Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Anguish2 06-04-07, 10:34 PM	Psycarnum v1.00 Premise Introduction and Justification The magic system introduced in the Magic of Incarnum supplement is one which suffers from a lack of support in the form of integration with other materials. Further, the background "fluff" content introduced in MoI leaves some of the book's audience off-put by the details, overshadowing the mechanics themselves. This conversion document is intended to provide players and DMs a simple, reasonable elegant way to incorporate the majority of the material presented in MoI into existing campaigns. Further, this integration is intended to make existing material more applicable and useful to characters and NPCs making use of Incarnum. The fundamental premise being presented here is that Incarnum is nothing more than a subset of the existing psionic rule-set. Merger of the two rules systems can only strengthen the value in each. Definitions and Equivalences First of all, existing psionic definitions remain unchanged. The concepts of power points, manifesters, powers, and psionic focus need no clarification or revision. Players and DMs should rest assured that nothing in this document alters any content appearing in the EPH. Some of the terms presented in MoI are hereinafter replaced or redefined for mechanical or flavor purposes. Minimal alterations are a design goal. soulmeld - unchanged, ref: "soulknife" meldshaper - redefined a psionic character who can shape soulmelds meldshaper level - redefined as manifester level essentia - term deprecated, redefined as a specific use for 5 power points essentia capacity -term replaced with "investment capacity"; the maximum number of power points that can be invested in a meld or feat, 5 times the number table 2-1 on MoI page 19 chakra - unchanged chakra bind - unchanged Class Details The first major alteration of making Incarnum into a psionic subsystem involves the removal of differentiation between a meldshaper and a manifester. For purposes of merging the two systems, a likely unprecedented step needs be taken; meldshaper levels and manifester levels effectively stack. The precise definition of this would be to say that manifester levels gained from meldshaper class levels stack with any and all manifester levels gained from other psionic classes. As an example, a 7th-level character who is Psion3/Incarnate3/Psywar1 has a ML of 6 for Psion powers, an ML of 7 for soulmelds, and an ML of 4 for Psychic Warrior powers. The key point is that the rules already prevent MLs from Psion and Psywar from stacking with one another. The second major alteration involves the way MoI's essentia works. The term is deprecated and any meldshaper class that grants access to one or more points of essentia instead grants 5 psionic power points for each point of essentia that would otherwise have been granted. These power points are in every way identical to power points granted from any other source of power points. As an example, a 7th-level character with Int 15 and Wis 11 who is Psion3/Incarnate3/Psywar1 would have 14+15+0=29 power points. 14 from the Psion levels plus Int bonus, 15 from conversion of 3 points of essentia from the Incarnate levels, and 0 from the Psychic Warrior level (and no bonus power points from the Wis score). It should be noted at meldshaper classes do not grant additional power points due to any ability score. Should the direct-conversion of Incarnum to a psionic subsystem be found to be underpowered, this is a detail that could be reviewed. How It Works A single-class character who takes exclusively existing manifester classes or meldshaper classes functions identically to the original RAW. A manifester consumes power points in direct exchange for power manifesting as always. A meldshaper shapes their melds each morning as always. The terminology changes however, where essentia is concerned. Instead of "investing 1 point of essentia" into a meld, a meldshaper instead says that they are "investing 5 power points" into a meld. The functional dovetail occurs when a character multiclasses between a manifester class and a meldshaper class. At this point, the character can shape (and/or unshape) their melds in the morning as usual. They can consume psionic power points at will to manifest psionic powers as the usual rules allow. Further, such a multiclass character can invest power points into their meld, precisely as the rules for essentia investing allow. Power points so invested remain so invested until the next time the character is eligible to reshape their melds. The character is permitted to move invested power points from one meld to another (as the rules for essentia permit) or to feats that allow essentia investment. The key is that power points once invested cannot be be accessed for any purpose other than empowering melds and feats until the start of the next day. Thusly our 7th-level Psion3/Incarnate3/Psywar1 can use his 29 power points in several ways. He could manifest a 2nd-level Psion power 7 times and be left with 2 leftover power points. He could instead cast a 2nd-level Psion power and augment that power an additional 3 power points (to reach his ML of 6 for Psion powers) 4 times and be left with 5 leftover power points. He could alternatively invest 10 power points into two of his three soulmelds, and be left with 9 leftover power points. In this last example, he could then invest a further 5 power points into his third meld, and then manifest a Psychic Warrior power four times, then being left without available power points. Chakras, chakra binds, and other features remain unchanged from their written equivalents. Notes The conversion of 1 essentia point to 5 power points is a rough approximation chosen when comparing the Incarnate and Psion at 20th. A slightly lower or slightly higher number might be appropriate. The question stays balanced for a meldshaper regardless of what number is chosen. The balancing factor is how much it should cost a manifester to power melds, and/or how much manifesting not powering a meld should be worth. This conversion rate is subject to change. This system does change some of the core balancing details of the Incarnum system. For instance, a character who gains power points from levels in Psion or Wilder gains power points at a rate faster than an Incarnate gains essentia points * 5. This is deliberate. A multiclass character who elects to invest power points to fully empower all of his melds and feats (up to their "investment capacity") does so at the cost of the number of powers he can manifest that day. A multiclass character who consumes all of his power points manifesting powers will by necessity have weaker melds shaped. The purpose behind allowing meldshaper levels to stack with manifester levels is a balance control measure. This allows the utility of however many melds a given character is allowed to shape to increase as the character gains levels in other psionic classes, much like the existing augmentation mechanism for psionic powers. Flavor Conversion Incarnum soulmelds are written to be constituted from the raw power of the souls of living creatures. This flavor text may not fit in many campaigns. DMs are encouraged to adopt the same flavor as that accompanying the Soulknife class. Soulmelds are shaped from the mental will of the meldshaper in precisely the same manner as a mind blade is. A generous interpretation could allow that a mind blade actually is simply a particular meld and that a Soulknife is actually a meldshaper class who has access to a unique meld. A DM (or player) may wish to alter the descriptions of what various soulmelds look like when shaped to fit a more psionic nature. This is a matter of personal preference and has no mechanical impact, thusly is best left to individual gaming groups. What Next? Some additional alteration of the base mechanics could bear examination. For instance, it might be a consideration to alter the meldshaper classes into Prestige Classes with low entry requirements to remove multiclassing penalties to XP. Also, it might be a consideration to change the key ability score for each existing meldshaper class. It may be a better match both mechanically and style-wise for Incarnates and Soulborns to use Int as their key ability and for Totemists to use Wis. Additional soulmelds could and should be designed. Such melds should incorporate existing psionic effects and abilities. Additional psycarnum feats could and should be designed. Feats should integrate existing manifester classes with meldshaper mechanics. An example might be: Psycarnum Mind Blade [Psionic, Psycarnum] Prerequisite: ability to manifest a mind blade. Benefit: Whenever you have 5 power points invested in this feat, you are able to reshape your mind blade to match the form of any martial melee weapon. You are considered proficient with this weapon form and your Weapon Focus feat applies to this form. Each time you manifest your mind blade, it appears either as the last form you had it shaped in, or as a shortsword at your choice. Investing 10 power points in this feat allows you to reshape your mind blade to match the form of any exotic weapon, grants you proficiency with that weapon, and allows your Weapon Focus feat to apply to this form. Investment of 15, 20, and 25 power points grants you Weapon Specialization, Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization respectively in addition. Normal: A mind blade normally manifests as a shortsword, as one of the forms granted by the Shape Mind Blade class feature, or as the form granted by a specific feat. Special: This feat grants you 5 power points. If at any time you move invested power points out of this feat to no longer qualify for a given benefit, that benefit is immediately lost. A mind blade shaped in a form you no longer qualify for immediately unshapes.
glacialcat 06-04-07, 10:59 PM	This looks very interesting. I like the idea. However there might be a problem with the Essentia = 5 PP conversion, mainly because of the Azurin. A first level Azurin Psion could have 8 PP easy... that seems problematic at level 1. By level 5 it would be equal to what a Kalashtar would get, but with their Human Bonus feat and 5 bonus PP, Azurin would probably be the most popular psionic race by far. I could see Duskling becoming a popular race for any of the non-INT based manifesters. Ardents, especially Psychic Warriors. 6 PP at first level could be really helpful for a Psychic Warrior. The Incarnum feats would become rather nice too, with each one giving you 5 PP when you take them, Extra Essentia giving 10. Azurin Psion Level 1 INT: 16 CON: 13+ Feats: Any two Incarnum feats, 3 if Incarnum Feats would count as Psionic feats under this variant. PP: 2 (Base) + 1 (INT) + 5 (Azurin) + 10 (feats, +15 if Incarnum feats are psionic feats) = 18 PP at level 1, 23 if Incarnum feats = Psionics. That's more PP than a base psion gets until Lv.8 Of course, a Human Psion could get 12 PP if he only spent his feats on Psionic talent.. so I'm not sure how much of a problem this is. I do really like the idea though.
Melayl 06-05-07, 12:45 AM	While I've only briefly skimmed MoI, I must say that I like this proposal. It makes it much easier to incorporate MoI into existing worlds (flavor-wise), and adds versatitlity. This might actually get me to shell out the cash for MoI. Looks like you spent a good deal of work on this, and did a good job on it.
CrimsonDeath 06-05-07, 03:34 AM	This looks very interesting. I like the idea. However there might be a problem with the Essentia = 5 PP conversion, mainly because of the Azurin. A first level Azurin Psion could have 8 PP easy... that seems problematic at level 1. By level 5 it would be equal to what a Kalashtar would get, but with their Human Bonus feat and 5 bonus PP, Azurin would probably be the most popular psionic race by far. I could see Duskling becoming a popular race for any of the non-INT based manifesters. Ardents, especially Psychic Warriors. 6 PP at first level could be really helpful for a Psychic Warrior. The Incarnum feats would become rather nice too, with each one giving you 5 PP when you take them, Extra Essentia giving 10. Azurin Psion Level 1 INT: 16 CON: 13+ Feats: Any two Incarnum feats, 3 if Incarnum Feats would count as Psionic feats under this variant. PP: 2 (Base) + 1 (INT) + 5 (Azurin) + 10 (feats, +15 if Incarnum feats are psionic feats) = 18 PP at level 1, 23 if Incarnum feats = Psionics. That's more PP than a base psion gets until Lv.8 Of course, a Human Psion could get 12 PP if he only spent his feats on Psionic talent.. so I'm not sure how much of a problem this is. I do really like the idea though. Of course, at high levels, this tips the other way. Suppose you convert essentia to PP on a 1:3 basis. A level 20 psion could max out a soulmeld or Incarnum feat for 12 PP-- less than a level 7 power. Let's take our hypothetical Azurin Psion and suppose he selected nothing but Incarnum feats (assuming that Incarnum feats qualify as Psionic feats under this system). Each of these feats is essentially an all-day buff, and many of them-- particularly soulmelds acquired through Shape Soulmeld (especially if taking the feat multiple times allows you to shape them all at once)-- are well worth a level 7 power. Even those that aren't may be worth a level 2 power to have the 1-essential bonus. Such a strategy would be particularly good for a Wilder, whose options are limited in the first place. Shape Soulmeld or another Incarnum feat adds about as much versatility as Expanded Knowledge, and Wild Surge (especially coupled with Midnight Augmentation) would go a long way toward making up for the PP being used as Essentia. If you do wind up using this variant, I think 1 Essentia : 4 PP is probably a better conversion ratio. Psionic Talent outpaces Incarnum feats as a source of extra PP at a fairly reasonable rate, and maxing out a Soulmeld or Incarnum feat is close in cost to the highest-level power of a primary manifester. If you're going to treat the Soulknife as a Meldshaper, you may take a nod from the Hidden Talent Soulknife variant and allow the Soulknife to choose a bonus Incarnum feat at first level, although this may be a bit of a mistake since investing those PP into the feat would render him unable to gain a psionic focus (unless invested PP are treated as still being in your reserve). Midnight Dodge would probably be popular, since it opens the way to Mobility and Spring Attack. Also, regarding the Psycarnum Mind Blade feat you presented: The Soulknife already gets Greater Weapon Focus: Mind Blade as a bonus feat. Perhaps the feats that can be acquired by investing PP should be Weapon Specialization, Greater Weapon Specialization, and Melee Weapon Mastery.
Anguish2 06-05-07, 12:54 PM	A way to slow this down a touch might be to add a requirement to Psycarnum feats. Require the character to have as many meldshaper class levels as they have Psycarnum feats. Kind of screws the Azurin meldshaper who wants to take both of their feats as Psycarnum feats at 1st. Reduction of the essentia-to-power points conversion to say... 3 would nearly make parity at 1st, but enable a Psion/Incarnate to more trivially fully invest in their melds. What if taking a Psycarnum feat didn't in and of itself provide enough power points to empower it? This would pseudo-nerf the Psycarnum feats, but given the merger with other sources of power-points might make for a more appropriate balance.
CrimsonDeath 06-05-07, 03:10 PM	What if taking a Psycarnum feat didn't in and of itself provide enough power points to empower it? This would pseudo-nerf the Psycarnum feats, but given the merger with other sources of power-points might make for a more appropriate balance. That would change the mechanics for single-class Meldshapers and non-psionic characters taking Incarnum feats, though. I don't think that's within the scope of this project.
Jimmeh42 06-05-07, 10:40 PM	you would peobably only have a huge problem when you use gestalt, but you always have a problem then
Melayl 06-05-07, 11:18 PM	Would you be able to use PP from crystal capacitors to fuel incarnum abilities? If so, what happens to those PP when you reform your soulmelds/whatevers? Can you spend them for psionic powers or put them back in the crystal capacitors?
Jimmeh42 06-06-07, 07:22 PM	Would you be able to use PP from crystal capacitors to fuel incarnum abilities? If so, what happens to those PP when you reform your soulmelds/whatevers? Can you spend them for psionic powers or put them back in the crystal capacitors? well since you cant take the pp out of soulmelds or incarnum feats you wont be able to put them into the capacitor, i guess they would simply be lost when you reformed your soulmelds. but since that is the same time as you get your new pp's for the day it usualy wouldnt matter no matter what ruling you make on this it changes things for multiclass, i'd personaly say that you cant use crystal capacitors for this purpose, why? so that pure incarnum users are not altered in any way
CrimsonDeath 06-06-07, 07:44 PM	Would you be able to use PP from crystal capacitors to fuel incarnum abilities? If so, what happens to those PP when you reform your soulmelds/whatevers? Can you spend them for psionic powers or put them back in the crystal capacitors? Note that soulmelds and Incarnum feats can only be fueled by PP from the character's reserve, and that such PP do not leave the character's reserve. Note that a character cannot transfer PP from a crystal capacitor into his PP reserve. Considering these two facts together, it seems unlikely that one could invest PP from a crystal capacitor into a soulmeld or Incarnum feat.
Melayl 06-06-07, 11:38 PM	Note that soulmelds and Incarnum feats can only be fueled by PP from the character's reserve, and that such PP do not leave the character's reserve. Note that a character cannot transfer PP from a crystal capacitor into his PP reserve. Considering these two facts together, it seems unlikely that one could invest PP from a crystal capacitor into a soulmeld or Incarnum feat. Ah, right. Thanks.
Anguish2 06-07-07, 01:47 PM	In discussion with the other fellow who was involved with coming up with this variant, there's a possibility that might not be overly complicated to slow down the low-level essentia-to-PP conversion issue. Basically, we might come up with a sliding scale. Something vaguely like this... this is only a rough idea and needs refinement, but I wanted to ask for input. Your first essentia point converts over to 1 pp. Your second essentia point and third essentia point each convert to 2 pp. Your next three essentia convert to 3 pp. Next four to 4 and so on. The idea is that if a race or feat grants essentia, the early benefits don't grant excess power points. Conversely, your first few melds are easier to fully invest in, because they only require a couple pp. It's more to keep track of than a flat conversion, which I think burdens the system, but cuts back the Azurin Psion 1 with three Psycarnum feats at 1st and 20-someodd power points. Impressions?