Psionics-Magic Transparency

When a psion manifests whitefire on creatures with, say, fire immunity or fire resistance, the descriptor provides the immediate answer to the question of whether or not whitefire can hurt that creature.

PSIONICS%MAGIC TRANSPARENCY

The default rule for psionics and magic is simple: Psionic powers interact with spells and spells interact with psionic powers in the same way a spell or normal spell-like ability interacts with another spell or spell-like ability. This is known as transparency.

Psionics-Magic Transparency: Though not explicitly called out in the spell descriptions in the Player's Handbook or the magic item descriptions in the DUNGEON MASTER‘s Guide, always follow this rule (unless your DM is using the Psionics Are Different option): Spells, spell-like abilities, and magic items that could potentially affect psionics do affect psionics. A series of examples follow.

Spell resistance is effective against psionic powers of the same level, using the same mechanics. Likewise, power resistance is effective against spells of the same level using the same mechanics as spell resistance. If a creature has one, it is assumed to have the other. (Another way to look at it is that they are the same quality with two different names, depending on your worldview.

Allow all spells that negate or dispel magic equal effect against psionic powers of the same level using the same mechanics, and vice versa. The spell dispel magic also “dispels” psionics of the appropriate power level, while negate psionics similarly negates spells.

The spell detect magic detects psionic powers, their number, and their strength and location within 3 rounds (though a Psicraft check is necessary to peg the discipline of the psionic aura).

“Dead magic” areas are also “dead psionics” areas.

Enchantment Resistance: Elves are resistant to spells of the Enchantment school, as are monks and rogues with still mind and slippery mind, respectively. This translates into the same bonus to resist all psionic powers with the compulsion descriptor (aversion, domination, and so on). If your DM uses the Psionics Are Different option, then no special bonus against compulsion effects exist.

Multiple Effects: Powers or psionic effects usually work as described in Chapter 5: Powers no matter how many other powers, psionic effects, spells, or magical effects happen to be operating in the same area or on the same recipient. Except in special cases, a power does not affect the way another power or spell operates. Special cases exist, though. For example, dispel magic removes other magical effects and psionic effects (unless the Psionics Are Different option is in use). Whenever a power has a specific effect on other powers or spells, the power description explains the effect (and vice versa for spells affecting powers). Several other general rules apply when powers, spells, magical effects, or psionic effects operate in the same place.

Stacking Effects: Powers that give bonuses or penalties to attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and so on, usually do not stack with themselves. For example, two ectoplasmic armor powers don't give the recipient twice the benefits of one.

More generally, two bonuses of the same type don't stack even if they come from different powers, or one from a power and one from a spell. For example, the armor bonus from a mage armor spell and the armor bonus from an ectoplasmic armor power don't stack. You use whichever bonus gives you the better Armor Class. In the same way, a shield prudence power gives you an insight bonus to AC, which does not stack with the insight bonus you get from a combat precognition power.

Different Bonus Types: The bonuses or penalties from two different powers, or a power and a spell, do stack, however, if the effects are of different types. For example, the spell foresight provides a +2 insight bonus to AC. A character both under the influence of a foresight spell and wearing psionically manifested ectoplasmic armor, which provides a +10 armor bonus, has a total +12 bonus to AC, because the two different bonus types stack.

Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths: In cases when two or more identical powers or spells are operating in the same area, but at different strengths, only the best one applies. For example, a character under the influence of both oak body and iron body benefits only from the stronger power. If one power or spell is negated or its duration runs out, the other power or spell takes over (assuming its duration has not yet expired).

Same Effect with Differing Results: The same power or spell can sometimes produce varying effects if applied to the same recipient more than once. For example, a shadow body power could turn a psion into a living shadow, but if it is immediately followed by metamorphosis, even while the shadow body would normally remain in effect, the object to which the psion transformed trumps the shadow body. If metamorphosis were followed by a series of polymorph other spells cast by an interfering wizard, the last spell in the series trumps the other spells, as well as the first two powers. None of the previous spells or powers are actually removed or dispelled, but their effects become irrelevant while the final spell or power in the series lasts.

Multiple Mental Control Effects: Sometimes psionic or magical effects that establish mental control render one another irrelevant. For example, a hold person spell renders any other form of mental control irrelevant, be it psionic or magical, because it robs the held character of the ability to move. Mental controls that don't remove the recipient's ability to act usually do not interfere with one another, though one may modify another. If the controlled creature receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the competing controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which one the creature obeys.

Powers and spells with Opposite Effects: Powers and spells that have opposite effects apply normally with all bonuses, penalties, or changes accruing in the order that they apply. So a psychic warrior who first uses expansion to grow by 20% and later manifests compression to shrink 50% ends up at 60% of her original size.

Instantaneous Effects: Two or more magical or psionic effects with instantaneous durations work cumulatively when they affect the same object, place, or creature. So when two whitefire powers affect the same creature, it must make a Reflex save against each and takes damage from each according to its saving throw results.