Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Toran_A_Sunder 04-14-07, 10:24 PM	So while looking at both the XPH and Heroes of Horror, I came up with an idea for a new character. A boy, 8 years old. For his age he is a fount of psionic power. He's always been different, he and his twin sister. Both were born hairless and albino. Both exhibited psionic talent at a very young age. After years of hiding to protect the children, the stress finally cracked my character's father's mind, and he set out to murder his twin children. I don't have the specifics of this particular situation worked out but thats really not important. As I said, the character, Josiah, is 8 years old, hairless, albino, and psionic. The death of his twin sister and betrayal by hs father has warped his tiny mind, and he displays certain creepy traits (taken from the list of villanous traits in HoH). He only whispers, and when speaking to anyone he maintains constant, unblinking eye contact. He is melancholy and withdrawn. He has an uncontrolable fear of the darkness. And he is a Psion...but I don't know what discipline would be good. I like the idea of him speaking to people's minds and causing pain. But I like the idea of him being strong in telekenisis or something similar. However I am not averse to other options. Any ideas, and a way to tie the discipline in with his overall concept? Thanks in advance! I'll check back in the AM after work!
Tempest Stormwind 04-14-07, 11:05 PM	Strictly speaking, a wilder would probably be a better fit both mechanically and thematically. Use the Mind's Eye's substitution for it to gain more powers and open up more psychokinesis effects. Talk to your DM about things like researching augments to small powers that don't normally augment -- Matter Agitation and Far Hand are CLASSIC psionic effects from fiction that aren't augmentable, oddly). Recall Pain is another power you definitely want. I'd pick telepathic and non-energy (or fire-locked) psychokinetic powers. Those, by and large, feel the most like "classic" psionics (firestarters, telekinetics, and telepaths). Dabble in clairsentience if you have room.
Nifft 04-14-07, 11:59 PM	Telepath. When he gets schism, he always calls the other mind "sister". When he stabs at the thoughts of his foes (via mind thrust), they hear a young girl's mental scream -- they feel some of the agony of his sister's death. You can flavor all his mental attacks similarly. Cheers, -- N
Scribbler 04-15-07, 12:07 AM	I don't think it would work too well with an egoist, but other than that they all seem good. I think I like telepathy the best. Sounds like you want intimidate, but none of the disciplines have that, and telepaths do get sense motive and bluff. He's creepy because he's always in your head. This seems like the type of psionic ability that would scare people the most, which you have in your story. His tortured mind lashing out beyond its own borders into other people's heads works well with telepathy. Mind thrust is obviously good for hurting people with his mind, but it's a general power, so maybe you don't actually need to be a telepath for this aspect if you want to cover other bases (you didn't mention a level, so I'm looking mostly at low-level powers here). Psychokinesis also works for the reasons you mentioned, by psychoportation is also good for moving things around while no one's looking at them. Knowing everything is creepy, and they destiny dissonance power also works with the flavor of targeting others' minds with his own. I've heard of the ability to create things out of nothing used with creepy psychic kids before, and its certainly maddening for the father that keeps finding them (especially when he finds the occassional monster that pops out of existance shortly), so a shaper could also work.
Toran_A_Sunder 04-15-07, 08:23 AM	These are all great ideas. Especially the schism and mind thrust flavor ya'll tossed in. I considered wilder. I looked at the class and wasn't to impressed. The flavor I really want is there, more of an uncontrolled psionic ability that lashes out because of his tortured mind, but I thought I remembered it repeatedly stated on the boards that the wilder is a craptastic class. I will look at the Mind's Eye updates. Do they make Wilder a more viable option? Something that will stand up with other heavy hitters in game? I havent mentioned a level cus, frankly, I don't know when I'll get a chance to play him. It could be sooner, or later. But I will play him so assume any level. Any more help would be greatly appreciated, esp. in regards to the Wilder. Thanks again you guys! BTW Tempest...I cant find the Mind's Eye substitutions you mentioned. Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks again! :D
Tiarn 04-15-07, 10:16 AM	I'm not Tempest, but the wilder sustitution levels are here. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a) I've played a wilder a couple of times and I've found them to be pretty cool. I don't really think they are "craptastic" :)
Nifft 04-15-07, 11:02 AM	I don't really see the Wilder appeal. He seems to be the kind of person who whispers, not shouts. Also, a Wilder has very few powers, so you can't afford to "waste" them on fun flavor things like far hand or clairtangent hand. Wilders are fine characters, and excellent NPCs, but just don't seem appropriate for this concept. If you want to model an external force that empowers him but also drains him (i.e. his sister's soul / mind / whatever calling from beyond the grave), consider the feat Overchannel, and describe him as gasping in pain when "forced" to use the benefit. More flavor: - Astral Construct -- they all look like a certain little girl, or like her favorite plushie toys. - Ego Whip -- victim hears the jeers and taunts of "normal kids". (Maybe we should take the flavoring thing over to the Truenaming thread?) Cheers, -- N
Magrus 04-15-07, 11:27 AM	Why not the egoist discipline? Of all of the things to truly freak someone out into killing them, I would think in the DnD world that might just do it. For a superstitious villager, having a child suddenly change form when threatened or excited would make them think he was a monster and dangerous. Mind control, creating things, starting things on fire, those are all things that would take some detective work to figure out the boy was doing it. If the boys skin suddenly grew thicker and darker (Thicken Skin) when he was falling out of a tree, it would be seen by all the boy was "tainted" or "special". You would still have access to things like Matter Agitation and Mind Thrust, Mind Wipe, Telekinetic Thrust, etc. Yet, with it you would be able to change shape, change skin tone in order to hide, take on the aspects of animals, revive the dead, and heal others. I think that would work for a way to introduce the child as a benign being in the beginning of the game, using his powers subconsciously in order to try being more like a tree, or a cat or something. Having people try hurting him for it when they think he's a demon or something, and then having him turn into a darker type person that uses these powers to defend himself. Perhaps to attack others as well. I just was thinking of the past civilizations that would kill off children that had strange physical deformities for fear of their superstitions. In some, children with mental problems were seen as touched by gods and left alive. The ones who looked different however, tended to be killed. To me, this discipline makes more sense than the others for the reasons why he was shunned and his father tried to kill him. Thats just me though.
Scribbler 04-15-07, 01:52 PM	I just don't like the egoist because it's more overt. The kid changes. Now he's actually got to do something threatening. Any other discipline he can just stand there, watching. But these effects are always around him and only around him, so people still know who to blame. I think psion does fit better than wilder. Wilders are the standard wild talents, but they're also emotional and active, and they put more effort into their abilities. Psions are smarter, which sounds fitting, and they're generally more subtle. You could still role-play him as not being in complete control of his powers--they happen when he wants them to, but not necesarily when he would choose to use them. He could probably control them better now that he's a bit older if he focuses on it, but in his past people who bothered him would get hurt if he was mad. He's afraid of hurting people now. "Stop! You're being mean! That's bad..." *Stops, grabs his head, focus is internal* "No, no don't.. I don't wanna hurt her.. No, not again." Having some of his sister's influence is cool, but I wouldn't have all of his powers like that--she was killed because they were psychic, so he obviously didn't develop these powers later. Maybe he could call for his sister's help when he augments powers or something (the Overchannel idea works too).
Magrus 04-15-07, 02:58 PM	I just don't like the egoist because it's more overt. The kid changes. Now he's actually got to do something threatening. Any other discipline he can just stand there, watching. But these effects are always around him and only around him, so people still know who to blame. True, but in a fantastical world where there are real monsters that go bump in the night, eat people, and sacrifice you to dark gods you don't necessarily need to do anything in order to be seen as a threat. You just have to appear to be threatening and those around you will take action. If an ogre comes toward the typical farming village, the villagers aren't going to offer it a pie. They are going to grasp at weapons and attempt to drive it off before it gets a chance to prove it is in all actuality, a friendly ogre. Waiting to see if it is friendly or not could lead to being the death of the village. Hence, strange generally leads to fear amongst those who are too weak to defend themselves and lack the abilities to divine the truth. I'm not saying the char should be an egoist, I just feel that for simple folks, it would be a more likely situation to encounter. Say they have a game like football, a rough sport and the little 8 year old is hurt. He manifests a power, and he suddenly looks and feels different. It isn't harming anyone, but the other kids are freaked out. They run home, and tell their parents. Except, in their fear and excitement, the little boy is now doubled in size and has horns in the story that is related due to exaggeration on the part of the other children. Truth or not, the villages know that such things ARE possible, and if the boy can do that, he is dangerous. Shapeshifters are known to prey on people for kicks, and the child is attacked ala the torch and pitchfork bearing mob of frankenstein type story.
Nifft 04-15-07, 03:07 PM	Having some of his sister's influence is cool, but I wouldn't have all of his powers like that--she was killed because they were psychic, so he obviously didn't develop these powers later. Maybe he could call for his sister's help when he augments powers or something (the Overchannel idea works too). IMHO, it's not necessarily really his sister -- it could be her anguished soul, or it could be his subconscious fixating on her as its excuse for power. She's the symbol of the anger he's otherwise unable to act out. But with real souls, magic & psionics mixed in, the "reality" can remain ambiguous, which is more cool IMHO. :) Cheers, -- N
Scribbler 04-15-07, 04:29 PM	IMHO, it's not necessarily really his sister -- it could be her anguished soul, or it could be his subconscious fixating on her as its excuse for power. She's the symbol of the anger he's otherwise unable to act out. But with real souls, magic & psionics mixed in, the "reality" can remain ambiguous, which is more cool IMHO. :) Cheers, -- N I agree (when I said "call out" I meant literally calling her name, not that she'd actually be helping). All I really meant by that is that I think that some of his basic powers should leave that flavor out if he wants to use it, since the character had been doing it all along.
Nifft 04-15-07, 04:41 PM	I agree (when I said "call out" I meant literally calling her name, not that she'd actually be helping). All I really meant by that is that I think that some of his basic powers should leave that flavor out if he wants to use it, since the character had been doing it all along. Oh yeah, of course! And like anything, this particular "flavor" effect could get old fast if overplayed. So there's two reasons to not use it all the time for everything. :) Cheers, -- N
Toran_A_Sunder 04-15-07, 05:01 PM	I love this. I'm glad I started this thread. You all are being so helpful! Thanks so much! Re: egoist. I see what you're saying about maybe it being a bit more threatening for the child to suddenly grow thicker, darker skin (especially since he's albino) or horns or claws or something. Threatening yes...but not creepy. I'm feeling more along the lines that, if/when being teased by children, especially after the death of his twin, he clutches his head, moaning things like No, I can't do that, or No, I don't want to hurt them, or Don't make me, don't make me! And then all of a sudden his head snaps up, his eyes are glowing some strange color, and things happen. A nearby tree bursts into flame. Some large object like a cart or merchant's stall or something suddenly crunches in on itself or ir raised into the air and dropped. Things that the general populace would view as "erratic." They know the child has a talent, but they don't know how exactly it will manifest (pardon the pun :D). It can get more creepy than that of course, but you get the idea. But I do thank you for the input. Thanks for info on wilder. I think I will go for psion though. And I will definitely look into the overchannel feat. I'm going to have to look at how I can flavor different powers. No not every power will have to do with his sister or her death, but a lot will. The way I see it, it isn't his sister's soul or anything affecting him. It's his dementia, born from all the torment his small body has suffered, that makes him believe it's his sister's influence on his powers. When powers manifest the visual displays involve a little girl, or an audio display would be children giggling (ALWAYS creepy in the right setting) or a little girl screaming. Things along those lines. Oh, and he definitely whispers. Always. The only time his voice rises above a whisper is when his powers are manifesting and he's "trying" to control them, or when he terrified because of the dark or something. I've decided that his mother died in child birth of the twins, and his dad reared them. But being a superstitious peasant, the combination of albino twins and the death of his beloved wife made it difficult for him to warm to his strange chldren. When both the twins started displaying strange powers at the age of 8, after both were subject to some particularly cruel torments from other village kids, the father decided he had had enough, the children were "unholy abminations" and they needed their "spirits cleansed." So he sealed them both in weighted boxes and set them in the river. They didn't share the same box, so they could not comfort eachother in what they thought were their last hours. But the sounds of their screams, especially hers, did move through the water and boxes, so they could hear eachother. Finally his power exploded in a burts of energy, destroying his box and launching him out of the water. He dove back in to attempt a rescue of his sister. But he was drained of his own power and could not focus in the circumstances to save her, nor could he get her to calm down enough to try and use her own power. After a while he began to drown, and the current dragged his almost lifeless body away and deposited him on a river bank somewhere down stream. He survived, albeit with severely destroyed mental faculties. Upon returning to his village to seak vengeance on his father he could not find him, and the villagers drove him away, calling him a demon and pelting him with stones. Where he goes from there I dunno yet. I'll figure it out later. But this I think is a great way to explain his dementia, his obsession with finding his father, and his phobias of the dark, closed spaces, and deep water. He is a very unstable mind. He's going to be fun to play, and I'm going to like creeping the other players out. I NEVER play characters that are wierd or deranged or demented. They're always happy, upbeat, confident, etc. This will be a new experience. What do you all think? EDIT: by the way, anything in complete psion worth looking at? Double EDIT: also, any PrCs that might fit? or just Psion 20?
red_scare87 04-15-07, 07:48 PM	For Prestige Classes, you might want to check out the Psion Uncarnate. I could explain it, but I might as well just link you to it so you can read it yourself. I think it would fit this (very cool) character concept rather well. Psion Uncarnate (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/psionUncarnate.htm)
cymbolik 04-16-07, 11:23 AM	Or you could try the subverted psion (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20051125a).