Why psionics solves everything

[The Vorpal Tribble]

This is why Roy needs to take that level in psion.

Sensitivity to Psychic Impressions

They'd know very quickly if the gate was actually hidden there or not. Simple 2nd level power that Girard would not be able to hide, foil, or dispel.

[Kish]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

that Girard would not be able to hide, foil, or dispel.

I think you're making an invalid assumption about what Girard can and can't do.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Originally Posted by Kish

I think you're making an invalid assumption about what Girard can and can't do.

He would have had to of taken some psion levels himself and made up his own power to do so..

There is no spell-version of this, and psionics are very rare in this world, so he'd have to have taken precautions against a low-level spell from an obscure discipline of a rare class that allows no save nor saving throw. He's have had to take levels in Psicraft or Knowledge (psionics) to even know it existed. That's like a druid just happening to take levels in knowledge (architecture and engineering).

I think it is a very valid assumption.

[Kish]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

He would have had to of taken some psion levels himself and made up his own power to do so..

Oh? I admit I never read the 3.5ed psionics book, only the 3.0ed one. Did they say magic can no longer affect psionics?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Originally Posted by Kish

Oh? I admit I never read the 3.5ed psionics book. Did they say magic can no longer affect psionics?

No, magic can. However, there is no spell that counters it as there is no magic equivalent.

There isn't even a psionic power that hides it... except for the one I myself wrote, but that's besides the point.

[Kish]

Then we've already seen a spell that would have foiled it, haven't we? Cloister. And the wizard who came up with that one wasn't even the master of illusion.

[silversaraph]

I imagine the mind flayer is still in custody. Do something copyrighted, wait for them to show up, and have Belkar make an intimidation check (I need that guy!)

Originally Posted by Kish

Then we've already seen a spell that would have foiled it, haven't we? Cloister. And the wizard who came up with that one wasn't even the master of illusion.

Where? It's not like V was using psionics in one of his attempts...

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Why would Cloister have any effect on it?

Edit: 2nd question, did you follow the link I posted?

[Kish]

Yes. Oh, wait, you're right, Cloister wouldn't affect a power invoked while standing in the area to be scanned.

Regardless. I think you're overrating psionics and that Girard is far more likely to have used a spell that would block all magical or psionic detection methods than something that blocks magic but lets psionics get right through (whether or not Girard actually took psionics into account). He would certainly not need actual psion levels to do so.

Although the Order's already pretty certain the Gate's not there. I imagine, if they used that power, the result would be "nothing here but a trap which already went off," not because Girard cast any manner of concealing spell there, but because that's the case.

[Mystic Muse]

Isn't everything in the SRD open content?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

There IS nothing that blocks it yet still allows magic/psionics to function. There is nothing to block. You sense what is already there with that power.

Although the Order's already pretty certain the Gate's not there. I imagine, if they used that power, the result would be "nothing here but a trap which already went off," not because Girard cast any manner of concealing spell there, but because that's the case.

With as emotionally involved as the Scribble was with the gates you bet anything involved with it would leave an impression.

Everything mentioned so far is very LESS likely than the fact that the ability would simply work.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

This is why Roy needs to take that level in psion.

So he can be past-psychic in addition to being future-psychic?

[silversaraph]

Originally Posted by Kish

Yes. Oh, wait, you're right, Cloister wouldn't affect a power invoked while standing in the area to be scanned.

Regardless. I think you're overrating psionics and that Girard is far more likely to have used a spell that would block all magical or psionic detection methods than something that blocks magic but lets psionics get right through (whether or not Girard actually took psionics into account). He would certainly not need actual psion levels to do so.

Although the Order's already pretty certain the Gate's not there. I imagine, if they used that power, the result would be "nothing here but a trap which already went off," not because Girard cast any manner of concealing spell there, but because that's the case.

This is also a world where an intelligent goblin who as traveled the world didn't know if psionics existed or not. I think in this world psionics is like the tooth faerie to us-- everyone has heard about it, but people assume it doesn't actually exist (it's been used in bedtime stories!)

Edit:

Originally Posted by Pharaoh's Fist

So he can be past-psychic in addition to being future-psychic?

Oh, yeah. and THIS.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Originally Posted by Pharaoh's Fist

So he can be past-psychic in addition to being future-psychic?

[Conuly]

This is also a world where an intelligent goblin who as traveled the world didn't know if psionics existed or not. I think in this world psionics is like the tooth faerie to us-- everyone has heard about it, but people assume it doesn't actually exist (it's been used in bedtime stories!)

But maybe Girard knew a guy as a kid who was a psion or something. Or Soon did, or Kraagor, or somebody, so they knew it wasn't made up. Contrived? Maaaaaaybe - but this is a story. "Just use stronger skills!" isn't really going to work.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Originally Posted by Conuly

But maybe Girard knew a guy as a kid who was a psion or something. Or Soon did, or Kraagor, or somebody, so they knew it wasn't made up. Contrived? Maaaaaaybe - but this is a story. "Just use stronger skills!" isn't really going to work.

#1. The power is Seer-only. Not only would not every psion know of the power, only one type of psion could even manifest it regardless of whether they knew of its existence.

#2. Assuming the above, he'd have to even remember it and think, 'Well hey, maybe there is a chance in a billion someone would use it'

#3. Assuming even that, there is no way for a magic user OR psionic user to cover it.

#4. Ok, maybe all three above happen. He now has to go out of his way to research a specific spell that specifically counters a psionic power that he just had to go through a series of highly improbable events to be aware of, remember and act against.

At this point what is more likely, all of the above happened or he simply didn't prepare for it?

[silversaraph]

What's funny though, is that if this, on the off chance, WAS what Rich was going to do, he'd probably go ****! and cancel it. I remember him saying once that he skims through speculation threads like this, and also tries his hardest to be as unexpected as possible. So we know for sure now that it isn't going to happen. I think it would be fun to suggest every possible scenario for a comic in which something big is going to happen, with a thread title to grab his attention. I wonder, if a different person did it every time, that would be considered spamming or not...

If he does see this, it's also possible he'll use REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY and do exactly what we suspect, just to throw us off, and other people can use that as evidence in that he doesn't do what I'm saying!

And then the reverse-reverse happens. And then the universe implodes and creates a gigantic black hole. The end.

[Kish]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

At this point what is more likely, all of the above happened or he SIMPLY DIDN'T PREPARE FOR IT?

Given that the Gate is unlikely to be there, he probably didn't prepare for it. However, I still don't accept your duality. It's, rather:
1: Girard cast a general-purpose epic thwart-all-kinds-of-magical-detections spell at the Gate's location. It covers the power you linked too, even though it wouldn't if you were writing the comic.
2: He didn't bother to shield the random location he sent Soon. Neither would the power pick up anything there, since there never was anything significant there.
3: Because he had to specifically be thinking of psionics, and moreover, of the specific power he wanted to block for his magic to block the power, his legendary illusions fall before the power of any psion.

Option #3 is the only one I'm discarding; I get that it's also the only one you're not discarding.

Originally Posted by silversaraph

What's funny though, is that if this, on the off chance, WAS what Rich was going to do, he'd probably go ****! and cancel it. I remember him saying once that he skims through speculation threads like this, and also tries his hardest to be as unexpected as possible.

No, he said it bothers him when people guess what he's going to do, but he also said he's never actually changed anything based on forum speculation.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Originally Posted by silversaraph

What's funny though, is that if this, on the off chance, WAS what Rich was going to do, he'd probably go ****! and cancel it.

On the off, off chance that it was going to do. Which is an off chance. A very off chance.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

1: Girard cast a general-purpose epic thwart-all-kinds-of-magical-detections spell at the Gate's location. It covers the power you linked too, even though it wouldn't if you were writing the comic.

Here's the thing though, clairsentient powers are not divination spells. There is a difference. As such, he would still need to include powers and be mindful of their existence.

2: He didn't bother to shield the random location he sent Soon. Neither would the power pick up anything there, since there never was anything significant there.

The fact they discovered nothing regarding an actual gate would be the answer.

3: Because he had to specifically be thinking of psionics, and moreover, of the specific power he wanted to block for his magic to block the power, his legendary illusions fall before the power of any psion.

Assuming the psion managed to bypass them to get to that specific spot, sure.

It's called a loophole. And it's an obscure one. It's not being more powerful, it's just knowing one thing you're opponent doesn't.

[Pyron]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

Here's the thing though, clairsentient powers are not divination spells. There is a difference. As such, he would still need to include powers and be mindful of their existence.

Assuming that the psionics-magic transparency exist:
SRD:

Originally Posted by SRD

For the purpose of psionics-magic transparency, clairsentience powers are equivalent to powers of the divination school (thus, creatures immune to divination spells are also immune to clairsentience powers).

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Originally Posted by Pyron

Assuming that the psionics-magic transparency exist:
SRD:

Which would mean it would have to hide every divination power. Ever. In the entire area. Even those immune to spell resistance. Even those that doesn't specify an area, target or time period. That would hide even divinations that would read emotions that he emoted AFTER the casting.

Such a spell however would also be an answer of sorts.

[factotum]

If the rules say that there's nothing an epic level magic-user can do to block a 2nd level psionic power then the rules are insane. Any DM worth his salt would have that house-ruled out in about 0.03 seconds, and we know that the Giant is perfectly willing to change or ignore the rules if the plot takes precedence!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Originally Posted by factotum

If the rules say that there's nothing an epic level magic-user can do to block a 2nd level psionic power then the rules are insane. Any DM worth his salt would have that house-ruled out in about 0.03 seconds, and we know that the Giant is perfectly willing to change or ignore the rules if the plot takes precedence!

The whole point is the chances of him going to that effort are slimmer than him not going to that effort.

Honestly...

[Ancalagon]

The most boring power you can have in any system is the "it solves the plot power".

Really, why even PLAY if you just "throw spell X* at the problem and the plot is solved"?

* Possibly even abusing a glitch in the design.

[Pyron]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

Which would mean it would have to hide every divination power. Ever.

Which already exists - it's called the Conceal Seed. Granted it can be defeated with an opposed caster level check. But, who's going to win: Epic level Illusionist or 3rd level Psion?

[Ryuuk]

The power wouldn't really solve it for them though. If a member of the party where to use it they'd see two things for certain: Roy as he realizes that its a trap, and Girard as he's placing it. That's it.

Odds are it would just be another divination that revealed nothing else about that particular spot of the desert. Unless Girard decided to go into an evil monologue after casting the trap, cursing Soon and saying the exact location of the gate out loud, all they would have would be a confirmation that nothing else happened there.

The way I see it, unless you know where to look, that power isn't going to help them find the gate anymore then True Seeing or Polymorphing into a Badger.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Which already exists - it's called the Conceal Seed. Granted it can be defeated with an opposed caster level check. But, who's going to win: Epic level Illusionist or 3rd level Psion?

That doesn't apply. Read the power.

The way I see it, unless you know where to look, you're that power isn't going to help them find the gate anymore then True Seeing or Polymorphing into a Badger.

You'd see him hiding the gate if there was one, and merely making the explosion trap if it wasn't there.

Both involved heavy emotional states, something that would register with the power.

[Lamech]

Only detects emotional events. NOT gates. So they might see a battle. Involving some shadowy people, who may or may not be the order of the scribble. Also if Girard is mind blanked its going to fail, something he should be doing. If the rift and battle were below the sand it won't do anything. OTOH, the hapless psion might see a battle with out a gate because its the war torn western continent. Finally if the battle had conflicting emotions such as fear and rage the spell wouldn't give anything.

Which means the spell is essentially worthless. It has a good chance of missing the battle, it has a good chance of giving a battle despite the lack of gates. Its useless.

[Pyron]

Originally Posted by The Vorpal Tribble

That doesn't apply. Read the power.

You mean: "The conceal seed can also be used to block divination spells, spell-like effects, and epic spells developed using the reveal seed" doesn't apply?