Report 494

Report #494
Skillset: Psychometabolism Skill: Introspection
 Org: Nekotai Status: Completed Nov 2010
Furies' Decision:
Psi actions will sustain momentum.
Problem: Monks loose momentum for every 7 seconds of kata inaction. This
situates 6 second superstratus, and +5 second id balance as practically dropping
a level of momentum, with 4 second substratus too close for comfort. The
fundamental mechanics of psionic recovery is fatally flawed against psymet monks
because it situates channeled actions (ex. shift, cell adjust, amnesia, etc) as
working against building momentum, a stark contrast to acrobatics which
increases balance recovery through springup, contort, and hyperventilate. Also,
locked psymet combat defenses are situational against specific archetypes (i.e.
forced symmetry against melee classes, pheromones against bards). Swapping a set
of defenses costs +6 seconds to channel unlock and another +6 seconds to relock
a new set of defenses rendering certain defenses unusable when switching
targets. These setbacks can be most directly remedied by addressing psionic
balance times for psymet monks. I've decided to push these solutions as a re-
visioning of the introspection skill because A) it does not significantly
contribute to the psymet skill progression, and B) it is once of the first
abilities acquired after mastering psionics, and taking up the psymet
specialization.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #1: Change introspection to a 5 power defense that will
 halve psi channel balance times: 2 second Sub, 3
 second Super, and +3 second Id recovery.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #2: Change introspection to a 5 power defense that will
 increase the duration of momentum by 1 or 2 seconds.
[A: 0 R: 0] Solution #3: Change introspection to provide a convention to swap
 out locked psionic/psymet defenses without the need
 to first unlock the channel (thus cutting down on psi
 balance recovery). Something along the lines of how
 Harmony makes use of "NA" to improve equilibrium
 recovery.
Player Comments:
---[Janalon on 11/8 @ 11:18 writes]:
Three solutions with three wildly different outcomes. The first will open access
to using psionic/psymet actions like scan, read aura, ego scan, psychic push,
amnesia, body scan, alter aura, hyperhidrosis (which I feel should be moved up
into TP/TK), shift, and cell adjust with more reasonable recovery times. Option
2 will give some relief against momentum loss and close the combat gap between
acro and psymet. Option 3 will enhance a psymet's ability to raise context-
specific defenses in group combat situations. Any one of these options should
greatly increase the synergy between psionics/pschometabolis and kata momentum.
---[Casilu on 11/8 @ 18:39 writes]:
I think solution 2 is the best as acrobats have a few ways to stop themselves
from losing momentum and yes, that would help close the gap.
---[Talan on 11/18 @ 16:49 writes]:
I feel there should be some trade off (the likely loss of momentum) to switching
around these defenses. Of these, solution 3 I guess.
---[Fillin on 11/23 @ 04:23 writes]:
Solution 1 or 3. I don't like solution 2 for making momentum even easier.
---[Janalon on 11/25 @ 12:50 writes]:
Just want to point out that solutions 1 and 3 will both allow a psymet monk to
switch out defenses at about the same rate (more or less) at about 7 seconds.
The real question is whether monks should be able to use psionic actions at a
more reasonable rate of recovery. Solution 1 if the psionic skillet should more
fully open up to monks. Solution 2 if not.