new to 3e psionics... [Archive] - Wizards Community

new to 3e psionics... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
xpochian
04-03-07, 01:49 AM but have used them in their previous forms for almost a decade. just a very quick question and let me state that in no means do i wish for this to ruffle any local feathers.

an 'educated wilder' variant wilder has taken energy missile and even at 3rd level i noticed i can fire off any one of four types of energy over 100' that can hit upwards of 5 targets, as long as all are within 15' of one another for 3d6 each - frankly, that seems a little powerful for a mere 3 PP. do i charge 3 PP per missile used, like if you attack 5 hobgoblins at that range, is it 15 PP?

i'm not claiming it's over-powered, but just wondering if i should tone it down, or just let it go free. my only comparisons would me a mage of the same level using scorching ray on a nearby opponent or a ranger-type peppering foes with arrows, and both do less damage than the missile, by rough estimations.

otherwise, thanks for your replies in advance :)
Thomar_of_Uointer
04-03-07, 02:03 AM Nonononono. Use 3.5 psionics (the Expanded Psionics Handbook and everything in the current SRD). 3.0 psionics had... issues.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyMissile.htm
Okay, said wilder cannot take energy missile until level 6. It's a kineticist power, he has to take Expanded Knowledge for it, and can't select a power of his highest level known. It only works against creatures within 15' of each other, who happen to be five creatures just asking to have an area spell dropped on them. It's perfectly reasonable compared to scorching ray (4d6 and you just keep getting more each level, and you can hit the same target multiple times) and keep in mind that psionic powers are much more versatile than spells due to the fact that manifesters get so few of them.

No, you do not spend power points per missile. The power does exactly what it says it does for the power point cost listed. Keep in mind that you can't spend more pp on a power than your manifester level (but wilders get to break that rule as a class feature). It's a perfectly okay power, it allows a saving throw for half damage and it only works efficiently on very closely clustered opponents.

And finally, energy missile has other problems. Most DMs houserule it to augment at +1 DC per 2 pp spent (and I'm not sure if Complete Psionic had anything to say about that).
xpochian
04-03-07, 02:22 AM that actually does sound fairly reasonable. the wilder variant i was referring to give free 'expanded knowledge' every 4 or so levels, and was referred to on one of the final mind's eye releases. my wilder friend is 6th level, so energy missile is available to her (because we've made special arrangements - she gets it 1 level sooner than she should and I don't sleep on the couch.)

also, i think i may scale the DC augment; hadn't noticed the 1:1 corellation and believe i'll amend it as you suggested.

...and FYI, i was referring to my use of the old 2e psionics. ahh, back in my day, we had to roll a d20 to see if we could even *use* the damned power! not anymore...with you whippersnappers and your new-fangled "powers that always work when expected", pfft, in my day, we rolled against our con with a -8 penality and gladly accepted it, even if we did lose most of our power points while standing around a battle, hoping to contribute somehow. don't even get me started on the fact that 1 time in 20 your power would maim or even kill you!
Thomar_of_Uointer
04-03-07, 12:26 PM (because we've made special arrangements - she gets it 1 level sooner than she should and I don't sleep on the couch.)
Ouch. Harsh, man.

...and FYI, i was referring to my use of the old 2e psionics. ahh, back in my day, we had to roll a d20 to see if we could even *use* the damned power! not anymore...with you whippersnappers and your new-fangled "powers that always work when expected", pfft, in my day, we rolled against our con with a -8 penality and gladly accepted it, even if we did lose most of our power points while standing around a battle, hoping to contribute somehow. don't even get me started on the fact that 1 time in 20 your power would maim or even kill you!

Heh. Yep, that's one of the biggest hurdles most gamers have with adopting psionics. The 3.5 psion is perfectly comparable to a wizard of the same level.
Lycanthromancer
04-03-07, 12:34 PM Ouch. Harsh, man.

Heh. Yep, that's one of the biggest hurdles most gamers have with adopting psionics. The 3.5 psion is perfectly comparable to a wizard of the same level.Except for the parts of the wizard that are broken. Like, say, half the spells in the PHB.
xpochian
04-03-07, 01:22 PM yeah, i think it'l take some time getting used to, but i've already made efforts to weave it subtly into my campaign world.

as for the couch comment - i kid. i don't mind bending a few rules here and there for some of our girlfriends/wives because they honestly seem like they'd rather just play the game, and not scheme and try to build the 'perfect destroyer' character like all my mates seem to be obsessed with.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
xpochian 04-03-07, 01:49 AM	but have used them in their previous forms for almost a decade. just a very quick question and let me state that in no means do i wish for this to ruffle any local feathers. an 'educated wilder' variant wilder has taken energy missile and even at 3rd level i noticed i can fire off any one of four types of energy over 100' that can hit upwards of 5 targets, as long as all are within 15' of one another for 3d6 each - frankly, that seems a little powerful for a mere 3 PP. do i charge 3 PP per missile used, like if you attack 5 hobgoblins at that range, is it 15 PP? i'm not claiming it's over-powered, but just wondering if i should tone it down, or just let it go free. my only comparisons would me a mage of the same level using scorching ray on a nearby opponent or a ranger-type peppering foes with arrows, and both do less damage than the missile, by rough estimations. otherwise, thanks for your replies in advance :)
Thomar_of_Uointer 04-03-07, 02:03 AM	Nonononono. Use 3.5 psionics (the Expanded Psionics Handbook and everything in the current SRD). 3.0 psionics had... issues. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/energyMissile.htm Okay, said wilder cannot take energy missile until level 6. It's a kineticist power, he has to take Expanded Knowledge for it, and can't select a power of his highest level known. It only works against creatures within 15' of each other, who happen to be five creatures just asking to have an area spell dropped on them. It's perfectly reasonable compared to scorching ray (4d6 and you just keep getting more each level, and you can hit the same target multiple times) and keep in mind that psionic powers are much more versatile than spells due to the fact that manifesters get so few of them. No, you do not spend power points per missile. The power does exactly what it says it does for the power point cost listed. Keep in mind that you can't spend more pp on a power than your manifester level (but wilders get to break that rule as a class feature). It's a perfectly okay power, it allows a saving throw for half damage and it only works efficiently on very closely clustered opponents. And finally, energy missile has other problems. Most DMs houserule it to augment at +1 DC per 2 pp spent (and I'm not sure if Complete Psionic had anything to say about that).
xpochian 04-03-07, 02:22 AM	that actually does sound fairly reasonable. the wilder variant i was referring to give free 'expanded knowledge' every 4 or so levels, and was referred to on one of the final mind's eye releases. my wilder friend is 6th level, so energy missile is available to her (because we've made special arrangements - she gets it 1 level sooner than she should and I don't sleep on the couch.) also, i think i may scale the DC augment; hadn't noticed the 1:1 corellation and believe i'll amend it as you suggested. ...and FYI, i was referring to my use of the old 2e psionics. ahh, back in my day, we had to roll a d20 to see if we could even use the damned power! not anymore...with you whippersnappers and your new-fangled "powers that always work when expected", pfft, in my day, we rolled against our con with a -8 penality and gladly accepted it, even if we did lose most of our power points while standing around a battle, hoping to contribute somehow. don't even get me started on the fact that 1 time in 20 your power would maim or even kill you!
Thomar_of_Uointer 04-03-07, 12:26 PM	(because we've made special arrangements - she gets it 1 level sooner than she should and I don't sleep on the couch.) Ouch. Harsh, man. ...and FYI, i was referring to my use of the old 2e psionics. ahh, back in my day, we had to roll a d20 to see if we could even use the damned power! not anymore...with you whippersnappers and your new-fangled "powers that always work when expected", pfft, in my day, we rolled against our con with a -8 penality and gladly accepted it, even if we did lose most of our power points while standing around a battle, hoping to contribute somehow. don't even get me started on the fact that 1 time in 20 your power would maim or even kill you! Heh. Yep, that's one of the biggest hurdles most gamers have with adopting psionics. The 3.5 psion is perfectly comparable to a wizard of the same level.
Lycanthromancer 04-03-07, 12:34 PM	Ouch. Harsh, man. Heh. Yep, that's one of the biggest hurdles most gamers have with adopting psionics. The 3.5 psion is perfectly comparable to a wizard of the same level.Except for the parts of the wizard that are broken. Like, say, half the spells in the PHB.
xpochian 04-03-07, 01:22 PM	yeah, i think it'l take some time getting used to, but i've already made efforts to weave it subtly into my campaign world. as for the couch comment - i kid. i don't mind bending a few rules here and there for some of our girlfriends/wives because they honestly seem like they'd rather just play the game, and not scheme and try to build the 'perfect destroyer' character like all my mates seem to be obsessed with.