106 : Hooked on Psionics
Jan 24, 2017 1:34:39 GMT
joatmoniac, planeshifterixiaul, and 2 more like this
Post by blakeryan on Jan 24, 2017 1:34:39 GMT
Good ep.
Totally understand Rich's reservations, there have been a lot of hit and miss books produced in a variety of games for mind powarz/psionics/mentalism over the decades.
My thoughts...
Psychic Combat : Perfect chance for a game within a game, so your characters envision the fight as dragons playing poker, titans playing magic the gathering, or even flumph playing Jim McClure's Reflections-winner harnesses the most psychic energy. If you want to make it a recurring theme it could be like Sword Art Online where they are stuck in these new characters bodies, or like Assassins Creed where they visit it several times for an ongoing story.
Psionic Campaigns :
Scenario 1-Allow divine, arcane and psionics in your game, just use psionic creatures at least once per session as recurring villains for a strong theme. Some of the pcs are members of a Psion cabal brought into to deal with the Mind Flayers, Aboleth, Githyanki, Mi-Go & Shoggoth. They followed you home, keep them.
Scenario 2-No crossing the streams. You can have psionics, divine or arcane magic, but only one of these things. For a twist on this, the chosen one (7th Son of the 7th Son can wield 2 magic streams and has advantage to saves vs the other)
Scenario 3-Only Aberrations, Dwarves, Elves, Halflings & Humans can only learn Psionics. Demons, Devils, Dragons, Dragonborn, Elementals, Giants, Gnomes & Tieflings can only learn Arcane magic. Perhaps there is a covert war between Arcane Cabals and Psionic Covens?
Scenario 4-Fear of the Dark. DM Mitch went crazy on his pet Tarrasque-most of civiilsation was lost. Currently no caster above 5th, many items/temples/guilds and libraries where trashed. Allow divine, psionic & arcane, but it's all new and your mentors are only a few steps above you. Out thinking things is still vital.
Inserting a Style or Limitation on Psionics :
Option 1-It's like oxygen, you do it to much or two often, people around you do Wis saves or pass out. Too much psychic backlash. Of course you could do this to yourself as a last resort.
Option 2-It attracts friends. Aberration and Fey critters hear a loud dinner bell clanging away every time you use Psionics. Some want to chat. Some want to stay for dinner.
Option 3-Can I play with Madness? Each time you use Psionics in a stressful situation, roll Wis DC 14. Short term madness. If you pick up more than one Short term madness at the same time, Wis DC 14 for Long term madness.
Option 4-Operation Gemstone. Certain crystals are required to aid you in aligning your chakhra, focusing your ki or obscuring your aura. Some special crystals can augment the area of effect & range. Some even rarer still can act as foci for permanent items or portals to nether regions. For a twist on this, one guild is trying to get all the crystals from all their enemies and potential enemies so they can rule the world! (or atleast the Water gates
)
What about Psionics Campaign with no magic? Of course. Alchemist fire instead of Fireball, Medical Kits/Herbs instead of potions of Healing. Nets instead of entangle/black tentacles. You might as well go the whole hog and make it Steampunk+Psionics. So constructs, psion cabals and alchemists. Key thing to remember is don't charge in as there are no healing bots to fix you up every time.
Anyone who recognized the three Iron Maiden references in there is a champion!
Totally understand Rich's reservations, there have been a lot of hit and miss books produced in a variety of games for mind powarz/psionics/mentalism over the decades.
My thoughts...
Psychic Combat : Perfect chance for a game within a game, so your characters envision the fight as dragons playing poker, titans playing magic the gathering, or even flumph playing Jim McClure's Reflections-winner harnesses the most psychic energy. If you want to make it a recurring theme it could be like Sword Art Online where they are stuck in these new characters bodies, or like Assassins Creed where they visit it several times for an ongoing story.
Psionic Campaigns :
Scenario 1-Allow divine, arcane and psionics in your game, just use psionic creatures at least once per session as recurring villains for a strong theme. Some of the pcs are members of a Psion cabal brought into to deal with the Mind Flayers, Aboleth, Githyanki, Mi-Go & Shoggoth. They followed you home, keep them.
Scenario 2-No crossing the streams. You can have psionics, divine or arcane magic, but only one of these things. For a twist on this, the chosen one (7th Son of the 7th Son can wield 2 magic streams and has advantage to saves vs the other)
Scenario 3-Only Aberrations, Dwarves, Elves, Halflings & Humans can only learn Psionics. Demons, Devils, Dragons, Dragonborn, Elementals, Giants, Gnomes & Tieflings can only learn Arcane magic. Perhaps there is a covert war between Arcane Cabals and Psionic Covens?
Scenario 4-Fear of the Dark. DM Mitch went crazy on his pet Tarrasque-most of civiilsation was lost. Currently no caster above 5th, many items/temples/guilds and libraries where trashed. Allow divine, psionic & arcane, but it's all new and your mentors are only a few steps above you. Out thinking things is still vital.
Inserting a Style or Limitation on Psionics :
Option 1-It's like oxygen, you do it to much or two often, people around you do Wis saves or pass out. Too much psychic backlash. Of course you could do this to yourself as a last resort.
Option 2-It attracts friends. Aberration and Fey critters hear a loud dinner bell clanging away every time you use Psionics. Some want to chat. Some want to stay for dinner.
Option 3-Can I play with Madness? Each time you use Psionics in a stressful situation, roll Wis DC 14. Short term madness. If you pick up more than one Short term madness at the same time, Wis DC 14 for Long term madness.
Option 4-Operation Gemstone. Certain crystals are required to aid you in aligning your chakhra, focusing your ki or obscuring your aura. Some special crystals can augment the area of effect & range. Some even rarer still can act as foci for permanent items or portals to nether regions. For a twist on this, one guild is trying to get all the crystals from all their enemies and potential enemies so they can rule the world! (or atleast the Water gates
)What about Psionics Campaign with no magic? Of course. Alchemist fire instead of Fireball, Medical Kits/Herbs instead of potions of Healing. Nets instead of entangle/black tentacles. You might as well go the whole hog and make it Steampunk+Psionics. So constructs, psion cabals and alchemists. Key thing to remember is don't charge in as there are no healing bots to fix you up every time.
Anyone who recognized the three Iron Maiden references in there is a champion!
