Limited Mind Shield (Psionic Powers)

[Christopher R. Rice]

So toying around with a villain in my setting, he has Mind Shield really high, but it doesn't work against Psychic Vampirism, in fact he has Susceptible to Psychic Vampirism. The problem is the traits are incompatible unless I limit Mind Shield with "Not against Psychic Vampirism" ...so a limitation obviously, but at what cost? -10% seems to be whats sticking for me. Any thoughts? Rules Citations?

Thanks in advance,

Ghostdancer

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

So toying around with a villain in my setting, he has Mind Shield really high, but it doesn't work against Psychic Vampirism, in fact he has Susceptible to Psychic Vampirism. The problem is the traits are incompatible unless I limit Mind Shield with "Not against Psychic Vampirism" ...so a limitation obviously, but at what cost? -10% seems to be whats sticking for me. Any thoughts? Rules Citations?

I think you have estimated it pretty well. If we assume that each of the various offensive psi skills that might be warded by Mind Shield are equally likely to be encountered, then the eight PV skills represent about 25-30% of the total, meaning that the MS will be effective against 70-75% of the attacks it would otherwise be if unlimited. The Accessibility chart from Powers p99 gives this a value of -10%. I'd call that close enough for E.S.P. work ;)

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

So toying around with a villain in my setting, he has Mind Shield really high, but it doesn't work against Psychic Vampirism, in fact he has Susceptible to Psychic Vampirism.

No they aren't. Simplify your character sheet. Just get enough susceptibility to overwhelm your mind shield and call it a day.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Not another shrubbery

I think you have estimated it pretty well. If we assume that each of the various offensive psi skills that might be warded by Mind Shield are equally likely to be encountered, then the eight PV skills represent about 25-30% of the total, meaning that the MS will be effective against 70-75% of the attacks it would otherwise be if unlimited. The Accessibility chart from Powers p99 gives this a value of -10%. I'd call that close enough for E.S.P. work ;)

Thats basically the *exact* math I used. So at least I was on the right track. Thanks NAS, one can always count on topiary intelligence ^_^

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

No they aren't. Simplify your character sheet. Just get enough susceptibility to overwhelm your mind shield and call it a day.

While I do not see anything other than Resistant listed I don't think taking Susceptible + a trait that gives a point bonus is anything other than a crock. It doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the rules. Thank you for your post however.

Ghostdancer

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

While I do not see anything other than Resistant listed I don't think taking Susceptible + a trait that gives a point bonus is anything other than a crock.

Mind Shield costs 4 points/level. Susceptible to Psychic Vampirism gives you -1 per level. You aren't making a profit.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Mind Shield costs 4 points/level. Susceptible to Psychic Vampirism gives you -1 per level. You aren't making a profit.

It comes out to a -25% limitation though, which sounds like it's overkill.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Mind Shield costs 4 points/level. Susceptible to Psychic Vampirism gives you -1 per level. You aren't making a profit.

I'm pretty sure Psychic Vampirism would be -2/level (Psi, -4/level, ESP/Telepathy/etc., -2/level, Specific ability, -1/level). Using that logic however why not just buy resistant to whatever? No, I'm sorry that doesn't make sense to me.

Ghostdancer

[Pragmatic]

Can I ask why you're pricing out this villain?

Is it going to be an enemy of one of the PCs, and thus you need to know their point total?

I thought the whole point of GURPS (and now D&D4E, I think?) is that only the PCs (and maybe anyone who's a dependent, ally, enemy, etc.) have to be statted out?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Can I ask why you're pricing out this villain?

Is it going to be an enemy of one of the PCs, and thus you need to know their point total?

I thought the whole point of GURPS (and now D&D4E, I think?) is that only the PCs (and maybe anyone who's a dependent, ally, enemy, etc.) have to be statted out?

Sure, you can ask... :D

Basically, I don't hold with that idea for several reasons, one, in the material I'm using (Action) it says pretty specifically not to write up mooks or even non-important henchmen but for 'lieutenants' and 'bosses' you should. I've always agreed to this bit, even before it was written into RAW. Two, I have this policy called ' game mechanical transparency', there were some trust issues with my/our old GM, he was...well a BS'er he felt nothing needed to be written up ever and that telling you what your character did and how awesome his SUPER NPC #1 was was 'roleplaying'. If my players ask to see the character sheet of a major NPC I allow them to. This has built a very deep and lasting trust and no one ever asks to see if X actually has Y at level Z anymore. I still do it because it keeps me honest and reminds me that while I am the Gamemaster I am only there as long as my players want me there. Three, I can come up with stats on the fly, but when I have a reoccurring villain its easier to just write down the various items he has then trying to remember each time.

And for posterity's sake, let me say that I write up all Allies, Dependents, Patrons (if applicable, i.e. a person not a organization), and Enemies. These are things my PC's paid for and I WILL make them have a impact on my game somehow

Ghostdancer