The combat modes work with potentially large quantities of ability damage instead of the meager quantities in the reference system. Thus, a “name” level psion can mentally annihilate several opponents of lower level with relative ease.
Note that psionic combat does not affect undead and constructs.
Although considered somewhat outdated and simplified, the Freudian model of human psychology was used in the past to define the characteristics of various attack and defense modes. Its use has carried on in the present, so I see no reason to be. The Freudian model divides the mind into three axes:
· The Id includes all of the primitive instincts, urges, desires, and basic drives with which we are born. For game purposes, an entities id score is the sum of his bonuses/penalties for the constitution and wisdom ability scores.
· The Ego is the self, one’s personal identity, and the seat of self worth. The ego develops very early (the terrible twos). For game purposes, an entities id score is the sum of his bonuses/penalties for the dexterity and intelligence ability scores.
· The Super Ego is the seat of moral conscious and awareness of society. The super ego begins developing after the super ego, at about age seven in humans. For game purposes, an entities id score is the sum of his bonuses/penalties for the strength and charisma ability scores.
(NOTE: I am considering that maybe ego should be strength/intelligence, super ego = dexterity/charisma.)
Each axis of the mind can be damaged through psionic combat, detailed below.
The third edition psionic combat system is too restrictive and unimaginative for my tastes. In Option 1 detailed below, each of the id, ego, and super ego can be attacked with an appropriate psionic attack mode. Attack modes are also detailed that assault all three axis at the same time in attempt to kill the defender outright. These attack modes can be targeted at single subjects at lower levels, or multiple subjects at higher levels. Finally, a few miscellaneous attack modes are detailed with special affects. There is room for other attack modes that do not specifically target the Freudian psyche. An example is the Illithiad’s mind blast. No reason why it cannot cause stunning damage against even psionics. Or hit points of damage; say mind fire that actually attempts to incinerate the victims mind. That creates 4 basic attacks, times 3 levels of damage, times two variations, for a total of 24 Freudian attack modes! And there are miscellaneous attack modes as well. Thus, no manifester will ever know them all.
Now, the details. The basic Freudian attack modes:
· Id Insinuation. The attacker uses his own id to bolster the defenders, causing his Id to be unleashed from the control of the super ego. Instincts, urges, longings, and desires are unleashed in an uncontrolled burst. The attack causes id damage unless a successful fortitude save is made.
· Ego Whip. The attacker bullies the defenders ego, feeding him feelings of inferiority, worthlessness, weakness, insecurity and failure. The attack causes ego damage unless a successful reflex save is made.
· Super Ego Ricochet. The victim is enticed into a dream like state where flights of ego (superiority or megalomania) or id desires, urges, or longings are entertained. Then the super ego is inserted into the dream midstream, abruptly snapping the hapless mind into the drudgeries of reality. Causes super-ego damage unless a successful will save is made.
· Psychic Crush. Your will surrounds that of your foe and begins to squeeze mercilessly with a massive assault upon all neurons of the brain, attempting to destroy all with a massive overload of signals. The attack is against the id, ego, and super-ego simultaneously. The defender gains negative energy levels unless a successful will save is made.
Each of these attacks has three levels of effectiveness:
· Lesser. The damage lasts for 1 minute per level. Negative energy levels have no risk of becoming permanent. These powers cost 1 power point per use except for psychic crush, which costs 3 points per use.
· Normal. The damage is sustained as temporary ability damage. Temporary ability damage heals slowly (PH, pg. 129). The power point cost per use is 5. In the case of psychic crush, the power point cost is 7 and the negative levels lasts 1 hour per level with no chance of becoming permanent (as per the fourth level arcane spell enervation).
· Greater. The damage is permanent. The power point cost is 9. In the case of psychic crush, the power point cost is 13; the negative levels last for 24 hours, which may become permanent (as per the ninth level arcane spell energy drain).
The damage from any Freudian attack mode (lesser, normal, or greater) is 1d6 points + 1d6 points per two manifester levels beyond first level. This damage is split equally between the two ability scores of the appropriate Freudian axis (if odd, assign the last point by chance). [Alternate, the die are split between the two ability scores, then rolled.] Ability scores cannot be reduced bellow 0. If excess damage remains after reducing an ability score to 0, it is converted into hit points of damage on a point per point basis. Moreover, the appropriate effects for temporary ability damage are immediately realized (page 72 of the DMG). A victim in a coma (intelligence or charisma zero) is difficult to attack. The coma acts as mental hardness (see below). Attacking a victim with 0 wisdom is dangerous. The assailant must defend against the nightmares from this mental state as if being attacked by id insinuation from the victim (with a –5 penalty for 0 wisdom).
The number of negative levels gained from a psychic crush is computed by dividing the ability damage by 6 and rounding up. Thus, if used by a third level psion, psychic crush inflicts 2d6 / 6 = 1 – 2 negative levels. Unlike the undead’s energy drain, the psion does not gain from the attack as he is not actually absorbing life force, he is suppressing it. Furthermore, if drained to level 0, a victim does not die from a lesser psychic crush attack; he is merely unconscious for the duration of 1 round per level.
These attacks also have mass versions; much in the same way that suggestion (third level arcane) is available as mass suggestion (sixth level arcane). The mass versions cost +6 power points, have medium range, and can affect up to 1 creature / level within a 30’ diameter sphere. The ability damage or negative levels are distributed evenly among the targets. For example, mass enervation manifested (for 13 power points) by a fourteenth level psion against 3 ogres within range inflicts 7d6 / 6 negative energy levels. If the roll is 27, the number of energy levels is 4. One ogre gains two negative levels, the others one negative level, unless they make their will saving throws. [Alternate thought here. The above is too weak. Instead of spreading damage, the damage/target is reduced by 1d6 per target. So in the case of the three ogres, the damage is (7d6 – 3d6) / 6 negative levels for each ogre. It is up to the DM to roll once, or separately for each. Choosing separately, the ogres are drained 3, 2, and 3 levels, respectively. That is more like it!]
Some of the attack modes have pre-requisites. The lesser version must be taken before the normal, and the normal before the greater. The mass version requires the non-mass version already be known. Psychic crush requires each of the three single-axis powers of the same effectiveness, e.g., to take psychic crush one must first know id insinuation, ego whip, and super ego ricochet.
Other attacks:
· Ultrablast. The psychic scream unleashed by the attacker bursts forth after a full round of grumbling. All those in 50’ must make a reflex save or pass out for 2d6 turns. Those that fail must save vs. fortitude or loose all psionic power (only restorable by psychic surgery). Pre-requisite: mind blast. (NOTE: I just found there is already an ultrablast power in the telepath discipline, and its even more lethal… I like it!)
· Mind Blast. The air ripples with the force of your mental attack, which blasts the minds of all creatures in a 60-foot long cone 20’ wide at the base. Stuns for 3d4 rounds.
· Mind Thrust. Desire alone delivers a massive assault on the pathways of your victim’s mind in a stabbing attack, which seeks to short the synapses of the defender. Subject looses access to his most recently used, power or ability (for example: spells, powers, weapon proficiencies, feats and skills) for 2d6 days. [Could have lesser, normal, greater with different durations.]
· Mind fire. The victim must make a will saving throw or succumb to the thrills of spontaneous gray matter combustion. The damage is 1d6 hp per manifester level. (NOTE: like the ultrablast telepathic power, but individual.) Mental hardness reduces the damage.
A defender selects a single defense mode in a particular round as a free action and pays a single power point cost regardless of the number or nature of attacks. Many defense modes provide mental hardness equal to 1d6 points + 1d6 points per two manifester levels above first level. Mental hardness reduces ability damage on a point-per-point basis. The mental hardness applies regardless of the saving throw results and may defeat the psionic attack itself. Mental hardness applies collectively to all attacks that occur during a round. The defender selects how to allocate his mental hardness at the end of the round against successful attacks.
The non-Freudian defense modes are:
· Thought Shield. The defender wields a mental shield in response to a mental assault. The power provides 50% mental hardness against a single axis Freudian attack, 25% against a psychic crush. This is the only defense mode that can be used while attacking with a psychic crush. The cost is 0 power points. [Question, can it be used continuously?]
· Empty Mind. The defender attempts to hide the various parts of the mind from attack by making them unidentifiable as no more than a vacuous conception. Although it provides no mental hardness or save bonus, there is a flat 50% chance for a psionic attack miss when used against a single axis-Freudian attack, 25% against psychic crush. Empty mind costs 1 power point per round.
· Mental Barrier. The defender forms a construct of dissembling, repetitive thoughts that expose only a small portion of the mind at one time. It provides 75% mental hardness, but no bonus on saving throws. Mental barrier costs 1 power point per round.
The following are the Freudian defense modes:
· Primal Rampart. The defender’s id hunkers down to shrug off mental intrusions. He adds his id bonus to his saving throw.
· Intellect Fortress. The defender uses mental determination to fend off an attack. He adds his ego bonus to his saving throw.
· Tower of Iron Will. The defender uses his will to create a bastion of thought and unassailable haven for the brain. He adds his super ego bonus to his saving throw.
Each of the Freudian defense modes provides 100% mental hardness. The cost of a Freudian defense is 3 power points.
The base Freudian defense modes only protect the manifester. An area of effect can be created by a greater Freudian defense mode. The cost is 5 power points. Mental hardness is shared among all victims and attacks in the area of effect. Multiple regions of mental hardness stack, but saving throw bonuses do not.
Some can be multiple Freudian? Say 150% or 200% mental hardness?
Copyright © 2002 John Lipp