am working on a version of psionics that I feel comfortable using. A version that
in some way reflects the mutability of virtually anything on Athas. A set of rules that it playable
and at the same time reflects my idea of psionics.
First I have to acknowledge my sources. The Freedom! version is of course blatantly pieced together
from various other systems and their alternatives. First of all there is the AD&D 2nd edition Psionics Handbook,
the S&P Psionics Net Book, the D&D 3rd edition Psionics Handbook and last but not least, the Mindscapes
system. I am indebted to those brains how conceived above publications.
This section will give an idea of how I handle psionics rather than detailed rules. It is supposed to be inspiration
rather than a replacement of old rules.
This section is still under construction, so not much explanation is there yet...
How does it work then?
Mental Base Attack Bonus
The Mental Base Attack Bonus works like the normal Base Attack Bonus, only that it is modified
by intelligence and not by strength. It starts at +1 at level one and the psionicist gains an additional
+1 at every level.
Mental Armour Class (MAC)
Every psionics user, every target and psionic power has a MAC.
MAC: 10 + Int bonus + Wis Bonus + defense bonus (see below)
Contact
Tangents. I still operate with tangents. To access the mind of a trained psionicist, an attacker needs to
have made 3 successful attack rolls to get three tangents set. For a non-psionicist wild talent you need 2 tangents
and for an untrained mind you need 1 tangent for contact.
Combat
The combat is modelled after the physical combat in 3e:
Initiative
I have divided the initiative into mental initiative and physical initiative. Non-psionic characters use their
dex bonus on their initiative, psionic characters use their int bonus. Characters who are taking both mental and
physical action have two initiatives, unless they are psychic warriors.
I had problems with the psychic warrior who in my view trains to make his mind one with his body. Some psychic
warriors might already have the same bonus on int and dex, but this is not always the case. I had the following
options to make the
psychic warrior have only one initiative: 1. take the average of int and dex bonus (round up? round down?), 2. take
the higher or lower bonus of the two 3. take the int bonus, 4. let the player of the psychic warrior know that his
aim should be to either raise his dex to his int level or the other way round (ha ha!).
All these options did not seem very fair or logical. So far the psychic warrior's initiative for both actions
are on his int bonus.
Attack: For an attack you have to roll the target's mental armour class or better.
Defense: Every trained mind uses one of the following defenses which gives him/her a bonus to their mental armour class:
Damage
I did not like the attribute damage of Third Edition, although it provides great comedy value during an adventure...
So I modified that...
I quite liked the mental hitpoint or 'psionic strength point' (PSP) damage and as I'm modelling the mental combat on the physical combat it does make sense.
I calculate the PSP as follows:
Level 1:
each additional level
Feats
I was also considering the availability of certain powers at a certain level, but I'm not sure about that yet.
This balancing mechanic would be there to prevent psionicists from getting to powerful too soon.