spongeknight wrote:What are you, retarded? That section is clearly referring to the paragraph just preceding it where it calls out specific monsters as psionic creatures that can use psi-like abilities without having manifester levels. Sure, you CAN take out both the paragraph before and this line after: "Usually, a psionic creature’s psi-like ability works just like the power of that name" in order to push a bullshit interpretation, but if you do that I'd like to introduce you to my character who died but still gets actions because the "dead" condition doesn't state it removes the ability to take actions.
You are an idiot 8 ways from Sunday.
Here's that whole fucking section:
Special Abilities wrote:Mind flayers, githyanki, yuan-ti, and other psionic creatures can create psionic effects without having levels in a psionic class (although they can take a psionic class to further enhance their abilities); such creatures have the psionic subtype. Characters using dorjes, cognizance crystals, and other psionic items can also create psionic effects. In addition to existing spell-like and supernatural abilities, this book introduces psi-like abilities. (Psionic creatures may also have extraordinary and natural abilities, which are described in the Player’s Handbook and the Monster Manual.)
Psi-Like Abilities (Ps): The manifestation of powers by a psionic character is considered a psi-like ability, as is the manifestation of powers by creatures without a psionic class (creatures with the psionic subtype, also simply called psionic creatures). Usually, a psionic creature’s psi-like ability works just like the power of that name. A few psi-like abilities are unique; these are explained in the text where they are described.
Psi-like abilities have no verbal, somatic, or material components, nor do they require a focus or have an XP cost (even if the equivalent power has an XP cost). The user activates them mentally. Armor never affects a psi-like ability’s use. A psi-like ability has a manifesting time of 1 standard action unless noted otherwise in the ability description. In all other ways, a psi-like ability functions just like a power. However, a psionic creature does not have to pay a psi-like ability’s power point cost.
Psi-like abilities are subject to power resistance and to
being dispelled by dispel psionics. They do not function in
areas where psionics is suppressed or negated (such as a null
psionics field).
Supernatural Abilities: Some creatures have psionic abilities that are considered supernatural. Psionic feats are also supernatural abilities. These abilities cannot be disrupted in combat, as powers can be, and do not provoke attacks of opportunity (except as noted in their descriptions). Supernatural abilities are not subject to power resistance and cannot be
negated or dispelled; however, they do not function in areas where psionics is suppressed, such as a null psionics field.
So let's count the ways you are wrong:
1) The Preamble paragraph that you rely on as a limiter is clearly just an explanation of the fact that other ways besides powers exist, it's not in any way a limit on the following sections.
2) The actual Psi-Like Ability entry specifically compares and contrasts
characters with psionic classes versus
creatures without psionic classes and specifically says that
both are using Psi-Like abilities. Why the Fuck would they make an explicit point of differentiating the manifestation of psionic powers by a [character with a psionic class]" from creatures who don't have psionic classes if they weren't talking about Human fucking Psions?
3) Let's say, hypothetically, that there was some magical limitation on what it said that limited it to "psionic characters" that are somehow not Psions, or "psionic creatures" or "creatures with the psionic subtype" Now first off, obviously, psionic characters is supposed to include something besides psionic creatures, because that's obviously the entire point of including that phrase in the sentence, but let's pretend that preamble somehow overrides the actual text of the ability.
Well first, we know that "psionic creature" and "having the psionic subtype" are equivalent, since it specifically says that in the PLA description.
But hey, let's look at the actual definition of Psionic Creature:
Pg. 68, Psionic Creatures wrote:Any creature with psionic powers has the psionic subtype. A psionic creature can be born with the subtype or can gain the subtype during its life.
A creature meeting any one of the following criteria has the psionic subtype:
• Creatures with a power point reserve, including characters who have levels in a character class that grants them a power point reserve or Creatures who have the Wild Talent feat.
• Creatures with psi-like abilities, including characters who have racial psi-like abilities.
• Creatures that have spell-like abilities described as “psionics,” including the aboleth, mind fl ayer, yuan-ti, and monsters from sources other than the Monster Manual.
So look, it totally includes Human Psions.
Look fuckface, I can't believe I have to explain this to someone in fucking 2016, but yes, I know they didn't intend for Human Psions to have at will casting that ignores XP costs and manifesting times. That's why I said "Who the fuck edited this shit?" Because implicit in that comment is the idea that a competent editor would have fucking noticed that the actual rules they wrote turn all Psionic powers into Psi-Like Abilities, and thus fixed the goddam problem.
What do you think "Whenever a Fucking Character with a Psionic Fucking Class Manifests a Psionic Fucking Power, that's a Psi Like Ability!" actually means for the rules?