Psychic Strike (Sorcerer's Psychic Bloodline)

[souldreamer]

As the title says, I have some questions about Psychic Strike. The SRD says:

Psychic Strike (Su)
At 1st level, you can overwhelm the minds of those nearby. You can target one creature within 30 feet that you can see; that creature must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC = 10 + 1/2 your sorcerer level + your Charisma modifier) or it takes 1d6 points of damage + 1 point for every 2 sorcerer levels you possess and becomes shaken for 1 round. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.

1) Does it bypass SR?

2) Is it considered a mind-effecting affect? Are plants and undead immune to it?

3) And while we are comparing this to spells, does this provoke an AoO to use?

[Mathota]

Yes. Because it’s a supernatural ability, and those aren’t subject to spell resistance.
No. Because it doesn’t say it is. I would say this is diliberate.
No. Because it’s not a spell, just a supernatural ability, which don’t provoke unless the ability says otherwise

To be fair, I asked these questions when I found out about this ability too, but dispite the flavour it’s not a spell or a mind effecting effect.

[souldreamer]

What about constructs? Are they considered creatures?

[Mathota]

souldreamer wrote:

What about constructs? Are they considered creatures?

Yes, basically, anything you make attack rolls against is a "creature"

[Bloodrealm]

At the very least the shaken effect is mind-affecting. Shaken is a fear condition and all fear conditions (including Intimidate to demoralize) are fear effects, and all fear effects are mind-affecting effects. It's ambiguous as to whether the entire thing is mind-affecting, since it doesn't mention it with game language.

[Pax Miles]

Bloodrealm wrote:

At the very least the shaken effect is mind-affecting. Shaken is a fear condition and all fear conditions (including Intimidate to demoralize) are fear effects, and all fear effects are mind-affecting effects. It's ambiguous as to whether the entire thing is mind-affecting, since it doesn't mention it with game language.

+1 to this. Shaken is a mind affecting condition, so can't apply to undead or constructs without additional rules specifying such a reaction.

[Pax Miles]

souldreamer wrote:

What about constructs? Are they considered creatures?

In Pathfinder, Constructs are the creature version of objects.

[pad300]

Pax Miles wrote:

Bloodrealm wrote:

At the very least the shaken effect is mind-affecting. Shaken is a fear condition and all fear conditions (including Intimidate to demoralize) are fear effects, and all fear effects are mind-affecting effects. It's ambiguous as to whether the entire thing is mind-affecting, since it doesn't mention it with game language.

+1 to this. Shaken is a mind affecting condition, so can't apply to undead or constructs without additional rules specifying such a reaction.

I'm not sure that's actually true according to RAW:

Pathfinder SRD wrote:

Fear
Spells, magic items, and certain monsters can affect characters with fear. In most cases, the character makes a Will saving throw to resist this effect, and a failed roll means that the character is shaken, frightened, or panicked.

Shaken: Characters who are shaken take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

Frightened: Characters who are frightened are shaken, and in addition they flee from the source of their fear as quickly as they can. They can choose the paths of their flight. Other than that stipulation, once they are out of sight (or hearing) of the source of their fear, they can act as they want. If the duration of their fear continues, however, characters can be forced to flee if the source of their fear presents itself again. Characters unable to flee can fight (though they are still shaken).

Panicked: Characters who are panicked are shaken, and they run away from the source of their fear as quickly as they can, dropping whatever they are holding. Other than running away from the source, their paths are random. They flee from all other dangers that confront them rather than facing those dangers. Once they are out of sight (or hearing) of any source of danger, they can act as they want. Panicked characters cower if they are prevented from fleeing.

Becoming Even More Fearful: Fear effects are cumulative. A shaken character who is made shaken again becomes frightened, and a shaken character who is made frightened becomes panicked instead. A frightened character who is made shaken or frightened becomes panicked instead.

From here : http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/glossary.html

There is no mention of mind-affecting in the description of fear (or shaken) ... While I agree the vast majority of fear causing effects are indeed mind-affecting, it is not RAW that all fear effects are mind-affecting.

[Bloodrealm]

I'm 100% certain that I remember it was clarified that all fear is mind-affecting. It came as a response to whether or not being demoralized by Intimidate would affect the emotion component of psychic spellcasting.