(c) Dr Paul Kinsler. [Acknowledgements & Feedback]

This material is intended to augment or improve the on the rules in the official manuals, which you will need to make sense of it; although I suppose you might find some of the ideas interesting anyway.

PSIONICS CLASS AND MODIFIED RULES Version 1.2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Ability Scores: Intelligence and charisma must be at least 9, and wisdom must be 12 or higher. Alignments: Any non chaotic Races: Humans, half-humans Starting Age: 15+1d8 Hit Dice: d6 per level, up to 9, then +1hp/level thereafter Spell Ability: None Armour & shields: (=) padded, leather, studded leather; small shield. Weapons: (=) short bow, sling, hand & light crossbow, dagger, club, dart, hand & throwing axe, sword (as thief), staff, horseman's mace, horseman's pick, scimitar, spear, war hammer. Proficiency's: (=) Weapon: 2(-4)/5 NWP: 3 /3 THACO: 20 (-1 per 3 levels) Saves: as 2ed Psionics. EXP Table: as 2ed Psionics Psi Points (PSP): (*) Wisdom + (10+MAA)*level + max(0, CHA+INT-25) Disciplines: (=) INT[ (level+6)/4 ] Sciences: (=) INT[ (level+1)/2 ] Devotions: (=) by level: 3, 5, 7, 9, +1 per extra level. NB: (=) means the characteristic is the same as the 2nd Edition class. (*) means the characteristic is different from the 2nd Edition class. USE OF PSIONICS: No contact is needed to use a psionic power (attack, science, or devotion) on a target. The 2ed attack and defence sciences and devotions are superseded: they are simply replaced with the new (telepathic) attack and defence devotions. At the beginning of a round, the actors simply declare the power to be used and their target. A psionic can only use a maximum of two powers in any given round. Further, only one of these may be an "active" power that requires concentration, the other can only be a "passive", defensive power. Psionics using an "active" type ability cannot also attack in melee or range combat. To determine whether any psionic power (devotion or science) affects a target, a psionic effect check (PEC) must be made. The psionic rolls a d20, adds their level of experience, the relevant stat bonus, and the power score modifier. In addition the contact power score modifiers for distance and life order are added. Note: For a power listed with a "power score" of (eg) WIS-3, the stat bonus is that for the psionicists wisdom, and the power score modifier is -3. Distance modifier = 2 x LOG_10(distance in miles) NB: minimum distance is 1 mile, but a target in line of sight has a zero modifier. Stat bonuses: 18 17 16 15 14 13-8 7 6 5 4 3 +4 +3 +2 +1 +1 +0 -1 -1 -2 -3 -4 Next, the target rolls a d20, adds their experience level, and the DN of their current defence mode (if they have one). If there is no target, it is the psionic, or it is inanimate or non-sentient, the "target" is assumed to roll 10. If the target is magical, for example a magical or clerical spell, or is protected by an appropriate spell, then the level of the spell (or the saving throw bonus it provides) is also added to this roll. If the psionic scores higher than the target, the power works normally. If the psionic rolls a natural 1, the negative effects listed in the 2ed rules occur. Equal scores means that PSP costs are doubled. If the psionic rolls a natural 20, and the power works, the extra "power score" effects listed in the 2ed rules come into effect. If an attempt to use power fails, the psionic gains a cumulative -2 to subsequent attempts to use that power against that target until 24 hours have passed. Example: Fredriech, a 4th level psionic with wisdom of 16 and constitution 9 attempts to use his "Mind over Body" (WIS-3) ability. He rolls 9 on 1d20, adds 4 due to his level, subtracts 3 (power score modifier), and adds 2 (wisdom stat bonus), there are no range modifiers, so the total is 12. The target is himself, so since 12 is greater than 10, the attempt succeeds. Next, he attempts to affect Fribblx the Lizardman with his "Double Pain" (CON-3) devotion. Fribblx rolls 16 on 1d20, but since he is not psionic he is unable to add any bonuses for psionic defences. Fredriech rolls 6, adds 4, subtracts 3 (power score modifier), adds 0 (stat bonus). The two are only 40 yards apart so there are no range modifiers, but since Fribblx is a reptile there is a life order modifier of -4, so Fredriech's total is only 3. Consequently his attempt fails miserably. Attack devotions (Telepathy) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AN: 1-12 Power Score Any one stat, +AN. Initial Cost 2*AN Maintenance na Range 10"+ Preparation Time 0 Area of Effect 1 creature Prerequisites maximum attack is AN equals level. Initiative modifier +0 There are six different attack forms, one for each character statistic. Each must be acquired as a separate power by the psionic. Psionics using this power to attack cannot also attack in melee combat, but they can defend. If an attack succeeds, calculate the total (AN+2-DN). If this number is greater than one, that many d6's of PSP's are drained from the target. Otherwise, only 1d6 PSP's are drained. If the target is non- psionic, or has no PSP's left, they lose 1d2 hp. If a psionic attacker rolls a natural 19 or 20, and also succeeds by 5, they can determine the defenders defence form. Further, if the attacking psionic rolled a natural 20, and the psionic effect check was made by more than 10, the target is stunned. They remain stunned until they make a saving throw vs poison, or until the end of AN rounds, whichever comes first. Stunned creatures never get initiative, and always make their saves at the end of the round. Stunned psionics may run their defense discipline, but nothing else. The psionic attack that reduces a defenders PSP total or hit point to below zero may have a longer term effect. The stat on which the psionic attackers attack is based is denoted aSTAT, and its value is denoted #aSTAT. The stat on which the defenders psionic defense is based is denoted dSTAT, and its value is denoted #dSTAT. For non- psionics, dSTAT is their wisdom. If the target of the psionic's attack is taken below -INT(#dSTAT/2) PSP's or hp, they temporarily suffer the loss of max(1, [AN/DN]) points from the stat specified by the attack devotion, regained at 1 point per day. Note that this only occurs as a result of the attack that takes the targets total below this threshold, and not for any subsequent attacks. If a defending psionic is taken from a positive PSP total to below -#dSTAT in a single attack, then max(1,3d6+AN-DN) point are lost from dSTAT. If the stat affected is wisdom, intelligence or charisma, then this reduction can affect their PSP total until the psionic has recovered. The psionic's maximum PSP's should then be recalculated daily until then. The maximum range of any attack is 10", for each extra 10" range add an extra 50% to the PSP cost. Note: if the DM thinks attack based on some stats, such as strength or constitution, are just silly, then they may disallow them. Defence devotion (Telepathy) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DN: 1-2 Mind Blank, 3-4 Thought Shield, 5-6 Mind Bar, 7-8 Intellect Fortress, 9-10 Tower of Iron Will. Power Score Any one stat, +20 Initial Cost DN Maintenance na Range 0", but see below. Preparation time 0 Area of Effect DN' radius. Prerequisites maximum DN is equal to level. Initiative modifier -10 There are six different defence forms, one for each character statistic. Each must be acquired as a separate power by the psionic. If a psionic defends with the devotion that uses the same stat as an attacking psionics attack devotion, they are immume from being either stunned or suffering stat drain due to that attack. If attacker fails by 5, the defender can either locate the attacker ("it's that guy!"), or determine the attack form used. Defence modes operate almost automatically (power score modifier +20) and instantaneously (initiative -10), so only rarely is a check needed. Operation of a psionic defense does not interfere with defending in melee combat. The defence can be extended to cover other creatures, but the strength (DN) falls off at -1 per 1 foot distance from the psionic. In addition, the defence for others has its own PSP cost. For example, Boris the level 10 psionic is running a Mind Bar (6), and extends his defence to cover Ivan. Ivan is standing only 2 feet away from Boris, and is therefore covered by a Thought Shield (4). To keep this defence up for one round, Boris must pay 6+4=10 PSP's. Psionic defences also affect the chances of mind affecting or mind reading spells being successfully cast on the protected individuals - who gain a bonus to their saving throws of +2xDN. In addition, if the spell normally has no save, then a save is possible - but the number required is 21. Note: if the DM thinks defences based on some stats, such as strength or constitution, are just silly, then they may disallow them.

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Date=20040523 Author=P.Kinsler Created=1992-ish

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