Psion Prestige Class : Crystal Master
By Scott Brocius and Mark A. Jindra
"It's all in the stones; the stones are all in."
Psionic characters have learned many ways to utilize the special psionic properties inherent in crystal, creating such wondrous items as crystal capacitors, power stones, and dorjes. In creating psicrystals, psionic characters have instilled a portion of their own personality in the crystal, resulting in their own unique crystalline companion. Some psionic characters, known as crystal masters, have ventured further into the world of crystalline studies and have chosen to focus on the properties of precious crystals known as gemstones. Through their studies, they have learned that these gemstones can enhance the powers of a psionic being by providing a focal point for the psionic being's own energies.
The research of the crystal master has led to the discovery that the enhancements become more powerful as you increase the contact that the gems have with the body. To this end, they devised a method to ensure complete contact with the gem. In a process know as embedding, the psionic character's body absorbs the gem. The gem is destroyed in the procedure since it fully integrates itself with the psionic character's body. This procedure takes a full day and is quite painful. When the procedure ends, the gem has fused with the psionic character's circulatory system in the area of the body in which the gem is placed and shows through the skin as a faint shimmer. As the psionic character adds more gems to her body, this web-like latticework ends up covering her entire body except for her hands, feet, and head; thus it can be concealed with the proper attire.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Crystal Master, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Knowledge (gemology) 4 ranks, Craft (gemcutting) 4 ranks.
- Feats: Psicrystal Affinity, Psicrystal Containment,
- Manifesting: Manifester level 5th.
Class Skills
The crystal master's class skills are Appraise, Climb, Concentration, Craft (alchemy), Craft (gemcutting), Knowledge (gemology), Knowledge (psionics), Psicraft, Search, and Spot.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the crystal master prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Crystal masters gain no proficiency in any armor or weapons, though they retain any knowledge gained from former classes.
Power Known: At every level indicated on the table, a crystal master gains additional power points per day and access to new powers as if she had also gained a level in whatever manifesting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus feats, metapsionic or item creation feats, and so on). This essentially means that she adds the level of crystal master to the level of whatever psionic manifesting class the character has, then determines power points per day, powers known, and manifester level accordingly.
Unlike most other prestige classes, the crystal master does gain effective additional levels for her psicrystal's powers.
If a character had more than one psionic class before she became a crystal master, she must decide to which class she adds the new level of crystal master for the purpose of determining power points per day, powers known, and manifester level.
Embed Gem (Su): When the crystal master gains this ability, she adds another embedded gem to her body. She can embed up to five gems (see table below) -- one each in the arms, legs, and chest. Once a part of the body has a gem embedded in it, another gem cannot be embedded in that part of the body. The powers and restrictions on each gem are found below. The level restriction is the minimum level of crystal master needed to take this gem. Each type of gem can be embedded only once.
The gem itself must initially be unworked and nonenhanced in any way (in other words, it cannot have any magical or psionic properties). It needs to have a minimum value of 100 gp before it is cut. The crystal master needs to make a DC 15 Craft (gemcutting) check to successfully shape the stone for embedding.
If for some reason the crystal master's body is destroyed and she somehow gains access to a new body, she may re-embed any lost gems within the new body. The gems must be the same type as the originals and embedded in the same order.
Improved Psicrystal: At 1st level, the crystal master gains the Improved Psicrystal feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.
Psycrystal Synergy: At 10th level, the crystal master gains the ability to count her psicrystal as one additional embedded gem for purposes of determining the effects of any embedded gems. The crystal master must maintain psionic focus to use this ability and her psicrystal also must be in physical contact with her body to gain any benefit.
| The Crystal Master | Hit Die: d4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Reflex | Will | Special | Powers |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Improves psicrystal | - |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Embed Gem | +1 manifesting class |
| 3rd | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | +1 manifesting class | |
| 4th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Embed Gem | +1 manifesting class |
| 5th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | +1 manifesting class | |
| 6th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Embed Gem | +1 manifesting class |
| 7th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | +1 manifesting class | |
| 8th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Embed Gem | +1 manifesting class |
| 9th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | +1 manifesting class | |
| 10th | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | Embed Gem, Psicrystal energy | - |
Embedded Gems
The following gems provide different abilities or enhancements to the crystal master. Each type of gem can be embedded only once.
| Embedded Stones By Level Restriction |
|---|
| 1st-Level Crystal Master |
| - Amethyst - Aquamarine - Bloodstone - Bulls Eye Agate - Calcite - Deep Crystal - Emerald - Malachite - Moonstone - Onyx - Peridot - Red Garnet - Red Jasper - Ruby - Sapphire - Smokey Quartz - Tiger Eye - Tourmaline |
| 4th-Level Crystal Master |
| - Blue Zircon - Diamond - Jade - Jet - Opal |
| 6th-Level Crystal Master |
| - Chrysocolla |
| 8th-Level Crystal Master |
| - Obsidian |
| 10th-Level Crystal Master |
| - Azurite |
| Notes: 1) See the Embed Gem ability of the crystal master prestige class for more on level restrictions.
2) You may embed any gem provided you meet the minimum level restriction. |
Amethyst: The crystal master becomes immune to all poisons. This includes alcohol.
Aquamarine: The crystal master gains an Intelligence bonus of +1. This bonus increases by +1 for every two additional embedded gems (+2 at 3 embedded gems, and +3 at 5 embedded gems). This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Azurite: The crystal master no longer needs to eat, drink, or sleep, though she may do so if she desires. (Level restriction: 10th.)
Bloodstone: The crystal master gains a Strength bonus of +1. This bonus increases by +1 for every two additional embedded gems (+2 at 3 embedded gems, and +3 at 5 embedded gems). This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Blue Zircon: The crystal master gains immunity to all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases. (Level restriction: 4th.)
Bulls Eye Agate: The crystal master is immune to all fear effects.
Calcite: The crystal master gains a Wisdom bonus of +1. This bonus increases by +1 for every two additional embedded gems (+2 at 3 embedded gems, and +3 at 5 embedded gems). This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Chrysocolla: The crystal master gains the ability to use astral caravan as the power. The crystal master can use this ability a number of times per day times equal to the number of embedded gems she possesses. Once she activates this ability, she can also apply the effects of the astral traveler power a number of times equal to twice the amount of embedded gems. Using this ability requires the crystal master to expend psionic focus. (Level restriction: 6th.)
Deep Crystal: The crystal master can expend 2 power points to add 2d6 points of damage to her next successful natural attack or unarmed strike. The ability stays charged for 1 minute or until the crystal master scores a hit. Using this ability is a free action and does not provoke an attack of opportunity. This ability can be used only once per round.
Diamond: The crystal master gains 4 additional bonus power points per day per embedded gem. (Level restriction: 4th.)
Emerald: The crystal master gains power resistance equal to 11 + 3 per embedded gem she possesses.
Jade: The crystal master is immune to aging attacks and doesn't suffer the effects of old age. (Any penalties already incurred stay in effect.) The character still dies of old age. (Level restriction: 4th.)
Jet: The crystal master gains the ability to fly as the power with double its normal duration (2 minutes per level). She can activate it a number of times per day equal to twice the number of embedded gems. (Level restriction: 4th.)
Malachite: The crystal master gains a limited telepathy. She can communicate telepathically with any creatures that speak a language that she speaks, provided they are within 30 feet. This range increases by 10 feet for each additional imbedded gem. She can address multiple creatures at once telepathically, although maintaining a telepathic conversation with more than one creature at a time is just as difficult as simultaneously speaking and listening to multiple people at the same time.
Moonstone: The crystal master gains an insight bonus of +1 to her Armor Class and on all saving throws. This increases by +1 per embedded gem. This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Obsidian: The character gains the ability of escape detection as the power. The crystal master can voluntarily deactivate or reactivate this ability by expending psionic focus. (Level restriction: 8th.)
Onyx: When activated, this causes one opponent who can see the crystal master to make a Will save (DC 10 + 2 per embedded gem + key ability modifier) or become shaken for 2d6 rounds. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to the number of embedded gems.
Opal: The crystal master gains the ability of divination as the power. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to the number of embedded gems. (Level restriction: 4th.)
Peridot: The crystal master gains damage reduction of 1/-. This is increased by 1 for each additional embedded gem.
Red Garnet: The crystal master gains the ability to heal herself. She can heal 4 points per embedded gem each day. She can divide this up into many uses over the day.
Red Jasper: The crystal master becomes partially immune to ability-draining attacks. The character can completely ignore the effects of ability-draining attacks a number of times per day equal to the number of embedded gems she has. This immunity does not apply to ability burn. This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Ruby: The crystal master gains a Constitution bonus of +1. This bonus increases by +1 for every two additional embedded gems (+2 at 3 embedded gems, and +3 at 5 embedded gems). This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Sapphire: The crystal master gains touchsight as the power. Her touchsight field emanates out to 20 feet, increasing by +10 feet per additional embedded gem to a maximum of 60 feet. This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Smokey Quartz: The crystal master gains a Charisma bonus of +1. This bonus increases by +1 for every two additional embedded gems (+2 at 3 embedded gems, and +3 at 5 embedded gems). This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Sugilite: The crystal master gains immunity to the effects of the Psionic Hole feat. (Level restriction: 4th.)
Tiger Eye: The crystal master gains a Dexterity bonus of +1. This bonus increases by +1 for every two additional embedded gems (+2 at 3 embedded gems, and +3 at 5 embedded gems). This ability is active as long as the crystal master maintains psionic focus.
Tourmaline: The crystal master gains an insight bonus on the following skills: Appraise, Craft (gemcutting), Knowledge (gemology), and Search. The bonus is equal to the number of embedded gems she possesses.
Source: Web