Page 77: More Psionics
April 16, 2009
Sorry for the long break between actual “page” entries. Some dark force, no doubt, doesn’t want the truth to get out about Psionics. Now I just need to check my wall charts to see if it was Reptoid stooges or Hyper-evolved Nordic Ultra-Terrestrials (man, that was gooood cold medicine).
Was it the Reptoids?
...or the ultra-terrestrials?
The world may never know.
What I do know is why Psionics so rarely ever showed up in my assorted AD&D campaigns. Unlike most things in AD&D it does not scale to level or experience. A 1st level psionic character never changes, expands, or improves their powers, save by gaining a few points from the odd ioun stone. Maepharax, Grey Elf Wizard of the Silver Moon Society is put on the same footing at Durf, the Lucky, so long as both character through some combination of good rolls and high stats are psionic. Is this great news for Durf, 1st level human thief? Sure. Does it make no sense that after 1000 years of training Maepharax is no better at her Ego Whipping or Mind Blanking? Of course not.
But what of page 77? Or your discussion of psionics?
The first I’ll post today; the other when I am satisfied with what I’ve said (i.e. who knows).
The page is almost entirely filled with the psionic combat table (IV.B. Psionic Attack Upon Defenseless Psionic). The X axis is a range of possible point totals for the defender (maximum psionic strength, not current points); Y shows attacker’s current attack strength divided by type of psionic attack.
Example: Snoobuck, Gnome Illusionist and psionic (Strength 210 points) is psionic blasted by a Mind Flayer (attack strength 120). The result is D, “Dazed for 1d4 turns”. Her companion Plunch the Dull (Strength 45) unfortunately is K, “Killed”. Ouch. Hopefully they’ve got some non-psionic chums to keep their brains from being eaten.
Clearly, you don’t want to be the recipient of a psionic attack if your defenses are down. At best you’ll loose some attack points. Alternately you might be Confused for 2d4 rounds, Dazed for 1d4 turns, loose a power temporarily, made into an idiot, Killed, be dazed and lose a psionic attack or defense, put into a coma “A state 99% chance to be mistaken for death”), or made a “robot” slave of your attaker. That’s harsh.
Tomorrow: More Psionics (oh yeah)
