Manifesting from Another's Powers Known via Worldthought Network

[TheAbyssDragon]

Preface
1. Manifest an Unknown Power from Another’s Powers Known: Full round action with contact and Psicraft check to discover powers, additional Psicraft check to comprehend power (autofail if power isn't on your list), 1 round window to manifest chosen power with third Psicraft check.

2. A connection through a worldthought network (such as society mind or worldthought medic) removes the need for physical contact. I know I've read this somewhere, but I can't seem to find the source.

3. The harmonic resonance feat (the non-PF printing is the same) allows you to pick a few powers not on your power list.


Ok, so in the morning while picking powers for the day, I also pick a few powers that I may count as being on my list for the purposes of the second Psicraft check. Now, in order to do this I have to first "scan" my network for available powers, then comprehend them. So if I wish to manifest such a power during combat, do I really need to start the process over?

If I have to spend a full round action to "rescan" a single member of the network, make several Psicraft checks, then manifest the power the following round, then the feat is worthless to me.

On the other hand, if I can choose 4 or 5 powers to manifest from network members beyond the 5 powers I get to prepare in the morning, and manifest them in a practical (single round) manner, then this is a worthwhile investment. Although it doesn't add any variety to the groups repertoire, it gives me more options in any given round.

What are everyones thoughts on this?

[awaken_D_M_golem]

#1 might butt up against the CPsi Powerstone nerf
idk ... very away from that book.


The long range psicrystal Telepathic Link works.
" ... the owner has the same connection to an item or place that the psicrystal does ... "
And then so should Mindlink.
So there's 2 examples of long range contact.

[TheAbyssDragon]

(Sorry to revive my own thread, but I think it makes more sense than starting a new one.)

I never did come to a clear interpretation of this mechanic. However, as I am thinking about creating a Society Mind for an upcoming game, it is once again relevant.

From the SRD:

A psionic character can attempt to manifest a power from a source other than his own knowledge (usually a power stone or another willing psionic character). To do so, the character must first make contact (a process similar to addressing a power stone, requiring a Psicraft check against a DC of 15 + the highest level power in the power stone or repertoire). A psionic character can make contact with only a willing psionic character or creature (unconscious creatures are considered willing, but not psionic characters under the effects of other immobilizing conditions). Characters who can’t use power stones for any reason are also banned from attempting to manifest powers from the knowledge of other psionic characters. Mental contact requires 1 full round of physical contact, which can provoke attacks of opportunity. Once contact is achieved, the character becomes aware of all the powers stored in the power stone or all the powers the other character knows up to the highest level of power the contactor knows himself.

From the Society Mind telepathy class feature:

Psionic creatures who are willing members in a society mind’s worldthought network (including the society mind himself) may manifest unknown powers from powers known by another willing psionic creature in the network as if they were making physical contact (see the Expanded Psionics Handbook).

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I believe the intended mechanic is that a persistent connection through the worldthought network obviates the need to "establish a connection." Thus you are always treated as having physical contact, but more importantly an "active connection" is always present, so you can manifest at will. However, the class feature reads "as if they were making physical contact," which is the equivalent of simply keeping a power stone in one hand.

I would love to hear some other thoughts on this topic.