Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Moosh Nailo 07-28-07, 09:21 PM	Swiss Army Mind You can form tools using the same thought patterns that allow you to create your mindblade. Prerequisites: Mindblade, int 13+ Benefit: You can shape your mindblade into smaller forms useful to you. By focusing as a full-round action, you prepare your mind to shape the tools you require. After the preparation, your mindblade is no longer used as a weapon, but as a tool kit. It is similar to a mindblade in all ways except for form and use. You can use it in place of thieve's tools, artisan's tools, or any other tool kit that does not have charges/single use materials. For use with a skill check, the mindblade must remain in it's tool form for the entire duration of the skill to get the benefit. To change the shape from one set of tools to another, or to change it back into a weapon, another full-round action of mental focus is required. The Free Draw ability, if you have it, applies. If you have the Shape Mindblade ability, the tools count as masterwork for the purpose of associated skill checks Waddya think? Is this powerful enough to warrant Shape Mindblade as a prerequisite? Or is it good as-is? I was considering letting them be masterwork tools right from the start, but figured that would be a bit much. And if you have an idea for a good name, I'm all ears.
Malcaor 07-28-07, 09:45 PM	Sounds pretty cool, but I'm not experienced enough to judge its power.
Conshey 07-28-07, 09:49 PM	The feat itself is good, well thought out and all in all balanced. Good work on not breaking it. Now comes the question, would I take this feat a Soul Knife...probably not. The only instance that this feat would be remotely useful is if i was cross-classed into a Rogue or Ninja, was naked in a prison and needed to get out. It is very well done for a feat, just not that useful
Moosh Nailo 07-28-07, 09:54 PM	Thanks. I realize its not the most useful thing around (spending a feat compared to a couple gp?), but I had the idea in my head and had to get it out before I exploded. I think its more flavour for a character than anything else. But hey, maybe someone will use it anyway! I'm happy you think it is balanced. How do you think I could make it more appealing to those not cross-classed into a Rogue or Ninja, naked in a prison and needing to get out? Some special kind of bonus under certain circumstances? Let's say +1 on all skill checks made using your mind tools, and that increases to the masterwork +2 when you get Shape Mind Blade. Good enough as a sweetener, or too much already?
Conshey 07-28-07, 10:29 PM	Try making it a compound feat...Don't just leave it at small tools but also things like small knives or shurikens that can be thrown. Expanding it even farther you can also say you can make musical instruments and other "Useful" objects with it. I don't see a limit just as long as there is a distinction made that it cannot be used except for that purpose. To recap, you just might want to make it all "useful" non-weapon items. But in that case you might want to have Shape Mindblade as a prereq. because of the nature of the feat.
Malcaor 07-28-07, 11:26 PM	*Soulknife walks into a bar* "I would like your best wine." Waiter: "Yes of course, would you liek it in a mug or a glass?" Soulknife: "Don't worry about it, I have my own!" *materialises a cup*
Tedronai 07-29-07, 12:43 AM	Probably want a size limit - and materials limit - (you don't want them manifesting a 10 foot adamantine ladder) if you expand the options away from merely 'tool kits' etc., but definitely something that could come in handy. As for a bonus on any checks involved, allowing them to apply their Mind Blade's Enhancement bonus to the checks might be suitable.
Moosh Nailo 07-29-07, 01:09 AM	The trick with that is to decide where the limit is. Should a PC be allowed to create a 50 foot rope? A mirror? Saying "all useful non-weapon items" is giving too much leeway, I think. I can see that being abused. And Tedronai, great idea with the enhancement bonus! I'd appreciate any input you guys have helping me with this, I know I will miss things you guys will catch like that. Ok: -mindblade enhancement bonus -skill kits and simple instruments, not masterwork -succeed on appropriate skill check to make a complex item (moving parts, etc) -maybe expend psi focus to add +5 or something to the above check -cannot create weapons or armor/shields. objects created fall apart if used as weapons or armor/shield.* -only non-living plant matter -object created is made of the same stuff as your mindblade. Same hardness/hp, etc. Plus cannot be used as spell components. Because of this, anything that relies on what it is made of doesn't work. Spyglass, flint, glass, wood, adamantine, etc. -Max weight of 2lbs/soulknife level (?), Max size of 25 square feet (?) -vanishes the instant it leaves your hand Random thoughts, as it is too late to actually put anything coherent together: *Contemplating allowing it to be used to create cover. Say you make a table-like object, hold it in front of you. Fair, or too much? Anyone else think a PC creating a flask/bottle is a cool idea? I'm not sure if I like the idea of musical instruments... I guess allowing only the simple ones can't hurt. I don't think rope should be allowed. No clothing either, nothing that has to be worn to work (unless someone can convince me otherwise). But that cuts out some skill kits... Hmm. I don't think flexible stuff like tarps, should work either. Free 10ft pole! My 'forged soulknife will now be able to repair himself no matter what, which is cool.
Tedronai 07-29-07, 06:12 PM	I would be warry to allow the creation of an object sufficient to provide meaningful cover. I might, however, tie the size of the object to the size of the creator (an actual mind blade is sized for you, after all), though this might require slightly more frequent DM adjudication, it makes far more sense, and would allow a Large character to benefit from the feat before reaching absurd levels. Perhaps 'no dimension in excess of 2/5ths your own height' (insufficient to provide cover, but still covering most common tools), though I am entirely unsure what any weight restriction might be As for vanishing as soon as it leaves your hand, that, too will prevent many tool sets from being useful. A climber's kit, for instance, depends on the use of pitons, placed by hand, but then used as footholds later. With that ruling, they would no longer be present to provide that function. Perhaps allowing objects created this way to persist for a short amount of time (likely no more than 1 or 2 minutes after they are no longer held by their creator - retreiving them could extend that duration) Small musical instruments (relatively speaking), perhaps ranging from a pennywhistle to a violin might be appropriate given a craft check (DC determined by the DM based on the complexity of the instrument suggest 10 - 25), though a failure should not indicate that the item doesn't appear, merely that it fails to function or that it functions poorly (for a failure by 5 or less, perhaps applying a penalty on use equal to the difference between check result and DC)
Moosh Nailo 07-29-07, 08:26 PM	Ok, so cover is a no. Flavour-wise, I don't think leaving mind-pitons in the wall is very cool. I understand what you are saying, and it is a good argument. But I am still not sure allowing the item to persist after being released is a good idea. And when I was thinking of skill kits, my thoughts were mostly focused on thieves tools, and those associated with the craft skill. Thinking that single-mindedly isn't the best thing one can do when creating a feat, but there you go.
Tedronai 07-30-07, 12:47 AM	Even with thieves tools, and particularly with crafting kits, many more pieces will frequently be needed through the check than can be held at any given time, and may, depending on the actions involved, need to be left in place while some other action is taken with another tool: A wedge placed in a trap mechanism to prevent it from triggering while a cable is cut, or a dart removed from a launcher, for example. The feat as written doesn't allow for such instances, even though these are the types of situations thieves tools are built to encompass. They consist of more than simply lock picks and some wire cutters, after all. If the problem with leaving objects in place is the potential for others to make use of them in that time, then shortening the duration to that required for the task at hand (and thus making it dependant on the situation, and largely up to the DM) might be of help.
Moosh Nailo 07-30-07, 01:38 AM	Good thinking. How to word that, though... "The mindmade objects last only as long as necessary to perform the task for which they are created. After that, anything not held by the soulknife vanishes." That is still too lose. I'll hammer it out. Trying to make sense of it all on paper, so as to have all my information on one(ish) sheet. I'll post when its organized.
Lycanthromancer 07-30-07, 01:26 PM	Just make it similar to an infinite-use, but slightly more limited, version of psionic minor creation. When you use it, you lose the use of your mind blade (though what happens if you split your mind-blade in twain?), the objects must be *solid,* and objects created last so long as they stay within your natural reach, or for 1 round, whichever comes last. If you split your mind-blade, you can keep one blade, and transform the other. This would be VERY useful if you wanted a sword-and-board soulknife. "Creative Soul As psionic minor creation, except as follows..."
Moosh Nailo 08-01-07, 05:11 PM	Does a mindblade actually have any physical weight? I know it says "as a shortsword", so I'd assume yes, but I'm not 100%. Been busy, but am basically done.
Moosh Nailo 08-10-07, 02:55 PM	Swiss Army Mind You can form tools using the same thought patterns that allow you to create your mindblade. Prerequisites: Mindblade, int 13+ Benefit: You can shape your mindblade into various other useful forms. By focusing as a full-round action, you prepare your mind to shape the object you require. After the preparation, your mindblade is no longer used as a weapon, but as tool. It is similar to a mindblade in all ways except for shape and use. You must spend a full round concentrating to change its form, from object to object, or object to weapon. You can shape thieve's tools, artisan's tools, or any other skill kit that does not have charges/single use materials. Any other items that fall into the allowed size can be created, with the exclusion of weapons, armors and shields. Because of the focus on utility, mindtools automatically shatter if used as such. Items created are of normal quality, not masterwork, and are the same material as your mindblade. You can create up to 1 cubic foot/soulknife level. Skill kits count as one cubic foot. For use with a skill check, the mindblade must remain in it's tool form for the entire duration of the skill to get the benefit. Your mindblade enhancement bonus applies to any skill checks made using your mindtool. To make a complex item (determined by the DM; generally anything with moving parts) you must succeed at an intelligence check (DC 20) for it to work. If the check fails, the object cannot be used for its desired function, and another check must be made as a standard action.