So, I'm running Expedition to the Barrier peaks soon for C&C. Know one in the group knows a damn thing about the module. I've played it, and will be running it better...and in C&C.
However, there are quite a few instances of psionic effects in the module and I have no idea how they work in OD&D. C&C has no official psionic rules, although there's a good unofficial document for a psionicist class and basic rules here (http://www.grey-elf.com/candc/psionics.pdf).
How did psionics interact with magic back when the module was written?
IIRC, EttBP was the only module that really relied on the psionics rules - several of the monsters encountered within have psionic abilities (Mind Flayer, Intellect Devourer) which were intended to challenge the party with combat situations in which magic generally wouldn't work. OTOH, a party with no psionically-abled characters should be largely immune to any offensive psionic attacks if using the PHB psionics rules.
So, if you're using C&C, or OSRIC for that matter, you ought to adapt the monsters themselves to your system - perhaps giving them spell-like abilities that mimic their original psionic ones. Another option is to give them special abilities (mutations) derived from a similar system like Gamma World or Mutant Future. For either option, you'll need to decide which Saving Throw is appropriate as well.
OE D&D and AD&D1E psionics are almost the same rules. If you have a 1E AD&D PHB, them's the rules.
Aside from the few abilities that specifically targeted the other, spells and psionics didn't interact.
I don't have any of the rules you guys mentioned. Thanks for the responses. Are there psionics rules in OSRIC?
Quote from: aramis;308389Aside from the few abilities that specifically targeted the other, spells and psionics didn't interact.
So, very unlike 3rd edition psionics.
Quote from: joewolz;308672So, very unlike 3rd edition psionics.
Yup.
3E psionics is 3rd flavor of unified magic.
D&D OE, AD&D 1E psionics are add-on only, and range from Mui stupido to Thoofa ungawa!
Think of supernatural powers as a tree; the trunk branches two ways: Magic branch, and psionics branch.
The Magic branch breaks into 3: Inherent abilities, wizardly, and religious. (Wizardly into Magic User, Illusionist, and Bard; Religious into Clerical and Druidic).
The psionics branch has no subdivisions.
In 3.x, it's one branch point with 4 branches: Arcane, Psionics, Clerical, Inherent. The option to move psionics down the tree is available, but just an option.
The actual mechanics of psionics differ wildly, too.
OE and 1E are the same; 2E is proficiencies + PsiPoints; 3E is Psi-points and slots of known abilities (similar to sorcerer).
Thank you, aramis.
So, I ask again, are there psionics rules in OSRIC?
Quote from: joewolz;308743...
So, I ask again, are there psionics rules in OSRIC?
No..
Poop! Where can I find the OD&D psionics rules, then?
Quote from: joewolz;308747Poop! Where can I find the OD&D psionics rules, then?
The 1e AD&D PHB appendix, or the Eldritch Wizardry (supplement III).
S3 is my favorite module, it can be really fun. Wish I could help with the psionics stuff, but the stuff in 1E is all I'm familiar with. Of the AD&D folks who dig the concept of non-magical mind powers (like me), most folks seem to kinda do their own thing using the rules as written as only a loose guide. The suggestions about using regular spell like abilities as "weird non-magical mind powers" might get you through easily. Maybe borrow a 1E DMG and PHB from someone so you can bone-up on 1E psionics and adapt as needed for running S3. From what I've read about C&C, using some form of AD&D psionics shouldn't be hard at all.
Don't forget to stat out that crazy monster in EO's awesome cover!! I would feel ripped off if I didn't get to run into that thing, and it would be a shame not use the cover pic as a visual player aid along with all the other rockin Otus pics.... Good luck!!
Screw Psionics. We never used them. Ever. And we loved Expedition to the Barrier Peaks all the same. All that goofy technology stuff.
Quote from: Akrasia;308765The 1e AD&D PHB appendix, or the Eldritch Wizardry (supplement III).
Thank you!
Quote from: Abacus Ape;308777S3 is my favorite module, it can be really fun. Wish I could help with the psionics stuff, but the stuff in 1E is all I'm familiar with. Of the AD&D folks who dig the concept of non-magical mind powers (like me), most folks seem to kinda do their own thing using the rules as written as only a loose guide. The suggestions about using regular spell like abilities as "weird non-magical mind powers" might get you through easily. Maybe borrow a 1E DMG and PHB from someone so you can bone-up on 1E psionics and adapt as needed for running S3. From what I've read about C&C, using some form of AD&D psionics shouldn't be hard at all.
Don't forget to stat out that crazy monster in EO's awesome cover!! I would feel ripped off if I didn't get to run into that thing, and it would be a shame not use the cover pic as a visual player aid along with all the other rockin Otus pics.... Good luck!!
I have no problem with ad-hoc...but I would like the rules so I can make an attempt at making sense of the psionic powers in the module...so I don't shaft the players with them.
And I hope it will be awesome, they have no idea what it's about.
Quote from: JohnnyWannabe;308779Screw Psionics. We never used them. Ever. And we loved Expedition to the Barrier Peaks all the same. All that goofy technology stuff.
I can't wait to see how they fare. I think I'm going to give them a group of "retainers" that they have to look out for...so they have a steady supply of new PCs should they die. I think that this will be likely even at 10th level (there are 5 of them).
The Psionics rules can also be found in OE D&D Supplement 3: Eldritch Wizardry
Quote from: Akrasia;308765The 1e AD&D PHB appendix, or the Eldritch Wizardry (supplement III).
Quote from: aramis;308807The Psionics rules can also be found in OE D&D Supplement 3: Eldritch Wizardry
Um, yeah, already covered... ;)
So, I finished the game up last night. It was a real blast! The PCs got off a little light, bypassing the jungle. There were two PC deaths, it rocked.
I love S3, and plan on running it again one of these days. C&C is awesome, as usual...
Now, off to prepare for my Geist game.
I haven't used psionics in a long time, but I could've sworn some of the charts were also in the DMG.
Though personally, I think you're better off downloading a free copy of Mutant Future from Goblinoid Games and substituting in a Brain Lasher for the Mind Flayer. That'll be a lot easier than actually trying to get the 1st edition psionics to work. I dunno what to do about the Intellect Devourer. I'd probably roll up a couple useful mental mutations and fake it.
I never used the psionics rules, I jsut rolled some dice and made effects that sounded right. I basically made the psychic monsters make a SIEGE roll, and if they made it...something happened.
THere was a whole lot less psychic stuff in actual play than the module presented.
If the pcs are non-psionic, the only attack mode usable against them is psionic blast. There's a chart in the AD&D 1e dmg with the effects. It's based on the combined int + wis score of each pc affected. Pcs should have decent enough scores to not get screwed too badly, but animal companions, mounts, etc will get hosed. :-)
I can't say that I've ever actually used the D&D psionics rules, but boy, do I love the names of the attack and defense modes:
- Psionic Blast
- Mind Thrust
- Ego Whip
- Id Insinuation
- Psychic Crush
- Mind Blank
- Thought Shield
- Mental Barrier
- Intellect Fortress
- Tower of Iron Will
Okay, there are some boring ones in there (psionic blast and mental barrier, I'm looking at you), but who wouldn't want to listen to some Manowar while using Id Insinuation, Psychic Crush, and Ego Whip to dominate your enemies or turn them into gibbering idiots. And invoking the Tower of Iron Will against a mind flayer sounds just all kinds of awesome.
It always seemed a shame that psionic blast was the only one that was useful agaist non-psionic types, so in our campaign we made up effects for the rest of the psionic attack powers vs. non psionic types. And I agree with Philotomy about the cool names!! I always had it in the back of my head to go back and make the defences useful outside of psionic combat too, but never got around to it.