General psionic questions and Astral Constructs [Archive] - Wizards Community

General psionic questions and Astral Constructs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Krongurke
11-11-07, 08:33 AM Hi,

due to the fact that the search is still offline, i like to ask some questions about psionics and especially about astral constructs. I hope you guys can help me.

Question 1:

Astral Construct is a first level power. So the dispel-DC would be 12 (11+powers power level). But does that mean, that even a level 6 construct, in which you invested 11 PPs is just as easy to dismiss as a 1st level construct? Or does the AC-Level, lets say an AC of Level 6 modify the DC for dispelling?

Question 2:

If you use the feats "Overchannel(Increase Manifester level but take damage)" and "Talented(Can overchannel 1st to-3rd level powers without taking damage)" to build a larger construct than you originally would be capable of, does a 6th level construct for example still count as a first level power, regarding to the feats limitation "Talented", that states that you can only overchannel powers of 1-3 level without harming yourself?

Question 3:

If you create an astral construct, and you gave it a specific order, lets say "Kill exactly THIS guy for me", and the caster/manifester drops in combat. Does the construct vanish? The points why i'm asking that, are the following:
1. A construct is created, not summoned
2. the power specifically states out, that you DON'T have to concentrate on it. It just follows your orders, which can be given mentally as a free action, until ist destroyed, or the task is completed. But you can act and manifest other powers, while the AC exist.
3. The creation is completed after the manifestation, and it is no outsider, it is a construct. My DM stated out, that the "Dismissable" sign on the Astral Construct power is a hint that the AC vanishes after the caster dropped, but i fail to see the logic in this argument.

Question 4:

Does the augmentation of a 1st level power change in any way the level classification of this power? Lets assume i use astral construct, which is a 1st level power a lot. Lets assume further, i have the feats overchannel and talented, which enables me to increase my manifester level by one in the first 7 levels without doing harm to myself.
Lets assume i am a 9th level shaper and i like to overchannel 2 manifester levels, to create a construct 6th level construct (11 PPs). Do you think Overchannel and Talented would still enable me to do that without taking damage?
TECHNICALLY Astral Constructs stays a 1st level power.

I would be very grateful, if you could answer some of my questions WITH a good explaination. Just: "No" or "Yes", "its in the rules", or something like that would be a little bit "unsatisfactory".

Thanks!

Krongurke
AntiDjinn
11-11-07, 11:54 AM 1) A dispelling check is based on the caster/manifester level of the one trying to dispel vs. the caster/manifester level of the effect being dispelled. The level of the power does not even enter the equation.

2) Yes, Overchannel lets you spend more points so you get a better construct. Yes, Talented works because augmentation and metapsionics do not change the level of a power; no matter how many points you spend, Astral Construct (the power) remains a first level power even though the Astral Construct (creature) you get may be of higher level.

3)The power has a duration and it doesn't end with the death or incapacitation of its manifester. Obviously, you won't be able to continue to direct it, and it has no Int score so it can't make its own plan. Unless you are around to tell it otherwise, a construct will simply keep doing what it was doing.

4) A power retains its level for both good (the DC to manifest a 1st level power under stressful conditions remains low no matter how many points you stack on) and bad (no matter how many points you stack on a 1st level power, you can't manifest it through a Minor Globe of Invulnerability) effects. The sole exception (so far) is for purposes of making items that have a power level limit. For example: You can only stuff a power up to 3rd level in a tattoo; you are also limited to 5 points spent on lower level powers.
Krongurke
11-11-07, 12:04 PM Hi AntiDjin,

many many thanks for your answer.

Your answer to my first question is a bit embarassing, because we did the dispelling checks wrong, but thanks for clearing that up too. :)

Thanks again, and have a nice sunday evening.

Krongurke

1) A dispelling check is based on the caster/manifester level of the one trying to dispel vs. the caster/manifester level of the effect being dispelled. The level of the power does not even enter the equation.

2) Yes, Overchannel lets you spend more points so you get a better construct. Yes, Talented works because augmentation and metapsionics do not change the level of a power; no matter how many points you spend, Astral Construct (the power) remains a first level power even though the Astral Construct (creature) you get may be of higher level.

3)The power has a duration and it doesn't end with the death or incapacitation of its manifester. Obviously, you won't be able to continue to direct it, and it has no Int score so it can't make its own plan. Unless you are around to tell it otherwise, a construct will simply keep doing what it was doing.

4) A power retains its level for both good (the DC to manifest a 1st level power under stressful conditions remains low no matter how many points you stack on) and bad (no matter how many points you stack on a 1st level power, you can't manifest it through a Minor Globe of Invulnerability) effects. The sole exception (so far) is for purposes of making items that have a power level limit. For example: You can only stuff a power up to 3rd level in a tattoo; you are also limited to 5 points spent on lower level powers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Krongurke 11-11-07, 08:33 AM	Hi, due to the fact that the search is still offline, i like to ask some questions about psionics and especially about astral constructs. I hope you guys can help me. Question 1: Astral Construct is a first level power. So the dispel-DC would be 12 (11+powers power level). But does that mean, that even a level 6 construct, in which you invested 11 PPs is just as easy to dismiss as a 1st level construct? Or does the AC-Level, lets say an AC of Level 6 modify the DC for dispelling? Question 2: If you use the feats "Overchannel(Increase Manifester level but take damage)" and "Talented(Can overchannel 1st to-3rd level powers without taking damage)" to build a larger construct than you originally would be capable of, does a 6th level construct for example still count as a first level power, regarding to the feats limitation "Talented", that states that you can only overchannel powers of 1-3 level without harming yourself? Question 3: If you create an astral construct, and you gave it a specific order, lets say "Kill exactly THIS guy for me", and the caster/manifester drops in combat. Does the construct vanish? The points why i'm asking that, are the following: 1. A construct is created, not summoned 2. the power specifically states out, that you DON'T have to concentrate on it. It just follows your orders, which can be given mentally as a free action, until ist destroyed, or the task is completed. But you can act and manifest other powers, while the AC exist. 3. The creation is completed after the manifestation, and it is no outsider, it is a construct. My DM stated out, that the "Dismissable" sign on the Astral Construct power is a hint that the AC vanishes after the caster dropped, but i fail to see the logic in this argument. Question 4: Does the augmentation of a 1st level power change in any way the level classification of this power? Lets assume i use astral construct, which is a 1st level power a lot. Lets assume further, i have the feats overchannel and talented, which enables me to increase my manifester level by one in the first 7 levels without doing harm to myself. Lets assume i am a 9th level shaper and i like to overchannel 2 manifester levels, to create a construct 6th level construct (11 PPs). Do you think Overchannel and Talented would still enable me to do that without taking damage? TECHNICALLY Astral Constructs stays a 1st level power. I would be very grateful, if you could answer some of my questions WITH a good explaination. Just: "No" or "Yes", "its in the rules", or something like that would be a little bit "unsatisfactory". Thanks! Krongurke
AntiDjinn 11-11-07, 11:54 AM	1) A dispelling check is based on the caster/manifester level of the one trying to dispel vs. the caster/manifester level of the effect being dispelled. The level of the power does not even enter the equation. 2) Yes, Overchannel lets you spend more points so you get a better construct. Yes, Talented works because augmentation and metapsionics do not change the level of a power; no matter how many points you spend, Astral Construct (the power) remains a first level power even though the Astral Construct (creature) you get may be of higher level. 3)The power has a duration and it doesn't end with the death or incapacitation of its manifester. Obviously, you won't be able to continue to direct it, and it has no Int score so it can't make its own plan. Unless you are around to tell it otherwise, a construct will simply keep doing what it was doing. 4) A power retains its level for both good (the DC to manifest a 1st level power under stressful conditions remains low no matter how many points you stack on) and bad (no matter how many points you stack on a 1st level power, you can't manifest it through a Minor Globe of Invulnerability) effects. The sole exception (so far) is for purposes of making items that have a power level limit. For example: You can only stuff a power up to 3rd level in a tattoo; you are also limited to 5 points spent on lower level powers.
Krongurke 11-11-07, 12:04 PM	Hi AntiDjin, many many thanks for your answer. Your answer to my first question is a bit embarassing, because we did the dispelling checks wrong, but thanks for clearing that up too. :) Thanks again, and have a nice sunday evening. Krongurke 1) A dispelling check is based on the caster/manifester level of the one trying to dispel vs. the caster/manifester level of the effect being dispelled. The level of the power does not even enter the equation. 2) Yes, Overchannel lets you spend more points so you get a better construct. Yes, Talented works because augmentation and metapsionics do not change the level of a power; no matter how many points you spend, Astral Construct (the power) remains a first level power even though the Astral Construct (creature) you get may be of higher level. 3)The power has a duration and it doesn't end with the death or incapacitation of its manifester. Obviously, you won't be able to continue to direct it, and it has no Int score so it can't make its own plan. Unless you are around to tell it otherwise, a construct will simply keep doing what it was doing. 4) A power retains its level for both good (the DC to manifest a 1st level power under stressful conditions remains low no matter how many points you stack on) and bad (no matter how many points you stack on a 1st level power, you can't manifest it through a Minor Globe of Invulnerability) effects. The sole exception (so far) is for purposes of making items that have a power level limit. For example: You can only stuff a power up to 3rd level in a tattoo; you are also limited to 5 points spent on lower level powers.