Psionics Summary Document
Here’s a first crack at summarizing the psionics rules from 1E, including copies of the relevant tables. I will continue to update this throughout the week and we can make the necessary rolls at the beginning of next session for the newly endowed characters.
I looked over Richard LeBlanc’s system in his Basic Psionics Handbook and it is more stream-lined in terms of combat. However, I’m leaning towards going with the standard 1E system for now. Here’s a summary of the big changes in his system:
– One psionic attack each round (just after movement)
– Defense modes offer saving throw bonuses; there is no pool of defense points that must be worn-down (i.e., attacks can be effective from the get-go and means the guy with more points might not win as often)
– No difference in how psionic attacks on other psionic users and non-users are resolved (it’s all saving throws)
– Less deadly effects for psionic users who lose
The mastery level is interesting, though might be overpowered as written for Edan. He would have a Mastery Level of 13!?
Maybe … but only certain disciplines even reward mastery level and you can’t game the system since disciplines are random. Also, I need to add that the book only allows you to start with one minor discipline with the ability to gain your next after achieving two additional levels in your class(es). You would have to be very lucky to get something overpowered from the start.
I see – so despite our high level we’ll only be starting with 1 minor discipline?
Exactly — the rules peg mastery level to class level and discipline acquisition to class level advancement. (EDIT: I’ve added a bullet point about this issue to the document).
What about Major Disciplines (if we’re lucky enough to get one)?
The rules stipulate that you earn all your minor disciplines than the majors (I think the minimum before you could earn a major is five levels — two minors at current level and current+2 and a major at current+4).
24 values for minor disciplines, I read roll d12, d6 as d6 determines high (1 to 12) or low (13 to 24) twelve of 24. Agreed?
Also John Carlson, will disciplines/mastery be unlocked as if psionics since first level? It’s a long haul for Edan if not and no room for advancement for Sarrachino either way.
Rahm Benisaeko: the disciplines were unlocked at current level and that’s the beginning point for advancement (i.e., you start with one minor and go from there). EDIT: I think the intention of the rules here is that it takes time (i.e., level advancement) to train your mind and unlock new abilities. The strength of those abilities (i.e., your class level) via mastery level is a function of the inherent strength of mind granted from past experience (xp) of all types.
Regarding the rolling, you are correct about how the d12 and d6 are used.
I will note, though, that there is a Dragon magazine article the argues mastery level should be counted from when a discipline is learned (i.e., you can have different levels for different disciplines depending on when you get them). I think it’s a toss-up on which way is right — the PHB text is explicit, but some of the tables in the descriptions imply lower levels of mastery than possible based on that reading (unless you assume those lower levels are for monsters that use psionics).
John Carlson, taking time to train a character’s mind makes perfect sense in a RPG. But thematically, Edan with all his accomplishments and capabilities having a retarded progression compared to Chuq and Bellisonte seems nonsensical. I’m using retarded in the most crass, grammar school meaning. Since Chuq has reset his XP progression, he’ll move through disciplines in about a quarter or sixth of the game time Edan could.
What do you think of this scenario? Alessandro Bertolucci tracks his XP rewards in another separate ‘shadow’ amalgam class from this point forward. The shadow class levels are literally the average between thief and magicuser. Tracking only half of any XP rewards to the shadow class, Edan gains a psionics level after a weeks game time of earning enough shadow XP for any given amalgam level until he reaches his actual current Thief level. Shadow XP level tracking is then abandoned.
This way Edan’s psionics progression will progress closer to Chuq’s in game time.
Rahm Benisaeko in counterpoint you could argue that Chuqs monastic training would be a reason for faster progression than Edan, as he’d have to overcome years of canonical rigid magical training.
That said I’m not too concerned about Mastery Levels… They’re not critical for the majority of disciplines.
EDIT : if we go with a 3d class option, we could use the progression for Psion?
Yeah, I had considered that story point for Chuq Alessandro Bertolucci. But Chuq is less the Renaissance man Edan is, know what I mean?
Yes, Edan is supposed to be an Indiana Jones type character, so Renaissance Man fits.
The more I think about it, the 3d class option isn’t a bad idea. Edan will hit max MU level at 8 (he’s 15k away from 7th), while he can go on as a thief. However there is no 1e class for Psion (that I know of) maybe use the Monk progression without any of the benefits of that class?
I thought Edan was already maxed as a MU because of his intelligence? I remember for Thorfus, John Carlson decided not to use UA class level limits.
According to the PHB, ” magic-user (maximum of 8th level),” but the UA and some other online sources max him out at 7th.
8th level with 18 INT. Max level 7 with 17 INT, max level 6 with 16 or below INT. Footnote 7, CHARACTER RACE TABLE II: CLASS LEVEL LIMITATIONS, page 14 PHB. UA adjusted the limits to 7th level for 17 INT and below and 8th level for 18 INT and above.
Then yeah, Edan has maxed out MU… (crap, thought he had one more level)
Sounds like someone needs an intelligence boost — maybe telling Jagger the cloning ship’s location isn’t a terrible idea?
Never. Jagger will get his due. Edan will likely take on another challenge (psionics suddenly looks interesting)