Building a Psion (Hero Shaper)

[Dinkeldog]

Okay, so here's my current incarnation for my psion:

Calador Bojardi, Golden Halfling Psion 5 (Shaper), S10, D12, C14, I19, W12, Ch10; Psicrystal Hero (+2 Fort) Saves: Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +5; Secondary Disciplines: Psychometabolic, Telepathic; Feats: 1) Psionic Infusion 1B) Encode Stone 3) Augment Construction 5B) Empower Construction (?); Powers: 0) Detect Psionics, Chilling Mist (ME), Vitrify (MS), Minor Body Adjustment (ME), Burst, Telempathic Projection; 1) Astral Construct I, Biocurrent, Ectogoo, Stomp (ME); 2) Astral Construct II, Woodermis (MS) (?)

So the question is, for a heroic psion that keeps putting himself into harm's way, what 5th level bonus feat and added 1st and 2nd level powers make sense? I've got Empower Construction for the feat and Stomp and Woodermis for the powers tentatively. Anyone got any ideas? (Long term goals include pursuing the Astral Zealot (MS) prestige class starting next level.)

 

[pingpong]

if your going for Astral Zealot, you should really take Throw Ectoform. ive never used it personally, but i know PsiSeveredHead has, and he can probably shed more light on it than i can.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

By taking one level of astral zealot you discover throw ectoform for free and can manifest it without the XP cost.

Since the duplicates are semi-independent, you can send them on errands like scouting or distraction, not to mention switching with them (that only works against some opponents though). It's great if you're facing something like a purple worm - it fools tremorsense, blindsight, and the like.

 

[pingpong]

well, i feel pretty dumb now. of course you should take Throw Ectoform....since you get it for free! jeez....

the only other advise i can give, is have you thought of having a mount? one of the limitations of using a power with a full round manifesting time is that you cant do anything the whole round. if you have a mount, you can manifest while the mount moves, providing that you can make your concentration check.

and being a Halfling and Small, you can have a Medium sized mount. that makes it easier to have your mount with you in dungeon crawling situations, or other situations where a Large mount wouldnt fit. with your high Intelligence, you should be able to afford the points in Ride.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Astral zealot is my next level. I also get a feat at 6th level.

So if I take the Chain Link (upgrade powers in metacreative discipline), would I be able to link out vitrify next level, even if I've taken woodermis this level?

 

[Spatzimaus]

Well, with the Feats you've been taking I'd say go for Constructor (Mind's Eye), but maybe that's just because I haven't read Mindscapes. I've played a Constructor, they're loads of fun. Also I noticed you're using an altered Psion class (bonus feats at 1 and 5), anything else changed?

As for what powers to take, unfortunately your STR 10 and CHA 10 rule out three of my favorite level 1 powers (the post-errata Vigor, Lesser Mindlink, and Lesser Body Adjustment).
Combat Precognition is only a +1 AC, but it stacks with almost everything and lasts 1 hour per level. If you're the heavy-combat type, it's definitely a possibility.
Call Weaponry was always kinda fun, but now the Mind's Eye added Call Armor and Call Item. Call Item is entertaining. For 1 power point, you can summon any item worth 10gp or less off the equipment table. Blankets, a lantern, flint and steel, a mirror, a shovel, a big rope, a tent, basic artisans' tools, a musical instrument, new clothes, that sort of thing. Not that I'd waste a spell known slot on it if there was something better, of course.
For level 2 powers, you MUST get Invisibility. Making a construct isn't attacking directly, after all. Heh. Heh.
Ectoplasmic Cocoon is a pretty good attack power. It was always sort of a toned-down Hold Person, but in 3.5E it doesn't suffer from HP's new drawback (yet). Besides, you're a Shaper, so the DC will be pretty high.
Control Air is a pretty underrated power. Look at what speed of wind you can generate at higher caster levels... throwing a small hurricane across a battlefield can really alter the odds, especially if you're facing archers.

Another possibility, for the non-combat side, is the Astral Tasker powers. Sure, they make pets that can't fight, but they last 1 hour per level and can carry all your stuff, cook your food, clean up after you... what adventurer wouldn't want that?

 

[Dinkeldog]

Spatz, I'm using Mindscapes alternate Psion. Without the combat modes, Bruce reworked Resculpt Mind (trade modes for feats) into a bonus feat at 1st, and every multiple of 5th level. I've also got two secondary disciplines, psychomet and telepathy that operate with my int bonus.

 

[Spatzimaus]

Spatz, I'm using Mindscapes alternate Psion. Without the combat modes, Bruce reworked Resculpt Mind (trade modes for feats) into a bonus feat at 1st, and every multiple of 5th level. I've also got two secondary disciplines, psychomet and telepathy that operate with my int bonus.

Okay, that makes sense. I'd have pushed my DM to let me get those bonus Feats, except that I took Resculpt Mind so there was no need.
I've never really liked the secondary discipline rules too much; it just seemed too easy to remove all the bite from a dump stat. I mean, Telepathy is great, but it requires you to keep CHA up... also (and remember that I don't have Mindscapes) I thought someone had said that secondary-discipline thing only applied to save DC, not spell level requirements. So, I assumed you couldn't use STR- or CHA-based powers when I made my suggestions.

But, since you can, then you should definitely look at the ones I mentioned:
Vigor: post-errata it's an 18-HP damage buffer for 1 power point. It's a lifesaver for a class with only a d4 HD. Once you get to Inertial Barrier and Displacement it's a bit less useful, but it's still dirt cheap.
Lesser Mindlink: it lasts 10 minutes per level, removes any language problems, and allows for secure communications over distance (the limitation being that they have to be in Close range when you cast the spell). Okay, it's not really a combat spell, but it makes you invaluable in other situations, especially when you're planehopping through places no one knows the language of.
Lesser Body Adjustment: it's not very efficient, but 1d8 damage for 1 PP is okay, and the removal of ability damage is nice.