~Possible Use for Volatile Mind [Archive] - Wizards Community

~Possible Use for Volatile Mind [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
awaken_D_M_golem
09-13-07, 07:40 PM Volatile Leech feat lets you recharge the point(s) that Volatile Mind takes.

Psi-Magic transparency lets a 1st level spell, that has a potential Caster level of 2, be VM'd / VL'd.

Wizard 5 with a 3rd level Enchantment spell, and the Reserve feat that pops an enchantment effect.
Targets the Wilder.
"Flubs" the casting of the reserve feat effect.

Unknown - What's the effective Caster level of the reserve feat ???
If normally it's equal to a 1st level spell, and can be "flubbed" as if a Zero level spell,
then the Volatile Leech version of Volatile Mind could function.

Result is a weird recharge effect for the Wilder.

NOTE: IF X and Y, THEN Z.
It's a big "if", that's why I said ~Possible.
InkBlot
09-13-07, 08:53 PM Reserve feats are supernatural abilities, not spells or spell-like. Supernatural abilities don't have caster levels.
Despana
09-14-07, 03:37 AM Also, regardless of transparency, spells do not trigger Volatile Mind.
awaken_D_M_golem
09-14-07, 04:26 PM Despana - I say Enchantment = Telepathy, and a 1st level spell = a 1st level power.

but ...

InkBlot - Oh. A detail I didn't have. So, Volatile Mind is still useless.
... [tangent] I noticed your posting about where to put Magic of Incarnum questions.
Maybe the psi-board would "adopt" MoI?

What do you think?
InkBlot
09-14-07, 06:13 PM Adopting Magic Of Incarnum was suggested long ago, when Incarnum first came out. The idea was met with apathy at best, and rejection at worst. Incarnum questions generally go in Magic And Spells. It is a form of magic (Magic Of Incarnum), and that's where Pact, Shadow, and Truename threads go.
Despana
09-14-07, 07:22 PM Despana - I say Enchantment = Telepathy, and a 1st level spell = a 1st level power.

While you can say that (and even house rule to that effect) all you like, it does not make it so. First, an SRD quote to illustrate, then a more "real-world" example.
A wilder’s temperamental mind is hard to encompass with the discipline of telepathy. When any telepathy power is manifested on a wilder of 5th level or higher, the manifester of the power must pay 1 power point more than he otherwise would have spent.Emphasis Mine.

Now, even assuming that telepathy and enchantment are interchangeable, how would a wizard casting, say, Dominate Person pay 1 additional power point? For that matter how would they pay 2 more, given that a second level power costs 3 points?

Some things in the XPH just don't play well with transparency and, thus, don't play with it at all. Volatile Mind is one example of this. Psionic Hole and Hostile Mind are 2 more. I'm not saying that I like this fact or that it couldn't stand to be changed, just that it is the way it is (barring house rules, but people try to avoid discussing those on the boards).

Sorry to burst your bubble.
awaken_D_M_golem
09-16-07, 03:21 PM InkBlot - Yep. OK.

Despana - I'm still in my bubble ... I'm still in my other bubble.

For the purpose of psionics-magic transparency, telepathy powers are equivalent to "powers" of the enchantment school (thus, creatures resistant to enchantment spells are equally resistant to telepathy powers).

Good enough for me.
I understand if a DM wants to use transparency differently; I'm able to do the (basic) math.
I'll repeat, though, I'm conceding this Volatile Mind trick doesn't work, a.k.a. that dog won't hunt.

EDIT - I put "quotes" around the second use of the word "powers". Even the SRD is confused by psionics.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
awaken_D_M_golem 09-13-07, 07:40 PM	Volatile Leech feat lets you recharge the point(s) that Volatile Mind takes. Psi-Magic transparency lets a 1st level spell, that has a potential Caster level of 2, be VM'd / VL'd. Wizard 5 with a 3rd level Enchantment spell, and the Reserve feat that pops an enchantment effect. Targets the Wilder. "Flubs" the casting of the reserve feat effect. Unknown - What's the effective Caster level of the reserve feat ??? If normally it's equal to a 1st level spell, and can be "flubbed" as if a Zero level spell, then the Volatile Leech version of Volatile Mind could function. Result is a weird recharge effect for the Wilder. NOTE: IF X and Y, THEN Z. It's a big "if", that's why I said ~Possible.
InkBlot 09-13-07, 08:53 PM	Reserve feats are supernatural abilities, not spells or spell-like. Supernatural abilities don't have caster levels.
Despana 09-14-07, 03:37 AM	Also, regardless of transparency, spells do not trigger Volatile Mind.
awaken_D_M_golem 09-14-07, 04:26 PM	Despana - I say Enchantment = Telepathy, and a 1st level spell = a 1st level power. but ... InkBlot - Oh. A detail I didn't have. So, Volatile Mind is still useless. ... [tangent] I noticed your posting about where to put Magic of Incarnum questions. Maybe the psi-board would "adopt" MoI? What do you think?
InkBlot 09-14-07, 06:13 PM	Adopting Magic Of Incarnum was suggested long ago, when Incarnum first came out. The idea was met with apathy at best, and rejection at worst. Incarnum questions generally go in Magic And Spells. It is a form of magic (Magic Of Incarnum), and that's where Pact, Shadow, and Truename threads go.
Despana 09-14-07, 07:22 PM	Despana - I say Enchantment = Telepathy, and a 1st level spell = a 1st level power. While you can say that (and even house rule to that effect) all you like, it does not make it so. First, an SRD quote to illustrate, then a more "real-world" example. A wilder’s temperamental mind is hard to encompass with the discipline of telepathy. When any telepathy power is manifested on a wilder of 5th level or higher, the manifester of the power must pay 1 power point more than he otherwise would have spent.Emphasis Mine. Now, even assuming that telepathy and enchantment are interchangeable, how would a wizard casting, say, Dominate Person pay 1 additional power point? For that matter how would they pay 2 more, given that a second level power costs 3 points? Some things in the XPH just don't play well with transparency and, thus, don't play with it at all. Volatile Mind is one example of this. Psionic Hole and Hostile Mind are 2 more. I'm not saying that I like this fact or that it couldn't stand to be changed, just that it is the way it is (barring house rules, but people try to avoid discussing those on the boards). Sorry to burst your bubble.
awaken_D_M_golem 09-16-07, 03:21 PM	InkBlot - Yep. OK. Despana - I'm still in my bubble ... I'm still in my other bubble. For the purpose of psionics-magic transparency, telepathy powers are equivalent to "powers" of the enchantment school (thus, creatures resistant to enchantment spells are equally resistant to telepathy powers). Good enough for me. I understand if a DM wants to use transparency differently; I'm able to do the (basic) math. I'll repeat, though, I'm conceding this Volatile Mind trick doesn't work, a.k.a. that dog won't hunt. EDIT - I put "quotes" around the second use of the word "powers". Even the SRD is confused by psionics.