Introducing Psionics, as both a GM and Player [Archive] - Wizards Community

Introducing Psionics, as both a GM and Player [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
xdahnx
08-16-07, 10:06 AM Hey there

I've been interested in Psionics for some time; I think there's something to be said for manifesting powers and effects from sheer will alone (vs. the divine or fiendish heritages found in magic-based casters).

However, Psionics is considered "the P word" with my group. I'm the most knowledgeable concerning Psionics, despite the fact that I have never used it in either capacity.

I'm the main GM (and am running AoW right now), but I am currently playing a PC in one of my player's campaigns. I want to eventually turn this character slot (should mine ever die) into a Psion. Perhaps I would wait and start as a LvL1 Psion...

Either way, I want to introduce Psionics, even marginally, into our games. I think it's well balanced, flavourful, diverse, and adds a unique depth to an already deep fantasy setting.

The question is, how to do so in such a manner that doesn't make everyone run in terror (as they do now)?

I was thinking of introducing a boss or miniboss that was a PW or psion of some descript; show up, armour clad, and start dishing out pain and powers in ways that my players have never experienced. I want a "That's SO cool" kind of reaction.

I don't want him to cream them, but I want to show some interesting aspects of Psionics through him.
Maybe him and his cohorts? I can see some kind of telepath/assassin trajectories to include.

So Basically: I am asking how you guys were introduced to 'the big P', or how you introduced it.

I feel like my players are like some kind of fish I have to place in a bag, and slowly lower into the new tank so they can acclimate. Follow?

Thanks!
Bacris
08-16-07, 10:18 AM My group, while not anti-psionic, doesn't really adopt psionics... I'm still the only player to have used psionics. The DM has used psionic enemies and NPCs frequently, but none of the other players have ever bothered to touch the system.

It's not because they think it imbalanced - my characters hold their own, but don't overshadow - so I think it's just a perception issue.

Regardless, my DM introduced psionic enemies - such as a mind flayer, soulknives, duergar, and the like - that were challenges, but that didn't give beat downs. It showed what psionics could do, but didn't make it feel like psionics was overwhelming or underwhelming.

I'd suggest the same strategy :)
AntiDjinn
08-16-07, 12:01 PM Having a psionic enemy is a good way to introduce the material, but rather than a single combatant who attacks the party once with psionics, have the BBEG be a psion or ardent. Telepaths, in particular, make great behind the scenes manipulators.

Alternately, have a psion or psionic organization hire or sponsor the party and provide a psionic NPC to assist them on the mission.

You could also have the first psionics used by the party be an item they find. The XPH and Magic Item Compendium have plenty of psionic-crafted items that don't require manifester levels to use. If the party finds a Skin of the Chameleon, is the party rogue going to set it down and run screaming because it is psionic or is he going to use it? Will anyone turn down a Skin of the Hero? Most of the Crystal Masks and Third Eyes are useful to any party. Just pick something that they haven't seen before. For that matter, even a pseudoitem such as a blob of Quintessence can be fun for them to experiment with and learn its properties. None of them may currently be interested in psionics, but none of them is going to turn down loot and swag may be the gateway to interest.
Shubert
08-25-07, 05:04 PM I'd love to see more on this too, as I'm going to be starting up an Eberron campaign soon and am not sure if the players are familiar with psionics.
InkBlot
08-25-07, 05:50 PM Psionics are very subtle, so perhaps you can use that to your advantage. There's no reason for your players to suspect that an enemy is a psion, rather than a wizard. Hide displays, and use bluff if neccessary.

If the psion uses astral constructs, then buff his craft (sculpture) skill so he can make his constructs look like anything. If the PCs have reason to suspect that the astral constructs aren't what they appear to be, have them roll spot checks opposed by the craft (sculpture) check the psion made.

Have a psion seer help out the party with some precognative abilities, next time the players lose the badguy's trail. Of course this seer shouldn't be as high level as the heroes, so if the heroes are too low level it might be difficult. A 3rd level seer could set the party on the right track by analyzing clues with object reading, by using clairvoyant sense to look ahead for danger and warn the heroes, and by using call to mind to know the just the right thing. You might not want to hide displays, since you could play it up as if it were a seance, with the mysterious lights and sounds, and sudden appearance of ectoplasm.

If you're playing Eberron then next time a party member dies, and there isn't enough money for a ressurection, have them bump into a nomad NPC. The nomad can use astral caravan to bring the heroes to Dolurrh, where they can reclaim their friend in a more direct manner. Of course this should be a good adventure in it's own right, with about two weeks spent on the astral plane (Githyanki pirates), fighting their way through Dolurrh to find a single soul (a bard might have an easier time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus#Death_of_Eurydice)), and then two more weeks traveling back through the astral. The nomad can use astral traveler for the party, so that's not a problem.
Tiarn
08-25-07, 11:50 PM ...If the psion uses astral constructs, then buff his craft (sculpture) skill so he can make his constructs look like anything. If the PCs have reason to suspect that the astral constructs aren't what they appear to be, have them roll spot checks opposed by the craft (sculpture) check the psion made...

I'd say it wouldn't matter what said psion got on his craft check, the PCs will still see that "something is up".

...No matter how high the Craft (sculpting) check result, though, an astral construct’s appearance can’t hide the otherworldly material from which it is formed.

But aside from that I think all the ideas here are great. I was going to offer a couple of my own.

The psionic races would be a good place to start. Have an NPC or enemy belong to one of these and focus on the mystery of their origins. I'd use either a maenad or an elan since they both appear nearly human and won't be immediately recognizable to those who aren't familiar with psionics. Have them make frequent comments that might let the PCs realize something is odd about them. (like an elan who often talks about historic events from long ago as if she were there, though "she couldn't possibly have lived that long")

Another would be to let your PCs have a touch of psionic power themselves. Say they travel to some place full of resonating psionic energies (or some other psionic location) that imbues them with the hidden talent feat. (p 67 if you can't find it) Choose the power they learn for them and tell them it's "spell-like, usable 2/day". Once they've seen how interesting or fun these unique powers are (make sure you pick things like mindlink or control flames, things not easily duplicated by low-level spells) have an NPC who's knowledgable about such things point out their psionic talent. They're then free to train and learn psionic feats, classes, etc.
Callix
08-26-07, 07:34 AM Throw a soulknife at them. Soulknives scream "Psionic" from every pore, and they are also mechanically feeble. After the party wipes the floor with the psionic guy, they might reconsider how broken psionics are in 3.5ed. Also, show off the Focus mechanic: have an opponent make a cool entrance (Up the Walls, Speed of Thought), then blow their focus on a Psionic Weapon strike. Point out that they are no longer trying to run up walls, and are simply fighting.
Lycanthromancer
08-26-07, 09:52 AM Check out the psychic acrobat, from Untapped Potential. If they think Up the Walls is cool, wait until someone pulls a Prince of Persia on them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
xdahnx 08-16-07, 10:06 AM	Hey there I've been interested in Psionics for some time; I think there's something to be said for manifesting powers and effects from sheer will alone (vs. the divine or fiendish heritages found in magic-based casters). However, Psionics is considered "the P word" with my group. I'm the most knowledgeable concerning Psionics, despite the fact that I have never used it in either capacity. I'm the main GM (and am running AoW right now), but I am currently playing a PC in one of my player's campaigns. I want to eventually turn this character slot (should mine ever die) into a Psion. Perhaps I would wait and start as a LvL1 Psion... Either way, I want to introduce Psionics, even marginally, into our games. I think it's well balanced, flavourful, diverse, and adds a unique depth to an already deep fantasy setting. The question is, how to do so in such a manner that doesn't make everyone run in terror (as they do now)? I was thinking of introducing a boss or miniboss that was a PW or psion of some descript; show up, armour clad, and start dishing out pain and powers in ways that my players have never experienced. I want a "That's SO cool" kind of reaction. I don't want him to cream them, but I want to show some interesting aspects of Psionics through him. Maybe him and his cohorts? I can see some kind of telepath/assassin trajectories to include. So Basically: I am asking how you guys were introduced to 'the big P', or how you introduced it. I feel like my players are like some kind of fish I have to place in a bag, and slowly lower into the new tank so they can acclimate. Follow? Thanks!
Bacris 08-16-07, 10:18 AM	My group, while not anti-psionic, doesn't really adopt psionics... I'm still the only player to have used psionics. The DM has used psionic enemies and NPCs frequently, but none of the other players have ever bothered to touch the system. It's not because they think it imbalanced - my characters hold their own, but don't overshadow - so I think it's just a perception issue. Regardless, my DM introduced psionic enemies - such as a mind flayer, soulknives, duergar, and the like - that were challenges, but that didn't give beat downs. It showed what psionics could do, but didn't make it feel like psionics was overwhelming or underwhelming. I'd suggest the same strategy :)
AntiDjinn 08-16-07, 12:01 PM	Having a psionic enemy is a good way to introduce the material, but rather than a single combatant who attacks the party once with psionics, have the BBEG be a psion or ardent. Telepaths, in particular, make great behind the scenes manipulators. Alternately, have a psion or psionic organization hire or sponsor the party and provide a psionic NPC to assist them on the mission. You could also have the first psionics used by the party be an item they find. The XPH and Magic Item Compendium have plenty of psionic-crafted items that don't require manifester levels to use. If the party finds a Skin of the Chameleon, is the party rogue going to set it down and run screaming because it is psionic or is he going to use it? Will anyone turn down a Skin of the Hero? Most of the Crystal Masks and Third Eyes are useful to any party. Just pick something that they haven't seen before. For that matter, even a pseudoitem such as a blob of Quintessence can be fun for them to experiment with and learn its properties. None of them may currently be interested in psionics, but none of them is going to turn down loot and swag may be the gateway to interest.
Shubert 08-25-07, 05:04 PM	I'd love to see more on this too, as I'm going to be starting up an Eberron campaign soon and am not sure if the players are familiar with psionics.
InkBlot 08-25-07, 05:50 PM	Psionics are very subtle, so perhaps you can use that to your advantage. There's no reason for your players to suspect that an enemy is a psion, rather than a wizard. Hide displays, and use bluff if neccessary. If the psion uses astral constructs, then buff his craft (sculpture) skill so he can make his constructs look like anything. If the PCs have reason to suspect that the astral constructs aren't what they appear to be, have them roll spot checks opposed by the craft (sculpture) check the psion made. Have a psion seer help out the party with some precognative abilities, next time the players lose the badguy's trail. Of course this seer shouldn't be as high level as the heroes, so if the heroes are too low level it might be difficult. A 3rd level seer could set the party on the right track by analyzing clues with object reading, by using clairvoyant sense to look ahead for danger and warn the heroes, and by using call to mind to know the just the right thing. You might not want to hide displays, since you could play it up as if it were a seance, with the mysterious lights and sounds, and sudden appearance of ectoplasm. If you're playing Eberron then next time a party member dies, and there isn't enough money for a ressurection, have them bump into a nomad NPC. The nomad can use astral caravan to bring the heroes to Dolurrh, where they can reclaim their friend in a more direct manner. Of course this should be a good adventure in it's own right, with about two weeks spent on the astral plane (Githyanki pirates), fighting their way through Dolurrh to find a single soul (a bard might have an easier time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus#Death_of_Eurydice)), and then two more weeks traveling back through the astral. The nomad can use astral traveler for the party, so that's not a problem.
Tiarn 08-25-07, 11:50 PM	...If the psion uses astral constructs, then buff his craft (sculpture) skill so he can make his constructs look like anything. If the PCs have reason to suspect that the astral constructs aren't what they appear to be, have them roll spot checks opposed by the craft (sculpture) check the psion made... I'd say it wouldn't matter what said psion got on his craft check, the PCs will still see that "something is up". ...No matter how high the Craft (sculpting) check result, though, an astral construct’s appearance can’t hide the otherworldly material from which it is formed. But aside from that I think all the ideas here are great. I was going to offer a couple of my own. The psionic races would be a good place to start. Have an NPC or enemy belong to one of these and focus on the mystery of their origins. I'd use either a maenad or an elan since they both appear nearly human and won't be immediately recognizable to those who aren't familiar with psionics. Have them make frequent comments that might let the PCs realize something is odd about them. (like an elan who often talks about historic events from long ago as if she were there, though "she couldn't possibly have lived that long") Another would be to let your PCs have a touch of psionic power themselves. Say they travel to some place full of resonating psionic energies (or some other psionic location) that imbues them with the hidden talent feat. (p 67 if you can't find it) Choose the power they learn for them and tell them it's "spell-like, usable 2/day". Once they've seen how interesting or fun these unique powers are (make sure you pick things like mindlink or control flames, things not easily duplicated by low-level spells) have an NPC who's knowledgable about such things point out their psionic talent. They're then free to train and learn psionic feats, classes, etc.
Callix 08-26-07, 07:34 AM	Throw a soulknife at them. Soulknives scream "Psionic" from every pore, and they are also mechanically feeble. After the party wipes the floor with the psionic guy, they might reconsider how broken psionics are in 3.5ed. Also, show off the Focus mechanic: have an opponent make a cool entrance (Up the Walls, Speed of Thought), then blow their focus on a Psionic Weapon strike. Point out that they are no longer trying to run up walls, and are simply fighting.
Lycanthromancer 08-26-07, 09:52 AM	Check out the psychic acrobat, from Untapped Potential. If they think Up the Walls is cool, wait until someone pulls a Prince of Persia on them.