Syphon Vim

is a mental mutation that causes the player to leech life force from a creature, dealing damage and healing the player over time.

Syphon Vim grants the "Life Drain" activated ability, which when used against an adjacent creature, will inflict syphoned and begin dealing damage and healing the player by an amount determined by mutation level. The creature will attempt to make a save against the life drain every turn; succeeding will cause them to "resist" the life drain, while failing will cause damage and healing to be applied. After initating the life drain, you do not need to remain near the creature or even within line of sight - the effect will continue until the duration of 20 rounds expires or the creature dies.

Syphon Vim will not work if used against an inorganic creature, such as a robot.

Formulas
The following formula is used to determine damage/healing amount based on mutation level. The following formula is used to determine saving throw against life drain based on either mutation level or Ego modifier. Note the "Max" function. This denotes that whichever variable is higher will be used in the equation.

If this statement is true, the creature will resist Life Drain. If it is false, Life Drain will succeed and effects will be applied.

Advantages

 * Allows the player to remotely deal damage and heal after applying the effect
 * Lasts for a relatively long time

Disadvantages

 * Need to be in melee range to initiate the effect
 * Moderate cost at character creation
 * Damage and healing scales very slowly
 * Very long cooldown