Asking for pointers on a psi-warrior

[Lord Pendragon]

Hi all!

Okay, so here's the deal. Tomorrow (well, today...) I'm going to be playing in a martial arts campaign set during the Three Kingdoms period of China. This is my first time playing in this game (though not the first with this group) so I need to make up a character.

I've decided to work up a mystical fighter a la Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and thought that the psi-warrior would be a great way to go.

Unfortunately, I don't really know the first thing about building the class, such as which attributes are important, which powers are necessary, etc. So really what I'm asking for are pointers on how to build the class.

For my concept, I want to use a longsword, rather than unarmed attacks or Claws of the Vampire, but that's really the only restriction.

So how about it, guys? Give a hopeful psiwarrior player some tips on how to go? The campaign is 12th-level right now.

Thanks guys. Anything you give me before noon tomorrow will help me a lot!

 

[Volaran]

Well, the psy warrior in our game is very mobility focused.

High Dex, Dodge, Mobility Spring Attack, Up the Walls, and multiple Speed of Thoughts and Mental Leaps.

He's been pretty effective, and the player seems to have a lot of fun with his path. Add a Weapon Focus (longsword) in there so you can qualify for the Specialization, and you might have what you're looking for.

However, that probably isn't optimized, as I'm not a psionics expert.

 

[Aloïsius]

With psi-warrior, one of the most efficient combo is combat reflexe+stand still+reach power. Alas, the reach power is probably a no-no for the favor you want.

As a psi warrior, your Bab and nomber of attack is smaller than the other fighter, so you have to look for compensations.
*more attacks of opportunity > combat reflexe, reach, karmic strike, close quarter fighting...
*bonus to attack > psionic equilibrium, combat prescience, animal affinity, expansion
*way to soften the ennemy >mindblast+expert tactician

Mindblast will be your best offensive ability, consider taking inner strenght for your first 3 or 4 feats, so that you can use it a low level.

You have less hit points than a fighter, so powers like Vigor or improved biofeedback are great. Prefer vigor rather than bifeedback, since you will choose Improved biofeedback latter.


Your talents are important ! Those 0 level power should be useful.
>catfall make you somewhat immune to trip attack
>burst is another great power
>float allow you to avoid drowning AND force aquatic creatures to stay at the surface, where you can strike them
>have a look at ectoplasmic strand...


Utilitary powers :
skate allow you to increase your speed, other speed, or push and drag really heavy weight. Combined with ectoplasmic strand, a cliff and a heavy rock, you may do some really nasty things...

Vigilance is far better than Darkvision, since you will see in magical darkness, through muddy water or fog : just ask the cleric to cast a greater darkness spell on an item you will keep in your pocket (or best on your blade). Then when your ennemy will be blinded, you will not, and if you have choose expert tactician, you have a bonus free attack against them.

At higher level, pick Dim Door, buy a few ranks in knowledge the planes, et voilà, you have a way to access the Astral plane, from wich you can reach any other planes through astral pool. (Ysgard and Elysium are great...).

Innertial barrier is a stoneskin power, without material cost : if you have the right score in Con, take it ! Manifest it on you and your buddy each time you can. If someone however injure you, be happy, you have found a +5 weapon...


Last but not least, think about :
*Polymorph self into dire bear
*Expansion
*Dim door above your ennemy :
IIRC, you will inflict ~1400 hp damage to the poor guy you fall on, while loosing a few d6...

 

[hong]

Hi all!

Okay, so here's the deal. Tomorrow (well, today...) I'm going to be playing in a martial arts campaign set during the Three Kingdoms period of China. This is my first time playing in this game (though not the first with this group) so I need to make up a character.

I've decided to work up a mystical fighter a la Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and thought that the psi-warrior would be a great way to go.

Unfortunately, I don't really know the first thing about building the class, such as which attributes are important, which powers are necessary, etc. So really what I'm asking for are pointers on how to build the class.

For my concept, I want to use a longsword, rather than unarmed attacks or Claws of the Vampire, but that's really the only restriction.

So how about it, guys? Give a hopeful psiwarrior player some tips on how to go? The campaign is 12th-level right now.

Thanks guys. Anything you give me before noon tomorrow will help me a lot!

Actually, you don't need psywarrior to do funky wuxia stuff. Boots of striding & springing + ring of jumping and/or spider climb = all the movement stunt-power you'll ever need. Put air walk into those boots, or get a separate flight item, if you need to jump REALLY high.

The trick is to think of magic items in D&D as super powers (which, in a functional sense, is exactly what they are). In a high-powered genre like wuxia, they fit right in.

 

[LostSoul]

Strength is your number 1 stat. Depending on how you want to go, you'll want Dex and Con or Dex and Wis. If you want the "mobility" chain of Feats (Speed of Thought, Psionic Charge, Up the Walls), you'll need a 13 Wis. There are a few good Wis Powers, such as Combat Precognition (+1 insight to AC). Mental Leap is another great Feat; it really helps out your movement rate.

If you're focusing on a longsword, take a look at Psionic Weapon and Deep Impact. Lets you make a melee attack as a touch attack. Great for higher levels (the cost is pretty high).

 

[cerberus2112]

Psychic-Warrior Power Combo!

I've found that the power Animal Affinity is extremely effective in combination with the Trigger Power feat (which requires Inner Strength and Talented). Starting with an 18 Strength, you'll need to roll a 10+ to activate it for free; if you boost your Str first then you have an even better chance to raise other abilities without spending power points. This gives you a lot of versatility. If you are getting ready for a fight, raise Str, Dex and Con for bonuses to hit, damage, AC, hit points, Fort and Ref. In a dismal dungeon, boost your Wisdom for Spot and Listen. In town, boost your Cha for diplomacy. It is useful in many situations like that.

 

[Jeph]

If you REALLY want to go Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a Ranger who's got Tumble via Cosmopolitan and taken levels of Blade Dancer (OA) is the ultimate flying swordsman. He can channel cool energies through his sword, gets +30 to Jump, Tumble, and Balance, superhigh speed, airwalk . . . basically, it's THE ultimate wuxia PrC.

But Psychic Warriors, they are the awesomeness. You'll want to take Speed of Thought at least once, and Mental Leap. Maybe take a level of Monk and get that feat that makes unarmed attacks touch attacks for 5 pp each . . . red dragon's ac now effectively 3. Also works against Pan Lungs. As for powers, Metaphysical Weapon if your high enough level, Lesser Meta Weapon if you're not. I suggest making the character a mobility twink, as that's what Psychic Warriors are good at. Alternatively, make a Jedi: Catfall, Animal Affinity, Metaphysical Weapon, weapon focus (Longsword), Telekinesis, etc.

Just my $0.02,
-Jeph

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. This is the first time I've played a psychic warrior, so I wasn't sure where to begin. We started at 12th-level, and I took several pieces of advice I got here, including going with Trigger Power/Animal Affinity to boost stats, taking the Up the Walls feat progression (along with Spring Attack and Weapon Focus (longsword) for the free Specialization).

For powers, I picked up Combat Precog to boost my attack, along with the Dimension Door recommended. It actually came in handy that first session, as my PC used it to snag the dying shaman and transport him to safety!

Thanks for all the help, guys. It was really appreciated.

(Btw, Hong, I totally agree with you, but the DM specified only one magic item of up to 17,600gp. So I went with a +3 longsword. If the DM were to nix the psi-warrior, I had planned on doing exactly what you suggest, though still without the magic items.)

 

[Hecabus]

Psi Warrior

Take a look at WotC's website. They have a very good section on Psionics including a pdf with all the information they have released since the Psionics handbook was released.

Take a look at the feat Resculpt Mind. Basically you trade off 1 feat and 5 psionic combat modes to get 5 feats. Not bad, especially if you trade them in for Inner Strengths.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Re: Psi Warrior

Take a look at the feat Resculpt Mind. Basically you trade off 1 feat and 5 psionic combat modes to get 5 feats. Not bad, especially if you trade them in for Inner Strengths.

Just downloaded the file, and unless there is errata somewhere, Resculpt Mind can only be taken by psions that can manifest 3rd-level powers. Meaning it's a no-no for my psychic warrior.

It would have been great, though.