Psionic Item Sets [Archive] - Wizards Community

Psionic Item Sets [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Batshido
03-17-07, 12:50 AM I just got the Magic Item Compendium, and I was intrigued by the item sets. I'm currently setting up a campaign that forgoes all types of vancian casting, so alot of the stuff in there just doesn't seem like it would fit.

With that in mind, I put together some examples of what I think would work for psionic item sets. The idea here is that a powerful psionic character leaves traces of themselves on their belongings, imprinting some of their abilities and even their personalities on them.

Psionic sets offer benefits to those who would utilize them, but at the possiblity of losing themselves to the personalities of the original wearers. I think I'm going to turn it into an ego battle as with weapons with personalities.

I hope that makes sense. I'm not real familiar with the process behind item creation in the metagame sense, so some of this stuff may look a little over or under powered. I'm really curious to see what you folks think and how you would handle it.

Thanks

Galardi's Raiment
Galardi was born human. Not really one to stay at home, he found himself in trouble more often than not. Luckily for Galardi, he was born with powers beyond those of the human norm. He was psionic.

After spending years causing trouble, and subsequently avoiding authority figures all together, Galardi was discovered by a group of individuals that called themselves Elans. They offered him a new life and Galardi, seeing a way to escape prosecution for his lawless ways, was more than happy to take them up on it.

Life as an elan wasn't exactly what Galardi expected. After several attempts at unlocking his own mental potential in the way his benefactors had coached, Galardi eventually gave up. It was obvious that he was not gifted in the way they had thought him to be. He spent several decades aimlessly wandering from town to town, falling back on old tricks.

Along the way, he learned how to focus his mind into a weapon. It was weak at first, but it was definitely useful. Intrigued by this new development, he left his former life of crime to train with his newfound abilities. After several centuries of devoted combat study, the new and improved Galardi was ready to re-enter the world.

His abilities quickly took him to the very top of the criminal underworld. None could, or would, stand against one who was obviously incredibly dangerous and driven to succeed. In a matter of decades, Galardi built himself a criminal empire the like of which the world had never seen.

Alas, it was not to last. Having heard strange things about this new master of all things illegal, the elans who changed him came to investigate. Upon discovering their progeny at the head of such an organization, they immediately set forth to destroy him and absolve themselves of their wrongdoing.

To Galardi's credit, 4 elans died that day. Unfortunately for him, he was one of them.

Collection Benefits
As you collect more of Galardi's possessions, you gain certain benefits. At first, you find that you can draw on the psionic resonance within the items to power your psionic abilities, should you have any. As your connection to Galardi grows, you will start to exhibit more abilities that would easily be attributed to your gear's former owner.

1 item: No Bonus
Personality changes: You become more inclined to attempt intimidation to get what you want instead of asking nicely. Your first reaction to absolutely anything becomes more aggressive.

2 items: 1 bonus power point
Personality changes: You now toy with your weapon constantly. If you can manifest a mind blade, it begins to darken in hue. A slight curve is noticeable. You feel compelled to wield your blade with both hands, as a large sword. Your thoughts become more ordered, and more criminal. Your alignment shifts one degree toward Lawful and one degree toward Evil. If you are already Lawful Evil, there is no effect.

3 items: 2 bonus power points, +1d8 psychic strike damage
Personality changes: You begin to view everything as a “business opportunity.” You mentally divide friends, both new and old, into two groups; potential threats and potential henchmen. Every waking thought is geared towards securing an advantage of some type for yourself. Your mind blade, if you can create one, lengthens and curves even further. It's color darkens further toward purple.

4 items: 4 bonus power points, Shape Mind Blade: Falchion
Personality changes: You intensify your training. After all, you never know when those closest to you are going to turn on you. Intimidation is now your primary form of social interaction. Your mind blade extends and curves even further, becoming a Falchion. It is now a deep black-purple.

5 items: 6 bonus power points, Flurry of Blows (as monk ability)
Personality changes: Your paranoia has reached a fever pitch. Now the people around you are divided into groups; those who will betray you eventually, those who will betray you soon, and those who are betraying you right now. All traces of civility has left your personality, and you rule with an iron fist. Your mind blade has now become completely black, seeming to consume ambient light. Your Alignment shifts one degree toward Lawful and one degree toward Evil. If you are already Lawful Evil, there is no effect.

Galardi's Armor
Item Level: 13
Slot: Body
Activation: -

This armor is dented and stained from many battles. Deep purple in color, the chain links seem to absorb the light around them.

While wearing this +1 Ghostwatch Chainmail Shirt you gain access to the psionic power Offensive Prescience as though you you had selected it as one of your powers known. If you don't have levels in a manifester class, treat your manifester level as being one half your character level.

Galardi's Mask
Item Level: 9
Slot: Head
Activation: -

This dull steel mask only covers the bottom half of your face, leaving your eyes visible to strike fear into your opponents. The mask itself resembles the jaw and mouth of a demon, wearing an expression of mild annoyance.

While wearing this mask you gain a +4 equipment bonus to intimidate checks. You also gain the ability to imbue your mind blade for a psychic strike as a swift action. You may use this ability twice per day.

Galardi's Greaves
Item Level: 10
Slot: Legs
Activation: -

These greaves appear to be made from a dull, lusterless purple metal. embedded within them are fragments of clear crystal.

While wearing these greaves you gain the Mental Cleave feat. Additionally, you gain a +2 insight bonus to your initiative rolls.

Galardi's Gorget
Item Level: 9
Slot: Neck
Activation: -

This neck guard is dented and chipped, as though it has absorbed many blows. It is made of the same dull metal as the greaves.

While wearing this gorget, you gain access to the psionic power Bio-Feedback as though you you had selected it as one of your powers known. If you don't have levels in a manifester class, treat your manifester level as being one half your character level. Additionally, while wearing this item you gain light fortification, giving you a 25% chance to ignore critical hits and sneak attacks.

Galardi's Gauntlets
Item Level: 13
Slot: Hands
Activation: -

These chainmail gauntlets are made of the same metal as the greaves and gorget. They are dark purple, and appear to be oddly stained with something even darker.

While wearing these gauntlets, any weapon you wield gains the Maiming quality. If you are wielding two weapons or a double weapon, only one weapon or head benefits from this ability.

Volren's Vestments
Born the son of a farmer in the southern provences, Volren came to realize at a very young age that he would not be satisfied living a life of agrarian toil. Once he was old enough to set off on his own, he made his way through the world, eventually discovering within himself abilities outside those of normal people.

Volren became a student of the Tashalatora discipline. Fanatical in his devotion to perfect his chosen form of combat, he spent many hours training in order to hone his mind and body into a single perfect whole.

Throughout his life Volren faced many challenges, approaching each as an opportunity to test himself and his way of life. Time and time again, his superior training and discipline allowed him to overcome foes that would have destroyed a weaker man.

After many long years of traveling the world seeking conflict, Volren thought it time to share the knowledge and skill that he had gained with others. In time, as students gathered, he came to understand that it was not in perfecting himself that he was to find inner peace, but in in helping others cultivate their own spark of greatness.

In the end, Volren succumbed to old age surrounded by his students. He is still venerated at monasteries across the land for his unsurpassed skill and devotion to his art.

Collection Benefits:
As you collect more of Volren's possessions, you gain certain benefits. At first, you find that you can draw on the psionic resonance within the items to power your abilities. As your connection to the items grows, you gain new abilities that mirror those of your gear's previous owner.

1 item: 1 bonus power point
Personality changes: You begin to take the extra time to truly explore and master new powers and techniques instead of simply learning them. You subconsciously shift your weight from leg to leg while standing, always ready to spring into action.

2 items: 3 bonus power points, +10 ft to your base speed.
Personality changes: Your drive for perfection intensifies. You are up hours before your companions, drilling and training your personal combat techniques. Your arms never hang loosely at your sides. If you aren't actively engaging them they act on their own to perfect your latest block or strike. Your alignment shifts one degree towards Lawful. If you are already Lawful, there is no effect.

3 items: 5 bonus power points
Personality changes: You are a vision of dedication. Whenever you find a spare moment, and often while you are supposed to be doing something else, you train. Working the kinks out of stances, kicking trees and rocks, even shadow boxing. The compulsion to put yourself in dangerous situations, particularly to defend the weak and innocent, is almost irresistible. Your Alignment shifts one degree toward Good. If you are already Good, there is no effect.

4 items: 8 bonus power points
Personality changes: You engage in physical trials constantly. If there are none immediately available, you create them. Whether it is speed climbing the side of a sheer cliff or leaping from tree-top to tree-top, you constantly feel the need to test yourself. Your morning training regimen has become borderline religious at this point. You tend to take the last watch of a night, since you'd be up long before dawn anyway.

5 items: 11 bonus power points, DR 2/- while psionically focused
Personality changes: You have reached the point at which training yourself no longer matters. What is important now is teaching others to do what you do, and how you do it. Not that you stop perfecting your art. You still spend hours everyday working on kicks and blocks. No, it's just that the preservation of the art and the instruction of others is more personally rewarding than perfecting yourself. Your alignment shifts one degree towards Good and one degree towards Lawful. If you are already Lawful Good, there is no effect.

Volren's Arm Wraps
Item Level: 8
Slot: Hands
Activation:-

These well worn leather straps are studded with steel. They are meant to be wrapped around the hands and wrists.

While wearing both Wraps and using the Stunning Fist feat or any feat with Stunning Fist as a prerequisite you may expend your psionic focus. If you do, the DC to resist your attempt is increased by 5.

Volren's Obi
Item Level: 6
Slot: Waist
Activation:-

This worn sash was once black, but time and use have bleached it nearly white.

While wearing this sash and psionically focused you gain a +4 enhancement bonus to strength checks (but not strength related skill checks) like those to trip or bull rush an opponent or to avoid being tripped or bull rush yourself.

Volren's Foot Straps
Item Level: 10
Slot: Feet
Activation:-

These well worn leather straps are studded with clear crystal. They are meant to be wrapped around the feet.

While wearing both Straps and psionically focused, you gain a +4 enhancement bonus to Jump checks. When making an unarmed attack at the end of a charge you may expend your psionic focus. If you do your attack does an extra 2d8 damage.

Volren's Hachimaki
Item Level: 6
Slot: Head
Activation:-

This unadorned strip of linen was once white, but time and wear has turned it grey.

While wearing this headband and psionically focused, you gain double the Insight bonuses to attack and damage rolls and to defense that you would normally gain from any power you manifest.

Volren's Gi
Item Level: 12
Slot: Body
Activation:-

This simple gi is made from heavy canvass and is frayed around the edges.

While wearing this gi, the duration of any power you manifest from the Psycometabolism discipline is doubled.
WinterPsionic
03-17-07, 06:07 PM I like the first one, the back story is a tad extreme but hey, it's fluff.
Batshido
03-17-07, 10:17 PM I like the first one, the back story is a tad extreme but hey, it's fluff.

Heh. Yeah, it may have been a little bit over the top, but I was trying to set the stage. The idea is that his personality slowly takes over that of the user's. I just felt that without the write up the personality change stuff wouldn't have made any sense.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Batshido 03-17-07, 12:50 AM	I just got the Magic Item Compendium, and I was intrigued by the item sets. I'm currently setting up a campaign that forgoes all types of vancian casting, so alot of the stuff in there just doesn't seem like it would fit. With that in mind, I put together some examples of what I think would work for psionic item sets. The idea here is that a powerful psionic character leaves traces of themselves on their belongings, imprinting some of their abilities and even their personalities on them. Psionic sets offer benefits to those who would utilize them, but at the possiblity of losing themselves to the personalities of the original wearers. I think I'm going to turn it into an ego battle as with weapons with personalities. I hope that makes sense. I'm not real familiar with the process behind item creation in the metagame sense, so some of this stuff may look a little over or under powered. I'm really curious to see what you folks think and how you would handle it. Thanks Galardi's Raiment Galardi was born human. Not really one to stay at home, he found himself in trouble more often than not. Luckily for Galardi, he was born with powers beyond those of the human norm. He was psionic. After spending years causing trouble, and subsequently avoiding authority figures all together, Galardi was discovered by a group of individuals that called themselves Elans. They offered him a new life and Galardi, seeing a way to escape prosecution for his lawless ways, was more than happy to take them up on it. Life as an elan wasn't exactly what Galardi expected. After several attempts at unlocking his own mental potential in the way his benefactors had coached, Galardi eventually gave up. It was obvious that he was not gifted in the way they had thought him to be. He spent several decades aimlessly wandering from town to town, falling back on old tricks. Along the way, he learned how to focus his mind into a weapon. It was weak at first, but it was definitely useful. Intrigued by this new development, he left his former life of crime to train with his newfound abilities. After several centuries of devoted combat study, the new and improved Galardi was ready to re-enter the world. His abilities quickly took him to the very top of the criminal underworld. None could, or would, stand against one who was obviously incredibly dangerous and driven to succeed. In a matter of decades, Galardi built himself a criminal empire the like of which the world had never seen. Alas, it was not to last. Having heard strange things about this new master of all things illegal, the elans who changed him came to investigate. Upon discovering their progeny at the head of such an organization, they immediately set forth to destroy him and absolve themselves of their wrongdoing. To Galardi's credit, 4 elans died that day. Unfortunately for him, he was one of them. Collection Benefits As you collect more of Galardi's possessions, you gain certain benefits. At first, you find that you can draw on the psionic resonance within the items to power your psionic abilities, should you have any. As your connection to Galardi grows, you will start to exhibit more abilities that would easily be attributed to your gear's former owner. 1 item: No Bonus Personality changes: You become more inclined to attempt intimidation to get what you want instead of asking nicely. Your first reaction to absolutely anything becomes more aggressive. 2 items: 1 bonus power point Personality changes: You now toy with your weapon constantly. If you can manifest a mind blade, it begins to darken in hue. A slight curve is noticeable. You feel compelled to wield your blade with both hands, as a large sword. Your thoughts become more ordered, and more criminal. Your alignment shifts one degree toward Lawful and one degree toward Evil. If you are already Lawful Evil, there is no effect. 3 items: 2 bonus power points, +1d8 psychic strike damage Personality changes: You begin to view everything as a “business opportunity.” You mentally divide friends, both new and old, into two groups; potential threats and potential henchmen. Every waking thought is geared towards securing an advantage of some type for yourself. Your mind blade, if you can create one, lengthens and curves even further. It's color darkens further toward purple. 4 items: 4 bonus power points, Shape Mind Blade: Falchion Personality changes: You intensify your training. After all, you never know when those closest to you are going to turn on you. Intimidation is now your primary form of social interaction. Your mind blade extends and curves even further, becoming a Falchion. It is now a deep black-purple. 5 items: 6 bonus power points, Flurry of Blows (as monk ability) Personality changes: Your paranoia has reached a fever pitch. Now the people around you are divided into groups; those who will betray you eventually, those who will betray you soon, and those who are betraying you right now. All traces of civility has left your personality, and you rule with an iron fist. Your mind blade has now become completely black, seeming to consume ambient light. Your Alignment shifts one degree toward Lawful and one degree toward Evil. If you are already Lawful Evil, there is no effect. Galardi's Armor Item Level: 13 Slot: Body Activation: - This armor is dented and stained from many battles. Deep purple in color, the chain links seem to absorb the light around them. While wearing this +1 Ghostwatch Chainmail Shirt you gain access to the psionic power Offensive Prescience as though you you had selected it as one of your powers known. If you don't have levels in a manifester class, treat your manifester level as being one half your character level. Galardi's Mask Item Level: 9 Slot: Head Activation: - This dull steel mask only covers the bottom half of your face, leaving your eyes visible to strike fear into your opponents. The mask itself resembles the jaw and mouth of a demon, wearing an expression of mild annoyance. While wearing this mask you gain a +4 equipment bonus to intimidate checks. You also gain the ability to imbue your mind blade for a psychic strike as a swift action. You may use this ability twice per day. Galardi's Greaves Item Level: 10 Slot: Legs Activation: - These greaves appear to be made from a dull, lusterless purple metal. embedded within them are fragments of clear crystal. While wearing these greaves you gain the Mental Cleave feat. Additionally, you gain a +2 insight bonus to your initiative rolls. Galardi's Gorget Item Level: 9 Slot: Neck Activation: - This neck guard is dented and chipped, as though it has absorbed many blows. It is made of the same dull metal as the greaves. While wearing this gorget, you gain access to the psionic power Bio-Feedback as though you you had selected it as one of your powers known. If you don't have levels in a manifester class, treat your manifester level as being one half your character level. Additionally, while wearing this item you gain light fortification, giving you a 25% chance to ignore critical hits and sneak attacks. Galardi's Gauntlets Item Level: 13 Slot: Hands Activation: - These chainmail gauntlets are made of the same metal as the greaves and gorget. They are dark purple, and appear to be oddly stained with something even darker. While wearing these gauntlets, any weapon you wield gains the Maiming quality. If you are wielding two weapons or a double weapon, only one weapon or head benefits from this ability. Volren's Vestments Born the son of a farmer in the southern provences, Volren came to realize at a very young age that he would not be satisfied living a life of agrarian toil. Once he was old enough to set off on his own, he made his way through the world, eventually discovering within himself abilities outside those of normal people. Volren became a student of the Tashalatora discipline. Fanatical in his devotion to perfect his chosen form of combat, he spent many hours training in order to hone his mind and body into a single perfect whole. Throughout his life Volren faced many challenges, approaching each as an opportunity to test himself and his way of life. Time and time again, his superior training and discipline allowed him to overcome foes that would have destroyed a weaker man. After many long years of traveling the world seeking conflict, Volren thought it time to share the knowledge and skill that he had gained with others. In time, as students gathered, he came to understand that it was not in perfecting himself that he was to find inner peace, but in in helping others cultivate their own spark of greatness. In the end, Volren succumbed to old age surrounded by his students. He is still venerated at monasteries across the land for his unsurpassed skill and devotion to his art. Collection Benefits: As you collect more of Volren's possessions, you gain certain benefits. At first, you find that you can draw on the psionic resonance within the items to power your abilities. As your connection to the items grows, you gain new abilities that mirror those of your gear's previous owner. 1 item: 1 bonus power point Personality changes: You begin to take the extra time to truly explore and master new powers and techniques instead of simply learning them. You subconsciously shift your weight from leg to leg while standing, always ready to spring into action. 2 items: 3 bonus power points, +10 ft to your base speed. Personality changes: Your drive for perfection intensifies. You are up hours before your companions, drilling and training your personal combat techniques. Your arms never hang loosely at your sides. If you aren't actively engaging them they act on their own to perfect your latest block or strike. Your alignment shifts one degree towards Lawful. If you are already Lawful, there is no effect. 3 items: 5 bonus power points Personality changes: You are a vision of dedication. Whenever you find a spare moment, and often while you are supposed to be doing something else, you train. Working the kinks out of stances, kicking trees and rocks, even shadow boxing. The compulsion to put yourself in dangerous situations, particularly to defend the weak and innocent, is almost irresistible. Your Alignment shifts one degree toward Good. If you are already Good, there is no effect. 4 items: 8 bonus power points Personality changes: You engage in physical trials constantly. If there are none immediately available, you create them. Whether it is speed climbing the side of a sheer cliff or leaping from tree-top to tree-top, you constantly feel the need to test yourself. Your morning training regimen has become borderline religious at this point. You tend to take the last watch of a night, since you'd be up long before dawn anyway. 5 items: 11 bonus power points, DR 2/- while psionically focused Personality changes: You have reached the point at which training yourself no longer matters. What is important now is teaching others to do what you do, and how you do it. Not that you stop perfecting your art. You still spend hours everyday working on kicks and blocks. No, it's just that the preservation of the art and the instruction of others is more personally rewarding than perfecting yourself. Your alignment shifts one degree towards Good and one degree towards Lawful. If you are already Lawful Good, there is no effect. Volren's Arm Wraps Item Level: 8 Slot: Hands Activation:- These well worn leather straps are studded with steel. They are meant to be wrapped around the hands and wrists. While wearing both Wraps and using the Stunning Fist feat or any feat with Stunning Fist as a prerequisite you may expend your psionic focus. If you do, the DC to resist your attempt is increased by 5. Volren's Obi Item Level: 6 Slot: Waist Activation:- This worn sash was once black, but time and use have bleached it nearly white. While wearing this sash and psionically focused you gain a +4 enhancement bonus to strength checks (but not strength related skill checks) like those to trip or bull rush an opponent or to avoid being tripped or bull rush yourself. Volren's Foot Straps Item Level: 10 Slot: Feet Activation:- These well worn leather straps are studded with clear crystal. They are meant to be wrapped around the feet. While wearing both Straps and psionically focused, you gain a +4 enhancement bonus to Jump checks. When making an unarmed attack at the end of a charge you may expend your psionic focus. If you do your attack does an extra 2d8 damage. Volren's Hachimaki Item Level: 6 Slot: Head Activation:- This unadorned strip of linen was once white, but time and wear has turned it grey. While wearing this headband and psionically focused, you gain double the Insight bonuses to attack and damage rolls and to defense that you would normally gain from any power you manifest. Volren's Gi Item Level: 12 Slot: Body Activation:- This simple gi is made from heavy canvass and is frayed around the edges. While wearing this gi, the duration of any power you manifest from the Psycometabolism discipline is doubled.
WinterPsionic 03-17-07, 06:07 PM	I like the first one, the back story is a tad extreme but hey, it's fluff.
Batshido 03-17-07, 10:17 PM	I like the first one, the back story is a tad extreme but hey, it's fluff. Heh. Yeah, it may have been a little bit over the top, but I was trying to set the stage. The idea is that his personality slowly takes over that of the user's. I just felt that without the write up the personality change stuff wouldn't have made any sense.