Psionic powers spring from sentient minds. Even an undead creature or a being that has no physical form can create a reserve of inner strength necessary to manifest powers, as long as it has an Intelligence score of at least 1. Vermin possessed of a hive mind ability are an exception to this rule.
A psionic power is a one-time psionic effect. Psionic characters and creatures need not prepare their powers for use ahead of time. They either have sufficient power points to manifest a power or they do not.
A power is manifested when a psionic character pays its power point cost. Some psionic creatures automatically manifest powers, called psi-like abilities, without paying a power point cost. Other creatures pay power points to manifest their powers, just as characters do.
Each power has a specific effect. A power known to a psionic character can be used whenever he or she has power points to pay for it.
All psionic powers are grouped into seven different categories called disciplines, representing seven general themes of powers. This chapter describes the differences between the disciplines. In addition, it discusses how powers work, gives an overview of the format of power descriptions, explains how psionics works between psionic beings and against non-pionic targets, and discusses what happens when psionic effects combine with other psionics and with magic.
The second part of the chapter discusses the topic of the psionic campaign and ways to integrate psionics into your game world.
MANIFESTING POWERS[]
Psionic characters and creatures manifest powers. Whether they cost power points when manifest by a psionic character, or are manifested as psi-like abilities, powers’ effects remain the same.
The process of manifesting a power is akin to casting a spell, but with significant differences.
Manifesting powers follows the same rules as casting spells to determine attacks of opportunity.
Choosing A Power[]
First you must choose which power to manifest. You can select any power you know, provided you are capable of manifesting powers of that level or higher. To manifest a power, you must pay power points, which count against your daily total. You can manifest the same power multiple times if you have points left to pay for it.
Concentration[]
To manifest a power, you must concentrate. If something threatens to interrupt your concentration while you’re manifesting a power, you must succeed on a concentration check or lose the power points without manifesting the power. The more distracting the interruption and the higher the level of the power that you are trying to manifest, the higher the DC. (Higher-level powers require more mental effort.) When you make a concentration check, you roll d20 and add your manifester level and the ability score modifier used to determine bonus power points for that class.
Injury: Getting hurt or being affected by hostile psionics while trying to manifest a power can break your concentration and ruin a power. If you take damage while trying to manifest a power, you must make a concentration check (DC 10 + points of damage taken + the level of the power you’re manifesting). The interrupting event strikes during manifestation if it occurs between when you start and when you complete manifesting a power (for a power with a manifesting time of 1 round or longer) or if it comes in response to your manifesting the power (such as an attack of opportunity provoked by the manifesting of the power or a contingent attack from a readied action).
If you are taking continuous damage, half the damage is considered to take place while you are manifesting a power. You must make a concentration check (DC 10 + 1/2 the damage that the continuous source last dealt + the level of the power you’re manifesting). If the last damage dealt was the last damage that the effect could deal then the damage is over, and it does not distract you.
Repeated damage does not count as continuous damage.
Power: If you are affected by a power while attempting to manifest a power of your own, you must make a concentration check or lose the power you are manifesting. If the power affecting you deals damage, the concentration DC is 10 + the damage taken + the level of the power you’re manifesting. If the power interferes with you or distracts you in some other way, the concentration DC is the power’s save DC + the level of the power you’re manifesting. For a power with no saving throw, it’s the DC that the power’s saving throw would have if a save were allowed (10 + power level + manifester’s ability score).
To manifest a power while grappling or pinned, you must make a concentration check (DC 10 + the grappler’s CMB + the level of the power you’re casting) or lose the power.
If you are riding on a moving mount, taking a bouncy ride in a wagon, on a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a storm-tossed ship, or simply being jostled in a similar fashion, you must make a concentration check (DC 10 + the level of the power you’re manifesting) or lose the power.
If you are on a galloping horse, taking a very rough ride in a wagon, on a small boat in rapids or in a storm, on deck in a storm-tossed ship, or being tossed roughly about in a similar fashion, you must make a concentration check (DC 15 + the level of the power you’re manifesting) or lose the power.
If you are in a high wind carrying blinding rain or sleet, the DC is 5 + the level of the power you’re manifesting. If you are in wind-driven hail, dust, or debris, the DC is 10 + the level of the power you’re manifesting. In either case, you lose the power if you fail the concentration check. If the weather is caused by a power, use the rules in the Power subsection above.
If you want to manifest a power without provoking attacks of opportunity, you need to dodge and weave. You must make a concentration check (DC 15 + double the level of the power you’re manifesting) to succeed. You lose the power points without successful manifestation if you fail.
If you want to manifest a power while entangled in a net or while affected by a power with similar effects you must make a DC 15 concentration check to manifest the power. You lose the power if you fail.
Manifester Level[]
The variables of a power’s effect often depend on its manifester level, which for most manifesting characters is equal to your psionic class level. A power that can be augmented for additional effect is also limited by your manifester level (you can’t spend more power points on a power than your manifester level). See Augment under Descriptive Text, below.
You can manifest a power at a lower manifester level than normal, but the manifester level must be high enough for you to manifest the power in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same manifester level.
In the event that a class feature or other special ability provides an adjustment to your manifester level, this adjustment applies not only to all effects based on manifester level (such as range, duration, and augmentation potential) but also to your manifester level check to overcome your target’s power resistance and to the manifester level used in dispel checks (both the dispel check and the DC of the check).
Power Failure[]
If you try to manifest a power in conditions where the characteristics of the power (range, area, and so on) cannot be made to conform, the manifestation fails and the power points are wasted.
Powers also fail if your concentration is broken (see Concentration, above).
The Power’s Result[]
Once you know which creatures (or objects or areas) are affected, and whether those creatures have made successful saving throws (if any were allowed), you can apply whatever results a power entails.
Special Power Effects[]
Certain special features apply to all powers.
Some powers refer to attacking. All offensive combat actions, even those that don’t damage opponents, such as disarm and bull rush, are considered attacks. Attempts to channel energy count as attacks if it would harm any creatures in the area. All powers that opponents can resist with saving throws that deal damage, or that otherwise harm or hamper subjects are considered attacks. Astral construct and similar powers are not considered attacks because the powers themselves don’t harm anyone.
Many powers give creatures bonuses to ability scores, Armor Class, attacks, and other attributes. Each bonus has a type that indicates how the power grants the bonus. The important aspect of bonus types is that two bonuses of the same type don’t generally stack. With the exception of dodge bonuses, most circumstance bonuses, and racial bonuses, only the better bonus works (see Combining Psionic and Magical Effects, below). The same principle applies to penalties—a character taking two or more penalties of the same type applies only the worst one. Bonuses without a type always stack, unless they are from the same source.
Of all the psionic powers, only reality revision has the ability to restore slain characters to life (although psionic revivify can perform a similar function if done quickly). When a living creature dies, its soul departs the body, leaves the Material Plane, travels through the Astral Plane, and goes to abide on the plane where the creature’s deity resides. If the creature did not worship a deity, its soul departs to the plane corresponding to its alignment. Bringing someone back from the dead means retrieving his or her soul and returning it to his or her body.
Negative Level: Any creature brought back to life usually gains one or more permanent negative levels. These levels apply a penalty to most rolls until removed through spells such as restoration. If the character was 1st level at the time of death, he loses 2 points of Constitution instead of gaining a negative level.
Preventing Revivification: Enemies can take steps to make it more difficult for a character to be returned from the dead. Keeping the body prevents others from using a single manifestation of reality revision to restore the slain character to life.
Revivification Against One’s Will: A soul cannot be returned to life if it does not wish to be. A soul knows the name, alignment, and patron deity (if any) of the character attempting to revive it and may refuse to return on that basis.
Combining Psionic And Magical Effects[]
The default rule for the interaction of psionics and magic is simple: Powers interact with spells and spells interact with powers in the same way a spell or normal spell-like ability interacts with another spell or spell-like ability. This is known as psionics–magic transparency.
Psionics–Magic Transparency: Though not explicitly called out in the spell descriptions or magic item descriptions, spells, spell-like abilities, and magic items that could potentially affect psionics do affect psionics. When the rule about psionics–magic transparency is in effect, it has the following ramifications.
Spell resistance is effective against powers, using the same mechanics. Likewise, power resistance is effective against spells, using the same mechanics as spell resistance. If a creature has one kind of resistance, it is assumed to have the other. (The effects have similar ends despite having been brought about by different means.)
All spells that dispel magic have equal effect against powers of the same level using the same mechanics, and vice versa.
The spell detect magic detects powers, their number, and their strength and location within 3 rounds (though a Spellcraft check is necessary to identify the discipline of the psionic aura), while detect psionics detects spells, their number, and their strength and location within 3 rounds (though a Spellcraft check is necessary to identify the school of magic).
Dead magic areas are also dead psionics areas. Unless specifically mentioned in a power’s description, a power cannot be counterspelled when it is being manifested, nor can powers be used to counterspell a spell as it is being cast.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, feats such as metamagic feats that specifically affect spells do not affect powers, and feats such as metapsionic feats that specifically affect powers do not affect spells.
Powers or psionic effects usually work as described no matter how many other powers, psionic effects, spells, or magical effects happen to be operating in the same area or on the same recipient. Except in special cases, a power does not affect the way another power or spell operates. Whenever a power has a specific effect on other powers or spells, the power description explains the effect (and vice versa for spells that affect powers). Several other general rules apply when powers, spells, magical effects, or psionic effects operate in the same place.
Powers that provide bonuses or penalties on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and other attributes usually do not stack with themselves. More generally, two bonuses of the same type don’t stack even if they come from different powers, or one from a power and one from a spell. You use whichever bonus gives you the better result.
Different Bonus Types: The bonuses or penalties from two different powers, or a power and a spell, stack if the effects are of different types. A bonus that isn’t named (just a “+2 bonus” rather than a “+2 insight bonus”) stacks with any bonus.
Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths: In cases when two or more similar or identical effects are operating in the same area or on the same target, but at different strengths, only the best one applies. If one power or spell is dispelled or its duration runs out, the other power or spell remains in effect (assuming its duration has not yet expired).
Same Effect with Differing Results: The same power or spell can sometimes produce varying effects if applied to the same recipient more than once. The last effect in a series trumps the others. None of the previous spells or powers are actually removed or dispelled, but their effects become irrelevant while the final spell or power in the series lasts.
One Effect Makes Another Irrelevant: Sometimes, a power can render another power irrelevant.
Multiple Mental Control Effects: Sometimes psionic or magical effects that establish mental control render one another irrelevant. Mental controls that don’t remove the recipient’s ability to act usually do not interfere with one another, though one may modify another. If a creature is under the control of two or more creatures, it tends to obey each to the best of its ability, and to the extent of the control each effect allows. If the controlled creature receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the competing controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which one the creature obeys.
Powers and spells with opposite effects apply normally, with all bonuses, penalties, or changes accruing in the order that they apply. Some powers and spells negate or counter each other. This is a special effect that is noted in a power’s or spell’s description.
Instantaneous Effects: Two or more magical or psionic effects with instantaneous durations work cumulatively when they affect the same object, place, or creature.
POWER DESCRIPTIONS[]
The description of each power is presented in a standard format. Each category of information is explained and defined below.
Name[]
The first line of every power description gives the name by which the power is generally known. A power might be known by other names in some locales, and specific manifesters might have names of their own for their powers.
Discipline (Subdiscipline)[]
Beneath the power name is a line giving the discipline (and the subdiscipline in parentheses, if appropriate) that the power belongs to.
Every power is associated with one of seven disciplines. A discipline is a group of related powers that work in similar ways. Each of the disciplines is discussed below.
Athanatism[]
Athanatism extends the power of the mind over departed spirits, allowing its practitioners untold control over them, but also the ability to travel into the lands of the dead.
(Editor's Note: Though not stated in the source material, it may be assumed that, for the purpose of psionics-magic transparency, athanatism powers are equivalent to spells of the necromancy school, due to the themes and abilities of the powers found within the discipline.)
Clairsentience[]
Clairsentience powers enable you to learn secrets long forgotten, to glimpse the immediate future and predict the far future, to find hidden objects, and to know what is normally unknowable.
For the purpose of psionics–magic transparency, clairsentience powers are equivalent to powers of the divination school (thus, creatures immune to divination spells are also immune to clairsentience powers).
Many clairsentience powers have cone-shaped areas. These move with you and extend in the direction you look. The cone defines the area that you can sweep each round. If you study the same area for multiple rounds, you can often gain additional information, as noted in the descriptive text for the power.
Scrying: A power of the scrying subdiscipline creates an invisible sensor that sends you information. Unless noted otherwise, the sensor has the same powers of sensory acuity that you possess. This includes any powers or effects that target you, but not powers or effects that emanate from you. However, the sensor is treated as a separate, independent sensory organ of yours, and thus functions normally even if you have been blinded, deafened, or otherwise suffered sensory impairment. Any creature with an Intelligence score of 12 or higher can notice the sensor by making a DC 20 Intelligence check. The sensor can be dispelled as if it were an active power. Lead sheeting or psionic protection blocks scrying powers, and you sense that the power is so blocked.
Metacreativity[]
Metacreativity powers create objects, creatures, or some form of matter. Creatures you create usually, but not always, obey your commands.
A metacreativity power draws raw ectoplasm from the Astral Plane to create an object or creature in the place the psionic character designates (subject to the limits noted above). Objects created in this fashion are as solid and durable as normal objects, despite their originally diaphanous substance. Psionic creatures created with metacreativity powers are considered constructs, not outsiders.
A creature or object brought into being cannot appear inside another creature or object, nor can it appear floating in an empty space. It must arrive in an open location on a surface capable of supporting it. The creature or object must appear within the power’s range, but it does not have to remain within the range.
For the purpose of psionics–magic transparency, metacreativity powers are equivalent to powers of the conjuration school (thus, creatures immune to conjuration spells are also immune to metacreativity powers).
Creation: A power of the creation subdiscipline creates an object or creature in the place the manifester designates (subject to the limits noted above). If the power has a duration other than instantaneous, psionic energy holds the creation together, and when the power ends, the created creature or object vanishes without a trace, except for a thin film of glistening ectoplasm that quickly evaporates. If the power has an instantaneous duration, the created object or creature is merely assembled through psionics. It lasts indefinitely and does not depend on psionics for its existence.
Psychokinesis[]
Psychokinesis powers manipulate energy or tap the power of the mind to produce a desired end. Many of these powers produce spectacular effects above and beyond the power’s standard display (see Display, below), such as moving, melting, transforming, or blasting a target. Psychokinesis powers can deal large amounts of damage.
For the purpose of psionics–magic transparency, psychokinesis powers are equivalent to spells of the evocation school (thus, creatures immune to evocation spells are also immune to psychokinesis powers).
Psychometabolism[]
Psychometabolism powers change the physical properties of some creature, thing, or condition.
For the purpose of psionics– magic transparency, psychometabolism powers are equivalent to powers of the transmutation school (thus, creatures immune to transmutation spells are also immune to psychometabolism powers).
Healing: Psychometabolism powers of the healing subdiscipline can remove damage from creatures. However, psionic healing usually falls short of divine magical healing, in direct comparisons.
Psychoportation[]
Psychoportation powers move the manifester, an object, or another creature through space and time.
For the purpose of psionics–magic transparency, psychoportation powers do not have an equivalent school.
A power of the teleportation subdiscipline transports one or more creatures or objects a great distance. The most potent of these powers can cross planar boundaries. Usually the transportation is one-way (unless otherwise noted) and not dispellable. Teleportation is instantaneous travel through the Astral Plane. Anything that blocks astral travel also blocks teleportation.
Telepathy[]
Telepathy powers can spy on and affect the minds of others, influencing or controlling their behavior.
Most telepathy powers are mind-affecting.
For the purpose of psionics–magic transparency, telepathy powers are equivalent to powers of the enchantment school (thus, creatures resistant to enchantment spells are equally resistant to telepathy powers).
Charm: A power of the charm subdiscipline changes the way the subject views you, typically making it see you as a good friend.
Compulsion: A power of the compulsion subdiscipline forces the subject to act in some manner or changes the way her mind works. Some compulsion powers determine the subject’s actions or the effects on the subject, some allow you to determine the subject’s actions when you manifest them, and others give you ongoing control over the subject.
Powers With Multiple Disciplines[]
Some powers have effects that can be achieved in different ways. But depending on how they achieve the effect might also cause small changes to how they work, which feats they interact with, and similar mechanical changes. This is a way to portray how one effect can be arrived at from two (or more) different ways of looking at things, as well as allowing us to give you as a player or GM more options without effectively reproducing the same power for different Disciplines. When you choose a power that fits in multiple disciplines, you always make a choice of which version you have learned and note this down – you can in fact learn all the different versions of a power if you want to, but each time you learn a version of the power, it counts as its own power known. For example, choosing to learn control for psychokinesis and for telepathy would count as two distinct powers known.
[Descriptor][]
Appearing on the same line as the discipline and subdiscipline (when applicable) is a descriptor that further categorizes the power in some way. Some powers have more than one descriptor.
The descriptors that apply to powers are acid, cold, death, electricity, evil, fire, force, good, language-dependent, light, mind-affecting, and sonic.
Most of these descriptors have no game effect by themselves, but they govern how the power interacts with other powers, with spells, with special abilities, with unusual creatures, with alignment, and so on.
A language-dependent power uses intelligible language as a medium.
A mind-affecting power works only against creatures with an Intelligence score of 1 or higher.
Level[]
The next line of the power description gives a power’s level, a number between 1 and 9 that defines the power’s relative strength. This number is preceded by the name of the class whose members can manifest the power. If a power is part of a discipline’s list instead of the psion’s general power list, this will be indicated by the name of the discipline’s specialist. The specialists a power can be associated with include Conduit (athanatism), Egoist (psychometabolism), Kineticist (psychokinesis), Nomad (psychoportation), Seer (clairsentience), Shaper (metacreativity), and Telepath (telepathy).
Display[]
When a power is manifested, a display may accompany the primary effect. This secondary effect may be auditory, material, mental, olfactory, or visual. No power’s display is significant enough to create consequences for the psionic creatures, allies, or opponents during combat. The secondary effect for a power occurs only if the power’s description indicates it. If multiple powers with similar displays are in effect simultaneously, the displays do not necessarily become more intense. Instead, the overall display remains much the same, though with minute spikes in intensity. A Spellcraft check (DC 10 + 1 per additional power in use) reveals the exact number of simultaneous powers in play. The displays given below are examples and may be adjusted as desired to fit the theme of your game.
Dispense with Displays: Despite the fact that almost every power has a display, a psionic character can always choose to manifest the power without the flashy accompaniment. To manifest a power without any display (no matter how many displays it might have), a manifester must make a concentration check (DC 15 + the level of the power). This check is part of the action of manifesting the power. If the check is unsuccessful, the power manifests normally with its display.
Even if a manifester manifests a power without a display, he is still subject to attacks of opportunity in appropriate circumstances. (Of course, concentration check can be made as normal to either manifest defensively or maintain the power if attacked.)
Auditory: A bass-pitched hum issues from the manifester’s vicinity or in the vicinity of the power’s subject (manifester’s choice), eerily akin to many deep-pitched voices. The sound grows in a second from hardly noticeable to as loud as a shout strident enough to be heard within 100 feet. At the manifester’s option, the instantaneous sound can be so soft that it can be heard only within 15 feet with a successful DC 10 Perception check. Some powers describe unique auditory displays.
Material: The subject or the area is briefly slicked with a translucent, shimmering substance. The glistening substance evaporates after 1 round regardless of the power’s duration. Sophisticated psions recognize the material as ectoplasmic seepage from the Astral Plane; this substance is completely inert.
Mental: A subtle chime rings once in the minds of creatures within 15 feet of either the manifester or the subject (at the manifester’s option). At the manifester’s option, the chime can ring continuously for the power’s duration. Some powers describe unique mental displays.
Olfactory: An odd but familiar odor brings to mind a brief mental flash of a long-buried memory. The scent is difficult to pin down, and no two individuals ever describe it the same way. The odor originates from the manifester and spreads to a distance of 20 feet, then fades in less than a second (or lasts for the duration, at the manifester’s option).
Visual: The manifester’s eyes burn like points of silver fire while the power remains in effect. A rainbow-flash of light sweeps away from the manifester to a distance of 5 feet and then dissipates, unless a unique visual display is described. This is the case when the Display entry includes “see text,” which means that a visual effect is described somewhere in the text of the power.
Manifesting Time[]
Most powers have a manifesing time of 1 standard action. Others take 1 round or more, while a few require only a free action.
A power that takes 1 round to manifest requires a full-round action. It comes into effect just before the beginning of your turn in the round after you began manifesting the power. You then act normally after the power is completed.
A power that takes 1 minute to manifest comes into effect just before your turn 1 minute later (and for each of those 10 rounds, you are manifesting a power as a full-round action, as noted above for 1-round manifesting times). These actions must be consecutive and uninterrupted, or the power points are lost and the power fails.
When you use a power that takes 1 round or longer to manifest, you must continue the concentration from the current round to just before your turn in the next round (at least). If you lose concentration before the manifesting time is complete, the power points are lost and the power fails.
You make all pertinent decisions about a power (range, target, area, effect, version, and so forth) when the power comes into effect.
Range[]
A power’s range indicates how far from you it can reach, as defined in the Range entry of the power description. A power’s range is the maximum distance from you that the power’s effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the power’s point of origin. If any portion of the area would extend beyond the range, that area is wasted. Standard ranges include the following.
Personal: The power affects only you.
Touch: You must touch a creature or object to affect it. A touch power that deals damage can score a critical hit just as a weapon can. A touch power threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit. Some touch powers allow you to touch multiple targets. You can touch as many willing targets as you can reach, but all targets of the power must be touched in the same round that you manifest the power.
Close: The power reaches as far as 25 feet away from you. The maximum range increases 5 feet for every two manifester levels you have.
Medium: The power reaches as far as 100 feet + 10 feet per manifester level.
Long: The power reaches as far as 400 feet + 40 feet per manifester level.
Range Expressed in Feet: Some powers have no standard range category, just a range expressed in feet.
Aiming A Power[]
You must make some choice about whom the power is to affect or where the power’s effect is to originate, depending on the type of power. The next entry in a power description defines the power’s target (or targets), its effect, or its area, as appropriate.
Target or Targets: Some powers have a target or targets. You manifest these powers on creatures or objects, as defined by the power itself. You must be able to see or touch the target, and you must specifically choose that target. However, you do not have to select your target until you finish manifesting the power.
If you manifest a targeted power on the wrong type of target the power has no effect. If the target of a power is yourself (the power description has a line that reads “Target: You”), you do not receive a saving throw and power resistance does not apply. The Saving Throw and Power Resistance lines are omitted from such powers.
Some powers can be manifested only on willing targets. Declaring yourself as a willing target is something that can be done at any time (even if you’re flat-footed or it isn’t your turn). Unconscious creatures are automatically considered willing, but a character who is conscious but immobile or helpless (such as one who is bound, cowering, grappling, paralyzed, pinned, or stunned) is not automatically willing. The Saving Throw and Power Resistance lines are usually omitted from such powers, since only willing subjects can be targeted.
Effect: Some powers, such as most metacreativity powers, create things rather than affect things that are already present. Unless otherwise noted in the power description, you must designate the location where these things are to appear, either by seeing it or defining it. Range determines how far away an effect can appear, but if the effect is mobile, it can move regardless of the power’s range once created.
Ray: Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged touch attack rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something. You don’t have to see the creature you’re trying to hit, as you do with a targeted power. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block your line of sight or provide cover for the creature you’re aiming at. If a ray power has a duration, it’s the duration of the effect that the ray causes, not the length of time the ray itself persists.
If a ray power deals damage, you can score a critical hit just as if it were a weapon. A ray power threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit.
Spread: Some effects spread out from a point of origin (which may be a grid intersection, or may be the manifester) to a distance described in the power. The effect can extend around corners and into areas that you can’t see. Figure distance by actual distance traveled, taking into account turns the effect may take. When determining distance for spread effects, count around walls, not through them. As with movement, do not trace diagonals across corners. You must designate the point of origin for such an effect (unless the effect is centered on you), but you need not have line of effect (see below) to all portions of the effect.
(S) Shapeable: If an Effect line ends with “(S)” you can shape the power. A shaped effect can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet.
Area: Some powers affect an area. Sometimes a power description specifies a specially defined area, but usually an area falls into one of the categories defined below.
Regardless of the shape of the area, you select the point where the power originates, but otherwise you usually don’t control which creatures or objects the power affects. The point of origin of a power that affects an area is always a grid intersection. When determining whether a given creature is within the area of a power, count out the distance from the point of origin in squares just as you do when moving a character or when determining the range for a ranged attack. The only difference is that instead of counting from the center of one square to the center of the next, you count from intersection to intersection.
You can count diagonally across a square, but every second diagonal counts as 2 squares of distance. If the far edge of a square is within the power’s area, anything within that square is within the power’s area. If the power’s area touches only the near edge of a square, however, anything within that square is unaffected by the power.
Burst, Emanation, or Spread: Most powers that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the power’s point of origin and measure its effect from that point. A burst power affects whatever it catches in its area, even including creatures that you can’t see. It can’t affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don’t extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst powers are specifically described as cone-shaped.
A burst’s area defines how far from the point of origin the power’s effect extends.
An emanation power functions like a burst power, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the power.
A spread power spreads out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the power spreads out a given distance in all directions. Figure the area the power effect fills by taking into account any turns the effect takes.
Cone, Line, or Sphere: Most powers that affect an area have a particular shape, such as a cone, line, or sphere. A cone-shaped power shoots away from you in a quarter-circle in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and widens out as it goes. Most cones are either bursts or emanations (see above), and thus won’t go around corners.
A line-shaped power shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. A line-shaped power affects all creatures in squares that the line passes through or touches.
A sphere-shaped power expands from its point of origin to fill a spherical area. Spheres may be bursts, emanations, or spreads.
Other: A power can have a unique area, as defined in its description.
Line of Effect: A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a power can affect. A solid barrier cancels a line of effect, but it is not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight. You must have a clear line of effect to any target that you manifest a power on or to any space in which you wish to create an effect. You must have a clear line of effect to the point of origin of any power you manifest.
A burst, cone, or emanation power affects only an area, creatures, or objects to which it has line of effect from its origin (a spherical burst’s center point, a cone-shaped burst’s starting point, or an emanation’s point of origin). An otherwise solid barrier with a hole of at least 1 square foot through it does not block a power’s line of effect. Such an opening means that the 5-foot length of wall containing the hole is no longer considered a barrier for the purpose of determining a power’s line of effect.
Duration[]
A power’s Duration line tells you how long the psionic energy of the power lasts.
Timed Duration: Many durations are measured in rounds, minutes, hours, or some other increment. When the time is up, the psionic energy sustaining the effect fades, and the power ends. If a power’s duration is variable it is rolled secretly.
Instantaneous: The psionic energy comes and goes the instant the power is manifested, though the consequences might be long-lasting.
Permanent: The energy remains as long as the effect does. This means the power is vulnerable to dispel psionics.
Concentration: The power lasts as long as you concentrate on it. Concentrating to maintain a power is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break your concentration when manifesting a power can also break your concentration while you’re maintaining one, causing the power to end. You can’t manifest a power while concentrating on another one. Some powers may last for a short time after you cease concentrating. In such a case, the power keeps going for the given length of time after you stop concentrating, but no longer. Otherwise, you must concentrate to maintain the power, but you can’t maintain it for more than a stated duration in any event. If a target moves out of range, the power reacts as if your concentration had been broken.
Subject, Effects, and Area: If the power affects creatures directly the result travels with the subjects for the power’s duration. If the power creates an effect, the effect lasts for the duration. The effect might move or remain still. Such an effect can be destroyed prior to when its duration ends. If the power affects an area then the power stays with that area for its duration. Creatures become subject to the power when they enter the area and are no longer subject to it when they leave.
Touch Powers and Holding the Charge: In most cases, if you don’t discharge a touch power on the round you manifest it, you can hold the charge (postpone the discharge of the power) indefinitely. You can make touch attacks round after round. If you touch anything with your hand while holding a charge, the power discharges. If you manifest another power, the touch power dissipates.
Some touch powers allow you to touch multiple targets as part of the power. You can’t hold the charge of such a power; you must touch all the targets of the power in the same round that you finish manifesting the power. You can touch one friend (or yourself) as a standard action or as many as six friends as a full-round action.
Discharged: Occasionally a power lasts for a set duration or until triggered or discharged.
(D) Dismissable: If the Duration line ends with “(D),” you can dismiss the power at will. You must be within range of the power’s effect and must mentally will the dismissal, which causes the same display as when you first manifested the power. Dismissing a power is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A power that depends on concentration is dismissible by its very nature, and dismissing it does not take an action or cause a display, since all you have to do to end the power is to stop concentrating on your turn.
Saving Throw
Usually a harmful power allows a target to make a saving throw to avoid some or all of the effect. The Saving Throw line in a power description defines which type of saving throw the power allows and describes how saving throws against the power work.
Negates: The power has no effect on a subject that makes a successful saving throw.
Partial: The power causes an effect on its subject, such as death. A successful saving throw means that some lesser effect occurs (such as being dealt damage rather than being killed).
Half: The power deals damage, and a successful saving throw halves the damage taken (round down).
None: No saving throw is allowed.
(object): The power can be manifested on objects, which receive saving throws only if they are psionic or if they are attended (held, worn, grasped, or the like) by a creature resisting the power, in which case the object uses the creature’s saving throw bonus unless its own bonus is greater. (This notation does not mean that a power can be manifested only on objects. Some powers of this sort can be manifested on creatures or objects.) A psionic item’s saving throw bonuses are each equal to 2 + one-half the item’s manifester level.
(harmless): The power is usually beneficial, not harmful, but a targeted creature can attempt a saving throw if it desires.
Saving Throw Difficulty Class: A saving throw against your power has a DC 10 + the level of the power + your key ability modifier (Intelligence for a psion, Wisdom for a psychic warrior, or Charisma for a wilder). A power’s level can vary depending on your class. Always use the power level applicable to your class.
Succeeding on a Saving Throw: A creature that successfully saves against a power that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted power you sense that the power has failed. You do not sense when creatures succeed on saves against effect and area powers.
Failing a Saving Throw against Mind-Affecting Powers: If you fail your save, you are unaware that you have been affected by a power.
Automatic Failures and Successes: A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on a saving throw is always a failure, and the power may deal damage to exposed items (see Items Surviving after a Saving Throw, below). A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a success.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a power’s result. Even a character with a special resistance to psionics can suppress this quality.
Items Surviving after a Saving Throw: Unless the descriptive text for the power specifies otherwise, all items carried or worn by a creature are assumed to survive a psionic attack. If a creature rolls a natural 1 on its saving throw against the effect, however, an exposed item is harmed (if the attack can harm objects). Refer to Table: Items Affected by Psionic Attacks.
Determine which four objects carried or worn by the creature are most likely to be affected and roll randomly among them. The randomly determined item must make a saving throw against the attack form or take whatever damage the attack deals.
In order of most likely to least likely to be affected.
Table 5-1: Items Affected by Psionic Attacks
| Order | Item |
|---|---|
| 1st | Shield |
| 2nd | Armor |
| 3rd | Psionic or magic helmet, hat, headband, or psicrown |
| 4th | Item in hand (including weapon, dorje, or the like) |
| 5th | Psionic or magic cloak |
| 6th | Stowed or sheathed weapon |
| 7th | Psionic or magic bracers |
| 8th | Psionic or magic clothing |
| 9th | Psionic or magic jewelry (including rings) |
| 10th | Anything else |
Power Resistance[]
Power resistance is a special defensive ability. If your power is being resisted by a creature with power resistance, you must make a manifester level check (d20 + manifester level) at least equal to the creature’s power resistance for the power to affect that creature. The defender’s power resistance functions like an Armor Class against psionic attacks. Spell resistance is equivalent to power resistance unless the Psionics Is Different option is in use. Include any adjustments to your manifester level on this manifester level check.
The Power Resistance line and the descriptive text of a power description tell you whether power resistance protects creatures from the power. In many cases, power resistance applies only when a resistant creature is targeted by the power, not when a resistant creature encounters a power that is already in place.
The terms “object” and “harmless” mean the same thing for power resistance as they do for saving throws. A creature with power resistance must voluntarily lower the resistance (a standard action) to be affected by a power noted as harm less. In such a case, you do not need to make the manifester level check described above.
Power Points[]
All powers have a Power Points line, indicating the power’s cost.
The psionic character class tables show how many power points a character has access to each day, depending on level.
A power’s cost is determined by its level, as shown below. Every power’s cost is noted in its description for ease of reference.
Table: Power Points by Power Level
| Power Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Point Cost | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
Some powers allow you to spend more than their base cost to achieve an improved effect, or augment the power. The maximum number of points you can spend on a power (for any reason) is equal to your manifester level.
Descriptive Text[]
This portion of a power description details what the power does and how it works. If one of the previous lines in the description included “see text,” this is where the explanation is found. If the power you’re reading about is based on another power you might have to refer
to a different power for the “see text” information. Augment: Many powers have variable effects based on the number of power points you spend when you manifest them. The more points spent, the more powerful the manifestation. How this extra expenditure affects a power is specific to the power. Some augmentations allow you to increase the number of damage dice, while others extend a power’s duration or modify a power in unique ways. Each power that can be augmented includes an entry giving how many power points it costs to augment and the effects of doing so. However, you can spend only a total number of points on a power equal to your manifester level.
Augmenting a power takes place as part of another action (manifesting a power). Unless otherwise noted in the Augment section of an individual power description, you can augment a power only at the time you manifest it.
Power points spent on metapsionic feats do not count toward augmenting, but do count against the total number of power points spent on a power.
POWERS AND POWER POINTS[]
Psionic characters manifest powers, which involve the direct manipulation of personal mental energy. These manipulations require natural talent and personal meditation. A psionic character’s level limits the number of power points available to manifest powers. A psionic character’s key ability score might allow him to gain extra power points. He can manifest the same power more than once, but each manifestation subtracts power points from his daily limit. Manifesting a power is an arduous mental task. To do so, a psionic character must have a key ability score of at least 10 + the power’s level.
To regain used daily power points, a psionic character must have a clear mind. To clear his mind, he must first sleep for 8 hours. The character does not have to slumber for every minute of the time, but he must refrain from movement, combat, manifesting powers, skill use, conversation, or any other demanding physical or mental task during the rest period. If his rest is interrupted, each interruption adds 1 hour to the total amount of time he has to rest to clear his mind, and he must have at least 1 hour of rest immediately prior to regaining lost power points. If the character does not need to sleep for some reason, he still must have 8 hours of restful calm before regaining power points.
If a psionic character has manifested powers recently, the drain on his resources reduces his capacity to regain power points. When he regains power points for the coming day, all power points he has used within the last 8 hours count against his daily limit.
Peaceful Environment: To regain power points, a psionic character must have enough peace, quiet, and comfort to allow for proper concentration. The psionic character’s surroundings need not be luxurious, but they must be free from overt distractions, such as combat raging nearby or other loud noises. Exposure to inclement weather prevents the necessary concentration, as does any injury or failed saving throw the character might incur while concentrating on regaining power points.
Once the character has rested in a suitable environment, it takes only an act of concentration spanning 1 full round to regain all power points of the psionic character’s daily limit.
Death and Power Points: If a character dies, all daily power points stored in his mind are wiped away. A potent effect (such as reality revision) can recover the lost power points when it recovers the character.
Energy Powers: Many psionic powers deal damage of a certain type of energy, with cold, electricity, fire, and sonic being the most common. For powers that have the choice of cold, electricity, fire, and sonic, the manifester must choose after he regains his psionic power points for the day which of these four energy types is his active energy. The manifester may choose to change which energy is his active energy by gaining psionic focus. If he is currently maintaining psionic focus, he may expend it as a free action and then gain psionic focus normally to choose a new energy type. The manifester need not maintain psionic focus to have an active energy type. Wilders may change their active energy type when performing a wild surge. Kineticists are exempt from this restriction and may freely choose the energy type at the time the power is manifest, so long as it is within the choices allowed by the power. He could not, for example, choose fire as his energy type when manifesting concussion blast, as the power does not allow a choice in energy types.
The Power Point Reserve[]
Psionic characters fuel their abilities through a pool, or reserve, of power points. Your power point reserve is equal to your base power points gained from your class, bonus power points from a high key ability score (see Abilities and Manifesters, below), and any additional bonus power points from sources such as your character race and feat selections.
Multiclass Psionic Characters[]
If you have levels in more than one psionic class, you combine your power points from each class to make up your reserve. You can use these power points to manifest powers from any psionic class you have.
While you maintain a single reserve of power points from your class, race, and feat selections, you are still limited by the manifester level you have achieved with each power you know.
Abilities And Manifesters[]
The ability that your powers depend on—your key ability score as a manifester—is related to what psionic class (or classes) you have levels in: Intelligence (psion), Wisdom (psychic warrior), and Charisma (wilder). The modifier for this ability is referred to as your key ability modifier. If your character’s key ability score is 9 or lower, you can’t manifest powers from that class.
Just as a high Intelligence score grants bonus spells to a wizard and a high Wisdom score grants bonus spells to a cleric, a character who manifests powers (psions, psychic warriors, and the like) gains bonus power points according to his key ability score. Refer to Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Power Points.
How To Determine Bonus Power Points: Your key ability score grants you additional power points equal to your key ability modifier × your manifester level × ½. Table 2-1: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Power Points shows these calculations for class levels 1st through 20th and key ability scores from 10 to 41. For multiclass characters, calculate bonus power points for each class individually and add all bonus power points gained to your power point pool.
Psionic Focus[]
Many feats detailed below, as well as many psionic class abilities, work either by maintaining or expending psionic focus.
Gain Psionic Focus: Merely having the ability to hold a reservoir of psionic power points in mind gives psionic characters a special energy. Psionic characters can put that energy to work without actually paying a power point cost—they can become psionically focused.
If you have a power point pool or the ability to manifest psi-like abilities, you can meditate to become psionically focused. Meditating is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
When you are psionically focused, you can expend your focus on any single concentration check you make thereafter. When you expend your focus in this manner, your concentration check is treated as if you rolled a 15. It’s like taking 10, except that the number you add to your concentration modifier is 15. You can also expend your focus to gain the benefit of a psionic feat—many psionic feats are activated in this way.
Once you are psionically focused, you remain focused until you expend your focus, become unconscious, or go to sleep (or enter a meditative trance, in cases such as elans or elves).
You may still gain psionic focus even if you have depleted all of your power points.
Expending your psionic focus to power a feat, class feature, or any other ability only powers a single effect. You cannot gain the benefit of multiple abilities that require expending focus by expending your psionic focus once; each effect requires its own instance of expending psionic focus.
ADDING POWERS[]
Psionic characters can learn new powers when they attain a new level. A psion can learn any power from the psion/wilder list and powers from his chosen discipline’s list. A wilder can learn any power from the psion/wilder list. A psychic warrior can learn any power from the psychic warrior list.
Psions and other psionic characters perform a certain amount of personal meditation between adventures in an attempt to unlock latent mental abilities. Each time a psionic character attains a new level, he or she learns additional powers according to his class description. Psions, psychic warriors, and wilders learn new of their choice in this fashion. These powers represent abilities unlocked from latency. The powers must be of levels the characters can manifest.
Independent Research: A psion also can research a power independently, duplicating an existing power or creating an entirely new one. If characters are allowed to develop new powers, use these guidelines to handle the situation.
Any kind of manifester can create a new power. The research involved requires access to a retreat conducive to uninterrupted meditation. Research involves an expenditure of 1,000 gp per week and takes one week per level of the power. At the end of that time, the character makes a Spellcraft check (DC 10 + spell level). If that check succeeds, the character learns the new power if her research produced a viable power. If the check fails, the character must go through the research process again if she wants to keep trying. Powers learned through independent research still count against the manifester’s powers known.
Manifest an Unknown Power from Another’s Powers Known[]
A psionic character can attempt to manifest a power from a source other than his own knowledge (usually another willing psionic character). To do so, the character must first make contact (a process similar to addressing a power stone, requiring a Spellcraft check against a DC of 20). A psionic character can make contact with only a willing psionic character or creature (unconscious creatures are considered willing, but not psionic characters under the effects of other immobilizing conditions). Characters that can’t use power stones for any reason are also banned from attempting to manifest powers from the knowledge of other psionic characters. Mental contact requires 1 full round of physical contact, which can provoke attacks of opportunity. Once contact is achieved, the character becomes aware of all the powers the other character knows up to the highest level of power the contactor knows himself.
Next, the psionic character must choose one of the powers and make a second Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the power’s level) to see if he understands it. If the power is not on his class list, he automatically fails this check.
Upon successfully making contact with another willing psionic character or creature and learning what he can of one power in particular, the character can immediately attempt to manifest that power even if he doesn’t know it (and assuming he has power points left for the day). He can attempt to manifest the power normally on his next turn, and he succeeds if he makes one additional Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the power’s level). He retains the ability to manifest the selected power for only 1 round. If he doesn’t manifest the power, fails the Spellcraft check, or manifests a different power, he loses his chance to manifest that power, although he does not spend any power points unless he successfully manifests a power.
Whether this process results in a successful manifestation of a power or not, the entire process must be performed every time a character wants to manifest a power from another’s powers known.
Using Stored Power Points[]
A variety of psionic items exist to store power points for later use, in particular a storage device called a cognizance crystal. Regardless of what sort of item stores the power points, all psionic characters must follow strict rules when tapping stored power points.
When using power points from a storage item to manifest a power, a psionic character may not pay the power’s cost with power points from more than one source. He must either use an item, his own power point reserve, or some other discrete power point source to pay the manifestation cost.
Most power point storage devices allow psionic characters to “recharge” the item with their own power points. Doing this depletes the character’s power point reserve on a 1-for-1 basis as if he had manifested a power; however, those power points remain indefinitely stored. The opposite is not true—psionic characters may not use power points stored in a storage item to replenish their own power point reserves.
Special Abilities[]
Psionic creatures can create psionic effects without having levels in a psionic class (although they can take a psionic class to further enhance their abilities); such creatures have the psionic subtype.
Characters using dorjes, cognizance crystals, and other psionic items can also create psionic effects. In addition to existing spell-like and supernatural abilities, creatures can also have psi-like abilities. (Psionic creatures may also have extraordinary and natural abilities.)
The manifestation of powers by a psionic character is considered a psi-like ability, as is the manifestation of powers by creatures without a psionic class (creatures with the psionic subtype, also simply called psionic creatures). Usually, a psionic creature’s psi-like ability works just like the power of that name. A few psi-like abilities are unique; these are explained in the text where they are described.
Psi-like abilities have no verbal, somatic, or material components, nor do they require a focus. The user activates them mentally. Armor never affects a psi-like ability’s use. A psi-like ability has a manifesting time of 1 standard action unless noted otherwise in the ability description. In all other ways, a psi-like ability functions just like a power. However, a psionic creature does not have to pay a psi-like ability’s power point cost.
Psi-like abilities are subject to power resistance and to being dispelled by dispel psionics. They do not function in areas where psionics is suppressed or negated.
Some creatures have psionic abilities that are considered supernatural. Psionic feats are also supernatural abilities. These abilities cannot be disrupted in combat, as powers can be, and do not provoke attacks of opportunity (except as noted in their descriptions). Supernatural abilities are not subject to power resistance and cannot be negated or dispelled; however, they do not function in areas where psionics is suppressed.
Variant: Psionics As Different[]
In some games, you might prefer that psionics and magic interact as if completely different. While there is nothing stopping you from doing this, by default, psionics and magic interact as if they are the same. Implementing psionics and magic as different can introduce a variety of balance issues, as the psionic system was designed to interact with magic as outlined above.
However, should you choose to implement this variant, the following changes occur to the mechanics of psionics.
Creatures with power resistance are affected by spells normally, and creatures with spell resistance are affected by powers normally; they are offered no protection from their resistance to the other type of energy.
Dispel psionics does not dispel magical effects, and dispel magic does not dispel psionic effects.
Detect psionics does not detect the presence of magic, and detect magic does not detect the presence of psionics.
Creatures that gain a bonus to saving throws against powers do not gain the same bonus against spells, and creatures that gain a bonus to saving throws against spells do not gain the same bonus against powers.
Should these changes prove more than you wish to implement, you could instead use diminished effects. For example, dispel psionics might have a 50% chance to work against magic, and vice versa for dispel magic to affect powers, while creatures with power resistance might be treated as having spell resistance equal to half their power resistance.
Additionally, in this type of variant game, the Spellcraft skill for manifesters is renamed to Psicraft, and skill points in one skill do not give any training in the other. Similarly, the Use Magic Device skill for psionic items is instead Use Psionic Device, and skill points in one skill do not give any training in the other.
Special Psionic Rules[]
The following rules deal with psionic interactions with special and optional rulesets, such as sanity damage and psychic duels.
Sanity Rules[]
In addition to other methods, sanity can be treated using some psionic powers. Body purification removes 1d2 points of sanity damage plus 1 additional point for every 2 power points by which it is augmented, but only works once per day. Aura alteration removes 3d4 points of sanity damage plus 1 additional point for every power point spent, but also only works once per day. Bend reality and psychic chirurgery both remove all sanity damage that a creature possesses.
In addition, one may choose to have a target suffer sanity damage the first time they witness a psionic power or psi-like ability being used. The DC of this save is 10 + the number of power points spent on the power and the experience deals sanity damage equal to twice the level of the power (dealing only 1 sanity damage on a successful save).
Psionic Dueling[]
In a manner similar to psychic mages, psionicists are capable of projecting their minds onto the universe to create quasi-real planes known as mindscapes. These mindscapes are frequently the dueling grounds of powerful psionicists wishing to explore the more elaborate recesses of their mental capacity or determined combatants who wish to settle their disputes separately from the rest of the universe.
Psionic dueling is identical to psychic dueling, save for a few additional options provided by the psionicists’ unique mental abilities. Presented below are some options that outline the premise of dueling using psionic abilities alongside new powers that enable one to psionically initiate a psychic duel.
Psionic Abilities in a Duel[]
For the purpose of use, a psionic character retains their psionic focus while in a psychic duel, and may expend or regain it while in the duel. The Overchannel feat may also be used in a psychic duel, with the combatant generating 1 MP for every level that their manifester level would increase but suffering 1d8 points of damage for every point of MP generated in this way. A wilder may also utilize their wild surge class feature while engaged in a psychic duel, generating an amount of MP equal to the intensity of their surge but threatening psychic enervation as normal. The solicit psicrystal power may be used inside of a mindscape to transfer concentration on a thoughtform creature over to a psicrystal.
For the purpose of any ability relating to psychic duels, psionic powers are considered to be psychic spells.
Generating Manifestation Points[]
In addition to the normal methods of generating manifestation points, a psionic character may generate manifestation points using the following methods.
- Generating MP from Power Points: As a free action, a combatant may expend power points to generate MP. The combatant generates 1MP for every 2 power points they expend. If the combatant is part of a metaconcert power, he may draw power points from the metaconcert as well as his own reserve.
- Generating MP from Psionic Focus: As a free action, a combatant may expend psionic focus to generate 5 MP.
- Generating MP from Psi-Like Abilities: A combatant can sacrifice a use of a psi-like ability in a way similar to sacrificing spell-like abilities to generate MP. This generates an amount of MP equal to half the manifester level of the psi-like ability +1. However, each at-will psi-like ability can be sacrificed only once during a single psychic duel; it is not a source of infinite MP.
Offensive Manifestations[]
For the purpose of determining damage dice for offensive manifestations, psychic spells, psi-like abilities, and psionic focus all grant d8s.