High Cost Powers

[Asinjin]

The high levels powers are the trickiest part of balancing the new psion that we have come across.

Here is a thought on how to help balance them.  If a character uses a power which costs more power points than their current manifestor level, they cannot use another such power for a number of rounds or minutes equal to the difference between their manifestor level and the power points used.

Alternatively, they can't use another such power for some set amount of time.  Maybe an hour.

Thoughts?

[Valdis]

What about taking ability burn if you use a power that costs more in base PP than your current level.  You would take 1 point per the difference between manifestor level and power point minimum (save for half?) Ability Burn Damage to the ability the power belongs to.

[Asinjin]

What about taking ability burn if you use a power that costs more in base PP than your current level.  You would take 1 point per the difference between manifestor level and power point minimum (save for half?) Ability Burn Damage to the ability the power belongs to.

That is a fine solution as well.  Easier to track, however, there are work around for recovery of ability damage.

[Hero]

Agreed that this needs to be addressed. I like both ideas. Here are a couple more ideas for using a power that costs more PP than your ML:

• Drop your focus on that block. Regaining focus requires a concentration check at a higher DC.
• You take hit point damage. Maybe 1 hp per point of difference. Could introduce a feat to reduce it (like Overchannel/Talented).
• You are sickened (with or without a save?) for a round.

[Malchia]

Agreed that this needs to be addressed. I like both ideas. Here are a couple more ideas for using a power that costs more PP than your ML:

• Drop your focus on that block. Regaining focus requires a concentration check at a higher DC.
• You take hit point damage. Maybe 1 hp per point of difference. Could introduce a feat to reduce it (like Overchannel/Talented).
• You are sickened (with or without a save?) for a round.

The third option reminds me of the Gnoll campaign when we channeled our powers.

[Asinjin]

You are sickened (with or without a save?) for a round. [/li][/list]

Whatever the penalty is it has to not be avoidable.  So no save and other spells can't negate it.

[Asinjin]

What about taking ability burn if you use a power that costs more in base PP than your current level.  You would take 1 point per the difference between manifestor level and power point minimum (save for half?) Ability Burn Damage to the ability the power belongs to.

This has the additional penalty of lower the amount of power points you can spend on a power, since that is linked to your ability modifier.

[Windblade]

What ever penalty we introduce is fine but I just think it needs to go away by 15th level

[Asinjin]

What ever penalty we introduce is fine but I just think it needs to go away by 15th level

That will work, since there are no powers that cost that much.