Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lycanthromancer 10-25-07, 05:40 PM	Several psicrystal abilities are (Su) or (Sp...damnit) in nature (mainly the deliver touch powers (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm#deliverTouchPowers), share powers (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm#sharePowers) and channel powers (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm#channelPower) abilities). Normally, supernatural and...spell-like (*shudder*) abilities require a standard action to use unless noted otherwise in the ability's entry. The kicker here is that not only does the text not specify an action type, the phrasing appears to give the ability to the psicrystal's owner, rather than the psicrystal itself. So, how do these abilities work, action-wise? Is it reasonable to say that using these abilities are part of manifestation, and don't require an action in and of themselves? Does the psicrystal have to use a standard action to be the receptacle of a power? Will there be cake?
Fafnir 10-25-07, 06:44 PM	Will there be cake? Not for you. :P
awaken_D_M_golem 10-25-07, 08:07 PM	Psicrystal metamorph'd into cake ? Touch - the psicrystal has to do a touch attack Share - the ~psion is doing the manifesting Channel Power (Sp) If the owner is 15th level or higher, he can manifest powers through the psicrystal to a distance of up to 1 mile. The psicrystal is treated as the power’s originator, and all ranges are calculated from its location. When channeling a power through his psicrystal, the owner manifests the power by paying its power point cost. He is still subject to attacks of opportunity and other hazards of manifesting a power, if applicable (for instance, he becomes visible when manifesting an offensive power if invisible, as does the psicrystal) Personally, I treat this the same way the 2nd level spell Spectral Hand works. Its the psion who gets the AoO. Bad guy can attack the Spectral Hand or the Psicrystal. Maybe the psicrystal is functioning as a weird metapsionic?
Lokiyn 10-25-07, 08:20 PM	Its a passive supernatural ability, there are quite a few abilities like this on several monsters, Abilities that are always active without needing actions from the monster that possesses them. In this case the abilities are Conditional, (Share powers, Deliver Touch powers, Channel Powers). Most of the other abilities are activated by the character and thus follow the "standard action unless stated otherwise general rule" These powers (abilities) activate in response to an action on the part of another (the owner). So when an owner manifests a power (say energy bolt) and chooses to channel powers, the psicrystal needs do nothing as the ability specifies no additional change to the manifestation except for origin point. In the case of Share powers, again this ability is a response to the manifestation of a power by the owner and as a passive response simply requires the conditions for use to be met, which is to say the owner manifests the power to be shared. Again deliver touch powers also is something that modifies a manifestation requireing no actions on the psicrystals part if the conditions are met. Off the top of my head an example of this is the Jovoc's retributive ability, When A happens B occurs with no actions on the part of the Jovoc