Kai-surge

Kai-surge is a Kai Grand Master Discipline. When using their psychic ability to attack an enemy, Grand Masters may add 8 points to their Combat Skill. For every round in which Kai-surge is used, they need to deduct 1 Endurance point. They have the option of using a weaker form of psychic attack called Mindblast. When using this lesser attack, they may add 4 points to their Combat Skill without loss of Endurance points. Kai-surge, Psi-surge and Mindblast may not be used simultaneously. They cannot use Kai-surge if their Endurance score falls to 6 points or below. Psi-surge is a Magnakai Discipline and Mindblast is a Kai Discipline. As a loyalty bonus to readers, Lone Wolf may still use the earlier forms of psychic attack without mastering Kai-surge as long as he acquired them in earlier books.

As the user gains ranks, two extra forms of psychic combat are unlocked: Kai-blast (which is a more destructive form of Kai-surge - both for the opponent and the user), and Kai-ray (which can be used once per combat, dealing significant, predictable damage, with some recoil damage).

At higher ranks, the benefits gained from this discipline are as follows:

• Kai-Grand Guardian: Able to attack up to 3 enemies in psychic combat simultaneously.
• Sun Lord: Able to use Kai-Blast, a pulse of intense psychic energy that can affect psychic active and inactive enemies. Results in losing between 2 to 18 Endurance Points. Damage is determined by the total of two numbers selected from the Random Number Table (A '0' = 1). However, a use of this will reduce the current Endurance Points score by 4 and it cannot be used in conjunction with other forms of psychic attack.
• Grand Thane (Grand Crown in the New Order series): Ability to focus their mind-power upon inanimate breakable objects so that they can explode violently. Any living thing within the explosion proximity can risk injury from flying shrapnel. Key example: when facing the Hounds of Vikkak in Dawn of the Dragons.
• Grand Thane (New Order series only): Able to attack up to 10 enemies in psychic combat simultaneously.
• Sun Prince: Ability to use Kai-Ray, a laser beam of psychic energy that can penetrate even the strongest of psychic defenses. Results in an enemy losing 15 Endurance Points, but will cost Grand Masters 4 Endurance Points. It can only be used once per combat and cannot be used in conjunction with other psychic attacks.

Certain enemies have a degree of resistance towards psychic abilities, and may be immune to Mindblast, Kai-Surge, Kai-Blast and Kai-Ray (in order of strength). Immunity to Mindblast is somewhat-common, and immunity to Kai-Surge is uncommon, but most books usually have one or two such opponents. A very small number of very strong enemies are immune to Kai-Blast (such as Vaagarash), and a very select few are immune to Kai-Ray too (such as Dakomyd).

Blazer, who is exceptionally-gifted with the Mindforce within the Kai, has a special form of Kai-surge in his separate mini-adventure, at the end of Dead in the Deep.

• Blazing Surge: When Blazer uses Kai-surge in battle, pick a Random Number. On a 0 or 1, the use costs no Endurance point. If the number is 8 or 9, the use costs 1 Endurance point as usual, but adds +10 to Combat Skill instead of the normal +8.

When Blazer uses this ability, his eyes become limned in bright fiery light for a few moments (this has no bonus).

Usage

Kai-surge is a powerful ability. 8 CS is stronger than that provided by Grand Weaponmastery, and the cost is only one EP per round. This cost is typically much lower than the extra EP loss for fighting the same foe with 8 lower CS. The only drawback to relying on Kai-surge is that some foes are immune.

Kai-surge should always be used if possible, unless the combat ratio is so skewed that it has minimal effect. Lone Wolf is at a disadvantage if the combat ratio is -5 or worse, while Grand Master is at a disadvantage if the combat ratio is -9 or worse.

Kai-surge has occasional out-of-combat applications. 1 EP still needs to be deducted if Kai-surge is used in these cases.

See also

• Malavan Potion
• Mind Gem