Hidden Talent and Share Powers

[Rijan_Sai]

So, to start off, the XPH/SRD has this to say about psicrystals (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psion.htm#psicrystals):

Because it is an extension of its creator’s personality, a character’s psicrystal is in some ways a part of him. That’s why, for example, a psionic character can manifest a personal range power on his psicrystal even though normally he can manifest such a power only on himself.

Now, it has been established over the years that psicrystals may, whether intended or not, take feats as they gain HD. Fair enough.
It is also given as common advise to give the PsCr Hidden Talent as a 1st level feat. Again, no problem there.

The question then, is if the PsCr takes HT and gain a "Range: Personal/Target: You" power, (i.e. Expansion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/expansion.htm),) would they then be able to "Back-Share" the power with their master, using the clause above?

[Nifft]

Per another thread, there's always Good Bad Touch:

This trick is especially useful for wilders and other manifesters with extremely limited powers known, but it's useful for manifesters of every stripe.

The more manifesters that share a power list that are in the same party, the more powers they'll have available to them. All they need to do is retain physical contact while "addressing the power stone" that is the other party member. For instance, only one manifester needs to know inertial armor for everyone to use it. Or if nobody wants to waste that power known slot, feel free to take it on your psicrystal with the Hidden Talent feat. Then everyone in the whole group can touch the psicrystal, manifest it using their own power points, and augment it sky-high.

Not very useful in battle, for the most part, but it's a definite way to improve viability for utility and long-duration buff powers.

If your DM allows Hidden Talent in your game -- and it's an optional sidebar feat for variant campaigns, not normally available per the Expanded Psionics Handbook -- then you can Good Bad Touch your crystal to get access to its power, 1/day.


This, though?


The question then, is if the PsCr takes HT and gain a "Range: Personal/Target: You" power, (i.e. Expansion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/expansion.htm),) would they then be able to "Back-Share" the power with their master, using the clause above?

This is nonsense.

[sleepyphoenixx]

No, Share Power is only one-way.
You can however manifest the power from the psicrystals repertoire (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicPowersOverview.htm#manifestAnUnknownPowerFr omAnothersPowersKnown) with a good enough psicraft check.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Unfortunately, the share powers ability makes no mention of backwards-compatibility to the psicrystal's master.

So no, not unless the psicrystal takes an option that allows for it, such as the Dragon Magazine #344 feat Burning Link

[Rijan_Sai]

Thanks, guys!
Really it was just one of those questions that popped into my head, and I wanted see what the Playground thought before I considered trying to use it in a game! :smallbiggrin:

(Also, the Bad Good Touch is a good great thing! But only if the characters share power lists... no getting a Psion to use Expansion that way...)