Clarification on Psionic Focus needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Clarification on Psionic Focus needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nirid
07-22-07, 12:40 AM I have a player who is a soulknife and we are trying to tweak their combat ability a little. I read the FAQ about PsyWar and psionic focus and just want to make sure I understand the benefits/limits they can get.

If he has no feats that affect psionic focus he can only discharge it once to activate a single feat and then his focus is expended and it will require a full round action that provokes AoO to regain. If he has Psionic Meditation it only takes a move action to refocus but still provokes AoO.

Now where I need a little help. If he has Psicrystal Containment he can activate 2 psionic feats using his and his crystals focus. If he wants to refocus during combat how long does it take? Must he refocus each separately or do both happen at once? Is the psicrystal affected by Psionic Meditation?

Last question. Is there currently any way to avoid the AoO while refocusing other then not being in a threatened square?
calronmoonflower
07-22-07, 12:51 AM I have a player who is a soulknife and we are trying to tweak their combat ability a little. I read the FAQ about PsyWar and psionic focus and just want to make sure I understand the benefits/limits they can get.

If he has no feats that affect psionic focus he can only discharge it once to activate a single feat and then his focus is expended and it will require a full round action that provokes AoO to regain. If he has Psionic Meditation it only takes a move action to refocus but still provokes AoO.

Now where I need a little help. If he has Psicrystal Containment he can activate 2 psionic feats using his and his crystals focus. If he wants to refocus during combat how long does it take? Must he refocus each separately or do both happen at once? Is the psicrystal affected by Psionic Meditation?

Each are separate and refocusing your crystal is a full-round action.

Last question. Is there currently any way to avoid the AoO while refocusing other then not being in a threatened square?

Check the concentration skill in the Player's Handbook. It allows use of skills with provoking an attack of opportunity.
HighPriestMikhal
07-22-07, 12:53 AM Unless the soulknife has another psionic class he can't have a psicrystal. That requires actual manifester levels. If he did, he could use the Psicrystal Containment feat and use two feats at once. He'd have to take the full-round or move action to refocus himself and the crystal separately. Because psionic focus is derived from the character, not the crystal, it would take the same amount of time as the character--full-round or move with Psi Med.

As for the AoO, you're out of luck. Attaining psionic focus is not a spell or a power or anything of the sort, so it's technically not covered by Concentration. That is, unless the DM fudges the rules a bit.
Bacris
07-22-07, 02:24 AM HighPriestMikhal - Concentration allows you to use skills defensively as well, not just spells / powers.
AntiDjinn
07-22-07, 03:05 AM And it is definitely covered by Concentration in any case, because that is the skill check you make to get focused. If you wish to use a skill on the defensive you need to make a DC 15 concentration check. So to Concentrate to achieve focus on the defensive is a DC 15 and separate DC 20 check.
HighPriestMikhal
07-22-07, 11:45 AM Okay, okay! I made a mistake. Let's not derail the thread.
Bacris
07-22-07, 12:25 PM It's not a derail :) It pertains directly to the OP :)

But it's also something that tends to be viewed in different lights, since it's a Concentration check to make a Concentration check. While it might sound odd, it works unless your DM decides he doesn't want it to - and it allows focus to be regained without the AoO - but if either check fails, no focus for you!

And refocusing the psicrystal is ambiguous - the feat contradicts itself in saying that it works exactly like gaining your own focus, but then states it takes a full-round action. Psionic meditation supercedes the normal rules of gaining psionic focus, but doesn't explicitly call out the rules for Psicrystal Containment.

Me, since it's taken the character a minimum of 3 feats, I'd allow it as a move action, but I can see why a DM would say "Move for you, full-round for psicrystal"
HighPriestMikhal
07-22-07, 02:04 PM It's not a derail :) It pertains directly to the OP :)

But it's also something that tends to be viewed in different lights, since it's a Concentration check to make a Concentration check. While it might sound odd, it works unless your DM decides he doesn't want it to - and it allows focus to be regained without the AoO - but if either check fails, no focus for you!

One opposed post is (constructive) criticism. Two is bordering on nagging.

But thanks for helping clarify my POV. I admit it; I'm a human being. In other words, I'm an idiot.
Fleem
07-22-07, 02:15 PM Thanks for the tip on Concentration and skills. I had forgotten about that one!
Nirid
07-22-07, 04:58 PM Well as DM I let the Soulknife take that natural talent feat that actually gave him a power rather then just wild talent. So I kind of assumed that also meant he had a manifester level. Does he actually need a manifester class for getting a psicrystal?

BTW thanks for the info on the concentration checks in reagards to skills. Very helpful information.
Tempest Stormwind
07-22-07, 05:31 PM Well as DM I let the Soulknife take that natural talent feat that actually gave him a power rather then just wild talent. So I kind of assumed that also meant he had a manifester level. Does he actually need a manifester class for getting a psicrystal?

BTW thanks for the info on the concentration checks in reagards to skills. Very helpful information.

Yes and no. Hidden Talent explicitly says that it doesn't count as a manifester level. However, he doesn't need a manifesting class if he's a particular race -- Complete Psionic indicated that racial MLs (from psi-like abilities) are good enough to qualify for "manifester level X" requirements, oddly enough.
calronmoonflower
07-22-07, 07:23 PM Yes and no. Hidden Talent explicitly says that it doesn't count as a manifester level. However, he doesn't need a manifesting class if he's a particular race -- Complete Psionic indicated that racial MLs (from psi-like abilities) are good enough to qualify for "manifester level X" requirements, oddly enough.

The Complete Arcane says that spell-like abilities are enough to qualify for feats with a caster level requirement.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nirid 07-22-07, 12:40 AM	I have a player who is a soulknife and we are trying to tweak their combat ability a little. I read the FAQ about PsyWar and psionic focus and just want to make sure I understand the benefits/limits they can get. If he has no feats that affect psionic focus he can only discharge it once to activate a single feat and then his focus is expended and it will require a full round action that provokes AoO to regain. If he has Psionic Meditation it only takes a move action to refocus but still provokes AoO. Now where I need a little help. If he has Psicrystal Containment he can activate 2 psionic feats using his and his crystals focus. If he wants to refocus during combat how long does it take? Must he refocus each separately or do both happen at once? Is the psicrystal affected by Psionic Meditation? Last question. Is there currently any way to avoid the AoO while refocusing other then not being in a threatened square?
calronmoonflower 07-22-07, 12:51 AM	I have a player who is a soulknife and we are trying to tweak their combat ability a little. I read the FAQ about PsyWar and psionic focus and just want to make sure I understand the benefits/limits they can get. If he has no feats that affect psionic focus he can only discharge it once to activate a single feat and then his focus is expended and it will require a full round action that provokes AoO to regain. If he has Psionic Meditation it only takes a move action to refocus but still provokes AoO. Now where I need a little help. If he has Psicrystal Containment he can activate 2 psionic feats using his and his crystals focus. If he wants to refocus during combat how long does it take? Must he refocus each separately or do both happen at once? Is the psicrystal affected by Psionic Meditation? Each are separate and refocusing your crystal is a full-round action. Last question. Is there currently any way to avoid the AoO while refocusing other then not being in a threatened square? Check the concentration skill in the Player's Handbook. It allows use of skills with provoking an attack of opportunity.
HighPriestMikhal 07-22-07, 12:53 AM	Unless the soulknife has another psionic class he can't have a psicrystal. That requires actual manifester levels. If he did, he could use the Psicrystal Containment feat and use two feats at once. He'd have to take the full-round or move action to refocus himself and the crystal separately. Because psionic focus is derived from the character, not the crystal, it would take the same amount of time as the character--full-round or move with Psi Med. As for the AoO, you're out of luck. Attaining psionic focus is not a spell or a power or anything of the sort, so it's technically not covered by Concentration. That is, unless the DM fudges the rules a bit.
Bacris 07-22-07, 02:24 AM	HighPriestMikhal - Concentration allows you to use skills defensively as well, not just spells / powers.
AntiDjinn 07-22-07, 03:05 AM	And it is definitely covered by Concentration in any case, because that is the skill check you make to get focused. If you wish to use a skill on the defensive you need to make a DC 15 concentration check. So to Concentrate to achieve focus on the defensive is a DC 15 and separate DC 20 check.
HighPriestMikhal 07-22-07, 11:45 AM	Okay, okay! I made a mistake. Let's not derail the thread.
Bacris 07-22-07, 12:25 PM	It's not a derail :) It pertains directly to the OP :) But it's also something that tends to be viewed in different lights, since it's a Concentration check to make a Concentration check. While it might sound odd, it works unless your DM decides he doesn't want it to - and it allows focus to be regained without the AoO - but if either check fails, no focus for you! And refocusing the psicrystal is ambiguous - the feat contradicts itself in saying that it works exactly like gaining your own focus, but then states it takes a full-round action. Psionic meditation supercedes the normal rules of gaining psionic focus, but doesn't explicitly call out the rules for Psicrystal Containment. Me, since it's taken the character a minimum of 3 feats, I'd allow it as a move action, but I can see why a DM would say "Move for you, full-round for psicrystal"
HighPriestMikhal 07-22-07, 02:04 PM	It's not a derail :) It pertains directly to the OP :) But it's also something that tends to be viewed in different lights, since it's a Concentration check to make a Concentration check. While it might sound odd, it works unless your DM decides he doesn't want it to - and it allows focus to be regained without the AoO - but if either check fails, no focus for you! One opposed post is (constructive) criticism. Two is bordering on nagging. But thanks for helping clarify my POV. I admit it; I'm a human being. In other words, I'm an idiot.
Fleem 07-22-07, 02:15 PM	Thanks for the tip on Concentration and skills. I had forgotten about that one!
Nirid 07-22-07, 04:58 PM	Well as DM I let the Soulknife take that natural talent feat that actually gave him a power rather then just wild talent. So I kind of assumed that also meant he had a manifester level. Does he actually need a manifester class for getting a psicrystal? BTW thanks for the info on the concentration checks in reagards to skills. Very helpful information.
Tempest Stormwind 07-22-07, 05:31 PM	Well as DM I let the Soulknife take that natural talent feat that actually gave him a power rather then just wild talent. So I kind of assumed that also meant he had a manifester level. Does he actually need a manifester class for getting a psicrystal? BTW thanks for the info on the concentration checks in reagards to skills. Very helpful information. Yes and no. Hidden Talent explicitly says that it doesn't count as a manifester level. However, he doesn't need a manifesting class if he's a particular race -- Complete Psionic indicated that racial MLs (from psi-like abilities) are good enough to qualify for "manifester level X" requirements, oddly enough.
calronmoonflower 07-22-07, 07:23 PM	Yes and no. Hidden Talent explicitly says that it doesn't count as a manifester level. However, he doesn't need a manifesting class if he's a particular race -- Complete Psionic indicated that racial MLs (from psi-like abilities) are good enough to qualify for "manifester level X" requirements, oddly enough. The Complete Arcane says that spell-like abilities are enough to qualify for feats with a caster level requirement.