Author Topic: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook  (Read 55007 times)

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Lycanthromancer

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #20 on: December 01, 2010, 04:22:50 PM »
for earth power you only need to be focused and on stone or unworked earth, which means any where not in a town or standing on the rock you carry with you if you want to get cheesy. The only restriction racially is you can't have the aquatic subtype when you pick up earth sense. Minimum level if you can break the economy or steal a torc is lvl 1 for a human or if flaws are used.
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Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
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shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
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kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #21 on: December 01, 2010, 04:53:13 PM »
I'm trying to come up with a name for the tricks you can do with Linked Power.  Tentatively, I'm calling it "The Loose Limits of Linked Power".  As far as I can tell, you can link a first level power to a higher level power to avoid high XP costs, manifesting times, or both.  Are there any other tricks out there with Linked Power?  Can anyone come up with a better name for the trick?

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #22 on: December 01, 2010, 05:19:34 PM »
The feat says nothing about XP costs so I, for one, assume that they're still in effect. However, it explicitly says that the power you Link to goes off in the following round, so it's a great way to avoid long manifesting times.

This is a good way to manifest astral constructs, especially if you take Metapower (Linked Power + astral construct). It's also the best buffing feat in the game, since it allows psionic gishes (psychic warriors especially) to buff without using up all of their in-combat actions. Swifts aren't used for much outside of casters, manifesters, and initiators, so grab a swift-action power, Link it to your other buffs, and go to town.

Can anyone come up with a better name for the trick?
Legend of MetaPsionics: A Link to the Power?

...I got nothin'.
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

rasmuswagner

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #23 on: December 01, 2010, 07:33:00 PM »
Power Storing arrows/bolts/shuriken. It's the old Spell Storing trick, use-activated 3rd level spell for 166 gp, but for psionics. But here's where it gets interesting:

Page 242 of the MiC implicitly forbids Spell Storing ranged weapons. But Power Storing is explicitly allowed.

archangel.arcanis

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #24 on: December 01, 2010, 07:41:13 PM »
Power Storing arrows/bolts/shuriken. It's the old Spell Storing trick, use-activated 3rd level spell for 166 gp, but for psionics. But here's where it gets interesting:

Page 242 of the MiC implicitly forbids Spell Storing ranged weapons. But Power Storing is explicitly allowed.
I had to double check how power storing works. If it only said 3rd level power it would have been awesome, but alas it is limited to 5pp. I guess that makes it useful in you grab a batch of 50 power storing arrows and a batch of 50 manifester arrows and you are golden.
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kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #25 on: December 02, 2010, 08:37:38 PM »
Power Storing arrows/bolts/shuriken. It's the old Spell Storing trick, use-activated 3rd level spell for 166 gp, but for psionics. But here's where it gets interesting:

Page 242 of the MiC implicitly forbids Spell Storing ranged weapons. But Power Storing is explicitly allowed.

I'm not familiar with the old Spell Storing trick, would you mind laying it out for me?

Also, I added the Share Pain/Vigor combo (which I have tentatively named The Masochistic Crystal).

Edit: As I want this to be a sort of clearinghouse for Psionic Tactics, Tricks, and Combos, should I add a builds section with a brief rundown of some of the iconic builds (namely the Psionic Sandwich, The Big Guy is with Me, Tiny von BigMcLargeHuge, the Chrono Legionnaire, etc.)?  I know it took me a while to get a feel for how the Chrono Legionnaire works (read: it took me several rereadings of Tleilaxu_Ghola and Radical Taoist's post detailing the build), so maybe a step-by-step rundown would benefit other players new to these ideas?

Also, are the Neo-Trancer and Chrono Legionnaire separate builds?
« Last Edit: December 02, 2010, 09:23:11 PM by kalaskaagathas »

jameswilliamogle

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #26 on: December 03, 2010, 12:40:23 AM »
Linked Power + Synchronicity + Metapower (both), from Level 1: Manifest Synchronicity as normal, giving an easy-to-activate command, link it to an augmentable power.  Since the net cost of Synchronicity is -1, you get an extra power point of augmentation possible out of the linked power, since its only the total of the two power which are limited by your level (-1 + 1 = 0, can augment 1 more to 1 at 1st level).  You still get your standard action when you activate it.  Manifesting a level 1 power in this manner is free if you don't augment it, and have the psionic focus to spend.  Works great at 1st level with Vigor and any of the AC buffs.

Linked Power + Linked Power + Synchronicity + Metapower (only possible with an extra focus; psicrystal affinity and psicrystal containment), level 3 (human), 5 (pure psion), or 6 (non-pure psion): Weirdly, psionics allow the same metapsionic feat to be used on the same power more than once, so you get the same thing as above but with a net -3 cost, allowing up to 3 more power points spent towards augmentation.

Linked Power + long manifesting time powers: The power that goes off the following round "just goes off", not requiring the full manifestation time.  Expect a DM to nerf it as soon as you try this.

Linked Power + expensive XP powers: Again, it never mentions paying the cost of these components.  Again, expect a DM to nerf it ASAP.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2010, 10:13:27 AM by jameswilliamogle »

Emo_Duck

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #27 on: December 03, 2010, 12:48:47 AM »
Reading the You Squared trick, I started pondering shenanigans involving Bestow Power, a psicrystal and its Share Powers feature. Unfortunately, Affinity Field doesn't work the way I thought it did, but it did turn into another idea which I'm gonna brainstorm here. Please do tell me if I'm getting something wrong, 'cause I think I'll use this myself to great dramatic effect once I reach the required level in a current game.

Minimum Level: 17

You need:
1) The Affinity Field power
2) To have at least two 3rd level psions following your will. Thrallherd or Leadership will do.
3) The Telekinetic Sphere, Psionic power
4) The Burrowing Power feat
5) Maybe an item that boosts Psicraft a smidgen, depending on your Intelligence.

Method:
Have your psion cohorts stand next to you, then manifest Telekinetic Sphere, then Affinity Field. Using the Burrowing Power feat, you are now protected and free to wreak mental havoc upon your surroundings, provided you can consistently make the DC 31 Psicraft check to manifest out of your Telekinetic Sphere. In the mean-time, your underlings spend all their turns manifesting Bestow Power on you to the best of their ability. Due to Affinity Field, they will each receive 2 PP for each time Bestow Power is manifested on you; if they both spend 3 PP to give you 2 PP, they'll receive a net return of 1 PP per round while giving you 4. The more cohorts you can fit in the sphere, and the higher level they are, the higher the rate of PP replenishment will be.

Combine with Solicit Psicrystal to keep moving while tossing out Tornado Blasts or whatever you like.

I'mma call it the Psychic Dreadnought or something.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2010, 05:25:21 PM by Emo_Duck »

Endarire

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #28 on: December 03, 2010, 06:50:42 AM »
Tell me if these count:
-Astral Construct Mega Armor (ACMA)
-Astral Construct Mobile Entrapment (ACME)

Minimum Manifester Level: 1 for Small or smaller creatures, 3 for Medium or smaller, 9 for Large or smaller, and 17 for Huge or smaller.

(Source)
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Speaking of which:
Don't even need TO for this.  Any decent Hood build, especially one with Celerity, one-rounds [Azathoth, the most powerful greater deity from d20 Cthulu].
Does it bug anyone else that we've reached the point where characters who can obliterate a greater deity in one round are considered "decent?"

kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #29 on: December 03, 2010, 03:33:45 PM »
Tell me if these count:
-Astral Construct Mega Armor (ACMA)
-Astral Construct Mobile Entrapment (ACME)

Minimum Manifester Level: 1 for Small or smaller creatures, 3 for Medium or smaller, 9 for Large or smaller, and 17 for Huge or smaller.

(Source)

Definitely, I'll add them today.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #30 on: December 03, 2010, 03:36:45 PM »
Reading the You Squared trick, I started pondering shenanigans involving Bestow Power, a psicrystal and its Share Powers feature. Unfortunately, Affinity Field doesn't work the way I thought it did, but it did turn into another idea which I'm gonna brainstorm here. Please do tell me if I'm getting something wrong, 'cause I think I'll use this myself to great dramatic effect once I reach the required level in a current game.

Minimum Level: 17

You need:
1) The Affinity Field power
2) To have at least two 3rd level psions following your will. Thrallherd or Leadership will do.
3) The Telekinetic Sphere, Psionic power
4) The Burrowing Power feat
5) Maybe an item that boosts Psicraft a smidgen, depending on your Intelligence.

Method:
Have your psion cohorts stand next to you, then manifest Telekinetic Sphere, then Affinity Field. Using the Burrowing Power feat, you are now protected and free to wreak mental havoc upon your surroundings, provided you can consistently make the DC 31 Psicraft check to manifest out of your Telekinetic Sphere. In the mean-time, your underlings spend all their turns manifesting Bestow Power on you to the best of their ability. Due to Affinity Field, they will each receive 2 PP for each time Bestow Power is manifested on you; if they both spend 3 PP to give you 2 PP, they'll receive a net return of 1 PP per round while giving you 4. The more cohorts you can fit in the sphere, and the higher level they are, the higher the rate of PP replenishment will be.

Combine with Solicit Psicrystal to keep moving while tossing out Tornado Blasts or whatever you like.

I'mma call it the Psychic Dreadnought or something.
Holy crap... If Eddie ever reaches the level where he can pull this off, I'm gonna do it. :D
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kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #31 on: December 03, 2010, 04:49:46 PM »
Reading the You Squared trick, I started pondering shenanigans involving Bestow Power, a psicrystal and its Share Powers feature. Unfortunately, Affinity Field doesn't work the way I thought it did, but it did turn into another idea which I'm gonna brainstorm here. Please do tell me if I'm getting something wrong, 'cause I think I'll use this myself to great dramatic effect once I reach the required level in a current game.

Minimum Level: 17

You need:
1) The Affinity Field power
2) To have at least two 3rd level psions following your will. Thrallherd or Leadership will do.
3) The Telekinetic Sphere, Psionic power
4) The Burrowing Power feat
5) Maybe an item that boosts Psicraft a smidgen, depending on your Intelligence.

Method:
Have your psion cohorts stand next to you, then manifest Telekinetic Sphere, then Affinity Field. Using the Burrowing Power feat, you are now protected and free to wreak mental havoc upon your surroundings, provided you can consistently make the DC 31 Psicraft check to manifest out of your Telekinetic Sphere. In the mean-time, your underlings spend all their turns manifesting Bestow Power on you to the best of their ability. Due to Affinity Field, they will each receive 2 PP for each time Bestow Power is manifested on you; if they both spend 3 PP to give you 2 PP, they'll receive a net return of 1 PP per round while giving you 4. The more cohorts you can fit in the sphere, and the higher level they are, the higher the rate of PP replenishment will be.

Combine with Solicit Psicrystal to keep moving while tossing out Tornado Blasts or whatever you like.

I'mma call it the Psychic Dreadnought or something.

I'll write it up.

kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #32 on: December 03, 2010, 06:29:56 PM »
Added the Psionic Dreadnought writeup.  Should I add a link to the King of Smack?

Also, would anyone care to weigh in on whether or not Midnight Augmentation works more than 1/day?  There's been some disagreement about it on the GitP thread.  I figure, even if there is a limit, Psycarnum Infusion gets us around it.  Is that correct?
« Last Edit: December 03, 2010, 06:36:14 PM by kalaskaagathas »

Echoes

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #33 on: December 03, 2010, 06:54:27 PM »
Added the Psionic Dreadnought writeup.  Should I add a link to the King of Smack?

Also, would anyone care to weigh in on whether or not Midnight Augmentation works more than 1/day?  There's been some disagreement about it on the GitP thread.  I figure, even if there is a limit, Psycarnum Infusion gets us around it.  Is that correct?

Midnight Augmentation works all day long, it's just that normally you can only invest essentia & choose a power 1/day. Now, if you choose something you'll use all the time, it's still really good (how's a level 9 astral construct at 10th level sound? Now do that all day long).

The part which people argue about is whether Psycarnum Infusion bypasses the "invest essentia" portion and thus the 1 power per day limit, which lets you activate Psycarnum Infusion and spontaneously choose a power to use with Midnight Augmentation. Under this model, for the cost of 2 psionic focuses, you can spontaneously reduce the augment cost of whichever power you're manifesting right now. Then you can do it again with another power once you've refocused. That takes it from "really good" to "oh fuck yes!" in terms of power.

If someone is arguing that you can only get the augment reduction 1/day, then they're just plain wrong.
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kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #34 on: December 03, 2010, 06:58:22 PM »
That's what I thought.  Ok, the trick still works then.

Edit: Oh and I've added ACMA and ACME.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2010, 10:07:55 PM by kalaskaagathas »

jameswilliamogle

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #35 on: December 04, 2010, 01:43:03 PM »
Retrieve + Remote Viewing: Steal anything.  From anywhere. :D

kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #36 on: December 04, 2010, 03:57:32 PM »
What do you wanna call it?

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #37 on: December 04, 2010, 04:08:19 PM »
What do you wanna call it?
Hey-I-Can't-Find-The-Remote-Oh-There-It-Is
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

jameswilliamogle

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #38 on: December 04, 2010, 04:57:39 PM »
What do you wanna call it?
Hey-I-Can't-Find-The-Remote-Oh-There-It-Is
YES!  Or, Carmen San Diego. 

kalaskaagathas

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Re: Brainstorming thread for a Psionic Tricks Handbook
« Reply #39 on: December 04, 2010, 05:16:39 PM »
What do you wanna call it?
Hey-I-Can't-Find-The-Remote-Oh-There-It-Is
YES!  Or, Carmen San Diego.  

I like it, Carmen San Diego it is.

Edit: Hmm, I can't seem to find the Retrieve power description.  It's in Complete Psionic, right?

Further Edit: It's listed in Complete Psionic, but no description is given.  Good thing it's in the Expanded Psionics Handbook.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2010, 05:23:31 PM by kalaskaagathas »