Scisim as Mental Disorder [Archive] - Wizards Community

Scisim as Mental Disorder [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ToastedAmphibian
10-24-07, 09:25 PM Im looking at making a character, and wanted to know what anyone here thought as to the flavor and balance of the above idea. Basically, the build will be 4 or 5 levels of monk, 8 levels of pyrokineticist, and 7 levels of psionic fist. The character was a lawful evil monk with the wild talent feat, but as he aged, he started hearing another voice inside his head, driving him on to do things, such as burn down his monastary. The alternate voice is quite obviously chaotic evil in the dysfunctional sense (Like Carnage, but with a fire obsession)

My idea was to give this character scism (As the 4th level Telepath power http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/schism.htm) as a continuous (Ex) ability.

Yes i know this would give me an extra action each round, but it would be a purley mental action, taken by my psychotic counterpart, who would have a manifestter level that is 6 lower than mine, meaning i would be able to manifest a first level power as a free action at level 20. Not incredibly powerfull in that regard, as we probably will never play to that high a level anyways. With the still mind monk ability, the good will saves of monk and fist, and a high wisdom score, the second saving throw aginst enchantments and compulsions wouldnt be too hugh a help.

Under normal circumstances, Kendel (Mabey Cinder, but thats too cliqched) is chaotic evil, but generally sane and ractional, aside from the voice in his head. In the rare instances where his alter ego takes over, mostly during combat hopefully, he becomes "Chaotic Stupid" is that the right term? Whenever he becomes effected by any kind of charm or compulsion however, the scihism would be supressed for 10 minutes (Like a dispelled spell like ability) and Kendel would be Lawfull Evil (Thus not as dangerous to random people OR party members) and would also lose acsess to his Pyrokineticist abilities (Must be of chaotic alignment) which make up the vast majority of his combat competence.

Id say that the penalties come out fairly equal to the benifits, and leaves a nice flavor.

The only other real benifit would be the ability to use the Psi like abilities of the Pyrokineticist using my alter egos standard action, thus saving me a move action.

Would it be fair to balance this by giving up my Nimbus ability except when my alter ego takes over, and mabey treat it like a frenzy or rage ability?

Also, if someone cast an enchantment or cumpulsion while the alter ego is in charge, Kendel, currently the schisim bound mind, could intentionally fail his saving throw, returning him to controll and ending the rage.

So, what do you guys think?
InkBlot
10-25-07, 08:46 AM You don't need to gain a powerful extraordinary ability just so that your character can talk to himself and be insane. Just roleplay the insanity. It doesn't need a mechanical representation.

However, if you're dead set on it, then there are a couple options from Complete Psionic to look at. First, there's the Synad race. A normal Synad has three different minds, and gains neat little abilities to reflect that fact. Yoink one of those. Multitask would probably be the best fit. It would be fair to take it in place of a feat.

Also in Complete Psionic are Host feats, a special kind of psionic feat. Taking one indicates that a psychic entity has taken residence in your mind or body. The fluff text on Host feats is purposefully vague, so that you can use them to explain any purely psychic entity you want, including a psionically empowered split personality.

Mechanically, Multitask gives you an extra swift action at a small cost, and each Host feat gives you a pair of psi-like abilities related to the nature of the psychic entity you're hosting.
ToastedAmphibian
10-25-07, 03:47 PM Interesting. Ill have to hunt down a copy of complete psionic i guess. Thanks for the info.
Lycanthromancer
10-25-07, 05:11 PM What a horrifying conclusion to an interesting thread...

I'd suggest borrowing someone else's, photocopying what you want, then throwing it in holy water before giving it back to them (assuming it doesn't burst into unholy flames, first).
AntiDjinn
10-25-07, 06:17 PM What you are describing sounds more like Personality Parasite than Schism, in that the second mind is not under your control. Well, actually, like neither. And it isn't common for DM's to hand out free 4th level effects, always on, as extraordinary (no way to dispel it) ability. Try asking the average DM if you can have Polymorph Self or Lesser Globe of Invulnerability as a 24/7 freebie, even if it is not fully under your control, as a character background element, claiming you need it to be able to roleplay the character the way you want to, and see if it flies. Asking for Schism, even screwed-up Schism that bears almost no resemblance to the power as presented in the XPH, with the mech advantage of an extra mental action per round, is more that most DM's give for RP perks.

That being said, if my DM was forgetting to take his medication and decided that 4th level free but uncontrolled effects were on the table, then Schism isn't the one I would choose. I would go with Death Urge so the character would be like Ted Stryker (Robert Hayes) in the Airplane movies. Whenever Ted would start to tell his sad life-story to some poor schlub, they would kill themselves rather than have to hear the rest of it. With extraordinary 24/7 Death Urge the character would be so depressing that common people he meets would rather be dead than know him. It works about as well as free Schism.
InkBlot
10-25-07, 08:06 PM Yeah, that's another thing. You don't get anything for free in D&D. Unless your DM is playing favorites, you get the same amount of character building resources as all the other players. So if this mental disorder is to have any mechanical affect, then you're going to have to spend a feat or something.
StruckingFuggle
10-25-07, 08:40 PM Yeah, that's another thing. You don't get anything for free in D&D. Unless your DM is playing favorites, you get the same amount of character building resources as all the other players. So if this mental disorder is to have any mechanical affect, then you're going to have to spend a feat or something.

...or the DM could give something of equal power to the other party members, too... :)
InkBlot
10-25-07, 09:00 PM Didn't I say that?

If the DM is giving everybody an extra ability like that, then he or she is just expanding the limited number of character resources everybody gets. You're still spending your limited resources, and you're still not getting something for nothing. Think of all the other things you could have used your DM-granted-bonus for. "My character grew up as a servent in a magical laboratory, and constant exposure to new and bizarre forms of magical energy forced his body to develop a resistance to all kinds of magic and spells, so he should get spell resistance equal to 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha mod."
ToastedAmphibian
10-25-07, 09:16 PM Heh, as far as special abilites go, being able to take purley mental actions that arnt under your control, and the chance of having a charm person, even an unsucessful one, strip you 70% of your class abilites sounds like a fairly lame ability :} But at any rate, my DM likes to give everyone a free regional feat at level one. I would probably present this as an alternative.

(The only mental actions this character would be able to take would be making his hand / weapon burst into flames at possibly inapropriate times, and summing random whips of fire. It's more inline with a 20th level fighter asking to be able to cast Mnemonic Enhancer at will)
ToastedAmphibian
10-25-07, 09:22 PM What a horrifying conclusion to an interesting thread...

I'd suggest borrowing someone else's, photocopying what you want, then throwing it in holy water before giving it back to them (assuming it doesn't burst into unholy flames, first).

?? Im affraid you lost me....

Edit: oooooooooo, you ment the BOOK! Heh, thought you wanted me to borrow someone elses thread and photo copy it, before it burst into flames caused by my evil alter-ego! See, thats why people shouldnt use pronouns to refeer to things unless its something they have mentioned in a previous sentence.
mod5000
10-26-07, 03:41 AM Yeah, that's another thing. You don't get anything for free in D&D. Unless your DM is playing favorites, you get the same amount of character building resources as all the other players. So if this mental disorder is to have any mechanical affect, then you're going to have to spend a feat or something.

No such thing as a free lunch?
Callix
10-26-07, 08:16 AM No such thing as a free lunch?

Nope, even Elans need to pay 1/3 of a power point.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ToastedAmphibian 10-24-07, 09:25 PM	Im looking at making a character, and wanted to know what anyone here thought as to the flavor and balance of the above idea. Basically, the build will be 4 or 5 levels of monk, 8 levels of pyrokineticist, and 7 levels of psionic fist. The character was a lawful evil monk with the wild talent feat, but as he aged, he started hearing another voice inside his head, driving him on to do things, such as burn down his monastary. The alternate voice is quite obviously chaotic evil in the dysfunctional sense (Like Carnage, but with a fire obsession) My idea was to give this character scism (As the 4th level Telepath power http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/schism.htm) as a continuous (Ex) ability. Yes i know this would give me an extra action each round, but it would be a purley mental action, taken by my psychotic counterpart, who would have a manifestter level that is 6 lower than mine, meaning i would be able to manifest a first level power as a free action at level 20. Not incredibly powerfull in that regard, as we probably will never play to that high a level anyways. With the still mind monk ability, the good will saves of monk and fist, and a high wisdom score, the second saving throw aginst enchantments and compulsions wouldnt be too hugh a help. Under normal circumstances, Kendel (Mabey Cinder, but thats too cliqched) is chaotic evil, but generally sane and ractional, aside from the voice in his head. In the rare instances where his alter ego takes over, mostly during combat hopefully, he becomes "Chaotic Stupid" is that the right term? Whenever he becomes effected by any kind of charm or compulsion however, the scihism would be supressed for 10 minutes (Like a dispelled spell like ability) and Kendel would be Lawfull Evil (Thus not as dangerous to random people OR party members) and would also lose acsess to his Pyrokineticist abilities (Must be of chaotic alignment) which make up the vast majority of his combat competence. Id say that the penalties come out fairly equal to the benifits, and leaves a nice flavor. The only other real benifit would be the ability to use the Psi like abilities of the Pyrokineticist using my alter egos standard action, thus saving me a move action. Would it be fair to balance this by giving up my Nimbus ability except when my alter ego takes over, and mabey treat it like a frenzy or rage ability? Also, if someone cast an enchantment or cumpulsion while the alter ego is in charge, Kendel, currently the schisim bound mind, could intentionally fail his saving throw, returning him to controll and ending the rage. So, what do you guys think?
InkBlot 10-25-07, 08:46 AM	You don't need to gain a powerful extraordinary ability just so that your character can talk to himself and be insane. Just roleplay the insanity. It doesn't need a mechanical representation. However, if you're dead set on it, then there are a couple options from Complete Psionic to look at. First, there's the Synad race. A normal Synad has three different minds, and gains neat little abilities to reflect that fact. Yoink one of those. Multitask would probably be the best fit. It would be fair to take it in place of a feat. Also in Complete Psionic are Host feats, a special kind of psionic feat. Taking one indicates that a psychic entity has taken residence in your mind or body. The fluff text on Host feats is purposefully vague, so that you can use them to explain any purely psychic entity you want, including a psionically empowered split personality. Mechanically, Multitask gives you an extra swift action at a small cost, and each Host feat gives you a pair of psi-like abilities related to the nature of the psychic entity you're hosting.
ToastedAmphibian 10-25-07, 03:47 PM	Interesting. Ill have to hunt down a copy of complete psionic i guess. Thanks for the info.
Lycanthromancer 10-25-07, 05:11 PM	What a horrifying conclusion to an interesting thread... I'd suggest borrowing someone else's, photocopying what you want, then throwing it in holy water before giving it back to them (assuming it doesn't burst into unholy flames, first).
AntiDjinn 10-25-07, 06:17 PM	What you are describing sounds more like Personality Parasite than Schism, in that the second mind is not under your control. Well, actually, like neither. And it isn't common for DM's to hand out free 4th level effects, always on, as extraordinary (no way to dispel it) ability. Try asking the average DM if you can have Polymorph Self or Lesser Globe of Invulnerability as a 24/7 freebie, even if it is not fully under your control, as a character background element, claiming you need it to be able to roleplay the character the way you want to, and see if it flies. Asking for Schism, even screwed-up Schism that bears almost no resemblance to the power as presented in the XPH, with the mech advantage of an extra mental action per round, is more that most DM's give for RP perks. That being said, if my DM was forgetting to take his medication and decided that 4th level free but uncontrolled effects were on the table, then Schism isn't the one I would choose. I would go with Death Urge so the character would be like Ted Stryker (Robert Hayes) in the Airplane movies. Whenever Ted would start to tell his sad life-story to some poor schlub, they would kill themselves rather than have to hear the rest of it. With extraordinary 24/7 Death Urge the character would be so depressing that common people he meets would rather be dead than know him. It works about as well as free Schism.
InkBlot 10-25-07, 08:06 PM	Yeah, that's another thing. You don't get anything for free in D&D. Unless your DM is playing favorites, you get the same amount of character building resources as all the other players. So if this mental disorder is to have any mechanical affect, then you're going to have to spend a feat or something.
StruckingFuggle 10-25-07, 08:40 PM	Yeah, that's another thing. You don't get anything for free in D&D. Unless your DM is playing favorites, you get the same amount of character building resources as all the other players. So if this mental disorder is to have any mechanical affect, then you're going to have to spend a feat or something. ...or the DM could give something of equal power to the other party members, too... :)
InkBlot 10-25-07, 09:00 PM	Didn't I say that? If the DM is giving everybody an extra ability like that, then he or she is just expanding the limited number of character resources everybody gets. You're still spending your limited resources, and you're still not getting something for nothing. Think of all the other things you could have used your DM-granted-bonus for. "My character grew up as a servent in a magical laboratory, and constant exposure to new and bizarre forms of magical energy forced his body to develop a resistance to all kinds of magic and spells, so he should get spell resistance equal to 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha mod."
ToastedAmphibian 10-25-07, 09:16 PM	Heh, as far as special abilites go, being able to take purley mental actions that arnt under your control, and the chance of having a charm person, even an unsucessful one, strip you 70% of your class abilites sounds like a fairly lame ability :} But at any rate, my DM likes to give everyone a free regional feat at level one. I would probably present this as an alternative. (The only mental actions this character would be able to take would be making his hand / weapon burst into flames at possibly inapropriate times, and summing random whips of fire. It's more inline with a 20th level fighter asking to be able to cast Mnemonic Enhancer at will)
ToastedAmphibian 10-25-07, 09:22 PM	What a horrifying conclusion to an interesting thread... I'd suggest borrowing someone else's, photocopying what you want, then throwing it in holy water before giving it back to them (assuming it doesn't burst into unholy flames, first). ?? Im affraid you lost me.... Edit: oooooooooo, you ment the BOOK! Heh, thought you wanted me to borrow someone elses thread and photo copy it, before it burst into flames caused by my evil alter-ego! See, thats why people shouldnt use pronouns to refeer to things unless its something they have mentioned in a previous sentence.
mod5000 10-26-07, 03:41 AM	Yeah, that's another thing. You don't get anything for free in D&D. Unless your DM is playing favorites, you get the same amount of character building resources as all the other players. So if this mental disorder is to have any mechanical affect, then you're going to have to spend a feat or something. No such thing as a free lunch?
Callix 10-26-07, 08:16 AM	No such thing as a free lunch? Nope, even Elans need to pay 1/3 of a power point.