casting through your psucrystal [Archive] - Wizards Community

casting through your psucrystal [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Daeva
12-27-07, 05:00 PM how can it be done? someone in my group is doing it and he and the GM wont tell me how and are accusing me of meta gaming for asking. and im talking at levle 3 and using things like.. psionic charm and energy blasts through the psicrystal while hiding around multiple corners and stuff
hovnarr
12-27-07, 05:39 PM Alert!! Your DM is a moron. :eek: Sorry, I meant to say that more nicely. Your DM is a moron, bless his heart.

You can manifest touch powers at level 3. You have to be level 15 to channel powers in general through the psicrystal. Both are features of the psicrystal itself. See "psicrystals" under the Psion class description.
The_Mess
12-27-07, 05:47 PM If you mean, using the psicrystal as a surrogate caster, so that he can deliver touch attacks while being safely away from danger, he can channel touch powers at third, but nothing else (no rays, no energy missile, etc.) at third.

See the psicrystal chart (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm#psicrystals).

Channel Power is a level 15 psicrystal ability. You can get it a bit earlier by taking Improved Psicrystal a few times, but best case scenario at level 3 (human, psychic warrior, all feats devoted to it) would only give you a level 8 psicrystal then. Even taking flaws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterFlaws.htm) would only get you to level 10 crystal.

And, no, it's not metagaming to ask out of character how someone is doing something. You cannot metagame out of character. Now, if your character was asking how he did something, it might arguably be, though if he was a psion, he would at least know it was unusual for someone so inexperienced. It's no more metagaming than a martial artist asking another, "How did you pull off that move?"
jbsaff
12-27-07, 05:50 PM how can it be done? someone in my group is doing it and he and the GM wont tell me how and are accusing me of meta gaming for asking.

Wow. So, according to your GM, knowing the rules is now "meta gaming"?

In that case, enjoy abusing a willful and total ignorance to all rules, declaring that anyone who opposes you is meta-gaming. All attempts to stop you or ask questions should be met with an immediate demand to stop meta-gaming. I suggest flying about the battlefield, giving yourself an AC (normal, touch, and flat-footed) and saves of over +100, and completely ignore the manifester cap and power point pool when manifesting powers.

Alternatively, ask the GM to explain how this trick is working, step by step. You want to make it clear that you "just thought it was cool" and "want to know how to set that up for another character later". Hopefully, if your GM isn't a jerk, he/she will sit down, attempt to explain, and realize that the other player isn't following the rules.
Daeva
12-27-07, 08:02 PM well... the guy doing it is the GMs boyfriend (female GM) and was already allowed to take a psionic feat at level 2 monk.... and shes already outlawed my ninjas ghost step skill to be just as invisibility instead of greater...

and the BF is a certified GM. its not a lack of rules knowledge, its on purpose

but if i dont play with these people i dont get D&D at all, nor my GF, and its not THAT bad.
jbsaff
12-27-07, 09:36 PM I'm now thoroughly confused. Let's see if I've got this right.

The character in question has at least 2 levels of Monk, and got to choose a psionic feat instead of one of the normal Monk bonus feats at second level? By itself, this may not be a problem. Lots of GMs will allow for swapping out bonus feats, especially if it really fits the theme or the game that's being run. However, in order to get that Psionic feat, the character would normally have to already be psionic (either have a level in a psionic class, be naturally psionic, or take Wild or Hidden Talent as feat).

You said that this was a third level character. If the 3rd level is Psion (specifically a Telepath), than the character would be able to have access to the powers that you mentioned. However, in that case the character would have a Manifester level of 1. What does that mean? It means that they can only manifest 1st level powers and can only spend 1 pp per manifestation of a power. Also, it means that the psicrystal cannot deliver touch powers (requires 3 manifester levels), much less "channel" powers (requires 15 manifester levels).

I'll leave you to decide your own path as far as staying or leaving the game. Right now, the GM is giving your party a boost by playing fast and loose with some of the rules. Just hope that it doesn't come back to bite you later.
Daeva
12-27-07, 10:29 PM im sorry hes a gestalt monk/psion with the vow of poverty, going towards thrall herd

the issue is she is buffing her significant other with a level 15 ability, meanwhile nerfed my level 2 ability to the point that i am having to rework my entire character development from a spectral skirmisher to a god knows what, maybe a martial adept , maybe just a standard TWF rouge.
Daeva
12-27-07, 10:30 PM double post, my bad
rjsilverthorn
12-27-07, 10:53 PM :eek: Wow, that is so absurdly juvenile its hard to believe.

My girlfriend DMs one of my games and I once spent ten minutes just trying to get her to let me take an attack I'd readied because the enemy moved into the door way and not "through the door" as I'd phrased it. Needless to say, I lost.

Seriously, if this is the way the campaign is starting off maybe its time to hit the internet and find another playgroup.
jbsaff
12-28-07, 02:00 AM im sorry hes a gestalt monk/psion with the vow of poverty, going towards thrall herd

Um... He's a party unto himself in 3 levels. I'm afraid you're going to be at a bit of a loss for a role if his Thrall has rogue levels. Being the party face is less important when he's charming people left and right.
Daeva
12-28-07, 02:21 AM yeah i diddnt even think of that, bothers me more than the fat hes an exalt taking a prestige class that takes away freedom of will... whatever. think im mostly done with this conversation
rjsilverthorn
12-28-07, 06:00 AM hmm, can someone with VoP even have a psicrystal? I know if I were DMing it certainly would at least be in question.
TheKeyofE
12-28-07, 08:47 AM hmm, can someone with VoP even have a psicrystal? I know if I were DMing it certainly would at least be in question.

The psicrystal doesn't actually have to be a crystal, it can be just a worthless rock (that's actually made of ectoplasm and not really a rock at all).
Bacris
12-28-07, 09:02 AM hmm, can someone with VoP even have a psicrystal? I know if I were DMing it certainly would at least be in question.

Show me somewhere - anywhere in 3.5 rules - that gives monetary value to a psicrystal. :) It's a fragment of the manifester's mind. It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;)
TheKeyofE
12-28-07, 09:15 AM It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;)

If I had quotes in my sig' this would be one of them.
rjsilverthorn
12-28-07, 11:19 AM Show me somewhere - anywhere in 3.5 rules - that gives monetary value to a psicrystal. :) It's a fragment of the manifester's mind. It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;)

Well I did ask :P , I'm at work and I couldn't remember the rules on psicrystals. I figured someone here would be good enough to correct me.
Lycanthromancer
12-28-07, 12:47 PM Check out the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/).
Mindolin
12-28-07, 01:00 PM Just checked, and Psicrystal has no monetary cost, so he's safe from losing VoP. Interestingly, a Sorcerer or Wizard loses their familiar ability. Make certain the character took Psicrystal Affinity, or whatever the feat is that lets him make one, as it is not an automatic ability.
InkBlot
12-28-07, 01:17 PM im sorry hes a gestalt monk/psion with the vow of poverty, going towards thrall herd

the issue is she is buffing her significant other with a level 15 ability, meanwhile nerfed my level 2 ability to the point that i am having to rework my entire character development from a spectral skirmisher to a god knows what, maybe a martial adept , maybe just a standard TWF rouge.

At this point, I would let the DM know that I don't appreciate her favoritism. If she kept it up, I would leave her game, and start my own if I couldn't find a decent one.

Have you looked for any hobby shops near you? Comic book stores? The internet (http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=347)? Odds are you can find at least two or three players to start another game with. You might have to put up fliers in geek shops.
Bacris
12-28-07, 01:21 PM I have to agree with InkBlot. I'm currently not playing any games because I'd rather not play at all than play in a game I don't enjoy. Dropped out of 3 different gaming groups testing to see if I'd enjoy it.
Daeva
12-28-07, 07:02 PM i tried making it vey clear a bunch of times on the forums in discussion with her that i really disagree with her ruling against my ghost step ability, and that i no longer have interest in salvaging a character that has two wasted levels cause of a post level 2 ruling. and have suggested letting me reroll at least twice. diddnt mention the favoritism i feel from her though, no need to cause more friction.

i diddnt think i was being too unreasonable, and neither does anyone not in the group.

thanks yall
CrimsonDeath
12-28-07, 11:42 PM It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;)

The market price of a kidney was around ten grand, last time I checked. Of course, since they can't be legally sold in most countries, that restricts the supply and artificially inflates the price, so fifteen grand is probably closer to what you'd get on the black market.
Solstysse
12-29-07, 12:10 PM Wow...that's horrible. (I haven't looked into 4.0 very much yet because I'm still reeling from the reality that I'll be dropping thousands of dollars on another set of books so soon lol but isn't it supposed to have an online ability? Play online or via webcam with a group...it's harder but it might be worth it for you!!)

I'm married to my DM...we both DM and we're both fair...if anything he lets other players get away with stuff more than me. (he doesn't mean too but he's so preoccupied with making sure everyone else is happy that he'll forget my surprise round or my turn completely...which makes me really mad but I end up killing everything anyways)

Is she letting you go gestalt also? Or just him? Whatever you do don't tell him about the feat "kung fu genius"...it would probably just make it worse if he's got a high INT. That feat would make him only dependant on INT and not INT and CHA. Dangerous monk/psion.

After reading the FAQ's about psicrystals and finding out they gain feats because the technically gain HD...I gave mine a luck feat that lets him "sly fortune" and "cunning evasion". (unless you've multiclasses with something that has hide as a class skill you'll need to be 15th lvl to give them cunning evasion becuase of the limit in cc skill ranks but it's neat...also something to hide from the cheaty player)

Best of luck to you. *hug*
InkBlot
12-29-07, 01:07 PM I haven't looked into 4.0 very much yet because I'm still reeling from the reality that I'll be dropping thousands of dollars on another set of books so soon lol but isn't it supposed to have an online ability? Play online or via webcam with a group...it's harder but it might be worth it for you!!

You can use WotC's virtual tabletop to play any edition of D&D. It may or may not have built-in dice macros for the 4e rules, but you should be able to make your own dice macros regardless.

There's also going to be digital versions of each 4e book. If you use the virtual tabletop, then these could serve as quick reference guides. However, so far it sounds like each player will have to separately purchase the virtual book. Which sucks.
criticalstriker
12-29-07, 01:34 PM well... the guy doing it is the GMs boyfriend (female GM) and was already allowed to take a psionic feat at level 2 monk.... and shes already outlawed my ninjas ghost step skill to be just as invisibility instead of greater...

and the BF is a certified GM. its not a lack of rules knowledge, its on purpose

but if i dont play with these people i dont get D&D at all, nor my GF, and its not THAT bad.

Um, forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the case by RAW? Ghost Step just makes you invisible, it doesn't mention anything about greater invisibility.

I don't have much advice for your original post, except talking to your DM and telling her you're not enjoying the fact that they're displaying very evident favoritism.
CrimsonDeath
12-29-07, 03:08 PM You can use WotC's virtual tabletop to play any edition of D&D. It may or may not have built-in dice macros for the 4e rules, but you should be able to make your own dice macros regardless.

If I wanted software specifically designed to play tabletop games online, I'd use OpenRPG, which is free.

Um, forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the case by RAW? Ghost Step just makes you invisible, it doesn't mention anything about greater invisibility.

Ghost Step makes you "invisible", not "invisible, as the spell". Since you are "invisible", you gain total concealment against any creatures that don't have Blindsight, and since it doesn't mimic the spell, you don't lose that concealment after you attack someone. I understand that this interpretation has been confirmed by official sources.
Solstysse
12-29-07, 11:40 PM You can use WotC's virtual tabletop to play any edition of D&D. It may or may not have built-in dice macros for the 4e rules, but you should be able to make your own dice macros regardless.

There's also going to be digital versions of each 4e book. If you use the virtual tabletop, then these could serve as quick reference guides. However, so far it sounds like each player will have to separately purchase the virtual book. Which sucks.

Oh no that doesn't sound good to me at all. I love my computers but I can't get over the idea of not having a table scattered with books around me while I work on a character. There's just something about having the book in your hands that makes it more fun (slower but more fun) unless you could actually search, keyword and such, as an added tool that would be nice.

I wish they would make a character creation program that actually had everything in it, was updateable and worked. I think "working" is a key...I see homemade programs out there but I've gotten to the point where writing my own would probably be easier.

As for the above comment by others sometimes DnD is odd with descriptions of things...somethings it's "fluff description" sometimes it's "carry this over into your ruling mechanics description" and sometimes it's "there's no way that's what they meant description". I know there's been alot of argument around our table of things like that...chameleon is one of the powers we debate pretty hard...+10 to hide...but it says you "blend in with the walls and floor" <not a direct quote> so blending in could be...concelment...cover...where else can you take it. It's hard to know what they were really trying to get at sometimes without asking Customer Service...but even then it's not a straight yes or no most of the time.
InkBlot
12-30-07, 12:52 AM There's no reason to use Virtual Tabletop if you don't like it. I won't be using it.

Although I may get the digital versions of my favorite books, if they're searchable (I heard they will be), and cheap enough. That could save a lot of time in preparing encounters and NPCs. They really have to be cheap enough though. "Free with purchase of this book" would be the ideal price, if they can figure out a way to do that.

In a video from GenCon, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aLXuMb6WWw) the WotC guys give a nice preview of their virtual tabletope. If nothing else, it's prettier than the other ones I've seen.
Daeva
12-30-07, 02:09 AM levle 4 today the guy had 29 ac somehow >.> i went thinking we were playing the other game, but guess not.

we are all gestalt, except those that have died we are not going to use gestalt ever again but they diddnt want us to reroll and redesign charcters (depite the fac ti already had too LOL)

as for ghost step, thats what the two ruled on, that raw its just invisibility liek the spell, and that they dont take the FAQ and stuff as rules and rather use thier own interpretation.

i ended up taking levels in sword sage and fighter, then warblade to salvage the character and i guess be a naruto type ninja

psi crystals getting feats doenst bother me so muhc as logn as he doesnt try to give the psi crystal a metapsionic feat and use it when he casts through it or something

ive also lost my decision that hes a good rules knower himself, but thats a WHOLE other story.
Wizard Random
12-30-07, 02:21 AM levle 4 today the guy had 29 ac somehow >.> i went thinking we were playing the other game, but guess not.

Don't be discouraged its not particularly hard to get a AC around or above 29 even at first level. My suggestion is to read through some books and work out some possibilities. Failing that try asking the player outside the game I have found most people are willing to brag on their character when away from the group.
Daeva
12-30-07, 04:51 PM you think a player who refuses to tell me what powers they have, how they boost their AC wont tell me how he perma charms stuff, or anything else and has a GM girl friends who threatens me with the word meta gaming for asking is gonna brag about or tell **** about his character?

he wont because theres probably more misunderstood, or abused/made up rules going on than i am even aware of.
CrimsonDeath
12-31-07, 03:49 PM Psicraft DC 20+power level: Identify a power that’s already in place and in effect. You must be able to see or detect the effects of the power. No action required. No retry.

Next time someone fails to hit your friend in combat, you are presumably detecting the effects of any powers that increase his AC, so make a Psicraft check as a non-action. Since your level 4 friend can't know any powers higher than second level, that means that if you get 22 or higher, the DM has to tell you what psionic powers are boosting your friend's AC.
Solstysse
12-31-07, 04:10 PM CrimsonDeath is right. Some DM's also allow Knowledge: Psionics, in rare cases Knowledge: Arcana (depending on how closely they consider psionics to be to arcane stuff) and of course Bardic Knack would allow you to make any of these mentioned roles....so if you can't do it...beat a bard into submission who has that and force him to roll for you until something comes to mind.

It's so ridiculous that, out of game, they can't explain themselves. Its easy for someone to say "Oh yeah...force screen...totally had that up and all my other buffs too" but at second lvl he's looking at 1 or 2 mins for some powers and 1 or 2 hours for others IF they're powers that allow augumentation with one extra PP. That's part of being a psionic character...you have to take TIME in battle to prep or do it before hand or get caught with an almost naked AC.

I get alot of "you can't do that" and "is that possible?" while in game. Sometimes psionics seems insane to players who haven't dealt with it yet...I would just start reading everything you can get your hands on about it. If they figure out you've got a clue maybe they'll stop their nonsense.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Daeva 12-27-07, 05:00 PM	how can it be done? someone in my group is doing it and he and the GM wont tell me how and are accusing me of meta gaming for asking. and im talking at levle 3 and using things like.. psionic charm and energy blasts through the psicrystal while hiding around multiple corners and stuff
hovnarr 12-27-07, 05:39 PM	Alert!! Your DM is a moron. :eek: Sorry, I meant to say that more nicely. Your DM is a moron, bless his heart. You can manifest touch powers at level 3. You have to be level 15 to channel powers in general through the psicrystal. Both are features of the psicrystal itself. See "psicrystals" under the Psion class description.
The_Mess 12-27-07, 05:47 PM	If you mean, using the psicrystal as a surrogate caster, so that he can deliver touch attacks while being safely away from danger, he can channel touch powers at third, but nothing else (no rays, no energy missile, etc.) at third. See the psicrystal chart (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm#psicrystals). Channel Power is a level 15 psicrystal ability. You can get it a bit earlier by taking Improved Psicrystal a few times, but best case scenario at level 3 (human, psychic warrior, all feats devoted to it) would only give you a level 8 psicrystal then. Even taking flaws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterFlaws.htm) would only get you to level 10 crystal. And, no, it's not metagaming to ask out of character how someone is doing something. You cannot metagame out of character. Now, if your character was asking how he did something, it might arguably be, though if he was a psion, he would at least know it was unusual for someone so inexperienced. It's no more metagaming than a martial artist asking another, "How did you pull off that move?"
jbsaff 12-27-07, 05:50 PM	how can it be done? someone in my group is doing it and he and the GM wont tell me how and are accusing me of meta gaming for asking. Wow. So, according to your GM, knowing the rules is now "meta gaming"? In that case, enjoy abusing a willful and total ignorance to all rules, declaring that anyone who opposes you is meta-gaming. All attempts to stop you or ask questions should be met with an immediate demand to stop meta-gaming. I suggest flying about the battlefield, giving yourself an AC (normal, touch, and flat-footed) and saves of over +100, and completely ignore the manifester cap and power point pool when manifesting powers. Alternatively, ask the GM to explain how this trick is working, step by step. You want to make it clear that you "just thought it was cool" and "want to know how to set that up for another character later". Hopefully, if your GM isn't a jerk, he/she will sit down, attempt to explain, and realize that the other player isn't following the rules.
Daeva 12-27-07, 08:02 PM	well... the guy doing it is the GMs boyfriend (female GM) and was already allowed to take a psionic feat at level 2 monk.... and shes already outlawed my ninjas ghost step skill to be just as invisibility instead of greater... and the BF is a certified GM. its not a lack of rules knowledge, its on purpose but if i dont play with these people i dont get D&D at all, nor my GF, and its not THAT bad.
jbsaff 12-27-07, 09:36 PM	I'm now thoroughly confused. Let's see if I've got this right. The character in question has at least 2 levels of Monk, and got to choose a psionic feat instead of one of the normal Monk bonus feats at second level? By itself, this may not be a problem. Lots of GMs will allow for swapping out bonus feats, especially if it really fits the theme or the game that's being run. However, in order to get that Psionic feat, the character would normally have to already be psionic (either have a level in a psionic class, be naturally psionic, or take Wild or Hidden Talent as feat). You said that this was a third level character. If the 3rd level is Psion (specifically a Telepath), than the character would be able to have access to the powers that you mentioned. However, in that case the character would have a Manifester level of 1. What does that mean? It means that they can only manifest 1st level powers and can only spend 1 pp per manifestation of a power. Also, it means that the psicrystal cannot deliver touch powers (requires 3 manifester levels), much less "channel" powers (requires 15 manifester levels). I'll leave you to decide your own path as far as staying or leaving the game. Right now, the GM is giving your party a boost by playing fast and loose with some of the rules. Just hope that it doesn't come back to bite you later.
Daeva 12-27-07, 10:29 PM	im sorry hes a gestalt monk/psion with the vow of poverty, going towards thrall herd the issue is she is buffing her significant other with a level 15 ability, meanwhile nerfed my level 2 ability to the point that i am having to rework my entire character development from a spectral skirmisher to a god knows what, maybe a martial adept , maybe just a standard TWF rouge.
Daeva 12-27-07, 10:30 PM	double post, my bad
rjsilverthorn 12-27-07, 10:53 PM	:eek: Wow, that is so absurdly juvenile its hard to believe. My girlfriend DMs one of my games and I once spent ten minutes just trying to get her to let me take an attack I'd readied because the enemy moved into the door way and not "through the door" as I'd phrased it. Needless to say, I lost. Seriously, if this is the way the campaign is starting off maybe its time to hit the internet and find another playgroup.
jbsaff 12-28-07, 02:00 AM	im sorry hes a gestalt monk/psion with the vow of poverty, going towards thrall herd Um... He's a party unto himself in 3 levels. I'm afraid you're going to be at a bit of a loss for a role if his Thrall has rogue levels. Being the party face is less important when he's charming people left and right.
Daeva 12-28-07, 02:21 AM	yeah i diddnt even think of that, bothers me more than the fat hes an exalt taking a prestige class that takes away freedom of will... whatever. think im mostly done with this conversation
rjsilverthorn 12-28-07, 06:00 AM	hmm, can someone with VoP even have a psicrystal? I know if I were DMing it certainly would at least be in question.
TheKeyofE 12-28-07, 08:47 AM	hmm, can someone with VoP even have a psicrystal? I know if I were DMing it certainly would at least be in question. The psicrystal doesn't actually have to be a crystal, it can be just a worthless rock (that's actually made of ectoplasm and not really a rock at all).
Bacris 12-28-07, 09:02 AM	hmm, can someone with VoP even have a psicrystal? I know if I were DMing it certainly would at least be in question. Show me somewhere - anywhere in 3.5 rules - that gives monetary value to a psicrystal. :) It's a fragment of the manifester's mind. It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;)
TheKeyofE 12-28-07, 09:15 AM	It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;) If I had quotes in my sig' this would be one of them.
rjsilverthorn 12-28-07, 11:19 AM	Show me somewhere - anywhere in 3.5 rules - that gives monetary value to a psicrystal. :) It's a fragment of the manifester's mind. It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;) Well I did ask :P , I'm at work and I couldn't remember the rules on psicrystals. I figured someone here would be good enough to correct me.
Lycanthromancer 12-28-07, 12:47 PM	Check out the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/).
Mindolin 12-28-07, 01:00 PM	Just checked, and Psicrystal has no monetary cost, so he's safe from losing VoP. Interestingly, a Sorcerer or Wizard loses their familiar ability. Make certain the character took Psicrystal Affinity, or whatever the feat is that lets him make one, as it is not an automatic ability.
InkBlot 12-28-07, 01:17 PM	im sorry hes a gestalt monk/psion with the vow of poverty, going towards thrall herd the issue is she is buffing her significant other with a level 15 ability, meanwhile nerfed my level 2 ability to the point that i am having to rework my entire character development from a spectral skirmisher to a god knows what, maybe a martial adept , maybe just a standard TWF rouge. At this point, I would let the DM know that I don't appreciate her favoritism. If she kept it up, I would leave her game, and start my own if I couldn't find a decent one. Have you looked for any hobby shops near you? Comic book stores? The internet (http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=347)? Odds are you can find at least two or three players to start another game with. You might have to put up fliers in geek shops.
Bacris 12-28-07, 01:21 PM	I have to agree with InkBlot. I'm currently not playing any games because I'd rather not play at all than play in a game I don't enjoy. Dropped out of 3 different gaming groups testing to see if I'd enjoy it.
Daeva 12-28-07, 07:02 PM	i tried making it vey clear a bunch of times on the forums in discussion with her that i really disagree with her ruling against my ghost step ability, and that i no longer have interest in salvaging a character that has two wasted levels cause of a post level 2 ruling. and have suggested letting me reroll at least twice. diddnt mention the favoritism i feel from her though, no need to cause more friction. i diddnt think i was being too unreasonable, and neither does anyone not in the group. thanks yall
CrimsonDeath 12-28-07, 11:42 PM	It'd be like saying "Your kidney has a value of 15 grand, so you are disqualified from VoP" ;) The market price of a kidney was around ten grand, last time I checked. Of course, since they can't be legally sold in most countries, that restricts the supply and artificially inflates the price, so fifteen grand is probably closer to what you'd get on the black market.
Solstysse 12-29-07, 12:10 PM	Wow...that's horrible. (I haven't looked into 4.0 very much yet because I'm still reeling from the reality that I'll be dropping thousands of dollars on another set of books so soon lol but isn't it supposed to have an online ability? Play online or via webcam with a group...it's harder but it might be worth it for you!!) I'm married to my DM...we both DM and we're both fair...if anything he lets other players get away with stuff more than me. (he doesn't mean too but he's so preoccupied with making sure everyone else is happy that he'll forget my surprise round or my turn completely...which makes me really mad but I end up killing everything anyways) Is she letting you go gestalt also? Or just him? Whatever you do don't tell him about the feat "kung fu genius"...it would probably just make it worse if he's got a high INT. That feat would make him only dependant on INT and not INT and CHA. Dangerous monk/psion. After reading the FAQ's about psicrystals and finding out they gain feats because the technically gain HD...I gave mine a luck feat that lets him "sly fortune" and "cunning evasion". (unless you've multiclasses with something that has hide as a class skill you'll need to be 15th lvl to give them cunning evasion becuase of the limit in cc skill ranks but it's neat...also something to hide from the cheaty player) Best of luck to you. hug
InkBlot 12-29-07, 01:07 PM	I haven't looked into 4.0 very much yet because I'm still reeling from the reality that I'll be dropping thousands of dollars on another set of books so soon lol but isn't it supposed to have an online ability? Play online or via webcam with a group...it's harder but it might be worth it for you!! You can use WotC's virtual tabletop to play any edition of D&D. It may or may not have built-in dice macros for the 4e rules, but you should be able to make your own dice macros regardless. There's also going to be digital versions of each 4e book. If you use the virtual tabletop, then these could serve as quick reference guides. However, so far it sounds like each player will have to separately purchase the virtual book. Which sucks.
criticalstriker 12-29-07, 01:34 PM	well... the guy doing it is the GMs boyfriend (female GM) and was already allowed to take a psionic feat at level 2 monk.... and shes already outlawed my ninjas ghost step skill to be just as invisibility instead of greater... and the BF is a certified GM. its not a lack of rules knowledge, its on purpose but if i dont play with these people i dont get D&D at all, nor my GF, and its not THAT bad. Um, forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the case by RAW? Ghost Step just makes you invisible, it doesn't mention anything about greater invisibility. I don't have much advice for your original post, except talking to your DM and telling her you're not enjoying the fact that they're displaying very evident favoritism.
CrimsonDeath 12-29-07, 03:08 PM	You can use WotC's virtual tabletop to play any edition of D&D. It may or may not have built-in dice macros for the 4e rules, but you should be able to make your own dice macros regardless. If I wanted software specifically designed to play tabletop games online, I'd use OpenRPG, which is free. Um, forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the case by RAW? Ghost Step just makes you invisible, it doesn't mention anything about greater invisibility. Ghost Step makes you "invisible", not "invisible, as the spell". Since you are "invisible", you gain total concealment against any creatures that don't have Blindsight, and since it doesn't mimic the spell, you don't lose that concealment after you attack someone. I understand that this interpretation has been confirmed by official sources.
Solstysse 12-29-07, 11:40 PM	You can use WotC's virtual tabletop to play any edition of D&D. It may or may not have built-in dice macros for the 4e rules, but you should be able to make your own dice macros regardless. There's also going to be digital versions of each 4e book. If you use the virtual tabletop, then these could serve as quick reference guides. However, so far it sounds like each player will have to separately purchase the virtual book. Which sucks. Oh no that doesn't sound good to me at all. I love my computers but I can't get over the idea of not having a table scattered with books around me while I work on a character. There's just something about having the book in your hands that makes it more fun (slower but more fun) unless you could actually search, keyword and such, as an added tool that would be nice. I wish they would make a character creation program that actually had everything in it, was updateable and worked. I think "working" is a key...I see homemade programs out there but I've gotten to the point where writing my own would probably be easier. As for the above comment by others sometimes DnD is odd with descriptions of things...somethings it's "fluff description" sometimes it's "carry this over into your ruling mechanics description" and sometimes it's "there's no way that's what they meant description". I know there's been alot of argument around our table of things like that...chameleon is one of the powers we debate pretty hard...+10 to hide...but it says you "blend in with the walls and floor" <not a direct quote> so blending in could be...concelment...cover...where else can you take it. It's hard to know what they were really trying to get at sometimes without asking Customer Service...but even then it's not a straight yes or no most of the time.
InkBlot 12-30-07, 12:52 AM	There's no reason to use Virtual Tabletop if you don't like it. I won't be using it. Although I may get the digital versions of my favorite books, if they're searchable (I heard they will be), and cheap enough. That could save a lot of time in preparing encounters and NPCs. They really have to be cheap enough though. "Free with purchase of this book" would be the ideal price, if they can figure out a way to do that. In a video from GenCon, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aLXuMb6WWw) the WotC guys give a nice preview of their virtual tabletope. If nothing else, it's prettier than the other ones I've seen.
Daeva 12-30-07, 02:09 AM	levle 4 today the guy had 29 ac somehow >.> i went thinking we were playing the other game, but guess not. we are all gestalt, except those that have died we are not going to use gestalt ever again but they diddnt want us to reroll and redesign charcters (depite the fac ti already had too LOL) as for ghost step, thats what the two ruled on, that raw its just invisibility liek the spell, and that they dont take the FAQ and stuff as rules and rather use thier own interpretation. i ended up taking levels in sword sage and fighter, then warblade to salvage the character and i guess be a naruto type ninja psi crystals getting feats doenst bother me so muhc as logn as he doesnt try to give the psi crystal a metapsionic feat and use it when he casts through it or something ive also lost my decision that hes a good rules knower himself, but thats a WHOLE other story.
Wizard Random 12-30-07, 02:21 AM	levle 4 today the guy had 29 ac somehow >.> i went thinking we were playing the other game, but guess not. Don't be discouraged its not particularly hard to get a AC around or above 29 even at first level. My suggestion is to read through some books and work out some possibilities. Failing that try asking the player outside the game I have found most people are willing to brag on their character when away from the group.
Daeva 12-30-07, 04:51 PM	you think a player who refuses to tell me what powers they have, how they boost their AC wont tell me how he perma charms stuff, or anything else and has a GM girl friends who threatens me with the word meta gaming for asking is gonna brag about or tell **** about his character? he wont because theres probably more misunderstood, or abused/made up rules going on than i am even aware of.
CrimsonDeath 12-31-07, 03:49 PM	Psicraft DC 20+power level: Identify a power that’s already in place and in effect. You must be able to see or detect the effects of the power. No action required. No retry. Next time someone fails to hit your friend in combat, you are presumably detecting the effects of any powers that increase his AC, so make a Psicraft check as a non-action. Since your level 4 friend can't know any powers higher than second level, that means that if you get 22 or higher, the DM has to tell you what psionic powers are boosting your friend's AC.
Solstysse 12-31-07, 04:10 PM	CrimsonDeath is right. Some DM's also allow Knowledge: Psionics, in rare cases Knowledge: Arcana (depending on how closely they consider psionics to be to arcane stuff) and of course Bardic Knack would allow you to make any of these mentioned roles....so if you can't do it...beat a bard into submission who has that and force him to roll for you until something comes to mind. It's so ridiculous that, out of game, they can't explain themselves. Its easy for someone to say "Oh yeah...force screen...totally had that up and all my other buffs too" but at second lvl he's looking at 1 or 2 mins for some powers and 1 or 2 hours for others IF they're powers that allow augumentation with one extra PP. That's part of being a psionic character...you have to take TIME in battle to prep or do it before hand or get caught with an almost naked AC. I get alot of "you can't do that" and "is that possible?" while in game. Sometimes psionics seems insane to players who haven't dealt with it yet...I would just start reading everything you can get your hands on about it. If they figure out you've got a clue maybe they'll stop their nonsense.