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Anyone play a Soulknife?
- Thread starter Ardenian
- Start date
pawsplay
Hero
The (flimsily supported by the rules, but generally accepted) FAQ and errata material makes shaping a mind blade inconvenient, and EWP (bastard sword) not worth while at all.
Pick a schtick. Like a monk or a paladin, there are a ton of things you would like to do, but feats cost dear.
Despite the example provided by the premade PC, don't combine psychic weapon with the soulknife. Revving up the psychic strike each round as a move action will allow you to attack, attack, and attack in situations where you need to be doing a lot of damage. Even with psychic meditation, it would take a whole round to restore your psionic focus AND power up your psychic strike.
One of the biggest advantages of being a soulknife is not having to shell out cash on your primary weapon. Use that to your advantage, by purchasing or acquiring many inexpensive defensive and enhancing items. For instance, get a ring of protection, an amulet of natural armor, and magical armor.
If you use TWF, strongly consider taking Quickdraw and carrying a weapon. There will be occasions when you will want to draw and attack in the same round with both weapons. Also, splitting your mind blade is not always advantageous... a -1 to hit can translate into a surprising dip in attack power.
Decide early on if you are gonig to use Weapon Finesse or if you want a pumped strength.
The whirlwind attack chain is beneficial, but the feat itself is redundant with your whirlwind of blades ability. Tough call.
Pick a schtick. Like a monk or a paladin, there are a ton of things you would like to do, but feats cost dear.
Despite the example provided by the premade PC, don't combine psychic weapon with the soulknife. Revving up the psychic strike each round as a move action will allow you to attack, attack, and attack in situations where you need to be doing a lot of damage. Even with psychic meditation, it would take a whole round to restore your psionic focus AND power up your psychic strike.
One of the biggest advantages of being a soulknife is not having to shell out cash on your primary weapon. Use that to your advantage, by purchasing or acquiring many inexpensive defensive and enhancing items. For instance, get a ring of protection, an amulet of natural armor, and magical armor.
If you use TWF, strongly consider taking Quickdraw and carrying a weapon. There will be occasions when you will want to draw and attack in the same round with both weapons. Also, splitting your mind blade is not always advantageous... a -1 to hit can translate into a surprising dip in attack power.
Decide early on if you are gonig to use Weapon Finesse or if you want a pumped strength.
The whirlwind attack chain is beneficial, but the feat itself is redundant with your whirlwind of blades ability. Tough call.
There's one in my campaign: a Dwarf Soulblade 9/Fighter 1, who specialises in getting the best AC he can. It's about 8 points above any other member in the group (about 35+ at level 10), and a touch AC to match (about 23+). Races of Stone & DMG2 were good for him.
He makes a lot of use of the thrown blade when he can't move in in time. He's picking up levels of the Incarnate Blade (I think that's what it's called) so he's also effective against undead.
His blade is considered adamantium due to a feat from Dragon magazine.
He doesn't do the most damage in the group, but I can't deal damage to him, so he keeps on going, and going, and going...
I'll see if I can't find his full stats and post them.
Cheers!
He makes a lot of use of the thrown blade when he can't move in in time. He's picking up levels of the Incarnate Blade (I think that's what it's called) so he's also effective against undead.
His blade is considered adamantium due to a feat from Dragon magazine.
He doesn't do the most damage in the group, but I can't deal damage to him, so he keeps on going, and going, and going...
I'll see if I can't find his full stats and post them.
Cheers!
Deekin
Adventurer
Klashatar Soulknife/Monk/Atervist. I stand, flurry and TWF for a ludicrus number of attack. ( I have the flowing Blade feat that lets me flurry with my Soulknife, a feat that boost my level for my soulknife, and atrervist improves both. I am a damage machine, in that I take a lot of damage and hand out a lot of damage.
Mycanid
First Post
I posted this in another thread. It is basically a description of my soulknife. For me the soulknife is one of the most interesting character classes to roleplay....
----
"One possibility you might try ... I created an pc who originated from a desert background who was a LN half-elf ranger 1/soulknife 1/psion (nomad) 2. He was set in Greyhawk. He was TOTALLY cool to play and his name was Jaleel al-Qizhalem. He had been originally a ranger who had an inherent psionic talent developed by the Xeph, who also had been the ones to introduce him to the worship of Xan Yae.
The closest I could come to describing him is a cross between a desert ranger and a dervish with a meditative/psionic bent - almost a zen buddhist monk type. His main "theme" was gracefulness and movement (a la the nomad), and best expressed in slow, perfectly poised and stately dance - which is the main manner of worshipping Xan Yae at both sunrise and sunset.
I loved playing him....
Xan Yae as a diety is often portrayed as a very tall, graceful female wielding two falchions one-handed. Eventually I had intended to develop the soulknife side of him to this ideal. Since they are psiblades, they are, of course, quite light. Of course, Xan Yae is also a patron of psionics....
Another aspect of Xan Yae, if you remember, is a love of secrets - both keeping and discovering them. The "quest for inner knowledge" sort of thing fits well with this. Jaleel was very soft spoken and formal in address, as well as quite respectful of all - even if he had no respect for who or what he was talking to ... the standard models of desert civilization based behavior. Might check out the 3.5 Unearthed Arcana and/or the Sandstorm book for more about these types of behaviors if you want to follow this route....
Finally, Jaleel was a very non-urban sort of fellow. He felt uncomfortable even in small villages. He could get by, of course, but vastly preferred the wilderness."
----
"One possibility you might try ... I created an pc who originated from a desert background who was a LN half-elf ranger 1/soulknife 1/psion (nomad) 2. He was set in Greyhawk. He was TOTALLY cool to play and his name was Jaleel al-Qizhalem. He had been originally a ranger who had an inherent psionic talent developed by the Xeph, who also had been the ones to introduce him to the worship of Xan Yae.
The closest I could come to describing him is a cross between a desert ranger and a dervish with a meditative/psionic bent - almost a zen buddhist monk type. His main "theme" was gracefulness and movement (a la the nomad), and best expressed in slow, perfectly poised and stately dance - which is the main manner of worshipping Xan Yae at both sunrise and sunset.
I loved playing him....
Xan Yae as a diety is often portrayed as a very tall, graceful female wielding two falchions one-handed. Eventually I had intended to develop the soulknife side of him to this ideal. Since they are psiblades, they are, of course, quite light. Of course, Xan Yae is also a patron of psionics....
Another aspect of Xan Yae, if you remember, is a love of secrets - both keeping and discovering them. The "quest for inner knowledge" sort of thing fits well with this. Jaleel was very soft spoken and formal in address, as well as quite respectful of all - even if he had no respect for who or what he was talking to ... the standard models of desert civilization based behavior. Might check out the 3.5 Unearthed Arcana and/or the Sandstorm book for more about these types of behaviors if you want to follow this route....
Finally, Jaleel was a very non-urban sort of fellow. He felt uncomfortable even in small villages. He could get by, of course, but vastly preferred the wilderness."
Here's Adam's Soulknife:
Ragnagor
NG Dwarf Soulknife 6/Fighter 2/Illumine Soul 3
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60'; Spot +13, Listen +0
HP 105 (11 HD)
AC 33, touch 25, flat-footed 21
..(+12 armour, +7 shield, +1 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 deflection, +1 natural)
Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +10; +2 saves vs poison, spells & spell-like effects
Melee +2 keen adamantine longsword (mindblade) +13/+8 (1d8+5/17-20)
Ranged +2 keen adamantine longsword (mindblade) +13 (1d8+5/17-20)
Base Atk +8; Grp +11
SA: Psychic Strike +2d8 (may strike mindful living or undead creatures); Death Ward (expend focus to gain protection), Throw Mind Blade (30 ft increment); Positive Energy Ray 2/day
Str 17, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 13
Feats: Adamantine Blade, Deflective Armour, Dodge, Focused Shield, Heavy Armour Optimisation, Psionic Dodge, Shield Specialisation (Heavy), Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), wild Talent
Skills: Concentration +18, Diplomacy +4, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (Psionics) +9, Knowledge (Religion) +5, Listen +0, Spot +13, Tumble +12
Gear: +3 full plate, +3 heavy steel shield (legacy item), amulet of natural armor +1, ring of protection +1, ring of sustenance
Sources:
Expanded Psionic Handbook, Complete Psionic, Dragon #341, Weapons of Legacy, Races of Stone... think that's it.
The character will probably get a few more points of AC once his gear improves.
Ragnagor
NG Dwarf Soulknife 6/Fighter 2/Illumine Soul 3
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60'; Spot +13, Listen +0
HP 105 (11 HD)
AC 33, touch 25, flat-footed 21
..(+12 armour, +7 shield, +1 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 deflection, +1 natural)
Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +10; +2 saves vs poison, spells & spell-like effects
Melee +2 keen adamantine longsword (mindblade) +13/+8 (1d8+5/17-20)
Ranged +2 keen adamantine longsword (mindblade) +13 (1d8+5/17-20)
Base Atk +8; Grp +11
SA: Psychic Strike +2d8 (may strike mindful living or undead creatures); Death Ward (expend focus to gain protection), Throw Mind Blade (30 ft increment); Positive Energy Ray 2/day
Str 17, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 13
Feats: Adamantine Blade, Deflective Armour, Dodge, Focused Shield, Heavy Armour Optimisation, Psionic Dodge, Shield Specialisation (Heavy), Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), wild Talent
Skills: Concentration +18, Diplomacy +4, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (Psionics) +9, Knowledge (Religion) +5, Listen +0, Spot +13, Tumble +12
Gear: +3 full plate, +3 heavy steel shield (legacy item), amulet of natural armor +1, ring of protection +1, ring of sustenance
Sources:
Expanded Psionic Handbook, Complete Psionic, Dragon #341, Weapons of Legacy, Races of Stone... think that's it.
The character will probably get a few more points of AC once his gear improves.
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