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Aina Grey
Acolyte
Austria
43 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Feb 2008 : 18:36:30
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easy question (NOT): has a humanoid that takes a psionic class technically been born as a psionic talent or is this something you can theoretically "learn", like magic? if the latter is untrue, how can I bend it? 
also, *how* rare are humanoid psion characters in the Realms?
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Edited by - Aina Grey on 19 Feb 2008 18:44:33
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2008 : 21:10:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Aina Grey
easy question (NOT): has a humanoid that takes a psionic class technically been born as a psionic talent or is this something you can theoretically "learn", like magic? if the latter is untrue, how can I bend it?
also, *how* rare are humanoid psion characters in the Realms?
Great question. From what little I've read about psionics (ie. from the House of Serpents trilogy), psionic talent is generally inate. But for all I know, there is some rule or whatever that let's people "learn" it (perhaps, by "coaxing" out inate talent that was so hidden they would never have been able to use it otherwise). |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 00:49:29
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Psionics, or the Invisible Art [which is the term for psionics in the Realms--though it was noticeably absent from Player's Guide to Faerūn], has been in FR since 1e, it has just never been all that prominent in previous editions of the setting. Its apparent lack during 2e FR was mostly noted due to the fact that TSR didn't want two different worlds with a lot of psionics [the published DARK SUN setting was the main TSR setting for psionics], so psionics in the FR were put "on the backburner" so to speak.
One example, in the Ol' Grey Box, mentions that Illistyl Elventree has some degree of psionic power.
In 2e, psionics has a few notable practitioners, one of them House Obladra -- is covered in both FR fiction as well as the 2e Menzoberranzan boxed set.
Every other example of psionic characters in the Realms during 1e/2e can be gleaned from Kuje's FR NPC file -- some of which have developed mostly as wild talents. And take a look through Ed's compiled replies from Candlekeep for his take on psionics in the Realms.
Additionally, there aren't many famous human/demihuman psions/psionicists in the Realms because:-
-- the Invisible Art occurs among humans and demihumans mostly as minor wild talents; those are rare, and few of those people develop them strongly
-- it isn't generally known to be anything distinct from magic
-- mass fame as we know it doesn't exist in the Realms anyway
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2008 : 16:28:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Check out these articles from Eytan for inspiration on psions in the Realms:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070711
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070620
Yes they are! I was looking forward to see what he would be contributing to the 4e Realms, but that was before they gave us all these "previews" (at the end of the GHotR, and then with those two online Dragon articles). The "previews" at the end of the GHotR really bothers me, because for me it kinda spoils what is a great work by pasting some poo onto the end of it. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2008 : 16:41:39
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| By the way, I have a question I have to ask, and I think it fits the topic. I read on the WotC boards that Jhaamdath used to be a magocracy, but was retconned into a psiocracy (sp?) Is this true? And where can I get information on the older version of Jhaamdath. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2008 : 20:13:41
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quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Check out these articles from Eytan for inspiration on psions in the Realms:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070711
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070620
Yes they are! I was looking forward to see what he would be contributing to the 4e Realms, but that was before they gave us all these "previews" (at the end of the GHotR, and then with those two online Dragon articles). The "previews" at the end of the GHotR really bothers me, because for me it kinda spoils what is a great work by pasting some poo onto the end of it.
I'm not actually working on any 4e Realms products. I've got several other things going, but nothing in the Realms yet. There will probably be more freelancers involved in 4e FR once the new FRCS (and player's guide) come out. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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Grehnar
Acolyte
United Kingdom
44 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2008 : 20:45:01
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Regarding Jhaamdath, there are a few older references to it in the Calimport supplement and a hint in Cloak and Dagger but nothing in the Vilhon Reach shouted Jhaamdath at me.
When the Realms moved on to 2e after the ToT, psionics were written off entirely in the FR Adventures hardback and only drifted back with the publication of the Complete Psionics Handbook the best part of a year later.
IMHO psionics 3.5e are a world away from 1e and though theoretically most characters now have the potential, they are still pretty special and the retcon of Jhaamdath gives a nice rich flavour to the history of FR psionics. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2008 : 23:18:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Grehnar
Regarding Jhaamdath, there are a few older references to it in the Calimport supplement and a hint in Cloak and Dagger but nothing in the Vilhon Reach shouted Jhaamdath at me.
When the Realms moved on to 2e after the ToT, psionics were written off entirely in the FR Adventures hardback and only drifted back with the publication of the Complete Psionics Handbook the best part of a year later.
IMHO psionics 3.5e are a world away from 1e and though theoretically most characters now have the potential, they are still pretty special and the retcon of Jhaamdath gives a nice rich flavour to the history of FR psionics.
Thanks for the information. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2008 : 00:16:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
And where can I get information on the older version of Jhaamdath.
See Empires of the Shining Sea and Sea of Fallen Stars primarily. There are a few secondary mentions, but nothing really in-depth.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2008 : 21:59:26
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
And where can I get information on the older version of Jhaamdath.
See Empires of the Shining Sea and Sea of Fallen Stars primarily. There are a few secondary mentions, but nothing really in-depth.
Thanks. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2008 : 16:18:32
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quote:
Originally posted by EytanBernstein
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
Yes they are! I was looking forward to see what he would be contributing to the 4e Realms, but that was before they gave us all these "previews" (at the end of the GHotR, and then with those two online Dragon articles). The "previews" at the end of the GHotR really bothers me, because for me it kinda spoils what is a great work by pasting some poo onto the end of it.
I'm not actually working on any 4e Realms products. I've got several other things going, but nothing in the Realms yet. There will probably be more freelancers involved in 4e FR once the new FRCS (and player's guide) come out.
I knew that you were not, what I meant is that I had been looking forward to what you were contributing to future 4e Realms products. I am sorry if it seemed as if I implied that you were working on the FRCG or FRPG. Anyways, at this point it is moot because until I have a coffee and the FRCG in hand at Borders to give it a good look-over, I am not at all excited about what they have done to the 4e Realms. IMO, even if I were to assume that they were correct that the death of Mystra (redundant if nothing else) and the Spellplague were necessary for the transition to the 4e Realms (which I am not positive that they were), there are many, many, many other things that they have done that I am quite sure that were not. Magic changing and all, there is no need to redraw the face of Toril. It is a new campaign setting as I see it now, not a new version of an old one. Sorry, I did not mean to rant at you Eytan, thanks for all the work you put into the Realms of the Old Guard. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 04:20:22
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quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by EytanBernstein
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
Yes they are! I was looking forward to see what he would be contributing to the 4e Realms, but that was before they gave us all these "previews" (at the end of the GHotR, and then with those two online Dragon articles). The "previews" at the end of the GHotR really bothers me, because for me it kinda spoils what is a great work by pasting some poo onto the end of it.
I'm not actually working on any 4e Realms products. I've got several other things going, but nothing in the Realms yet. There will probably be more freelancers involved in 4e FR once the new FRCS (and player's guide) come out.
I knew that you were not, what I meant is that I had been looking forward to what you were contributing to future 4e Realms products. I am sorry if it seemed as if I implied that you were working on the FRCG or FRPG. Anyways, at this point it is moot because until I have a coffee and the FRCG in hand at Borders to give it a good look-over, I am not at all excited about what they have done to the 4e Realms. IMO, even if I were to assume that they were correct that the death of Mystra (redundant if nothing else) and the Spellplague were necessary for the transition to the 4e Realms (which I am not positive that they were), there are many, many, many other things that they have done that I am quite sure that were not. Magic changing and all, there is no need to redraw the face of Toril. It is a new campaign setting as I see it now, not a new version of an old one. Sorry, I did not mean to rant at you Eytan, thanks for all the work you put into the Realms of the Old Guard.
No offense taken. I don't know much more about the plans than you do. I can't comment either way, but I'm sympathetic to your worries. I guess we'll all have to wait and see. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2008 : 20:30:29
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| Talking about Psionics in the Realms, I'm fairly certain the Realms do not have xephs... where would you put them in the Realms? some sort of Jaamdathii servant caste to the 12 Elans? a way to promote dutiful heralds and messengengers by imbuing them with psionic powers of their own? (i.e. burst of speed?) |
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khorne
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1073 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2008 : 19:04:47
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| I wonder how common precise knowledge of the power of psionics is among arcane magic-users? It would be amusing to read about a wizard who thought he was dealing with a fool with just a few mindtricks, and got stomped into the ground by an archpsion. |
If I were a ranger, I would pick NDA for my favorite enemy |
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GoCeraf
Learned Scribe
147 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2008 : 03:35:15
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I'm relatively certain that most magic users who are of professional training (i.e. wizards or "reformed" sorcerers who studied at an academy) have enough of an awareness of the practice of psionics to differentiate it from magic (though not necessarily labeling it as "psionic" per se). I know of a psionic Drow house, probably House Obladra which Sage mentioned, that stood out amongst the other noble houses. Incidentally, their practice of psychic ability was no secret to other matron mothers, who could recognize the lack of conventional spellcasting methods (components, if you will). Sure, the ladies unfair used divine magic, rather than arcane, but I think the idea stands.
As per your actual question, though, khorne, I'm unsure of there's any relative method of determining the actual power of a psion. I know that magic affects psionics and vice versa in the Realms, leading me to believe that spells like Detect Magic could determine the power of psionic items (if any) such a character carried, but I could be mistaken. Regardless, I doubt it'd be any easier to identify a power psion by sight than it is to identify a powerful wizard. Personally, I'd be more intimidated by the tattooed, bald guy with glowing eyes and a crystal floating around his head than I would be by the crusty geriatric with mothy robes and a bunch of books.
All the best |
Being sarcastic can be more telling than simply telling. |
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Psionics and the Realms
