Manifesting powers with the Supernatural Transformation Feat

[Hiding Dragon]

Hello! I have a concern with manifesting powers with the supernatural transformation feat.The problem it is has to be "innate" and what context does "innate" mean ."The manifestation of powers by a psionic character is considered a psi-like ability"."Creatures with access to psi-like abilities can use the feats Empower Spell-Like Ability and Quicken Spell-Like Ability"."Which means that your manifesting is a valid target for feats which effect Spell-Like Abilities. Like, say, Supernatural Transformation". So this would work right? my DM argues that because it says innate it has to be something like a Tibbits transformation to a cat and that psi-like ability are not innate.if it is indeed no possibly that supernatural transformation feat can,t "work newly out of the box" is there a trick. Appreciate the help!
P.S this is a for a Wilder

[Rubik]

The deal with the psi-like ability thing is bypassed depending on the level of magic/psionics transparency in the game you're in. If all else fails, grabbing the Magic Mantle will force your psi-like abilities to act exactly identically to spell-like abilities in all things.

As far as the "innate" issue goes, all psionic abilities are described explicitly as an innate talent, according to the text on psionics.

[Hiding Dragon]

Wow thanks this helps me out a ton!

[pwykersotz]

In a discussion of that very feat and how it pertains to the Warlock, the FAQ reply was that for the purpose of this feat alone, innate was designed to mean racial. That, at least, is the stated purpose. You'll never get a full consensus from the Playground. :smalltongue:

[Rubik]

In a discussion of that very feat and how it pertains to the Warlock, the FAQ reply was that for the purpose of this feat alone, innate was designed to mean racial. That, at least, is the stated purpose. You'll never get a full consensus from the Playground. :smalltongue:But it doesn't say "racial," and that's what matters, since we don't have any kind of actual errata on the subject. It says "innate," which psionics are inherently defined as in the psionics psourcebook itpself.

[pwykersotz]

But it doesn't say "racial," and that's what matters, since we don't have any kind of actual errata on the subject. It says "innate," which psionics are inherently defined as in the psionics psourcebook itpself.

Oh, definitely. By the rules as written, it works. It's probably Theoretical Optimization only unless you have a very high power game and a permissive DM though. I've both run and played games under each interpretation. Still, the FAQ answer is worth knowing for anyone who might want to use RAI.

[Rubik]

Still, the FAQ answer is worth knowing for anyone who might want to use RAI.Did the author that wrote the feat write the FAQ? If not, that's an unsubstantiated claim at best.

[pwykersotz]

(Rich Baker speaking)
Q: Can the feat Supernatural Transformation from Savage Species change the Warlocks Eldritch Blast and Invocations from Spell Like Abilities to Supernatural Abilities?

A: I chatted with the developers, and we're of the opinion that the term "innate" in the description of the Supernatural Transformation feat means "spell-like abilities you got because of your race, not because of any class choices you might have made." So that would rule out the warlock's invocations and eldritch blast.

That said, we're not 100% sure that the feat would necessarily be broken for the warlock. The warlock is a pretty feat-thirsty class, so there is a real cost in picking this up to make your eldritch blast SR-proof, when you've got an eldritch essence available that can do the same thing. But just to be on the cautious side, we're saying no. Rule Zero us on this one if you like.

(As an aside...we've discovered that the word "innate" is one of those flavor words that often carries a mechanical connotation, and it's not always meant to. So be careful in trying to extend this particular ruling to other "innate" things, because "innate" seems to mean different things in different contexts.)