This rulebook contains the information needed to incorporate psionic combat into your OSRICTM game.
It is intended for both players and game masters.
OSRICTM Psionic Combat
Don Dickerson
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DRAGONEER PUBLISHING EDITION
Please send your feedback to:
[email protected]
Comments welcome!
This product uses the OSRICTM System (Old School System Reference and Index CompilationTM). The OSRIC system text may
be found at http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/osric. The OSRIC text is copyright of Stuart Marshall. “OSRIC” and “Old School
Reference and Index Compilation” are trademarks of Matthew Finch and Stuart Marshall and may be used only in accordance
with the OSRIC license. This product is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
Copyright ©2011 Don Dickerson. All rights reserved
Thanks!
OSRIC PSIONIC COMBAT was initiated in 2011 at the request of my eldest daughter.
She was headed to college and wanted me to recommend an RPG game system for her to use
there. Since college students rarely have available money, OSRIC was a first choice since it is
readily available and free to download. However, she wanted psionics in her game. And so, I
have authored this brief manual for OSRIC. The goals of this Psionic Combat System are to be
simple to understand, fast to perform, and integrate seamlessly into the OSRIC combat round.
I would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance:
Cynthia Dickerson, for providing the impetus to write it.
Richard Dickerson, for analyzing all the alternatives to those rules finally chosen.
Ann Dickerson, for playtesting the system with Richard.
Stuart Marshall, for creating OSRIC from a game that society needed to have
reincarnated.
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Credits
Original D&D® Game: E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson
OSRIC: Stuart Marshall
Content of the manual: Don Dickerson, Ann Dickerson
Graphic Arts: Cynthia Dickerson, Daniel Dickerson, Christina Dickerson
Layout: John Laviolette
Table of Contents
Thanks! ii
Credits ii
Introduction and Purpose 5
Psionic Ability 6
What are Psionics? 6
Psionics and Magic 6
Is My Character Psionic? 6
Strength of Mind - My Psionic Ability 6
Bonuses file 7
Psionic Attacks and Defenses 8
Psionic Abilities – The 5 Psionic Attack Modes 8
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Three Attacks Affect Only A Single, Targeted Psionic 8
Psionic Abilities – The 5 Psionic Defense Modes 9
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Three Defenses Affect Only The Psionic 9
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Acquiring Attack and Defense Modes 9
Psionic Combat 11
Psionic Combat Speed and the Combat Round 11
Psionic Combat System 11
Current Psionic Ability Points (CPAPs) 12
Combat Involving Multiple Psionic Opponents 14
Group Psionic Combat 15
Attacking a Non-psionic Creature 15
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Optional Rules 16
GM’s Optional Rule 1: Best Attack Versus a Defense 16
GM’s Optional Rule 2: Best Defense Versus an Attack 16
GM’s Optional Rule 3: Psychic Crush Can Kill Instantly 17
GM’s Optional Rule 4: The Psionic Combat Roll:
Ten d20 Rolls Rather Than One 17
Appendix 1 - Example:
A Psionic Uses The Defend Only Option 18
Appendix 2 - Example: file
Multiple Psionics Use Defenses That
Protect Multiple People 20
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Appendix 3 - Example:
Multiple Psionics Use Pooled Attacks 21
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Appendix 4 - Example:
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A Psionic Protects A Non-Psionic 22
Appendix 5 - Example:
Two Psionics Protect a Non-Psionic 23
Appendix 6 - The Optional Psionicist Class 24
Licensing Information 26
Psionic Combat Tables 31
Psionic Combat Worksheet 32
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Introduction and Purpose
This rulebook contains the information combat system that works seamlessly along
needed to incorporate psionic combat into side of melee combat, without causing long
your OSRIC game. It is intended for both interruptions to the flow of combat for the
players and game masters. The goals of this players of non-psionic characters.
Psionic Combat system are: to be simple to In the spirit of OSRIC, this document is
understand, fast to perform, and integrate intended for use for old-school fantasy gaming.
seamlessly into the OSRIC combat round. It is intended to present new psionic combat
It does not contain descriptions of psionic rules compatible with those used in the late
powers, disciplines, sciences, feats, etcetera. 1970’s to early 1980’s without using any of the
These topics are available in books by other copyrighted “artistic presentation” originally
authors. This combat system is designed to be used to convey them. In creating this “artistic
a drop-in replacement for the often complex presentation” we have also made use of the
psionic combat systems in those books. It is
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System Reference Document produced by
also for those who want a fast, simple psionic Wizards of the Coast.
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Psionic Ability
What are Psionics? During a character’s career, whenever his
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma are
Psionics are a broad category of fantastic permanently raised by a full point or more,
abilities originating from the mind. Psionic another check may be subsequently made.
characters may use their minds to induce a Finally, psionic persons may assist others in
variety of phenomena, experiences, events, finding and unleashing their psionic potential.
miracles, spectacles, portents, and sensations. For every week of mental exercises and
The term “Psionics” also refers to the study training endured by a non-psionic student
and practice of using the mind to induce such under the tutelage of an experienced psionic
phenomena. mentor, there is a 2% chance per week
their psionic talent will be discovered and
unleashed. The maximum chance in this case
Psionics and Magic
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is 30%.
Psionically generated phenomena are not
Strength of Mind - My
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magical, nor can they be dispelled by Dispel
Magic or similar spells. Instead, psionic
phenomena are created and maintained Psionic Ability
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through the use and manipulation of mental
Psionic Ability Points (PAPs) are the total
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energy from the psionic’s brain.
amount of mental energy a psionic can
generate using his mind. After using all one’s
PAPs, one is considered a defenseless psionic.
Is My Character Psionic? Until that point, however, a psionic may utilize
Every character has at least a 1% chance of his PAPs to attack/defend in psionic combat, or
being psionic. Characters with at least one execute psionic powers to induce phenomena.
ability score of 16 or greater in Intelligence, The terms Psionic Attack Strength or Psionic
Wisdom, or Charisma have an increased Defense Strength both refer to the same thing,
chance. To determine your character’s chance, one half of a character’s current Psionic Ability
apply +3% to the base chance for every point Points.
of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma above
16.
Psionic Ability
The formula to calculate a character’s PAPs is: Bonuses
PAPs = 2 x ( 10d10 + Bonuses) Step 1: Award 1 Bonus Point for every point of
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma above 12.
where Bonuses are determined according to a
character’s ability scores per below. Step 2: Award double the total from Step 1 if
two of the ability scores (Intelligence, Wisdom,
Charisma) are 16 or above, quadruple the total
from Step 1 if all three ability scores are 16 or
above.
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Psionic Attacks and Defenses
Psionic Abilities – creatures within a 20 x 20 foot square area, up
to180 yards away.
The 5 Psionic Attack
Modes Three attacks affect only a
single, targeted psionic.
There are 5 psionic attack modes: Mind Thrust: The psionic jabs piercingly-
1. Psionic Blast shocking thoughts, images, and memories
through the opponent’s consciousness to
2. Id Insinuation
shock and harm their mind, overloading their
3. Mind Thrust ability to cope with the content. This attack
4. Ego Whip affects a single, targeted, psionic creature up
to 90 yards away.
5. Psychic Crush
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Table 1. The Psionic Attack Modes Ego Whip: The psionic flagellates the
opponent’s ego with thoughts and feelings
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Two modes of psionic attack harm multiple of self-doubt, hopelessness, and despair,
victims. These are Psionic Blast and Id attacking their self-respect, pride, and ability to
Insinuation. All other attacks only damage one command their emotions. Ego whip causes the
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psionic individual. recipient to doubt his own mental judgments
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Psionic Blast: The psionic creates a and beliefs about reality. At the worst, the
telepathic concussive cone of force that can opponent will lose intellectual functioning,
affect both psionic and non-psionics alike. self-control, planning ability, the ability to
It affects all intelligent creatures within the synthesize information, memory, and mental
cone. The cone originates at the center of the defenses. This attack affects a single, targeted,
psionic’s brain and terminates 60 yards away psionic creature up to 120 yards away.
in a 20-foot diameter. Psychic Crush: The psionic utilizes their
Id Insinuation: The psionic seeks to force of will to squeeze the opponent’s
penetrate, circumvent, destroy and replace conscious and subconscious mind, i.e. Id,
components of the lowest level of the ego, and super-ego. This attack at its worst
opponent’s identity, the id. The psionic can cause physical brain death, followed by
insinuates constructed false instincts into the physical death of the body. This attack affects
opponent’s id to eliminate the opponent’s real a single, targeted, psionic creature up to 50
and natural instinct to mentally defend himself yards away.
and fight back. This attack affects all psionic
Psionic Attacks and Defenses
Psionic Abilities – Three defenses affect only the
psionic.
The 5 Psionic Defense
Mind Blank: The psionic calms and clears
Modes his mind, making it difficult to find, and thus,
There are 5 psionic defense modes: more difficult to effectively attack. All psionic
individuals have this defense.
1. Tower of Iron Will
Thought Shield: The psionic focuses on
2. Intellect Fortress separate and disjointed thoughts or images in
3. Mind Blank order to shield the individual components of
4. Thought Shield his mind from attack.
5. Mental Barrier Mental Barrier: The psionic constructs a
wall of unified thoughts, feelings, and images
Table 2. The Psionic Defense Modes which guard against mental attack or intrusion.
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Two defenses protect not only the psionic, but
those around him. These are Tower of Iron
Will and Intellect Fortress. All other defenses Acquiring Attack and
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only protect the psionic individual. Defense Modes
Tower of Iron Will: The psionic
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Characters determined to be psionic should
constructs a psychic barrier around himself roll on the following tables to determine the
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utilizing his force of will. This barrier may be number of attack and defense modes they
extended beyond the physical extents of his have:
body to surround and protect others nearby.
This defense may be extended to protect any Table 3. Number of Psionic Attack
or all individuals within 6 feet of the psionic, Modes
according to his choosing.
d100 Score # of Attack Modes
Intellect Fortress: The psionic utilizes
the stabilizing power of his mind’s ego and 1 - 25 1
the higher-reasoning and moral functions of 26 - 50 2
his super-ego to maintain a grasp on reality, 51 - 75 3
effectively defending against and weakening
incoming psionic attacks. This defense may 76 - 95 4
be extended to protect any or all individuals 96 - 100 5
within 15 feet of the psionic, according to his
choosing.
