Psionics...

[lennon]

Yeh, the 3E ones had the same names.

 

I'm not sure there are sufficient psionic enemies in the game to warrant inclusion of psionic combat modes. And they are almost useless against non - psionic creatures...

 

The 1st Ed had same names, "Psi Blast" if you were strong enough could effect non psionics, psionic combat was resolved at 10 times the speed of everything else.

 

I think you should give the psioniic creaturers the powers as otherwise (since in 1E) psiionics were an xtra to classes and not a class of their own, they(psionic weilders) became uber powered.

 

Another neat feature was the ability of psionics to pool their mana in order to exercise disciplines or attack/defend. I never really worked out how to do psi-combat, is it like sicissors rock paper, or did the attacks get chosen and the most appropriate defense get selected

 

WRT to not enough psi-enemies, I'd expect some of the mind flayer encounters to kill most psionics using their psi-blasts; the psionic would be deeply out numbered, Psi-power was generated by a score on wis,int & cha. and the psi combat works at 10 times the speed of physical comabat. It would usually be over before the barbarian could cleave the MF in two with his axe.

 

The only way I and my (then) playing companions saw round this was tohave a complete party psioniic and ensure that they were reasonably powerful psionically. This often made non-psioniic encounters rather easy.

 

They were & remain an area that interested/s me and I really enjoyed the "Saga of the Exiles" whiich to me is the best psionic fiction I've read. Hope this helps. Bestof Luck

[Andyr]

Is Saga of the Exiles a dnd novel? I've not found much psionic in dnd novels this far, if there are some it might be interesting to read them to get a better 'feel' for how the systems work.

[Caedwyr]

There is a drow psionicist in several of the Salvatore books. I can't remember which books, but the topic of psionics is touched upon (they also deal with Mind Flayers)

[NiGHTMARE]

That's Kimmuriel Oblodra. He's a member of Bregan D'aerthe, Jarlaxle's mercenary group. When he combines his powers with those of the group's resident mage, they can pull off some pretty impressive stunts (like travelling instantly from Calimport to Luskan).

 

The Paths of Darkness trilogy, and Servant of the Shard in particular, feature him.

[lennon]

Is Saga of the Exiles a dnd novel? I've not found much psionic in dnd novels this far, if there are some it might be interesting to read them to get a better 'feel' for how the systems work.

No, SoE is a curious science fiction story set in a fantasy genre. The earth's pre-history civililisation is based upon time travellers from our near future and humanoid aliens (elves & goblinoids) from another galaxy. The implication is that our/todays tales of swords & sorcery are actually deformed tales of science & psycics

 

Here is a hyperlink to one of the few fan pages for the book. I don't think the author has a web presence.

 

Go Here

[Andyr]

I may have a look into some of these books, then.

 

Paths of Darkness trilogy any good?

[Caedwyr]

I enjoyed it more than the Icewind Dale series, and the writing is definately better.

[NiGHTMARE]

I really liked Paths of Darkness (BTW I was wrong - it's a quadrilogy, not a trilogy ), though if you haven't read the previous set, Legacy of the Drow, you'll occassionaly find yourself wondering what's going on or why something's happening... and of course to fully understand LotD, you'll need to have read the previous two trilogies .

 

Amazon.co.uk are doing the omnibus edition (which is 1166 pages!) for £5.99 at the moment, so you can't really argue with the price .

[Andyr]

Bonus... Omnibus of Paths of Darkness I take it?

 

I think I read Legacy of the Drow, actually - that was the Drizzt ones, right?

[NiGHTMARE]

Yep, just do a search for "Paths of Darkness", it should be the second one down.

 

Legacy of the Drow is where the Drow attack Mithril Hall, then later Drizzt and Catti-Brae infiltrate Menzoberranzen.

[Andyr]

Oh, I've read that then, it was... ok. I'll order PoD now.

[Caedwyr]

I just borrowed them from my local public library, but then again I don't know how good the libraries are over there in the Old Country.

[AnnabelleRose]

You might also want the Dragon Kings 2nd ed book.

 

There are a few psionics in that book if I remember correctly.

 

Be great if the psionics used were similar to the system used in the Skills and Powers setting.

[Andyr]

Old thread...

 

Some plans have probably changed over the last few years. I still have the code on my old laptop, though.

 

I also now have the relevant 2E/3.XE sourcebooks.

[XaosBob]

Hmm, another Andyr thread, another Bobbo reply. Coincidence? Perhaps.

 

A few posts up (and many moons ago) you asked about D&D novels that showed psionics in action, and I had an immediate twinned response under one umbrella--Dark Sun. There was the Prism Pentad by Troy Denning and the Tribe of One trilogy by Simon Hawke. Lots of examples of psionics in action. It took me some time (a number of years, in truth) to find them all, but a couple of the books are pretty easy to track down at used bookstores that carry sci-fi/fantasy, and every one of the 8 books is worth the purchase.