/quest, or insanity.
* Produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the above effects, such as a single creature automatically hitting on its next attack or taking a -8 penalty on its next saving throw.

A duplicated power allows saving throws and power resistance as normal (but the save DC is for a 8th-level power).

When bend reality duplicates a power that has an XP cost, you must pay that cost or 300 XP, whichever is more. When bend reality duplicates a spell with a material component, you must pay additional XP equal to the value of the material component divided by 5.

XP Cost: 300 XP or more (see above).

(From 3.5 SRD (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#bend-reality))
Lycanthromancer
03-21-08, 03:56 PM I've never taken bend reality or reality revision either one, as they should be A.) lower level, and B.) the latter should be augments for the former.

That, and I hate expending XP for quicky-effects. Sure, things like incarnate, contingency and psychic reformation are awesome, and genesis can be used in myriad useful and creative ways, but that's about the end of the XP-derailment goes. Item creation can be useful as well (but that's definitely not a plus for psionics, as it's hard to actually create anything useful).

So, yeah, I agree. They're not that great, really.
GuardianLurker
03-22-08, 12:29 AM Well, for starters, bend reality suffers from the common "cut-n-paste-from-spell" problem. In this case limited wish. And I haven't heard many people complain about the utility of that.

However, bend reality doesn't have many of the limitations. In particular, psions don't have prohibited disciplines. Seer-only powers aren't on an egoist's power list, but they aren't prohibited, as an example. In some sense, it grants you a one-time use of Expanded Knowledge for a cost of 300 xp.

By clause:
1) Powers of 6th or lower that are on a psions power list (including discipline powers).
2) Powers of another psionic class that are 5th level or lower.
3) (By inference) Spells of 5th level or lower.
4) Not applicable.
5) Still in effect. Note that this is the closest psionics gets to heal, stone to flesh, and other mid-level remedy spells that have no psionic equivalent.
6) Still in effect.
Lycanthromancer
03-22-08, 12:58 AM By this level, you're better off using psionic contingency + psychic reformation if you need a power that badly. I suppose bend reality would be okay in an extreme emergency, but still.

Considering that you can have multiple psionic contingencies up (read the power text), this isn't so bad.
Tiarn
03-22-08, 01:49 AM I would have argued for having a power stone of bend reality for those emergencies when you really need a power but didn't think ahead (for the contingency plan). However, the one time I had a psion who carried one around it went unused for the entire campaign because there was always something else I could come up with on the fly. So, yeah, I'd say this is pretty much one of those powers that rarely, if ever, gets used.
AntiDjinn
03-22-08, 03:16 AM Bend Reality is good for saving slots, but that is more of an issue for the wilder than the psion. One power slot spent on Bend Reality can stand in for several lower level powers, though by the level at which it is available most smart psions have a wide enough breadth of powers to never need it. If you are using it all the time then either you made some poor power choices or your DM is targeting your specific deficiencies.

It can also be a time saver: Reformation takes 10 minutes. Contingency Reformation has to be set up in advance (and also takes 10 minutes to set up) and you have to pay the XP cost for both Contingency and Psychic Reformation whether or not it winds up going off before it expires. The XP for Contingency Reformation will generally be lower than the price of Bend Reality, unless you reform more than 5 character levels.

Bend Reality can be an option for a wilder, though not a strong enough one to make me want to play a wilder. You get very few power picks as a wilder, and tend to concentrate on those that augment or have strong ML-dependent parameters. For example, it is relatively unlikely a wilder will have Adapt Body since it doesn't augment and only duration is dependent on ML, and it is has relatively low utility. But when you need it, you need it.

The power might also work out better for an erudite. Normally when you have allocated your UPD you are down to those powers + your items. Even Reformation or Contingency-Reformation don't help: Just because you changed some of your powers for different powers does not cause your UPD slots to re-allocate to the new power choices. But if one of the powers you have manifest is Bend Reality then you still have plenty of options: you can use any power you know (or don't), subject to the normal restrictions of BR, if you pay the XP cost.

Over all though, it is one of those powers you hope another character will take so it might be used to benefit the party in some unforeseen situation without costing you anything.
necrosnoop110
03-22-08, 10:41 AM Well, for starters, bend reality suffers from the common "cut-n-paste-from-spell" problem. In this case limited wish. And I haven't heard many people complain about the utility of that.

However, bend reality doesn't have many of the limitations. In particular, psions don't have prohibited disciplines. Seer-only powers aren't on an egoist's power list, but they aren't prohibited, as an example. In some sense, it grants you a one-time use of Expanded Knowledge for a cost of 300 xp.

From 3.5 SRD Discipline: Every psion must decide at 1st level which psionic discipline he will specialize in. Choosing a discipline provides a psion with access to the class skills associated with that discipline (see above), as well as the powers restricted to that discipline. However, choosing a discipline also means that the psion cannot learn powers that are restricted to other disciplines. He can’t even use such powers by employing psionic items.

From 3.5 SRD Bend reality lets you create nearly any type of effect. For example, bend reality can do any of the following:
* Duplicate any psion power of 6th level or lower, provided the power is not of a discipline prohibited to you.

Doesn't this show that Psions do have dedicated disciplines and thus prohibited/restricted disciplines?
GuardianLurker
03-22-08, 12:49 PM Discipline: Every psion must decide at 1st level which psionic discipline he will specialize in. Choosing a discipline provides a psion with access to the class skills associated with that discipline (see above), as well as the powers restricted to that discipline. However, choosing a discipline also means that the psion cannot learn powers that are restricted to other disciplines. He can’t even use such powers by employing psionic items.

OK. Missed that; I was a little sleepy and brain-fuzzed.

I guess that means no restoration for nomads, then. I still think the powers on the general list are available, even if they aren't in the psions specialty. To use DSP terminology, devotion powers are off-limits, but discipline powers (on the general list) aren't.

Still, some things are still not possible with psionic reformation; you can't (in the core rules) revivfy/raise someone who's been dead for more than a few minutes without recourse to bend reality (or a divine caster), for instance.

I've also always thought psionic reformation was underpriced, but that's a different kettle of fish.
CrimsonDeath
03-22-08, 01:48 PM Still, some things are still not possible with psionic reformation; you can't (in the core rules) revivfy/raise someone who's been dead for more than a few minutes without recourse to bend reality (or a divine caster), for instance.

You can if you burn enough XP...
Lycanthromancer
03-22-08, 02:16 PM The one reason to get bend reality, I suppose, is to set up a contingency or psychic reformation or some other lower-level power with a long manifesting time as a standard action.

You can imitate psychic reformation as a standard action, paying the XP cost for pr or for bend reality, whichever is more. Might be worth it if you get stuck in a situation where 'have X combination of feats and powers or DIE' is a likely scenario.

Otherwise, I think I'd rather just use a bend reality power stone.
AntiDjinn
03-22-08, 05:42 PM It is probably a stone power. 300 XP is not a lot, but it adds up if you use the power frequently. So you want to use it sparingly. And if you are planning to use it sparingly then you might as well not devote a power slot to it and just have in in a powerstone.

Which brings us to another potential use: Making powerstones for sale to manifesters who are trying to be smart about their power slots. Not exactly a PC adventurer way to earn cash though. In a day of adventuring you can haul away way more in loot than the market value of a Bend Reality stone and will actually earn XP doing so rather than spending it.
Suspect_Unusual
03-23-08, 03:02 PM Whoops! Misread posts above. Carry on. o_O

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
necrosnoop110 03-21-08, 03:40 PM	Seems like a lot of XP for recreating other mid to low level powers. I guess the "produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the above effects" bit could be used creatively. It always seems that this power makes it to the top of great power lists and you always see it in builds. Call me stupid but I'm having trouble seeing it worth the XP drain. Q: Can someone explain to me why someone should take this power over another 8th level power? And as a secondary question why the (but not a spell) crap? If it's cool to "produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the above effects" than why not appropriately leveled spells? Bend Reality Clairsentience Level: Psion/wilder 8 Display: Visual Manifesting Time: 1 standard action Range: See text Target, Effect, or Area: See text Duration: See text Saving Throw: None; see text Power Resistance: Yes Power Points: 15, XP Bend reality lets you create nearly any type of effect. For example, bend reality can do any of the following: * Duplicate any psion power of 6th level or lower, provided the power is not of a discipline prohibited to you. * Duplicate any other power (but not a spell) of 5th level or lower, provided the power is not of a discipline prohibited to you. * Duplicate any psion power of 5th level or lower, even if it’s of a prohibited discipline. * Duplicate any other power (but not a spell) of 4th level or lower, even if it’s of a prohibited discipline. * Undo the harmful effects of many powers, such as psionic dominate, geas/quest, or insanity. * Produce any other effect whose power level is in line with the above effects, such as a single creature automatically hitting on its next attack or taking a -8 penalty on its next saving throw. A duplicated power allows saving throws and power resistance as normal (but the save DC is for a 8th-level power). When bend reality duplicates a power that has an XP cost, you must pay that cost or 300 XP, whichever is more. When bend reality duplicates a spell with a material component, you must pay additional XP equal to the value of the material component divided by 5. XP Cost: 300 XP or more (see above). (From 3.5 SRD (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPowersAtoC.html#bend-reality))
Lycanthromancer 03-21-08, 03:56 PM	I've never taken bend reality or reality revision either one, as they should be A.) lower level, and B.) the latter should be augments for the former. That, and I hate expending XP for quicky-effects. Sure, things like incarnate, contingency and psychic reformation are awesome, and genesis can be used in myriad useful and creative ways, but that's about the end of the XP-derailment goes. Item creation can be useful as well (but that's definitely not a plus for psionics, as it's hard to actually create anything useful). So, yeah, I agree. They're not that great, really.
GuardianLurker 03-22-08, 12:29 AM	Well, for starters, bend reality suffers from the common "cut-n-paste-from-spell" problem. In this case limited wish. And I haven't heard many people complain about the utility of that. However, bend reality doesn't have many of the limitations. In particular, psions don't have prohibited disciplines. Seer-only powers aren't on an egoist's power list, but they aren't prohibited, as an example. In some sense, it grants you a one-time use of Expanded Knowledge for a cost of 300 xp. By clause: 1) Powers of 6th or lower that are on a psions power list (including discipline powers). 2) Powers of another psionic class that are 5th level or lower. 3) (By inference) Spells of 5th level or lower. 4) Not applicable. 5) Still in effect. Note that this is the closest psionics gets to heal, stone to flesh, and other mid-level remedy spells that have no psionic equivalent. 6) Still in effect.
Lycanthromancer 03-22-08, 12:58 AM	By this level, you're better off using psionic contingency + psychic reformation if you need a power that badly. I suppose bend reality would be okay in an extreme emergency, but still. Considering that you can have multiple psionic contingencies up (read the power text), this isn't so bad.
Tiarn 03-22-08, 01:49 AM	I would have argued for having a power stone of bend reality for those emergencies when you really need a power but didn't think ahead (for the contingency plan). However, the one time I had a psion who carried one around it went unused for the entire campaign because there was always something else I could come up with on the fly. So, yeah, I'd say this is pretty much one of those powers that rarely, if ever, gets used.
AntiDjinn 03-22-08, 03:16 AM	Bend Reality is good for saving slots, but that is more of an issue for the wilder than the psion. One power slot spent on Bend Reality can stand in for several lower level powers, though by the level at which it is available most smart psions have a wide enough breadth of powers to never need it. If you are using it all the time then either you made some poor power choices or your DM is targeting your specific deficiencies. It can also be a time saver: Reformation takes 10 minutes. Contingency Reformation has to be set up in advance (and also takes 10 minutes to set up) and you have to pay the XP cost for both Contingency and Psychic Reformation whether or not it winds up going off before it expires. The XP for Contingency Reformation will generally be lower than the price of Bend Reality, unless you reform more than 5 character levels. Bend Reality can be an option for a wilder, though not a strong enough one to make me want to play a wilder. You get very few power picks as a wilder, and tend to concentrate on those that augment or have strong ML-dependent parameters. For example, it is relatively unlikely a wilder will have Adapt Body since it doesn't augment and only duration is dependent on ML, and it is has relatively low utility. But when you need it, you need it. The power might also work out better for an erudite. Normally when you have allocated your UPD you are down to those powers + your items. Even Reformation or Contingency-Reformation don't help: Just because you changed some of your powers for different powers does not cause your UPD slots to re-allocate to the new power choices. But if one of the powers you have manifest is Bend Reality then you still have plenty of options: you can use any power you know (or don't), subject to the normal restrictions of BR, if you pay the XP cost. Over all though, it is one of those powers you hope another character will take so it might be used to benefit the party in some unforeseen situation without costing you anything.
necrosnoop110 03-22-08, 10:41 AM	Well, for starters, bend reality suffers from the common "cut-n-paste-from-spell" problem. In this case limited wish. And I haven't heard many people complain about the utility of that. However, bend reality doesn't have many of the limitations. In particular, psions don't have prohibited disciplines. Seer-only powers aren't on an egoist's power list, but they aren't prohibited, as an example. In some sense, it grants you a one-time use of Expanded Knowledge for a cost of 300 xp. From 3.5 SRD Discipline: Every psion must decide at 1st level which psionic discipline he will specialize in. Choosing a discipline provides a psion with access to the class skills associated with that discipline (see above), as well as the powers restricted to that discipline. However, choosing a discipline also means that the psion cannot learn powers that are restricted to other disciplines. He can’t even use such powers by employing psionic items. From 3.5 SRD Bend reality lets you create nearly any type of effect. For example, bend reality can do any of the following: * Duplicate any psion power of 6th level or lower, provided the power is not of a discipline prohibited to you. Doesn't this show that Psions do have dedicated disciplines and thus prohibited/restricted disciplines?
GuardianLurker 03-22-08, 12:49 PM	Discipline: Every psion must decide at 1st level which psionic discipline he will specialize in. Choosing a discipline provides a psion with access to the class skills associated with that discipline (see above), as well as the powers restricted to that discipline. However, choosing a discipline also means that the psion cannot learn powers that are restricted to other disciplines. He can’t even use such powers by employing psionic items. OK. Missed that; I was a little sleepy and brain-fuzzed. I guess that means no restoration for nomads, then. I still think the powers on the general list are available, even if they aren't in the psions specialty. To use DSP terminology, devotion powers are off-limits, but discipline powers (on the general list) aren't. Still, some things are still not possible with psionic reformation; you can't (in the core rules) revivfy/raise someone who's been dead for more than a few minutes without recourse to bend reality (or a divine caster), for instance. I've also always thought psionic reformation was underpriced, but that's a different kettle of fish.
CrimsonDeath 03-22-08, 01:48 PM	Still, some things are still not possible with psionic reformation; you can't (in the core rules) revivfy/raise someone who's been dead for more than a few minutes without recourse to bend reality (or a divine caster), for instance. You can if you burn enough XP...
Lycanthromancer 03-22-08, 02:16 PM	The one reason to get bend reality, I suppose, is to set up a contingency or psychic reformation or some other lower-level power with a long manifesting time as a standard action. You can imitate psychic reformation as a standard action, paying the XP cost for pr or for bend reality, whichever is more. Might be worth it if you get stuck in a situation where 'have X combination of feats and powers or DIE' is a likely scenario. Otherwise, I think I'd rather just use a bend reality power stone.
AntiDjinn 03-22-08, 05:42 PM	It is probably a stone power. 300 XP is not a lot, but it adds up if you use the power frequently. So you want to use it sparingly. And if you are planning to use it sparingly then you might as well not devote a power slot to it and just have in in a powerstone. Which brings us to another potential use: Making powerstones for sale to manifesters who are trying to be smart about their power slots. Not exactly a PC adventurer way to earn cash though. In a day of adventuring you can haul away way more in loot than the market value of a Bend Reality stone and will actually earn XP doing so rather than spending it.
Suspect_Unusual 03-23-08, 03:02 PM	Whoops! Misread posts above. Carry on. o_O