I kinda assumed that psychic casters would actually take on the emotional content of the spell they are casting.
They'd get angry when casting an anger spell. Feel sad when casting a sadness spell.
They seem like they'd be the exact opposite of zen.
Well, generally psychics lose control over their powers when enrages. I think they just didn't want psychics to spontaenously start casting all their spells at the GM's whim if hit my intimidate.
Also, if it was a buff when angry or something, then they'd just spend the whole game affected by emotion effects.
I thought the wording in the rules about the emotion component specifically stated that you have to be able to control your emotion. Being under the effect of something that is forcing you into a particular emotion would prevent you from casting spells with an emotion component, even if the emotion you are forced into appropriate for the spell being cast.
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Normal emotions aren't an issue. The caster can operate just fine UNLESS they are trying to cast a spell with an emotion component while under a "non-harmless effect with the emotion or fear descriptors". Even then there are ways around it;
'Furious Spell' allows spells to be cast while in a rage.
'Logical Spell' removes any emotion component requirement.
I've been expecting 'Furious Spell' to become the go to feat for all manner of rage/caster builds (not just psychics).
Yeah. Furious spell is actually a bit TOO useful.
"It is impossible to cast a spell with an emotion component while the spellcaster is under the influence of a non-harmless effect with the emotion or fear descriptors."
Descriptors come with spells, spell-like, and supernatural effects. Merely being upset does not come with the "upset" descriptor. Also, being angry is harmless (there are not game effects for the player controlling a character being upset and having his character lash out at the offending monster) and therefore not non-harmless.
"Even if the effect’s emotion matches the necessary emotion to cast the psychic spell, the spellcaster is not in control of her own desires and animal impulses, which is a necessary part of providing an emotion component."
The key is you being in control of your emotions. If you are ticked-off (as opposed to someone else forcing anger upon you) then it is your emotion.
If using the RAW then those are the things to look for: Is it non-harmless? Is there an emotional descriptor? Who controls the effect?
Addendum: Mark Seifter and this FAQ made it clear that Intimidation (demoralize) and other fear-effects shut down psychic casting.
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Think of Dazzling Display versus a hit squad of Psychic casters. Lulz are had.
"The way he twirled his weapon...no way my reality shaping magic can top that! Might as well not even try."
It's true, Logical Spell is a feat tax.
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Considering that psychic casters do not need a free hand (no somatic components; i.e., no issues with heavy armor, tower shield, and weapon) or speech (no verbal components; i.e., can cast spells while sneaking around with Stealth/invisibility, or even just in a crowd if the spell has no visible effect, without drawing attention to themselves) to cast psychic spells, being shut down by Intimidate is a minor price to pay IMO.
You can still cast spells with only logical (verbal) components when you're shaken, there are some good ones. Suggestion, for example.
It's true, Logical Spell is a feat tax.
It's worse than that. It's a metamagic feat. Since pretty much all psychic casters are spontaneous casters, that means your spell becomes a full-round action. So not only does it cost you a feat and jack up the spell by one level, you're also losing out on action economy as well now.
Intuitive Spell is even worse! You spend a full round action AND increase the spell level by one to get the exact same thing you could do by spending a move action! (So you've essentially wasted your feat slot for nothing.)
Those feats are poorly designed all around.
It's true, Logical Spell is a feat tax.It's worse than that. It's a metamagic feat. Since pretty much all psychic casters are spontaneous casters, that means your spell becomes a full-round action. So not only does it cost you a feat and jack up the spell by one level, you're also losing out on action economy as well now.
Intuitive Spell is even worse! You spend a full round action AND increase the spell level by one to get the exact same thing you could do by spending a move action! (So you've essentially wasted your feat slot for nothing.)
Those feats are poorly designed all around.
Well aware of the problem on Intuitive since I'm the one who posted it. :-)
I took the alternative minimum feat tax for the Thought components and utilize Focused Mind, Combat Casting, and Uncanny Concentration to address the concentration checks. At level 9, I have +25, which means all I really need to roll is 2x spell level on the d20 without spending any "extra" on addressing the penalty.