Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Melayl 02-22-07, 03:08 AM	I was looking over the Crystal Master PrC the other day, and got this idea. I think it would work -- I've never seen anything official about how a psicrystal is formed. Is it viable? Overpowered? Useless? As always, I appreciate any feedback. Psicrystal Endowment [Psionic] Prereq: Psicrystal Affinity, appropriate gemstone (perfect quality, maximum cost per category), ML 2 or higher. Benefit: You encode your psicrystal into the appropriate gem (spending 25 XP). It still retains all psicrystal abilities, but gains extra power. When the psicrystal is in physical contact with your body, you may pay the appropriate cost to gain the benefit listed. If physical contact is lost, you may spend PP again to reactivate. Each time you take the feat, you may choose 4 gemstone powers to gain access to. You may change gemstones as many times as desired (between gems you have access to), spending 25 XP each time. It takes 4 hours of meditation to encode or re-encode a psicrystal into a gemstone. Amethyst: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a +1/ML to save vs all poisons, and get a save even if one would normally not be allowed. It lasts for 8 hours per use, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. Aquamarine: If you spend 3 PP, you gain an Intelligence bonus of +1 for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th and 16th ML (total of +3), adding +2 to the cost of the power per additional bonus point. Bloodstone: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a Strength bonus of +1 for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th and 16th ML (total of +3), adding +2 to the cost of the power per additional bonus point. Bulls Eye Agate: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a +1/ML to saves vs all fear effects, and get a save vs fear even if normally would not. It lasts for 8 hours per use, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. Calcite: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a Wisdom bonus of +1 for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th and 16th ML (total of +3), adding +2 to the cost of the power per additional bonus point.. Deep Crystal: You can expend your focus to add 2d6 points of damage to your next successful natural attack or unarmed strike. The ability stays charged for 1 minute or until you score a hit. Using this ability is a free action and does not provoke an attack of opportunity. This ability can be used only once per round. Emerald: If you spend 3 PP, you gain power resistance equal to 11 + 3 per 2 ML for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. Cost increases by 1 PP +3 bonus (after the 1st). If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend the appropriate cost to reactivate. Malachite: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a limited telepathy. You can communicate telepathically with any creatures that speak a language that you speak, provided they are within 30 feet. This range increases by 10 feet for every 4th ML. You can address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time. It lasts for 8 hours per use, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. Moonstone: If you spend 3 PP, you gain an insight bonus of +1 to your Armor Class and all saving throws for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. This increases by +1 per 4th ML, with a +1 to cost per increase. Onyx: When you spend 1 PP, this causes one opponent who can see you to make a Will save (DC 10 + 2 per 4th ML + key ability modifier) or become shaken (see page 300 of the Dungeon Master's Guide) for 2d6 rounds. This ability can be used once per day per 4 ML. Peridot: If you spend 3 PP, you gain damage reduction of 1/-- for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. This is increased by 1 every 4th ML (total of 5/--), with a +1 to cost per addtional DR. Red Garnet: If you spend 3 PP, you gain the ability to heal yourself. You can heal 4 points per 4 ML each day. You can divide this up into many uses over the day. Red Jasper: If you spend 5 PP, you become partially immune to ability-draining attacks. You can completely ignore the effects of ability-draining attacks a number of times per day equal to 1 for every 4th ML. This immunity does not apply to ability burn. This ability is active for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate, but your total number of times per day does not increase. Ruby: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a Constitution bonus of +1 for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th and 16th ML (total of +3), adding +2 to the cost of the power per additional bonus point. Sapphire: If you spend 3 PP, you gain touchsight as the power. Your touchsight field emanates out to 20 feet, increasing by +10 feet per 4th ML to a maximum of 60 feet (cost increases by +1/10 feet). This ability is active for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend 3+ PP to reactivate. Smokey Quartz: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a Charisma bonus of +1 for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend 3 PP to reactivate. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th and 16th ML (total of +3). Tiger Eye: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a Dexterity bonus of +1 for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend 3 PP to reactivate. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th and 16th ML (total of +3). Tourmaline: If you spend 3 PP, you gain an insight bonus on the following skills: Craft (any one), Knowledge (any one), and Search, for 8 hours, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate. The bonus is equal to +1 per 4th ML. Blue Zircon: If you spend 3 PP, you gain a +1/ML to all saves vs diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases, and get a save even if one would not normally be allowed. It lasts for 8 hours per use, as long as you maintain psionic focus. If focus is lost or the duration expires, you may again spend PP to reactivate.
cymbolik 02-22-07, 06:00 AM	So, basically what you're saying is that, with this feat, there's absolutely no reason for anyone to ever take the crystal master prestige class?
Bacris 02-22-07, 08:07 AM	So, basically what you're saying is that, with this feat, there's absolutely no reason for anyone to ever take the crystal master prestige class? Sure there is - crystal master can have more gems than just 1. This feat limits you to only one benefit.
Jaid 02-22-07, 02:03 PM	feels like a bit much. i'm ok with the low level bonuses, but the higher bonuses are pretty crazy. maybe if you increased the cost for the higher level powers, and only allowed one or two choices of gemstone each time you take the feat (allowing them all basically means that expanded knowledge should almost never be taken until this feat has already been taken)
unusualsuspect 02-22-07, 03:50 PM	"So, uh... Bob. Your psicrystal... it's really, uh, endowed." "Yeah, yeah... that whole Psicrystal Endowment feat thing. Pretty sweet, huh?" "Yeah, Bob. Yeah... it's actually a bit more then just psionically endowed, if you know what I mean. The party is starting to feel very uncomfortable whenever they look at it. Especially Lidda, y'know, after that whole Mindflayer incident." "Oh. Ohhhhh. Yeah... Can't be helped." "..." "Fine, I'll get my chisel and hammer."
Melayl 02-23-07, 12:07 AM	unusualsuspect - that has got to be one of the funniest things I've read on the boards in a long time:rofl: Jaid - Which bonuses do you suggest increasing cost for? I certainly have no problem doing so (probably to a cost of 7/used), but I'm not sure which ones to change. Also, how many would you suggest having access to each time you take the feat? cymbolik - It's like Bacris said (thanks, Bacris). Plus, the Crystal Master can take this feat too.
cymbolik 02-23-07, 12:27 PM	cymbolik - It's like Bacris said (thanks, Bacris). Plus, the Crystal Master can take this feat too. My point really was that the crystal master sacrifices 1 manifesting level to duplicate this ability over 2 levels (since they only gain the Embed Gem feature at 2nd crystal master level) and two full manifester levels over the full 10 levels of the class for a return of 5 gems, gaining a new embedded gem every 2 levels after the first time they gained the feature. Additionally they are prohibited from taking certain gems until they've reached a specific crystal master level, something I appreciate you having kept by selecting only the first tier of gems in the class description. However, since the entry requirements for the class are 4 ranks in both Knowledge (gemology) (yeah, that gets used a lot, let me tell you! I can't believe how relieved I am I was able to identify the major weaknesses of that Gargantuan Jade Stone - really saved the party's skin that time!) and Craft (gemcutting), the feats Psicrystal Affinity and Psicrystal Containment (you dropped this one) plus, and here's the one that gets me, manifester level 5th, it appears that you've effectively allowed a 3rd level character to take an ability originally reserved for a 7th level character (remember, you only gain Embed Gem at 2nd crystal master level), all for the price of 3pp per shot or every 8 hours. While I agree that the crystal master gains multiple gems (thanks for repeating that post - can't believe I missed it) it requires focus in the class over several levels to achieve multiple gems and isn't something that just anyone can, nor should, be able to do. This is why it is a prestige class feature. You're turning the prestigious into the generic. Surely you wouldn't design a feat to allow a character to deal additional sneak attack damage if they imbue a special weapon with XP and some material components and oils? Addendum: The bonuses also scale freely with your feat, provided your ML increases, whereas the crystal master's bonuses are determined by the number of embedded gems (and later the psicrystal at 10th level), which is something they can only hope to improve by taking more levels in the prestige class. With your option a psion could take this feat and gain all the bonuses up to level 20 ML, outstripping the crystal master since they lose 2 ML to advance in the class. Also, this feat is begging for someone to create an Improved and Perfect version, which I imagine would allow the use of higher tiered gem options or possibly further increasing the bonuses. Or both.
Melayl 02-26-07, 02:31 PM	cymbolik, I get the feeling that you don't like this feat... Nevertheless, you have brought up some interesting points that I will try to answer to your satisfaction. I'll start with this one: Addendum: The bonuses also scale freely with your feat, provided your ML increases, whereas the crystal master's bonuses are determined by the number of embedded gems (and later the psicrystal at 10th level), which is something they can only hope to improve by taking more levels in the prestige class. With your option a psion could take this feat and gain all the bonuses up to level 20 ML, outstripping the crystal master since they lose 2 ML to advance in the class. Actually, if you look at the feat as written and the Crystal Master PrC, you will see that they end up with the exact same bonuses. However, the CM gains them over 10 levels of PrC, while everyone else would gain them over 20 levels. I purposely wrote it to follow the PrC progression (over 20 levels instead of 10). My point really was that the crystal master sacrifices 1 manifesting level to duplicate this ability over 2 levels (since they only gain the Embed Gem feature at 2nd crystal master level) and two full manifester levels over the full 10 levels of the class for a return of 5 gems, gaining a new embedded gem every 2 levels after the first time they gained the feature. As you have stated yourself, they gain more gems, all of which can be active at the same time. The feat allows one ability to be used at a time. Yes, the CM give up manifester levels to do this. I see that as a fault of the PrC, not the feat. Moreover, the CM gets continuous use of each gem's abilities for free. It is true that the feat allows you to change out gems and the PrC does not. I do plan on limiting the number of gems you gain access to for each use of the feat. This has been pointed out to me several times, and I agree that that portion of the original feat is rather overpowered. the entry requirements for the class are 4 ranks in both Knowledge (gemology) (yeah, that gets used a lot, let me tell you! I can't believe how relieved I am I was able to identify the major weaknesses of that Gargantuan Jade Stone - really saved the party's skin that time!) and Craft (gemcutting), the feats Psicrystal Affinity and Psicrystal Containment (you dropped this one) Knowledge (gemology) -- it fits the flavor, and if you don't like it, that's (as I said before) a problem witht the class, not the feat. Craft (gemcutting) -- while it doesn't apply to combat, it does allow your character to make money on the side (I'm all for giving characters skills that don't actually apply in combat -- but that's a different thread). Psicrystal Containment -- I didn't really think it necessary for this feat. plus, and here's the one that gets me, manifester level 5th, it appears that you've effectively allowed a 3rd level character to take an ability originally reserved for a 7th level character (remember, you only gain Embed Gem at 2nd crystal master level), all for the price of 3pp per shot or every 8 hours. Ok. As I stated before, the CM's abilities are constant and free. This feat is similar to having a magic item. You pay a cost (equivalent to a 2nd level power, mind you), and you get to use an ability. I am planning on adding an additional cost as they scale, so you don't get as much for as little cost. I may even reduce the duration, but we'll see. Also, this feat is begging for someone to create an Improved and Perfect version, which I imagine would allow the use of higher tiered gem options or possibly further increasing the bonuses. Or both. I really don't care if someone does make an improved or greater version. I won't be using them. I did purposely keep it to the first rank of abilities available -- I felt the others were too powerful (not to mention too difficult to translate properly into a pay-per-use feat). If someone else thinks they can and should, then let them. While I agree that the crystal master gains multiple gems (thanks for repeating that post - can't believe I missed it) it requires focus in the class over several levels to achieve multiple gems and isn't something that just anyone can, nor should, be able to do. This is why it is a prestige class feature. You're turning the prestigious into the generic. Surely you wouldn't design a feat to allow a character to deal additional sneak attack damage if they imbue a special weapon with XP and some material components and oils? As you said, focus to acheive multiple gems. Also, I might allow a feat to allow someone to do sneak attack damage with one weapon, for a cost. That's really no more broken than Psionic Weapon doing +2d6 damage with expenditure of focus with any melee weapon. I hope I have answered your questions. Please, feel free to respond with any further comments. You have helped me improve the feat, and I do appreciate any and all feedback.
cymbolik 03-01-07, 04:07 PM	cymbolik, I get the feeling that you don't like this feat... Nevertheless, you have brought up some interesting points that I will try to answer to your satisfaction. I'm not going to lie to you. I don't. That has a lot to do with me believing that class abilities should remain within the realm of class abilities. If you want to do something another class does the system allows for this in the form of multiclassing. The balance of my dislike is that I quite like the crystal master PrC and don't think that it (or by the definition of the word prestige, any PrC) should end up with a watered down version of a key class ability. Actually, if you look at the feat as written and the Crystal Master PrC, you will see that they end up with the exact same bonuses. However, the CM gains them over 10 levels of PrC, while everyone else would gain them over 20 levels. I purposely wrote it to follow the PrC progression (over 20 levels instead of 10). It eludes me why you think this is an acceptable trade off. Instead of dedicating yourself to the PrC you get to take a generic feat and still end up with the same bonuses as a character having gone the full length of the PrC? Let's look at the numbers. A psion 5/crystal master 10 has 5 gems, adding his psicrystal as a bonus gem for a total of 6 gem bonuses but only 5 gem effects. Fair enough, they have 5 effects that are constantly active or require psionic focus. This character has the max bonuses a character with the PrC can have as a result of advancing and focusing in the class, but trades off this power with 2 ML lost (including loss of pp, powers known and psicrystal progression) and several skill points and a feat locked into place. A psion 20, having taken this feat at level 3, has only one gem effect but can change the effect whenever he feels like it. Aditionally, he has exactly the same bonuses the example above has, plus full manifesting levels, power points, bonus feats and psicrystal abilities, not to mention more focus for his skills since he doesn't need to keep his skill points locked in the knowledge and craft portions required to enter the PrC. As you have stated yourself, they gain more gems, all of which can be active at the same time. The feat allows one ability to be used at a time. Yes, the CM give up manifester levels to do this. I see that as a fault of the PrC, not the feat. I find this statement particularly arrogant. Essentially the PrC is good enough for you to want to copy its key ability into a generic feat, but it's progression is so lame that you think the men who designed the PrC made an error in judgment. These men not only have given you the prestige class for free, but they are also responsible for the core design of the psionic system. You'll also find that most people on the psionics boards also believe that loss of ML is a good way of balancing a PrC. For a while I used to think this was stupid, but then I realised that it was because I was working off of the PrCs available to core casting classes as a frame of reference. Just because core has set a trend doesn't necessarily mean it's a good one, or that it was ever a good idea. Personally I see absolutely no reason for psionics to wear the D&D equivalent of the Speedo just because they also produce effects similar to magic. Psioncs is different. And it's a good thing. Hopefully this kind of balanced design will start filtering through to the core classes, but let's face facts. psionics is not a munchkin system. If you want big, flashy, uber characters that sacrifice nothing for their power, head on over the magic boards and create a feat that further enhances familiars or animal companions. Moreover, the CM gets continuous use of each gem's abilities for free. And this is why one would enter into the PrC in the first place, surely? To gain that focus and make the necessary trade-offs in order for bigger returns. But what about someone who just dips into the PrC for a single gem effect - they'd have to stick the PrC out for 2 levels and maintain all the qualifying feats in order to have the gem effect. But the dipper doesn't end up with the same level of bonuses because they choose not to focus in the PrC. I view this feat as a similar, yet cheaper option. There's no reason for anyone to even dip into the PrC anymore. Except that all they have to do is take the feat and then progress themselves in a class that adds to their ML and they'll end up with the same effective bonus all round, plus bonus skill points and the option to switch the effect whenever they choose. The deep crystal option springs to mind. No pp cost, just 25xp, and psionic focus. An indefinite use crystal and, generally, a no-brainer option. More on this later. Example: "I'm a psion 5/crystal master 2. I just got my first embedded gem with the first level of the bonus available. It's taken some focus, some skill and feat choices, not to mention a loss of a ML, but I think it was worth it in the long run." "Oh, that old thing. I've had that gem ability since I was lvl 3. I'm now on the second level of the bonus and I'm effectively the same level as you are." It is true that the feat allows you to change out gems and the PrC does not. I do plan on limiting the number of gems you gain access to for each use of the feat. This has been pointed out to me several times, and I agree that that portion of the original feat is rather overpowered. Limit it to what? 3? Why not make it 5 gems, then this feat will be even more like the PrC than it already is. Knowledge (gemology) -- it fits the flavor, and if you don't like it, that's (as I said before) a problem witht the class, not the feat. Craft (gemcutting) -- while it doesn't apply to combat, it does allow your character to make money on the side (I'm all for giving characters skills that don't actually apply in combat -- but that's a different thread). Psicrystal Containment -- I didn't really think it necessary for this feat. It's not a problem of the class. I'm all for the flavour. This is, after all, my absolute favourite PrC for psionics. I completely see the sense of taking these skills and feats. With your feat these options suddenly become obsolete, however. Why spend ages studying the very resonant nature of crystals so that you can later fuse them with your own metabolic system and bring them together into a harmonic matrix of effects when you can just take a feat and suddenly know how to tap into this ability that ordinarily takes study and focus? The feat strikes me as the lazy psion's option. Ok. As I stated before, the CM's abilities are constant and free. This feat is similar to having a magic item. You pay a cost (equivalent to a 2nd level power, mind you), and you get to use an ability. I am planning on adding an additional cost as they scale, so you don't get as much for as little cost. I may even reduce the duration, but we'll see. Except that you get this effect for the xp expenditure of a 1st level scroll (if I recall), have it constantly active (potentially, depending on pp and focus requirements) and all of this available to you at level 3. As you said, focus to acheive multiple gems. Also, I might allow a feat to allow someone to do sneak attack damage with one weapon, for a cost. That's really no more broken than Psionic Weapon doing +2d6 damage with expenditure of focus with any melee weapon. This made me laugh out loud. A lot. They are two completely different things. One is a feat, the other a class ability. Sneak attack allows a character to score bonus damage on a creature not on the restricted creature type list, provided that creature is denied it's Dex bonus. This attack can be launched again and again every round if the requirements are met, allowing the sneak attacker more freedom in terms of movement and attack options. Psionic Weapon, however, requires the expenditure of psionic focus and applies to a singular attack roll. After that the character needs to regain focus as a full round action which provokes attacks of opportunity. With careful feat selection this can be reduced to a move equivalent action, but then it is impossible to use the full attack option until the next round. That said, let me know when you start up this campaign of yours. I'll play a human psywar with this feat (deep crystal option) and the option to take the rogue's sneak attack feat as well. At level 5/6 I could conceivably be dealing weapon damage + deep crystal damage + Psionic Weapon damage + Sneak Attack damage + Strength modifier, if the weapon is one handed.
Melayl 03-03-07, 08:11 PM	I can see we obviously have differences of opinion on a great many things, and probably will never resolve this particular issue to mutual agreement. I find this statement particularly arrogant. Essentially the PrC is good enough for you to want to copy its key ability into a generic feat, but it's progression is so lame that you think the men who designed the PrC made an error in judgment. These men not only have given you the prestige class for free, but they are also responsible for the core design of the psionic system. Huh? Why is this arrogance? You'll find a great many people dissecting and disagreeing with what the designers of the psionics system have done -- Bacris and TS included, unless I'm completely misreading some of their posts. Is it really arrogant to decide that something the designers have made doesn't fit with your idea of how things should work? Or that you like parts of their ideas, with modification? I respect your loyalty to your favorite PrC. I like the flavor as well. I just happen to think that this ability, as I have limited it, is something that can be made into a feat. A psion 20, having taken this feat at level 3, has only one gem effect but can change the effect whenever he feels like it. By the way, he can only change it after 4 hours of meditation, not "whenever he feels like it". It might seem like a small difference to you, but in my games, players don't have that kind of time between encounters. In most cases, it might be a daily change, if that. Again, I'm sorry you don't like it, I'm sorry if I offended you, and and I respect your opinion. I just happen to disagree with it. I would be happy to hear your feedback on any other items I may post.
cymbolik 03-05-07, 06:49 AM	I can see we obviously have differences of opinion on a great many things, and probably will never resolve this particular issue to mutual agreement. I'm afraid so. That said I have to apologise for my initial abruptness and use of sarcasm. Huh? Why is this arrogance? You'll find a great many people dissecting and disagreeing with what the designers of the psionics system have done -- Bacris and TS included, unless I'm completely misreading some of their posts. Is it really arrogant to decide that something the designers have made doesn't fit with your idea of how things should work? Or that you like parts of their ideas, with modification? Because I believe in not fixing that which is not broken. And I don't see Bacris or Tempest taking class abilities and turning them into feats. I do see them cristicising and dissecting those areas of psionics that require improvement, but they appear to have an understanding of leaving well enough alone.
Melayl 03-05-07, 01:43 PM	I'm afraid so. That said I have to apologise for my initial abruptness and use of sarcasm. Accepted, with pleasure. Because I believe in not fixing that which is not broken. And I don't see Bacris or Tempest taking class abilities and turning them into feats. I do see them cristicising and dissecting those areas of psionics that require improvement, but they appear to have an understanding of leaving well enough alone. You make a valid point. I will consider this in my future designs. Thank you for your honesty in your assessments. I hope it will help me improve any future creations.