Questions about Strength of My Enemy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Questions about Strength of My Enemy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
StrongHead
06-27-07, 10:21 AM Hello, everyone! ^_^

I'm currently playing an Elan Soulknife 7/War Mind 3, about to advance to 11th level. I intend to take another level of War Mind, which will give me my first choice of a 2nd level power. Since my PC is basically the 2nd best melee fighter in our group (the 1st being a Human Fighter 10 with a Two-Weapon build), I was considering my choices for either an offensive or defensive power. Right now, I'm considering Concealing Amorpha for defense and Strength of My Enemy for offense. Since my PC already has some good options for boosting his AC, I'm leaning towards the offense. And here's where I (and my DM) have some doubts... :)

Strength of My Enemy says "(...) One of your natural or manufactured weapons becomes the instrument of your desire, and deals 1 point of Strength damage on each successful hit. (...)". My questions are:

1) Does the mind blade qualify to be used with this power? I believe it does (even though it's neither "natural" nor "manufactured"), but I'd like to be sure.

2) Does the Strength damage applies even when the attack doesn't cause any real damage (say, because of DR)? This isn't really a problem for me, because my PC has Psychokinetic as mind blade special ability (1d4 points of damage that bypasses DR, so there's always at least 1 point of damage), but again I'd like to be sure. :)

If you have any suggestions about other (better) 2nd level PsyWar powers, please let me know. Thanks!
Fafnir
06-27-07, 10:51 AM Hello, everyone! ^_^

I'm currently playing an Elan Soulknife 7/War Mind 3, about to advance to 11th level. I intend to take another level of War Mind, which will give me my first choice of a 2nd level power. Since my PC is basically the 2nd best melee fighter in our group (the 1st being a Human Fighter 10 with a Two-Weapon build), I was considering my choices for either an offensive or defensive power. Right now, I'm considering Concealing Amorpha for defense and Strength of My Enemy for offense. Since my PC already has some good options for boosting his AC, I'm leaning towards the offense. And here's where I (and my DM) have some doubts... :)

Strength of My Enemy says "(...) One of your natural or manufactured weapons becomes the instrument of your desire, and deals 1 point of Strength damage on each successful hit. (...)". My questions are:

1) Does the mind blade qualify to be used with this power? I believe it does (even though it's neither "natural" nor "manufactured"), but I'd like to be sure.

2) Does the Strength damage applies even when the attack doesn't cause any real damage (say, because of DR)? This isn't really a problem for me, because my PC has Psychokinetic as mind blade special ability (1d4 points of damage that bypasses DR, so there's always at least 1 point of damage), but again I'd like to be sure. :)

If you have any suggestions about other (better) 2nd level PsyWar powers, please let me know. Thanks!

1) Yes. Arguing on wether it's truly "manufactured" or not would be nitpicking. It means a weapon that's not part of your body.
2) Yes. It's a successful hit, not damage.

Those are good choices... you could also consider Dissolving Weapon (one of my favorites), Animal Affinity and Psionic Lion's Charge. The latter works with the Sweeping Strike you'll get later, as long as you move exactly 10 feet, but is not as good as it is for a PsyWarrior due to your low PP.
InkBlot
06-27-07, 01:00 PM 1) Yes. On p27 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook, in the 4th paragraph under Mind Blade (Su) it states - Powers or spells that upgrade weapons can be used on a mind blade.

2) No. At the top of p292 of the Dungeon Master's Guide it states - Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury type poison, a monk's stunning, and injury type disease.
StrongHead
06-27-07, 02:56 PM Hello, everyone! ^_^

Those are good choices... you could also consider Dissolving Weapon (one of my favorites), Animal Affinity and Psionic Lion's Charge. The latter works with the Sweeping Strike you'll get later, as long as you move exactly 10 feet, but is not as good as it is for a PsyWarrior due to your low PP.

Dissolving Weapon is an interesting power, and that extra 4d6 points acid damage sure can be a great help, but it's an "instantaneous" power that lasts only until I make 1 (one) successful attack. Strength of My Enemy, hereafter known as SoME :), on the other hand, has a duration of 1 round/level, which at 4th manifester level (War Mind 4) would enable me to make up to 12 attacks - 3 per round (2 from BAB and one extra from Haste - my PC has Boots of Speed). Whether those attacks will be successful or not, that's another matter... :)

Animal Affinity is interesting too, and I had completely overlooked it. I may take it later on. Right now, I'm still thinking the bonus from SoME (+1 from each successful hit) is better, even if it's for a shorter duration.

I couldn't find a description of Psionic Lion's Charge. What book is it from? And yes, I'm trying to choose powers that would work well in conjunction with Sweeping Strike later on. :)

1) Yes. On p27 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook, in the 4th paragraph under Mind Blade (Su) it states -

Powers or spells that upgrade weapons can be used on a mind blade.

2) No. At the top of p292 of the Dungeon Master's Guide it states -

Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury type poison, a monk's stunning, and injury type disease.

1) Ah, perfect. I missed (forgot) that part of the description... :)

2) The way I see it, there are 2 (two) different sources of damage: the power itself and the weapon (in this case, a mind blade) the power was manifested on. DR would work on the weapon damage but not the power damage.

PHB pg 307:
damage reduction (DR): A special defense that allows a creature to ignore a set amount of damage from most weapons, unarmed attacks, or natural weapons, but not from energy attacks, spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities.

DMG pg 292:
Spells, spell-like abilities, and energy attacks (even nonmagical fire) ignore damage reduction.

Under the Magic-Psionics Transparency rules, psionic powers work just like spells, so DR doesn't apply to the damage from SoME. Right?
SlanderPanic
06-27-07, 03:20 PM The point is that, if your weapon fails to do actual damage, whatever rider effects the weapon has don't make it through either. DR eliminating your damage is the same as armor or a deflection effect turning the blow aside. You have to get under an opponent's skin, so to speak, to deliver rider effects, like Strength damage or poison. Extra hit point damage represented as dice, on the other hand, still goes through.

Think of the mind blade as a psychic conduit, in this case. You need to penetrate the opponent's defenses so your weapon comes into contact with your enemy's life force or what-have-you. Then it delivers nasty effects, like psychic strike damage and strength of my enemy.

Also, good choice pairing soulknife and War Mind. Sweeping Strike and bladewind are an awesome combo.
Fafnir
06-27-07, 03:36 PM Feh, so I was wrong... good catch on point 2, guys.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
StrongHead 06-27-07, 10:21 AM	Hello, everyone! ^_^ I'm currently playing an Elan Soulknife 7/War Mind 3, about to advance to 11th level. I intend to take another level of War Mind, which will give me my first choice of a 2nd level power. Since my PC is basically the 2nd best melee fighter in our group (the 1st being a Human Fighter 10 with a Two-Weapon build), I was considering my choices for either an offensive or defensive power. Right now, I'm considering Concealing Amorpha for defense and Strength of My Enemy for offense. Since my PC already has some good options for boosting his AC, I'm leaning towards the offense. And here's where I (and my DM) have some doubts... :) Strength of My Enemy says "(...) One of your natural or manufactured weapons becomes the instrument of your desire, and deals 1 point of Strength damage on each successful hit. (...)". My questions are: 1) Does the mind blade qualify to be used with this power? I believe it does (even though it's neither "natural" nor "manufactured"), but I'd like to be sure. 2) Does the Strength damage applies even when the attack doesn't cause any real damage (say, because of DR)? This isn't really a problem for me, because my PC has Psychokinetic as mind blade special ability (1d4 points of damage that bypasses DR, so there's always at least 1 point of damage), but again I'd like to be sure. :) If you have any suggestions about other (better) 2nd level PsyWar powers, please let me know. Thanks!
Fafnir 06-27-07, 10:51 AM	Hello, everyone! ^_^ I'm currently playing an Elan Soulknife 7/War Mind 3, about to advance to 11th level. I intend to take another level of War Mind, which will give me my first choice of a 2nd level power. Since my PC is basically the 2nd best melee fighter in our group (the 1st being a Human Fighter 10 with a Two-Weapon build), I was considering my choices for either an offensive or defensive power. Right now, I'm considering Concealing Amorpha for defense and Strength of My Enemy for offense. Since my PC already has some good options for boosting his AC, I'm leaning towards the offense. And here's where I (and my DM) have some doubts... :) Strength of My Enemy says "(...) One of your natural or manufactured weapons becomes the instrument of your desire, and deals 1 point of Strength damage on each successful hit. (...)". My questions are: 1) Does the mind blade qualify to be used with this power? I believe it does (even though it's neither "natural" nor "manufactured"), but I'd like to be sure. 2) Does the Strength damage applies even when the attack doesn't cause any real damage (say, because of DR)? This isn't really a problem for me, because my PC has Psychokinetic as mind blade special ability (1d4 points of damage that bypasses DR, so there's always at least 1 point of damage), but again I'd like to be sure. :) If you have any suggestions about other (better) 2nd level PsyWar powers, please let me know. Thanks! 1) Yes. Arguing on wether it's truly "manufactured" or not would be nitpicking. It means a weapon that's not part of your body. 2) Yes. It's a successful hit, not damage. Those are good choices... you could also consider Dissolving Weapon (one of my favorites), Animal Affinity and Psionic Lion's Charge. The latter works with the Sweeping Strike you'll get later, as long as you move exactly 10 feet, but is not as good as it is for a PsyWarrior due to your low PP.
InkBlot 06-27-07, 01:00 PM	1) Yes. On p27 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook, in the 4th paragraph under Mind Blade (Su) it states - Powers or spells that upgrade weapons can be used on a mind blade. 2) No. At the top of p292 of the Dungeon Master's Guide it states - Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury type poison, a monk's stunning, and injury type disease.
StrongHead 06-27-07, 02:56 PM	Hello, everyone! ^_^ Those are good choices... you could also consider Dissolving Weapon (one of my favorites), Animal Affinity and Psionic Lion's Charge. The latter works with the Sweeping Strike you'll get later, as long as you move exactly 10 feet, but is not as good as it is for a PsyWarrior due to your low PP. Dissolving Weapon is an interesting power, and that extra 4d6 points acid damage sure can be a great help, but it's an "instantaneous" power that lasts only until I make 1 (one) successful attack. Strength of My Enemy, hereafter known as SoME :), on the other hand, has a duration of 1 round/level, which at 4th manifester level (War Mind 4) would enable me to make up to 12 attacks - 3 per round (2 from BAB and one extra from Haste - my PC has Boots of Speed). Whether those attacks will be successful or not, that's another matter... :) Animal Affinity is interesting too, and I had completely overlooked it. I may take it later on. Right now, I'm still thinking the bonus from SoME (+1 from each successful hit) is better, even if it's for a shorter duration. I couldn't find a description of Psionic Lion's Charge. What book is it from? And yes, I'm trying to choose powers that would work well in conjunction with Sweeping Strike later on. :) 1) Yes. On p27 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook, in the 4th paragraph under Mind Blade (Su) it states - Powers or spells that upgrade weapons can be used on a mind blade. 2) No. At the top of p292 of the Dungeon Master's Guide it states - Whenever damage reduction completely negates the damage from an attack, it also negates most special effects that accompany the attack, such as injury type poison, a monk's stunning, and injury type disease. 1) Ah, perfect. I missed (forgot) that part of the description... :) 2) The way I see it, there are 2 (two) different sources of damage: the power itself and the weapon (in this case, a mind blade) the power was manifested on. DR would work on the weapon damage but not the power damage. PHB pg 307: damage reduction (DR): A special defense that allows a creature to ignore a set amount of damage from most weapons, unarmed attacks, or natural weapons, but not from energy attacks, spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. DMG pg 292: Spells, spell-like abilities, and energy attacks (even nonmagical fire) ignore damage reduction. Under the Magic-Psionics Transparency rules, psionic powers work just like spells, so DR doesn't apply to the damage from SoME. Right?
SlanderPanic 06-27-07, 03:20 PM	The point is that, if your weapon fails to do actual damage, whatever rider effects the weapon has don't make it through either. DR eliminating your damage is the same as armor or a deflection effect turning the blow aside. You have to get under an opponent's skin, so to speak, to deliver rider effects, like Strength damage or poison. Extra hit point damage represented as dice, on the other hand, still goes through. Think of the mind blade as a psychic conduit, in this case. You need to penetrate the opponent's defenses so your weapon comes into contact with your enemy's life force or what-have-you. Then it delivers nasty effects, like psychic strike damage and strength of my enemy. Also, good choice pairing soulknife and War Mind. Sweeping Strike and bladewind are an awesome combo.
Fafnir 06-27-07, 03:36 PM	Feh, so I was wrong... good catch on point 2, guys.