The author would like to thank Adam Miller, Static, Tilaurin, Tay, and Chris Paasch for their input on this article.
Every sphere has its own laws of physics, which can bring about a surprise or two for those who are caught unaware. Krynnspace presents dangers to those with psionic capabilities, as it is a "psionic-null" sphere. There are no natives in the sphere who possess psionic abilities, and those from the outside find that their powers are temporarily lost.
Natives of Krynnspace are born without psionic abilities. Furthermore, they are unable to develop any psionic abilities while within the sphere. If they leave the crystal sphere, a Krynnspace native is able to learn the psionic arts like anybody else.
Within Krynnspace, characters who have no psionic abilities cannot take levels in any psionic class or prestige class, nor can any psionic templates be added.
Those with psionic ability who come from other worlds may not notice any difference at first, but find that their psionic abilities will diminish after time.
These travelers soon discover that they are unable to regenerate their psionic power points (psionic strength points in AD&D 2e) after using their mental abilities. Once the traveler is out of psionic power points, he is unable to regenerate them while in Krynnspace. They also cannot gain any new levels or abilities in the sphere.
When the traveler goes beyond the boundaries of the sphere, he is finally able to regenerate psionic points as usual.
Psionic power points cannot be recovered within Krynnspace. This also applies to pocket dimensions (such as inside a Bag of Holding) and the Border Ethereal, since these areas still reside inside the crystal sphere, just in a different manner of existence. Creatures with psionic abilities can use those abilities the listed number of times (e.g. 3/day can be used three times, 1/week can be used once, etc.) but after that find that they cannot use them again until they have left the sphere. Powers that are considered .always active. or .useable at will. are lost twenty-four hours after entering the sphere (this includes Power Resistance). Psionic diseases cannot be contracted inside Krynnspace, and any creature already host to a psionic disease gains a cumulative +1 bonus per day on Fortitude saves against the disease upon entering the sphere.
Psionic items face the same restrictions to their abilities as psionic creatures (sentient psionic items that lose all their powers and power points go .comatose. until regaining some of their abilities). Psionic artifacts though, representing truly awesome levels of psionic might, are not subject to these restrictions. However, each day there is a 5% (non-cumulative) chance that the artifact is teleported to a different crystal sphere (whether by will of the gods, or the artifact simply wishing to leave a psionic-null sphere).
If the DM wishes, the following rules may also be applied while within Krynnspace, however, these represent an extremely stringent view on psionics in the crystal sphere, and psionic PCs may feel unfairly penalized. Within Krynnspace, even characters who already have levels of psionic classes cannot gain levels in those or any other psionic class inside the sphere, nor can psionic templates be added. Similarly, psionic or metapsionic feats cannot be taken, since the character cannot explore the inner workings of their mind enough to learn these new tricks. Finally, psionic items cannot be created inside Krynnspace.
Upon leaving the sphere (entering a separate plane or the Phlogiston), characters with psionic power points begin to recover them at the normal rate. Monsters and psionic items that have limited use powers (e.g. 3/day, 1/week, etc.) regain them totally after the similar amount of time has passed (e.g. 3/day powers return after a full day has passed, 1/week powers return after a full week has passed, etc.). "At will" or "always active" powers return immediately upon leaving the sphere.
Theorists have been trying to determine for centuries why psionics do not work within Krynnspace.
Most theories attribute this loss to the gods. Some say that the gods of magic are jealous of the new psionic abilities, which they see as another form of magic, and do not allow it in favor of their own magic. Other theorists say that the entire pantheon forbids psionics, as it distracts from their worship.
Some surmise that the psionic-nulling effect of Krynnspace has nothing to do with the gods, and may be attributed to the crystal sphere itself. Some say that the crystal shell has properties which inhibit psionics.
Within Krynnspace, the "Psionics Are Different" option from the Psionics Handbook does not apply, even if it normally does elsewhere in the DM's campaign
The exception to this rule is Power Resistance. Power Resistance is lost after twenty-four hours (see above); during these twenty-four hours however, they function as if using the "Psionics are Different" rule; thus, during this time, Power Resistance functions as Spell Resistance of the same degree, minus ten against spells (so PR 20 equals SR 10). Note that the reverse (that Spell Resistance would equal Power Resistance minus ten against psionic powers) does not hold true in Krynnspace; Spell Resistance works at its full value against psionic powers. Whether due to the will of the gods, or the properties of the crystal sphere, what little psionics can be used in Krynnspace must contend with the power of magic.
Note also that psionic items detect as magical until they can no longer use any of their powers. A psionic item that is unable to use any of its powers appears mundane to all forms of magical/psionic detection.
The continent of Taladas on the world of Krynn is home to a degenerative race of mind flayers known as the Yaggol. The Yaggol are descended from ancient mind flayers who traveled from the stars, only to crash-land on the world of Krynn.
Ancient legends suggest that the Yaggol had been cast down by one of the gods. Other legends suggest that the Yaggol had failed in a colonization attempt, and were caught in the middle of the Cataclysm, never to leave the world of Krynn.
Mind flayers (Illithids) exist on the world of Reorx within Krynnspace, where they have a colony of approximately 400. These mind flayers are able to use their arcane psionic abilities as described in the Monster Manual, but are unable to regenerate psionic points or to multiclass into any psionic class until such a time that they leave Krynnspace.
Those who (foolishly) study the differences between Yaggol and Illithid will find that the mind flayers retain their arcane psionic abilities, while the Yaggol do not.
There are some that say that the planet Reorx possesses a metal or ore which is able to repulse the psionic-nulling effect. Reorx does have a number of unique metals, which have been classified by the gnomes of Mt. Nevermind. The tinker gnomes are running the theory (which takes up three volumes) through committee.
At the DM's option, some, or all, of the ban on psionics may be lifted on planet Reorx, thus allowing for options for a campaign with psionics to be used in Krynnspace.
"There needs to be some sort of handbook for each sphere. Not a one of them is like another. Take Krynnspace, for instance. Not a friendly place for a psion. I went there once, and I lost all my mental powers! My powers came back after I left the sphere, but I had a headache for a month!"
--Krillan, Wanderer of Celestian
