Grappler- how to deal with psionics? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Grappler- how to deal with psionics?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
aikimiller
Apr 14, 2008 7:53:45 Hello,

I've come asking for help. I've got a chance to play in an arena game, and I've decided to go with a grappling character. I've got him all statted out, my only worry is psionics.

I am completely unfamiliar with psionics, but the DM is allowing them. Can a grappled character manifest psionic powers? How about if he's pinned? And if so, how do I stop them?

edit: oh, freedom of movement isn't a problem- the DM has disallowed any spell/power greater than 3rd lvl, as well as anything that duplicates one. Level 8, gestalt.
#2
amadithegreat
Apr 14, 2008 11:07:58 Psionics, meh. I'd be worried about wizards with abrupt jaunt variant class feature, they can just get away from your grapple. At immediate action.

Dealing with psionics is 'meh'. They are so versatile that they can do just about everything, arbeit the powers of level lower than 4 limits them a lot. Then again, assuming you have no PR, if they succeed at touch attack they can entangle you, and you're screwed.

If you can get to grappling though, it gets lot easier. They can manifest, yes, but unless they have Unconditional Power, they need to take concentration checks.
#3
orenmir
Apr 14, 2008 12:11:24 Fight fire with fire! IMO, the best grappler is a Monk/PsyWar with Tashalatora. Expansion, Grip of Iron, and Strength of My Enemy all buff grappling and they're only level 1 & 2 powers.

Anyway, decent casters have ways to cast even while grappling or pinned. Manifesters can simply do it a little more easily. To fend off either, try to find ways to make saves -- gear can do it, a dip into Warblade can give you Moment of Perfect Mind.

After you succeed the save rolls, focus on finishing them off quickly, like any optimized grappler would do. Don't worry about pinning, they're not going to even attempt to escape because they know they can't with a grapple check. They'll just continue to manifest while grappling - it only takes a concentration check (DC 20 + power level) to do so.
#4
phaedrusxy
Apr 14, 2008 12:36:09 It is very difficult to completely stop someone from being able to manifest. They do have to make a concentration check to manifest while grappled, but being pinned/silenced means nothing. I'd suggest that after you get them in a grapple, you ready an action to damage them with a grapple check if they start to manifest something.

Make sure you talk to the DM about this and he isn't giving psionics an inadvertent boost by saying you can't ready against them because they have no components (and hence you don't know when they manifest if the supress their displays).
#5
vicen_korel
Apr 14, 2008 12:38:09 If you are a monk just beat them about the head until they stop thinking.

(use stunning fist).
#6
reis
Apr 14, 2008 12:41:45 best bet is to get a custom item of antimagic field, assuming your campaign uses psi/magic transparency, that suppresses psionics and freedom of movement as well as abrupt jaunt

as with most arena games, we need to know more about the arena area itself and the rules of the match
#7
bluedsteel
Apr 14, 2008 16:10:59
best bet is to get a custom item of antimagic field, assuming your campaign uses psi/magic transparency, that suppresses psionics and freedom of movement as well as abrupt jaunt

At level 8? Even though gestalt, I think not.
#8
ithamar
Apr 14, 2008 16:17:03 Heh, I'm pretty sure that I'm the DM in question for this arena.

Antimagic field is banned as it is too high of level. Basically the arena is set up to give melee types a fighting chance against the caster / manifester types. We all know wizards are god if they want to be, but at least the spell / power limitation stops them from being uberdieties.

Basically the arena starts at level 8, 38 PB, and you have to have at least +4 LA / HD on one side of the gestalt. (Its meant to have a monster bash kind of feel to it.) Lots of sources are allowed, but it is not "anything goes" as that just gets too crazy. There are 4 fights per day after which, win or lose, you level up. You gain some GP between fights, and "normal" level up GP to bring you up to the standard wealth guidelines.

That's it in a nutshell. I'd link to the arena forum, but I'm not sure if that would be breaking any rules or whatnot since it is a different website (Mythweavers).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 aikimiller Apr 14, 2008 7:53:45	Hello, I've come asking for help. I've got a chance to play in an arena game, and I've decided to go with a grappling character. I've got him all statted out, my only worry is psionics. I am completely unfamiliar with psionics, but the DM is allowing them. Can a grappled character manifest psionic powers? How about if he's pinned? And if so, how do I stop them? edit: oh, freedom of movement isn't a problem- the DM has disallowed any spell/power greater than 3rd lvl, as well as anything that duplicates one. Level 8, gestalt.
#2 amadithegreat Apr 14, 2008 11:07:58	Psionics, meh. I'd be worried about wizards with abrupt jaunt variant class feature, they can just get away from your grapple. At immediate action. Dealing with psionics is 'meh'. They are so versatile that they can do just about everything, arbeit the powers of level lower than 4 limits them a lot. Then again, assuming you have no PR, if they succeed at touch attack they can entangle you, and you're screwed. If you can get to grappling though, it gets lot easier. They can manifest, yes, but unless they have Unconditional Power, they need to take concentration checks.
#3 orenmir Apr 14, 2008 12:11:24	Fight fire with fire! IMO, the best grappler is a Monk/PsyWar with Tashalatora. Expansion, Grip of Iron, and Strength of My Enemy all buff grappling and they're only level 1 & 2 powers. Anyway, decent casters have ways to cast even while grappling or pinned. Manifesters can simply do it a little more easily. To fend off either, try to find ways to make saves -- gear can do it, a dip into Warblade can give you Moment of Perfect Mind. After you succeed the save rolls, focus on finishing them off quickly, like any optimized grappler would do. Don't worry about pinning, they're not going to even attempt to escape because they know they can't with a grapple check. They'll just continue to manifest while grappling - it only takes a concentration check (DC 20 + power level) to do so.
#4 phaedrusxy Apr 14, 2008 12:36:09	It is very difficult to completely stop someone from being able to manifest. They do have to make a concentration check to manifest while grappled, but being pinned/silenced means nothing. I'd suggest that after you get them in a grapple, you ready an action to damage them with a grapple check if they start to manifest something. Make sure you talk to the DM about this and he isn't giving psionics an inadvertent boost by saying you can't ready against them because they have no components (and hence you don't know when they manifest if the supress their displays).
#5 vicen_korel Apr 14, 2008 12:38:09	If you are a monk just beat them about the head until they stop thinking. (use stunning fist).
#6 reis Apr 14, 2008 12:41:45	best bet is to get a custom item of antimagic field, assuming your campaign uses psi/magic transparency, that suppresses psionics and freedom of movement as well as abrupt jaunt as with most arena games, we need to know more about the arena area itself and the rules of the match
#7 bluedsteel Apr 14, 2008 16:10:59	best bet is to get a custom item of antimagic field, assuming your campaign uses psi/magic transparency, that suppresses psionics and freedom of movement as well as abrupt jaunt At level 8? Even though gestalt, I think not.
#8 ithamar Apr 14, 2008 16:17:03	Heh, I'm pretty sure that I'm the DM in question for this arena. Antimagic field is banned as it is too high of level. Basically the arena is set up to give melee types a fighting chance against the caster / manifester types. We all know wizards are god if they want to be, but at least the spell / power limitation stops them from being uberdieties. Basically the arena starts at level 8, 38 PB, and you have to have at least +4 LA / HD on one side of the gestalt. (Its meant to have a monster bash kind of feel to it.) Lots of sources are allowed, but it is not "anything goes" as that just gets too crazy. There are 4 fights per day after which, win or lose, you level up. You gain some GP between fights, and "normal" level up GP to bring you up to the standard wealth guidelines. That's it in a nutshell. I'd link to the arena forum, but I'm not sure if that would be breaking any rules or whatnot since it is a different website (Mythweavers).