Mindlink - a familiar touch...? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Mindlink - a familiar touch...? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Syrkres
04-30-07, 04:54 PM Within a party that has a psionicist that uses Mindlink, does it create a "familiar" touch?

That is: when making contact, can a character know before they "agree" to accept contact, who is making the connection?

Does Character X know Character Y (party member) is using Mindlink, thus allows it in?

Or -

Does Character X think NPC BBEG is attempting to contact him to charm him, thus attempts to stop the connection?
Bacris
04-30-07, 05:37 PM This sounds like 2nd Edition psionics, yes?
InkBlot
04-30-07, 06:23 PM Mindlink doesn't allow a save, and a person with power resistance can only turn it off by taking a standard action (and then it's off untill next round), so it doesn't realy matter.

However, in the case of similar powers such as mass missive, the targets of the power do know that the power is harmless (the saving throw line states "will negates (harmless)"). Allowing the targets to recognize the manifester if they've been mentaly contacted by him/her/it before isn't much of a stretch.
AntiDjinn
05-01-07, 10:42 AM As noted, the power does not allow a save, so you don't have the option not to take this call unless you have power resistance. If you do have power resistance it takes a standard action to lower it, so the person establishing the Mindlink will generally ask before manifesting to avoid a round of jockeying for a connection.

As far as recognizing the source, once the link is established you probably recognize the mental "voice" just a you do a spoken one; recognition of a voice that is familiar to you is pretty much automatic unless the speaker is using the disguise skill. Recognizing the manifester before the power is fully manifested I would give you with a Psicraft roll, but nothing in the rules says it is automatic. A given party might have some sort of signal to indicate a friendly effect but otherwise there is probably no need to insert game mechanics into an area that roleplaying is better suited to handle.

If you really need mental "caller ID", it would probably have to be written up as a new clairsentient power that identifies the source of an incoming mind-affecting effect.
Syrkres
05-01-07, 01:19 PM Sorry,

yes, miss-spoke,

Targets: You and one other willing creature within range that has an Intelligence score of 3 or higher

So, how does a (target) know it is you, thus if it is willing or not?

Again in my example, I attempt to put up the power without asking any of my party members, because it is the dead of night, and an intruder is in the house, and I don't want to make noise, thus the need for mindlink (mental communication).

Do they recognize it is me attempting to do this? Or not?
InkBlot
05-01-07, 01:34 PM Mindlink has a mental display. Mental displays are felt by the targets of a power, and those within 15 feet (not very far) of the targets and the manifester. So if you don't hide the display, then the targets should recognize the unique aspects of your mental display.

Sleeping or unconcious creatures are always considered "willing" for the purpose of spells, powers, and other effects.

If they were awake, they would recognize that they were being targeted by a "harmless" power (because the PR entry says "harmless"), they should know that you can do these kinds of things, they should be able to put 2 and 2 together and allow themselves to targeted by the mindlink.

They will recognize your mental voice as soon as you say something over the 'link.

If you really need mental "caller ID", it would probably have to be written up as a new clairsentient power that identifies the source of an incoming mind-affecting effect.

That's not a bad idea...

Trace Power
Clairsentience
Level: Knowledge 5, Lurk 6, Psion/wilder 5, Psychic Rogue 6
Display: Visual and mental
Manifesting Time: 1 immediate action
Target: 1 creature
Range: See text
Duration: Concentration; see text
Saving Throw: Will negates
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: Knowledge and Psion/wilder 9, Lurk and Psychic Rogue 11

You can manifest this power whenever you are targeted by a manifestation of psionic power. You can manifest this power at a moments notice, quickly enough to trace the incomming mental energies back to their source.

The creature manifesting a psionic power on you must make a Will saving throw. If the enemy manifester fails, you learn a piece of information about him/her. Each round you concentrate on this power, the enemy manifester recieves a new saving throw and if it fails you learn more about him/her. If the save is successful, the power ends.

1st Round; The general direction in which the manifester lays, and his or her attitude towards you (hostile, unfriendly, indifferent, friendly, etc.).

2nd Round; The distance between you and the enemy manifester, rounded to the nearest mile (or to the nearest 100 feet if he/she is within one mile of you).

3rd round; The enemy manifester’s race.

4th round; The enemy manifester’s gender.

5th round; The enemy manifester’s age. At this point you have an accurate mental picture of the enemy manifester, and can identify him or her by sight.

6th round; The enemy manifester’s alignment.

7th round; Why the enemy manifester was targeting you.

Trace power does not work across planar boundries. If you attempt to manifest trace power against a creature targeting you from another plane, the power fails.

Trace power is defeated by mind blank, and similar powers, spells, and effects.

Augment: For every 2 additional power points you spend, the saving throw DC of this power increases by 1 and you gain an additional piece of information durring the first round of this power. For example, if you spend 2 extra power points then in the 1st round of this power you learn the direction, attitude, and distance of the enemy manifester.
AntiDjinn
05-02-07, 12:02 AM This power probably should not work if the being you are trying to trace has Mind Blank (which may not need to be stated: Mind Blank nerfs all scrying attempts except those that state otherwise). It should work fine if the subject has innate immunity to mind-affecting (because it isn't).

I would probably not hand this power to the psychic warrior (or make him spend one of his many bonus psionic feats to get it). Counter-intelligence this exacting should be property of the seer and maybe ardents with the right mantle.
CrimsonDeath
05-02-07, 01:10 AM I wonder if there's any point in specifying some guidelines regarding how specific "why the enemy was targeting you" is going to be.
InkBlot
05-02-07, 01:49 AM Oh cool! This is the most feedback I've gotten on an original power in a long time. Thanks guys!

AntiDjinn: You're correct in assuming that this power is blocked by mind blank, and that I didn't state such because only exceptions to that rule need to be stated. However, after reading mind blank I think I should note that mind blank defeats trace power just in case.

I like the idea of psywars being able to take over some of the ranger's role, but with the lurk available I suppose you're right. I'll change it to psion/wilder and lurk. Maybe psion/wilder, lurk, and pyschic rogue. Is there a specific mantle which would be good for trace power? Knowledge mantle maybe?

I want this to be available to all psions and wilders, as I see it as being a kind of general counter-power like feat leech, dispel psionics, catapsi, detect remote viewing, tower of iron will, or divert teleport. Basically, I want telepaths/egoists/nomads to be able to deduce who was trying to break into their minds/pervert their bodies/move them against their will just as easily as seers can, because that's something I imagine telepaths/egoists/nomads being able to do.

It's also not a terribly powerful power, as the target gets seven chances to end the power with just one successful throw of his best save. Even if you just want to know who was manifesting against you, that's still five saving throws he has to fail. Sure you can use the augment to help with that, but by the time you get it down to one save you're bumping elbows with hypercognition and metafaculty.

I will clarify "why the manifester was targeting you" just as soon as I figure out a concise way to do so.
AntiDjinn
05-02-07, 11:14 PM For the ardent the Knowledge mantle seems like the best fit, and it conveniently has a hole at 5th level. Either that, or stick it in the Mental Power mantle, which has the marginal Psychic Crush at 5th.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Syrkres 04-30-07, 04:54 PM	Within a party that has a psionicist that uses Mindlink, does it create a "familiar" touch? That is: when making contact, can a character know before they "agree" to accept contact, who is making the connection? Does Character X know Character Y (party member) is using Mindlink, thus allows it in? Or - Does Character X think NPC BBEG is attempting to contact him to charm him, thus attempts to stop the connection?
Bacris 04-30-07, 05:37 PM	This sounds like 2nd Edition psionics, yes?
InkBlot 04-30-07, 06:23 PM	Mindlink doesn't allow a save, and a person with power resistance can only turn it off by taking a standard action (and then it's off untill next round), so it doesn't realy matter. However, in the case of similar powers such as mass missive, the targets of the power do know that the power is harmless (the saving throw line states "will negates (harmless)"). Allowing the targets to recognize the manifester if they've been mentaly contacted by him/her/it before isn't much of a stretch.
AntiDjinn 05-01-07, 10:42 AM	As noted, the power does not allow a save, so you don't have the option not to take this call unless you have power resistance. If you do have power resistance it takes a standard action to lower it, so the person establishing the Mindlink will generally ask before manifesting to avoid a round of jockeying for a connection. As far as recognizing the source, once the link is established you probably recognize the mental "voice" just a you do a spoken one; recognition of a voice that is familiar to you is pretty much automatic unless the speaker is using the disguise skill. Recognizing the manifester before the power is fully manifested I would give you with a Psicraft roll, but nothing in the rules says it is automatic. A given party might have some sort of signal to indicate a friendly effect but otherwise there is probably no need to insert game mechanics into an area that roleplaying is better suited to handle. If you really need mental "caller ID", it would probably have to be written up as a new clairsentient power that identifies the source of an incoming mind-affecting effect.
Syrkres 05-01-07, 01:19 PM	Sorry, yes, miss-spoke, Targets: You and one other willing creature within range that has an Intelligence score of 3 or higher So, how does a (target) know it is you, thus if it is willing or not? Again in my example, I attempt to put up the power without asking any of my party members, because it is the dead of night, and an intruder is in the house, and I don't want to make noise, thus the need for mindlink (mental communication). Do they recognize it is me attempting to do this? Or not?
InkBlot 05-01-07, 01:34 PM	Mindlink has a mental display. Mental displays are felt by the targets of a power, and those within 15 feet (not very far) of the targets and the manifester. So if you don't hide the display, then the targets should recognize the unique aspects of your mental display. Sleeping or unconcious creatures are always considered "willing" for the purpose of spells, powers, and other effects. If they were awake, they would recognize that they were being targeted by a "harmless" power (because the PR entry says "harmless"), they should know that you can do these kinds of things, they should be able to put 2 and 2 together and allow themselves to targeted by the mindlink. They will recognize your mental voice as soon as you say something over the 'link. If you really need mental "caller ID", it would probably have to be written up as a new clairsentient power that identifies the source of an incoming mind-affecting effect. That's not a bad idea... Trace Power Clairsentience Level: Knowledge 5, Lurk 6, Psion/wilder 5, Psychic Rogue 6 Display: Visual and mental Manifesting Time: 1 immediate action Target: 1 creature Range: See text Duration: Concentration; see text Saving Throw: Will negates Power Resistance: Yes Power Points: Knowledge and Psion/wilder 9, Lurk and Psychic Rogue 11 You can manifest this power whenever you are targeted by a manifestation of psionic power. You can manifest this power at a moments notice, quickly enough to trace the incomming mental energies back to their source. The creature manifesting a psionic power on you must make a Will saving throw. If the enemy manifester fails, you learn a piece of information about him/her. Each round you concentrate on this power, the enemy manifester recieves a new saving throw and if it fails you learn more about him/her. If the save is successful, the power ends. 1st Round; The general direction in which the manifester lays, and his or her attitude towards you (hostile, unfriendly, indifferent, friendly, etc.). 2nd Round; The distance between you and the enemy manifester, rounded to the nearest mile (or to the nearest 100 feet if he/she is within one mile of you). 3rd round; The enemy manifester’s race. 4th round; The enemy manifester’s gender. 5th round; The enemy manifester’s age. At this point you have an accurate mental picture of the enemy manifester, and can identify him or her by sight. 6th round; The enemy manifester’s alignment. 7th round; Why the enemy manifester was targeting you. Trace power does not work across planar boundries. If you attempt to manifest trace power against a creature targeting you from another plane, the power fails. Trace power is defeated by mind blank, and similar powers, spells, and effects. Augment: For every 2 additional power points you spend, the saving throw DC of this power increases by 1 and you gain an additional piece of information durring the first round of this power. For example, if you spend 2 extra power points then in the 1st round of this power you learn the direction, attitude, and distance of the enemy manifester.
AntiDjinn 05-02-07, 12:02 AM	This power probably should not work if the being you are trying to trace has Mind Blank (which may not need to be stated: Mind Blank nerfs all scrying attempts except those that state otherwise). It should work fine if the subject has innate immunity to mind-affecting (because it isn't). I would probably not hand this power to the psychic warrior (or make him spend one of his many bonus psionic feats to get it). Counter-intelligence this exacting should be property of the seer and maybe ardents with the right mantle.
CrimsonDeath 05-02-07, 01:10 AM	I wonder if there's any point in specifying some guidelines regarding how specific "why the enemy was targeting you" is going to be.
InkBlot 05-02-07, 01:49 AM	Oh cool! This is the most feedback I've gotten on an original power in a long time. Thanks guys! AntiDjinn: You're correct in assuming that this power is blocked by mind blank, and that I didn't state such because only exceptions to that rule need to be stated. However, after reading mind blank I think I should note that mind blank defeats trace power just in case. I like the idea of psywars being able to take over some of the ranger's role, but with the lurk available I suppose you're right. I'll change it to psion/wilder and lurk. Maybe psion/wilder, lurk, and pyschic rogue. Is there a specific mantle which would be good for trace power? Knowledge mantle maybe? I want this to be available to all psions and wilders, as I see it as being a kind of general counter-power like feat leech, dispel psionics, catapsi, detect remote viewing, tower of iron will, or divert teleport. Basically, I want telepaths/egoists/nomads to be able to deduce who was trying to break into their minds/pervert their bodies/move them against their will just as easily as seers can, because that's something I imagine telepaths/egoists/nomads being able to do. It's also not a terribly powerful power, as the target gets seven chances to end the power with just one successful throw of his best save. Even if you just want to know who was manifesting against you, that's still five saving throws he has to fail. Sure you can use the augment to help with that, but by the time you get it down to one save you're bumping elbows with hypercognition and metafaculty. I will clarify "why the manifester was targeting you" just as soon as I figure out a concise way to do so.
AntiDjinn 05-02-07, 11:14 PM	For the ardent the Knowledge mantle seems like the best fit, and it conveniently has a hole at 5th level. Either that, or stick it in the Mental Power mantle, which has the marginal Psychic Crush at 5th.