Psychic Absorption (Caution: Psion Spoiler!)

It doesn't work. :)

As it is currently ruled, the Psionic Strength required by the Psion matches the damage inflicted, with the rest passing through as damage sustained. That means no net gain of Psionic Strength points.

Might I recommend a different mechanism for this defence? The defence depends upon absorbing, neutralising and converting Psionic Strength expended into useful Psionic Strength points available to the defending Psion. The rules need to be redrawn somehow.

Suggestions?
 
I recommend that for each Psionic Strength point invested in the defence, the power should be able to absorb twice that amount of Psionic Strength invested in the attack (any surplus not absorbed goes through as damage).

For instance, Erika, a defending Psion, encounters Arbella, a hostile Psion. Arbella launches a 5 point Mind Blast at Erika. Erika invests 2 Psionic Strength points into Psychic Absorption. The power absorbs the first 4 Psionic Strength points invested in Arbella's attack; the remaining point gets through, but is not powerful enough to harm Erika.

Arbella spends 4 Psionic Strength, and Erika gains 2 net Psionic Strength.

Had Erika spent 3 Psionic Strength on defence, the power would have absorbed all of Arbella's attack; Erika would still have gained but 2 net Psionic Strength.

The usefulness of Psionic Defence against other forms of psionic attack, from Telepathic Assault to Telekinetic Punch to Tapping, must also be addressed.
 
Also, as with Tapping, Psionic Strength may only be regained up to the limit of one's maximum Psionic Strength. Any surplus points gained are lost, unless the Psion has an empty PPB or K-Vault handy.
 
Yep. There's plenty of warning in the title that I'm spoiling a bit of the book, for those who still haven't obtained a copy of Psion yet.

Since you are reading this, I can only hope that means that you already have the book, and/or that you don't mind having this little detail spoiled to you.

Now i might have read this damned thing wrong. AFAIK, the mechanic might have been set up such that, say, Erika sets up a rolling Psychic Absorption with 6 Psionic Strength in round 1. The Effect is 4, so she can sustain it for 4 rounds. In round 1, she is hit for a 6 point Mind Blast: it gets sucked in, and she gets all her Psionic Strength back. In Round 2, she gets hit with a 4 point Unlock, and the shield is still in place and absorbs those 4 points - meaning Erika gets a net gain in Round 2 of 4 points.

Maybe the rules are clear on this and I'm misreading them.
 
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