TOPIC: New for 2015 -- Psychic Powers!

SageSTL wrote: I didn't use a psionic power once in any of my runs, nor did my best friend. The powers are too underwhelming to be anything but an afterthought--even as a free action. I don't plan to equip the ioun stone again (unless there is some compelling reason to do so, such as for the year seven adventure). I'm hoping that the combined Teeth of Cavadar item is better/different/interesting in some way. And--I don't mean overpowered. I felt pretty overpowered this year as it is, with the exception of Grind. I'd love to just see something different from a design perspective.

Also--not griping (because it really didn't seem to matter anyway), but it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card (despite being on the ones that were turned in).

combat underdark..if you had it equipped you didnt take any psychic blast damage

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

SageSTL wrote: I didn't use a psionic power once in any of my runs, nor did my best friend. The powers are too underwhelming to be anything but an afterthought--even as a free action. I don't plan to equip the ioun stone again (unless there is some compelling reason to do so, such as for the year seven adventure). I'm hoping that the combined Teeth of Cavadar item is better/different/interesting in some way. And--I don't mean overpowered. I felt pretty overpowered this year as it is, with the exception of Grind. I'd love to just see something different from a design perspective.

Also--not griping (because it really didn't seem to matter anyway), but it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card (despite being on the ones that were turned in).

combat underdark..if you had it equipped you didnt take any psychic blast damage

Yeah--even those that took damage were fine, though (at least on Nightmare, can't speak for Epic). Didn't seem to make much difference overall.

SageSTL wrote:

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

SageSTL wrote: I didn't use a psionic power once in any of my runs, nor did my best friend. The powers are too underwhelming to be anything but an afterthought--even as a free action. I don't plan to equip the ioun stone again (unless there is some compelling reason to do so, such as for the year seven adventure). I'm hoping that the combined Teeth of Cavadar item is better/different/interesting in some way. And--I don't mean overpowered. I felt pretty overpowered this year as it is, with the exception of Grind. I'd love to just see something different from a design perspective.

Also--not griping (because it really didn't seem to matter anyway), but it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card (despite being on the ones that were turned in).

combat underdark..if you had it equipped you didnt take any psychic blast damage

Yeah--even those that took damage were fine, though (at least on Nightmare, can't speak for Epic). Didn't seem to make much difference overall.

We lost someone on Hardcore on each of our runs. The combined damage from the 1/2 of HP lost and the big attack the first round was enough to kill nearly anyone in our party.

I think at WYC I remembered to use the 5pt heal once, but at gencon I didn't use it at all, not even in Grind when I had to spend a turn to swim to the monster... Probably could have walked on water I'm guessing?

Kirk Bauer wrote: I think at WYC I remembered to use the 5pt heal once, but at gencon I didn't use it at all, not even in Grind when I had to spend a turn to swim to the monster... Probably could have walked on water I'm guessing?

It would have saved you on turn (walking on water instead of swimming into the lake).

SageSTL wrote: Also--not griping (because it really didn't seem to matter anyway), but it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card (despite being on the ones that were turned in).

A LOT of players seemed to incorrectly believe that the Amethyst Ovoid made you immune to all Psychic damage and all Psychic attacks, when it only provides immunity to Psychic Blast.

The protective effect of the amethyst ovoid is the value.

Jeff has moved away from the D&D style with the nature of the psychic powers offered.

They are underwhelming.

On your last note Eric, I hope the monsters have the same psychic powers that the players are offered. Having the dungeon attack with acid when there are no available defenses against it makes a lot of people say hmmm…….

Incognito wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: I think at WYC I remembered to use the 5pt heal once, but at gencon I didn't use it at all, not even in Grind when I had to spend a turn to swim to the monster... Probably could have walked on water I'm guessing?

It would have saved you on turn (walking on water instead of swimming into the lake).

SageSTL wrote: Also--not griping (because it really didn't seem to matter anyway), but it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card (despite being on the ones that were turned in).

A LOT of players seemed to incorrectly believe that the Amethyst Ovoid made you immune to all Psychic damage and all Psychic attacks, when it only provides immunity to Psychic Blast.

Yeah, I saw that too. The specific issue I saw was that the stone wasn't getting marked on cards, and those that had it were getting hit with the psychic blasts. Again, wasn't a big deal in the end (we had no deaths in either run we did)--and not likely to come up again soon.

Disbeeleaf wrote: On your last note Eric, I hope the monsters have the same psychic powers that the players are offered. Having the dungeon attack with acid when there are no available defenses against it makes a lot of people say hmmm…….

Uh, really?

1. Players have access to acid, force, sacred, and eldritch damage. Why would it be surprising for monsters to have access to those forms of damage too?

2. Monsters were using fire, cold, shock, and sonic damage long before there were available defenses against them. Did that make people say hmmmm?

SageSTL wrote: it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card.

Coaches were instructed to check a box if a player had access to psychic power(s). If you are immune to psychic blast, it is up to you to remember it and not take damage when the DM says you get hit with a psychic blast. Neither DMs, coaches, nor the party card track player hit points.

But even if the coach forgot to check the box, you know you have the ioun stone and you are free to negate the damage.

Druegar wrote:

SageSTL wrote: it seemed like the ioun stones were getting missed quite a bit in the coaching room; a lot of people, myself and my friends included, we're getting hit by psychic blasts because it wasn't marked on the party card.

Coaches were instructed to check a box if a player had access to psychic power(s). If you are immune to psychic blast, it is up to you to remember it and not take damage when the DM says you get hit with a psychic blast. Neither DMs, coaches, nor the party card track player hit points.

But even if the coach forgot to check the box, you know you have the ioun stone and you are free to negate the damage.

Understood. The problem is that it wasn't checked on the party card for whatever reason, and two different DMs asked to see the token (which were in checked bags). In each case those affected just shrugged, took the damage, and moved on.

Didn't mean to derail the discussion; I brought it up not to complain (as the coaches were consistently great this year), but to further emphasize that the psychic powers seemed a bit of an afterthought, even to the coaches.