Solarian the in Shadow Realm

[UpliftedBearBramble]

I'm writing this post because I am a bit confused with a rule, to do with supernatural powers. I understand that you may not be able to answer it, and I do appreciate any insight you can give or forward to the appropriate person(s).

I play a Solarian Vesk, who currently is playing in Heart of Darkness: Signal of Scream AP.

I understand now that I am in the Shadow Realm. I am only able to manifest Light half as effectively as before, but my DM has told me I need caster level checks for all my photonic powers indicating the plane is inhibiting them.

When I checked the rules of the CRB it stated that: Supernatural abilities are magical but not spell-like. Supernatural abilities are not subject to spell resistance and do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated (such as an antimagic field). A supernatural ability’s effect cannot be dispelled and is not subject to counterspells.

My abilities as a solarian are supernatural, not spell like. They are not subject to spell resist or other such impedance. I attempted to use a photonic power and was asked to make such checks to manifest them, and failed a lot. Due to this I received 4 negative levels unable to defend myself with my Solarian shield abilities during the Giant fight as the party's tank.

I am currently under 4 levels, no ability to use photonics, on 1 resolve, and unable to heal any negative levels since our mystic has no restoration and no NPC exits in the refuge camp.

I asked back in the first clues of trouble in New Elyseum if Graviton Mode or Graviton powers were related to the Shadow Realm, and I was told a definite no.

It is clear to me I cannot salvage this character, I played even before the pandemic. I accept this. The DM has final say, but I was certain of the rules.

Any clarification is welcome. I want to avoid this trouble when I DM in the future, since it seems I won't be a player much longer. I can't accept that my class is useless now. Soldier(Sniper), mechanic, mystic, and technomancer in the party can all play their class normally save for fire spells.

[Garretmander]

There is absolutely no reason for you to make checks to use your powers in the shadow plane. They aren't even light effects.

Your DM added that rule, and should repeal it. It's straight up unfair to your character.

[UpliftedBearBramble]

Garretmander wrote:

There is absolutely no reason for you to make checks to use your powers in the shadow plane. They aren't even light effects.

Your DM added that rule, and should repeal it. It's straight up unfair to your character.

Thank you for the response! I will do what I can, but I have fought for 2 weeks now and I am just at my limit. He told me it was an article in the back that shuts down the CRB class's abilities.

I was unaware as a player, and I am very thankfully for your input.

Even if I leave the game, I'll set out to DM myself.

[Garretmander]

Spells that generate light or fire require checks according to the shadow plane article. Solarian abilities are supernatural abilities and do not.

I see where he is coming from... but that's a hard no from me. Especially without explaining that this would happen from the beginning.

Also, I don't know which photon abilities you've unlocked, but several of them don't even generate light or fire.

[Akumamajin]

Yeah. It is one thing to make your light only shine half as far, thats ok and thematic, but to shut down core class abilities and gimp you beyond usefullness also gets a hard no-no from me.

It would be another thing, if you somehow worked together with him in some sort of redemption ark, like "Hey DM, how about I really have to struggle to project my solar powers in the shadow real, and at one point I maybe even put us all in danger, but then I somehow forge a new connection to the light/power of friendship/go super saiyan and light up that dank place like there is no tomorrow?", but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I know, you apparently talked a lot about this, but it wasn´t your fault for picking up Solarian from the initial 7 classes, and the class isn't inherently stronger vs shadow creatures or whatever, its just a straight gimp with no return of your money. That sucks.