Blog Archive

Showing posts with label Psionic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psionic. Show all posts

Monday 25 March 2019

Psionic Ferret (Sniffers)

These small sized mammals are the preferred way for many non-psionics groups to hunt for Thellans or psionic using humans. Technically they are Arrantics, or non-super intelligent animals gifted with psionic abilities. An important aspect is that they do not train to utilize psionics, but learn them as natural skills.

Psionic Ferret       (Sniffers)
Tiny Size Magical Beast
Hit Dice:                                  3d8 (13 hp)
Initiative:                                +3 (dexterity)
Speed:                                      30 ft
AC:                                           18 (+2 size, +3 Natural, +3 Dexterity)

Base Attack / Grapple:         +3 / +7
Attacks:                                   +4 Bite (1d3+1)
Full Attack:                             +4 Bite (1d3+1)
Special Attacks:                      Attach
Special Qualities:                   Immune to spell detection, Scent

Saves:                                       Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +3
Abilities:                                  Str 4, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 14
Skills:                                       Acrobatics +10, Hide +13, Move Silently +9, Perception +9, Empathy +4

Feats:                                      Mental Leap (40 ft), Track Psionic, (Free) Prionic Charge
Climate/Terrain:                  Any wilderness or Urban
Organization:                        Solitary or Pod (3-6)

Challenge Rating:                 1
Treasure:                                None
Alignment:                             Usually Neutral 
Advancement Range:           4-8 HD (Small)

A grey skinned weasel on a leash smelling the pub’s patrons, looking for something

Appear the same as a normal ferret except for its purple eyes and a look of intelligence.  Few still live wild as they have long been captured and trained for their unique ability to detect psionics by their smell.  It was the Elves who first noticed their unique sensory abilities but it was the dwarves who breed and domesticated the ferrets. It is unknown if the ferrets were always heralded for their ability to detect psionics or simply their observation powers in general.  Sniffers are easy to both breed and train but their playfulness lead them to become favorite pets of dwarven nobility. While often used by those who hate or fear psionics, the animals don't have this trait - psionicists often keep them as pets, the same as others.

Combat: In the wild, psionic ferrets survive mostly by hunting small rodents, insects and shrubbery.  They do this in small packs, while carefully observing the creatures around them for subtle signs of danger.  Whenever a threat appears they hide, and do their best to simply avoid any trouble and when they cannot hide, they flee by any means possible. As pets, they survive by pleasing their masters in the duties they perform. For those who fear psionics they couldn't do better by having one of these beasts near them. Once trained (DC 20), they can detect psionics and inform their trainer by a prearranged sign. Most sniffers can learn up to 6 tricks, but some leaarn many more.

Psionics:  PSP Points: 25; Manifest as 3rd level; Power DC 12+(Charge) 1d4 

Powers Known: Detect Psionics (No PSP cost, Always active), heighten senses, body equilibrium, wall walker, touch sight. 

Detect Psionics: Has a 250 foot range as a psionic power. Their natural smelling capacity has a 100 foot range, so even if a creature can hide their psionic powers using psionics or magic, the ferret can still smell it naturally, just in a slightly lessened range


Tigore or Psionic Tiger

My default rule in games is anything that has "magical" powers but are either not attached to a divine power or "smart" enough for sorcerer powers are psions. The rules I use are close enough in flavour to 3rd edition psionics.

Most creatures manifest agaisnt their opponents, who must roll their DC. In this case, DC 13 is their base.

Tigore

N Large Size Magical Creature (Psionic)
Init +3 Senses Low light vision, Scent, Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5

 DEFENSE

AC 18 touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size)
hp 51hp (6d10+18 con)
Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +2

 OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft.
Melee Bite +10 (1d6+5); 2 claws +7 (1d8+6)
Special Attacks Imp Grab, Pounce, Rake, Psionics

 STATISTICS
Str 21, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Atk +6 CMB +12 CMD 25
Feats Imp Natural Attack, Psionic Grapple, Multiattack
Skills +8 Acrobatics, +8 Climb, +13 Stealth, +8 Swim, Bonus Stealth + 12
Languages None

 ECOLOGY
Environment  Any Non-Urban
Organization   Hunting Pack (2-6)
Treasure Value  None

Psionic tigers or Tigores appear the same as a standard tigers except their skin is green with black stripes, which helps them hide in the forest domain. They have the ability to quite literally change their stripes to camouflage themselves. These large aggressive creatures while not motivated by malice are quick and deadly hunters. They stalk weaker creatures in the forest, using their natural and psionic strengths to take down their foes.

Due to their beautiful thick fur coats, these creature’s hides are desired status symbols by many nobles, and some are willing to pay up to 2,000 crowns (gold pieces) for an unspoiled coat. Large females are often hunted down in hopes of capturing baby cubs - only those raised from birth by a trainer can potentially be loyal to the trainer.

Combat: Tigores attack using stealth, speed and power. They have all of the standard abilities of a tiger along with some lethal psionic abilities. They have incredible patience, willing to wait dozens of hours for the perfect pounce.

Rake: If both front claws hit on a jump attack, they get an additional rake attack

Rake Attack: +6, Damage:1d6+6

Psionics: Manifester Level=6th, PSP 35, DC 13+

Powers: Energy Adaption, Body Equilibrium, Chameleon, Create Sound, Jump (+50 ft)

Wednesday 17 October 2018

Corlth aka The Liberated - Blind, Purple Skinned, Hairless Humanoid

At one point in my gaming these were one of my core races, a slave people that escaped to find a home in the most barren regions. While they still make continual war upon slavers, they open their lodges to other psionic using peoples.   

Corlth, Liberated


Medium Sized Humanoid

Hit Dice:                                    5d8 +10            (31 hp)                         
Initiative:                                   +0
Speed:                                      30
AC:                                           16 (+2 natural, +2 leather armor); 10 Touch, 12 FF
Base Attack / Grapple:             + 5 / + 7
Attacks:                                    + 7 Spear (1d8+2)
Space/Reach:                          5 ft by 5 ft
Special Qualities:                     Psionics
Saves:                                      Fort: +7, Ref: +4, Will: +7
Abilities:                                   Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 9
Skills:                                       Perception +8, Knowledge (Psionics) +5, Climb or Swim +6
Feats:                                       Combat Trance, Concentration Focus 
Climate/Terrain:                        Spires, Remote Areas
Organization:                            Patrol (2-5), Warband (9-16),Tribe (200-500)
Challenge Rating:                    4 (Fully mature)
Treasure:                                  Half Normal
Alignment:                                Usually Neutral (Good)
Advancement Range:               By Character Class

Six faintly purple skinned humanoids, without eyes or hair and blank expressionless faces – appear from nowhere to skewer the goblin slavers. 


Corlth (pronounced Corrr) were created to be the perfect slave race, blind and deaf without a personality and to instinctively obey telepathic commands. They escaped servitude and have learned psionics to compensate for their weak physical condition. Appear as pale purple skinned humanoids, clean shaven and soul-less blank white eyes. The few who have hair, it's usually very short & white. 


Living in isolated, well-protected villages; they survive by hunting and foraging for what they need. They quietly war with slaving races or groups that hurt weaker groups. They continuously plan forays to free thralls. While they don’t welcome visitors, outcasts have sometimes found a home among them. Their leaders are usually psionic masters who teach ethics and skills to the lesser of their kin. They make allies with other non-evil and non-slaving creatures. Adults take the descriptor “liberated”, to denote their status.

Half of their population are non-combative, 1 or 2 HD creatures. Others take barbarian, fighter, ranger, rogue or psionic for any additional HD / classes earned. Druids & bards are the most common spell-caster, wizard and cleric are virtually non-existent in their villages. Individuals in those classes usually leave to serve in larger towns in either the Spell Towers or an obelisk to their dedication. Those individuals are still drawn to service for their community, and do what they can to ensure their tribe's prosperity and survival.

Corlth live simple lives, harvesting what they need, helping to release slaves, and living a nomadic lifestyle. What many village outsiders are often surprised by is their intense respect of knowledge and learning.All adults know how to read, and have story-telling or musical traditions that they use to share their stories. While they are sometimes critical of outsiders, they are respectful and always have plenty of insightful questions. 

Combat Foes underestimate corlth only once, then fear them for their psionic powers and combat strategies.  They rarely engage foes until they know an enemies weakness. Whenever possible they use their combat trance before battle, increasing their chance of success. While they are known for their psionic powers, only around 20% of the population has psionics beyond their touchsense ability.

Combat Trance (New Feat): Gain +3 on all attack rolls versus a renowned foe.  Can be any species enemy, however it must be designated at the beginning of the day and it cannot be changed until the start of the next day.  This feat again does not stack, if taken a second time it applies to a second foe. It does stack if the Corlth has similar features from a class ability such as a rangers hunting bonus.

Typical Psionics PSP: 20; Manifester Level: 4th
1st: Daze, Detect Psionics, Float, Message (Any 2)
2nd: Animal Affinity, Biofeedback, Energy Push, Object Reading (Any 1)
3rd: Touchsense**


*These are typical powers chosen by a corlth, individuals might have a few differing powers but use this combination for most Corlth.

** Corlth manifest touchsense without psp cost at a 30 foot range. Some members specialize using feats to increase their touchsense range by 50 ft for each advancement feat they utilize. 

Friday 31 March 2017

Callanna - Giant Snake Humanoid

Inspired by a famous fantasy artist, Boris Vallejo. This was one of the many cards in a set of art cards. He has inspired many of my early creatures.

Callanna
CR 6
XP 2,400

N (NG) Large Aberration
Init +2 Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +8

DEFENSE
AC 19 touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, -1 size, +4 inertial armor)
hp 45hp (6d8+18 con)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +7
Defensive Abilities Immune to Natural Poisons

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Halberd +6 (1d8+6)
Space 10 ft. Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks Coil (1d12+ 3)
Psionics: Aversion, Improved Biofeedback, Body Equilibrium, Conceal Thoughts, Greater Concussion, Detect Psionics, Ectoplasmic Form, Energy Barrier, Gravity Arc
PSPs: 50, DC 15 + level of power

STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +4 CMB +8 CMD 20
Feats Mind-Link, Improved Disarm, Inertial Armour
Skills Swim +8, Perception +8, Knowledge (Psionics) +8, Move Silently +8
Languages Lizardith, Giant, Common

ECOLOGY

Environment Under-earth swamp, warm/forests, jungles
Organization Watch (2-5) or Tribe (15 – 100)
Treasure Value Standard

Callanna are huge, 25 feet long snakes with a green tinged human torso, arms and head. More than half the length of their body is used for stability, they rise between 8 - 12 feet from the ground. They use pouches for carrying objects. Most reside in under-earth swamp caverns seeking isolation over wealth, fame or battle. They are among the most powerful physical psionicists and have longed helped shellar, lizardith and other good-aligned psionic using humanoids to learn the talent. They speak lizardith but usually use the psionic mind-link to communicate with their own kind as well as with other psions.

Combat: These snake-men are exceptional warriors, meshing physical strengths and psionic abilities to create a powerful presence. Their preferred weapon is the halberd, which they use to make long aching arches, doing double strength damage. They use nets and maces if they want to take prisoner.

They mix groups tactics, using front-line physical attackers and others in back using psionic attack (aversion or energy barrier.) But as strong as they are, they rarely attack foes. These usually use their psionics to avoid battle or to watch opponents. Unless one of their own or an ally is in mortal danger, they usually quietly fade into the dense forest or swamp.

Society: The amphibious Callanna are strong swimmers who are also water breathers. They enjoy hot steaming pools where both their eggs are stored and where their young are raised. The young are nursed by the tribal elders until they reach the age of the molt (approximately ten years old) when they are given tests to determine their role in life. At this point they are returned to their parents and assigned an individual mentor to guide them through the next few years before becoming a full member of Callanna society.

As adults, they spend time hunting, foraging and in meditation. While not exactly shy, these snake-men prefer to spend much of their time doing solo activities. While usually called snake-men, the truth is that Callanna chose their gender, based on their own as well as the tribes needs. There is no separation or distinction in their society.

Among the great psionic masters found on Nyssa, as many of the greatest treatises were penned by this race, and many psions seek them out as mentors. Yet, the Callanna themselves venerate the coatl, it is a central figure in much of their art, religion & philosophy.

Mind-Link Feat: This is the Nyssian version of Telepathy. Any two creatures within a 60 foot radius that have this psionic feat can send simple messages to each other without paying a PSP cost. Creatures are able to attack other Open Minded creatures, but few are able to psionically attack a Closed Mind or someone without psionics. There is a small psp cost (usually 1 psp) to send a message to a closed or non-psionic mind.