Spectral Savant Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Spectral Savant Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gadren
09-01-07, 04:34 PM I have a question about the Spectral Savant from Complete Psionic:
How long do power points drained with siphon power last?
Could a Spectral Savant make a deal with a Psion to drain all their remain pp each night before they rest, and eventually build up a ridiculous pp pool that way?
Tiarn
09-01-07, 11:30 PM They last indefinitely. That is in fact the only way these monsters have any power points.

Yes, yes it could. :D
Though you have to wonder about the sanity of a psion who would allow an undead creature to drink at her mind every night. (I can't imagine that's very comfortable) The S Savant would have to make one really fine deal.

And also keep in mind, it doesn't matter if the Savant has 8,954,365 or more pp, it still can't spend more on a single power than it's manifester level. :D
yrogerg
09-02-07, 12:00 AM I have a question about the Spectral Savant from Complete Psionic:
How long do power points drained with siphon power last?
Could a Spectral Savant make a deal with a Psion to drain all their remain pp each night before they rest, and eventually build up a ridiculous pp pool that way?

Sure, if you're willing to bet that you won't be attacked in the middle of the night, ever. (Hint: if you try to make this bet to store up massive amounts of power points, most DMs make sure that you *are* attacked, at least often enough to make it not quite worth it.)
Tempest Stormwind
09-02-07, 02:00 AM It's better for the savant to just learn Shadow Eft, from the same book.

Seriously. Read it. I'd be amazed a huge loophole like that one showed up, but this is Complete Psionic we're talking about.
sijigs
09-02-07, 07:57 PM It's better for the savant to just learn Shadow Eft, from the same book.

Seriously. Read it. I'd be amazed a huge loophole like that one showed up, but this is Complete Psionic we're talking about.

hm.. so with the metamorphic transfer cheese you can effectively launder PPs??

Damn.
Gadren
09-03-07, 12:08 AM Sure, if you're willing to bet that you won't be attacked in the middle of the night, ever. (Hint: if you try to make this bet to store up massive amounts of power points, most DMs make sure that you *are* attacked, at least often enough to make it not quite worth it.)

Well, I am the DM actually. The main BBEG is a powerful necromancer, and I decided it would make things interesting to put psionic powers indirectly at her disposal if she had a spectral savant as a cohort/slave.
Tempest Stormwind
09-03-07, 12:10 AM hm.. so with the metamorphic transfer cheese you can effectively launder PPs??

Damn.

Doesn't even need that. I meant the Shadow Eft power. It costs 7 power points to manifest. Shadow Efts have Shadow Body 1/day, an 8th level psi-like. Spectral Savants can drain psi-like abilities to get the equivalent number of power points (here, 15).
yrogerg
09-03-07, 01:10 PM Well, I am the DM actually. The main BBEG is a powerful necromancer, and I decided it would make things interesting to put psionic powers indirectly at her disposal if she had a spectral savant as a cohort/slave.

Eh, I suppose. Generally, I try not to do things like this with BBEGs. If my game's NPCs exploit cheesy rules loopholes and generally act like munchkin players, then there's really nothing I can do to stop players from doing the same thing. That's why, if I'm going to break the rules with my NPCs, I'd do it openly: a BBEG who's acquired god-like power, and is therefore the only Gestalt character in the game, or an NPC who's acquired an artifact that lets them do something blatantly rule-breaking. None of this "technically, the rules let me do this" stuff, as it really just encourages the players to exploit rules loopholes in the similar manner.
Gadren
09-03-07, 04:18 PM Eh, I suppose. Generally, I try not to do things like this with BBEGs. If my game's NPCs exploit cheesy rules loopholes and generally act like munchkin players, then there's really nothing I can do to stop players from doing the same thing. That's why, if I'm going to break the rules with my NPCs, I'd do it openly: a BBEG who's acquired god-like power, and is therefore the only Gestalt character in the game, or an NPC who's acquired an artifact that lets them do something blatantly rule-breaking. None of this "technically, the rules let me do this" stuff, as it really just encourages the players to exploit rules loopholes in the similar manner.

/shrug

I was looking for an incorporeal undead psion. Spectral savant fits it best. He's there mostly to help keep the BBEG (a caster) alive through share pain and what not.
sijigs
09-03-07, 05:33 PM Doesn't even need that. I meant the Shadow Eft power. It costs 7 power points to manifest. Shadow Efts have Shadow Body 1/day, an 8th level psi-like. Spectral Savants can drain psi-like abilities to get the equivalent number of power points (here, 15).

Sorry. What I meant was - turn yourself into a Spec Savant w/ metamorphic xfer. Then siphon from your Efts.

Wowage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gadren 09-01-07, 04:34 PM	I have a question about the Spectral Savant from Complete Psionic: How long do power points drained with siphon power last? Could a Spectral Savant make a deal with a Psion to drain all their remain pp each night before they rest, and eventually build up a ridiculous pp pool that way?
Tiarn 09-01-07, 11:30 PM	They last indefinitely. That is in fact the only way these monsters have any power points. Yes, yes it could. :D Though you have to wonder about the sanity of a psion who would allow an undead creature to drink at her mind every night. (I can't imagine that's very comfortable) The S Savant would have to make one really fine deal. And also keep in mind, it doesn't matter if the Savant has 8,954,365 or more pp, it still can't spend more on a single power than it's manifester level. :D
yrogerg 09-02-07, 12:00 AM	I have a question about the Spectral Savant from Complete Psionic: How long do power points drained with siphon power last? Could a Spectral Savant make a deal with a Psion to drain all their remain pp each night before they rest, and eventually build up a ridiculous pp pool that way? Sure, if you're willing to bet that you won't be attacked in the middle of the night, ever. (Hint: if you try to make this bet to store up massive amounts of power points, most DMs make sure that you are attacked, at least often enough to make it not quite worth it.)
Tempest Stormwind 09-02-07, 02:00 AM	It's better for the savant to just learn Shadow Eft, from the same book. Seriously. Read it. I'd be amazed a huge loophole like that one showed up, but this is Complete Psionic we're talking about.
sijigs 09-02-07, 07:57 PM	It's better for the savant to just learn Shadow Eft, from the same book. Seriously. Read it. I'd be amazed a huge loophole like that one showed up, but this is Complete Psionic we're talking about. hm.. so with the metamorphic transfer cheese you can effectively launder PPs?? Damn.
Gadren 09-03-07, 12:08 AM	Sure, if you're willing to bet that you won't be attacked in the middle of the night, ever. (Hint: if you try to make this bet to store up massive amounts of power points, most DMs make sure that you are attacked, at least often enough to make it not quite worth it.) Well, I am the DM actually. The main BBEG is a powerful necromancer, and I decided it would make things interesting to put psionic powers indirectly at her disposal if she had a spectral savant as a cohort/slave.
Tempest Stormwind 09-03-07, 12:10 AM	hm.. so with the metamorphic transfer cheese you can effectively launder PPs?? Damn. Doesn't even need that. I meant the Shadow Eft power. It costs 7 power points to manifest. Shadow Efts have Shadow Body 1/day, an 8th level psi-like. Spectral Savants can drain psi-like abilities to get the equivalent number of power points (here, 15).
yrogerg 09-03-07, 01:10 PM	Well, I am the DM actually. The main BBEG is a powerful necromancer, and I decided it would make things interesting to put psionic powers indirectly at her disposal if she had a spectral savant as a cohort/slave. Eh, I suppose. Generally, I try not to do things like this with BBEGs. If my game's NPCs exploit cheesy rules loopholes and generally act like munchkin players, then there's really nothing I can do to stop players from doing the same thing. That's why, if I'm going to break the rules with my NPCs, I'd do it openly: a BBEG who's acquired god-like power, and is therefore the only Gestalt character in the game, or an NPC who's acquired an artifact that lets them do something blatantly rule-breaking. None of this "technically, the rules let me do this" stuff, as it really just encourages the players to exploit rules loopholes in the similar manner.
Gadren 09-03-07, 04:18 PM	Eh, I suppose. Generally, I try not to do things like this with BBEGs. If my game's NPCs exploit cheesy rules loopholes and generally act like munchkin players, then there's really nothing I can do to stop players from doing the same thing. That's why, if I'm going to break the rules with my NPCs, I'd do it openly: a BBEG who's acquired god-like power, and is therefore the only Gestalt character in the game, or an NPC who's acquired an artifact that lets them do something blatantly rule-breaking. None of this "technically, the rules let me do this" stuff, as it really just encourages the players to exploit rules loopholes in the similar manner. /shrug I was looking for an incorporeal undead psion. Spectral savant fits it best. He's there mostly to help keep the BBEG (a caster) alive through share pain and what not.
sijigs 09-03-07, 05:33 PM	Doesn't even need that. I meant the Shadow Eft power. It costs 7 power points to manifest. Shadow Efts have Shadow Body 1/day, an 8th level psi-like. Spectral Savants can drain psi-like abilities to get the equivalent number of power points (here, 15). Sorry. What I meant was - turn yourself into a Spec Savant w/ metamorphic xfer. Then siphon from your Efts. Wowage.