It appears that once you've caught the 18str enemy fighter in your Psychic Duel, he has no recourse but to feebly flail at you with his 1d4 greatsword for 1d4+4 damage by spending one of his attribute granted MP.
Do normal combat options apply? No movement is necessary, and attacking with a construct is a full round action.. but can a monk flurry of blows? Can a fighter power attack? Can a character go full defensive?
Am I wrong in my assumption?
The only options that exist are manifestations. Though I do wonder why he'd limit himself to flailing with a sword.
Fighter: Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10, Imagination 3
XD
Does that mean as your standard/full round action during the round you cannot go full defensive? You still maintain your AC from Armor and Dexterity.
Can he powerattack with a manifested sword? He is, after all, quite comfortable with the idea of sword. His platonic sword just isn't quite as sharp.
Imagination 3
He could at least swing at the enemy a thousand times though?
Does that mean as your standard/full round action during the round you cannot go full defensive?
It cannot. You can spend your Full-Round, Swift, Immediate actions on manifestations or controlling your thoughtform creature, or a 1 round action on making a thoughtform creatures.
Can he powerattack with a manifested sword?
No. If he wants to make his manifested blade attacks deal more damage, he must spend more MP to increase it like any other manifestation.
Where do you get that? Why would you keep your strength if it has no effect on your abilities?
If you were full defensive when someone hit you with the Duel, would you maintain your +4/6 to AC during the duel?
Where do you get that?
Because it lists the actions you can take. Attacking isn't one. It even specifically says you cannot attack normally "While engaged in a psychic duel, the combatants don’t attack or cast spells normally. Instead, the combatants create psychic manifestations, abilities that can be used only within a binary mindscape; these represent changes to the mindscape’s fabric"
Why would you keep your strength if it has no effect on your abilities?
Presumably because it is faster to say ability scores than mental ability scores. Saves space.
If you were full defensive when someone hit you with the Duel, would you maintain your +4/6 to AC during the duel?
Well, it does say you retain your AC, it would only last till your next turn as you cannot use the action again until you leave the mindscape. Though personally as a GM, I'd rule that you would lose the bonus as it logically wouldn't help you dodge a manifestation or thoughtform creature.
Just read through the rules.
Wow psychic duels are s~%+ty.
It's basically a save or die spell against martial characters.