The Expanded Psionics Handbook gives psionic characters a daily allotment of power points, which they can spend to manifest powers. However, if the mental energy that forms power points wells up from the character's mind, then why does he have a daily allotment, instead of meditating to draw forth the mental energy he needs? This variant provides psionic characters the ability to do the latter to acquire power points to manifest their powers, so that they can manifest their powers almost as often as they want, similar to how often channelers can use their incantations.
To acquire power points, you must meditate. You must be psionically focused to meditate. This meditation takes at least a swift action and provokes attacks of opportunity. (You can be distracted while meditating as if you were manifesting a power; see the Expanded Psionics Handbook) Whenever you meditate, you acquire a number of power points depending on the kind of action you take to meditate. If you take a swift action, you acquire a number of power points equal to one-half your manifester level (rounded down). If you take a standard action, you acquire a number of power points equal to your manifester level. If you take a full-round action, you acquire a number of power points equal to twice your manifester level. If you have more levels in more than one manifesting class, add the power point acquisition of each class to determine the amount of power points you acquire with each meditation.
However, even a psionic character's mind has a limit to the amount of mental energy it can hold. If you are a psion or a wilder, your number of power points may not exceed twice your manifester level + twice your manifesting ability modifier (Intelligence for psions and Charisma for wilders) at any time. If you are a psychic warrior, your number of power points may not exceed your manifester level + your Wisdom modifer. (If you have manifester levels in other classes, compare that class to the psion and the psychic warrior. If the class has a similar number of power points to the psion, it uses the psion's maximum number of power points; if the class has a similar number of power points to the psychic warrior, it uses the psychic warrior's maximum number of power points.) You automatically lose all of your power points when you fall unconscious.
If you manifest a power with a duration that is longer than 1 round, the number of power points you used to manifest that power are subtracted from your maximum number of power points. For example, if you manifest a 5 power point power with
a duration of 10 rounds, your maximum numberof power points is 5 less than its usual maximum. Your maximum number of power points turns back to normal immediately after the power ends.Cognizance crystals work differently in this variant. A cognizance crystal can’t be used to pay more power points than its maximum power point storage in a 24-hour period. However, a manifester can recharge a cognizance crystal as often as he wants.
Because some psionic feats were designed with a daily allotment of power points in mind, these feats won’t work with this variant as they are designed. Given below are these feats, and how they work with this variant.
Body Fuel: You can increase your maximum number of power points by 1 for 24 hours by taking 1 point of ability burn to your Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores. You can increase your maximum number of power points by an additional number for a proportionate cost to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution.
Psionic Talent: Instead of gaining power points, your maximum number of power points increases by one-half the number of power points you would gain.
Wild Talent: Instead of gaining 2 power points, you can meditate to gain up to 1 power point. If you already have the ability to meditate for power points, your maximum number of power points increases by 1.
You should implement this variant when you take the 1st level of a manifesting character class, and it can’t be changed thereafter. However, there may be psionic characters who have a daily allotment of power points and psionic characters who meditate to acquire power points.
NEW FEATS
IMPROVED MEDITATION
You acquire more power points when you meditate.
Benefit: You acquire a number of additional power points equal to your manifesting ability modifier when you meditate, to a maximum of one power point for every four manifester levels you have.
LATENT MEDITATION
Your inner calm allows you to be in a constant state of meditation.
Prerequisite: Concentration 8 ranks.
Benefit: You may treat your manifester level as though it were four levels higher than it actually is for the purpose of determining the number of power points you acquire when you meditate.
SUDDEN MEDITATION
You can meditate in a moment’s notice, acquiring power points when you need them the most.
Benefit: You may acquire power points as a swift action. If you are a psion or a wilder, you acquire a number of power points equal to twice your manifester level; if you are a psychic warrior, you acquire a number of power points equal to your manifester level. To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus.
