Differeces between 3rd psionic book and the new 3.5 expanded book?

[KenM]

I have the 3rd edtion Psionic book. How much has changed in the new 3.5 expanded book? Enough so its worth buying? Can someone give me a basic rundown of the basic changes in the rules from 3rd ed? Also, do you need the new psionic book for Ebberron(SP) ?

 

[TwilightWhisper]

I've bought it and so far the only change I can see is that the psionic classes, I believe, have no prime requisite. (i.e. - Psychokineticist; Constitution, etc..). I haven't had time to go completely through it. Am I right here?

 

[Aaron L]

The entire book and psionics system has been so improved it is amazing. Powers can be augmented, so a power you get early on that does 5d6 can be augmented later on to to 10d6, and so on, with most powers being augmentable.

The Psion class now bases its manifesting on Intelligence only, and your primary discipline grants you access to a special list of powers that you may choose from.

Soulknife is now a full 20 level class.

Eberron doesnt require any psionics book unless you actually want to use psionics in your game. If you do, I would highly reccomend the XPH, because it really is that good.

 

[Mouseferatu]

The entire book and psionics system has been so improved it is amazing. Powers can be augmented, so a power you get early on that does 5d6 can be augmented later on to to 10d6, and so on, with most powers being augmentable.

The Psion class now bases its manifesting on Intelligence only, and your primary discipline grants you access to a special list of powers that you may choose from.

Soulknife is now a full 20 level class.

Eberron doesnt require any psionics book unless you actually want to use psionics in your game. If you do, I would highly reccomend the XPH, because it really is that good.

Seconded. The XPH is a fantastic book, as large a jump over the quality of the 3.0 Psionics book as the 3.0 one was over the 2nd edition book.

In addition to the above, there are more powers, they're more effective, psionic combat (as its own rules set) is gone and replaced with additional psionic powers that make much more sense...

I literally cannot think of one change from the original 3.0 psionic book to the XPH that I don't like.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Well I love the XPH and agree that it is the best leap forward of 3.5. The idea of spell augmentation is terrific, and some people have suggested ditching magic for psionics, though i havent heard of any successes.
not that there are not problems. Mostly with over powered spells -
energy missle, Schism and vigor. Im sure thananee will point out what i have missed.

The soulknife is still a really great concept, executed poorly - the one trick pony of psionics.

The Psiwarrior is terrific and can outshine a straight fighter - once. The second fight he will be and equal and the third a lazy stepchild. I enjoy the concept and hard decisions.

The wilder is a new class with d6 hp, moderate BAB, and as many psp as a psion but only 1 power known per level. They have some special abilities but I havent found a use for them yet.

There are better prestige classes as well I like the pryomancer, it seems much easier to play than the orginal. The metamind still lags behind the straight psion, then becomes all powerful at 10th lvl.

 

[Spatula]

I have the 3rd edtion Psionic book. How much has changed in the new 3.5 expanded book?

It's completely different.

Enough so its worth buying? Can someone give me a basic rundown of the basic changes in the rules from 3rd ed?

One stat is used to manifest powers, instead of all six. One power can achieve different and/or more potent effects by pumping more power points into it, so the powers are generally much more flexible than they were in 3.0 psi. Psionic feats have been re-written; they no longer require PP reserves or the expediture of PP to use.

Also, do you need the new psionic book for Ebberron(SP) ?

No, you don't need it. Psionics is not that integral to the campaign setting, although there is a (largely undeveloped) place for it.

 

[Zimri]

I preferred the 3.0 book. Claws of the bear was preferable to claws of the beast. Claws of the vampire in 3.0 was preferable to cClaws of the vampire in 3.5, and there was no vigilance in 3.5.

My gaming table (a psychic warrior and a psion) found the "psionic focus" rules quite confusing and unwieldly. I did like that psychic warriors got power points based on their wisdom in 3.5. Soulknife would be more interesting if the soulknife didn't "always function as a short sword regardless of shape"

 

[Alzrius]

I have the 3rd edtion Psionic book. How much has changed in the new 3.5 expanded book?

Quite a bit. For one thing, there is now a chapter on PC races, giving a total of eight psionic races (four new to this edition, four that we've seen before).

There are now four psionic classes; not just the psion and psychic warrior, but also the soulknife is a base class now, and the wilder, who is supposed to be the intuitive psionicist...like a psionic sorcerer.

There are more prestige classes, feats, and (IIRC) there is also epic psionic treatment. In addition there are also expanded powers and psionic items.

The monsters got much better treatment here. For one thing, there is now a subtype ("Psionic") for psionic creatures, which is just to indicate that they use powers. Also, psionic abilities that don't use power points use "psi-like" abilities, not "spell-like". There are also psionic versions of established creatures (such as psionic mind flayers).

Psionic combat is gone, completely.

The rules on magic-psionic transparency have been expanded also. And there are sections with a few magic spells and domains that affect psionics, and two deities with psionics as part of what they deal with.

Enough so its worth buying?

I certainly think so.

Also, do you need the new psionic book for Ebberron(SP)?

In a word, no. Eberron makes mention of psionics (and its definately doing so in the 3.5 manner) but there's nothing that even remotely requires the book. You'd have no problems at all running a nonpsionic Eberron campaign setting.

 

[TwilightWhisper]

The Psiwarrior is terrific and can outshine a straight fighter - once. The second fight he will be and equal and the third a lazy stepchild. I enjoy the concept and hard decisions.

What do you mean by that?

 

[Henry]

Ken, it is night and day between the two. The UPgraded psions are definitely more powerful, though trying to convert characters may give you some serious headaches.

In a nutshell:

-Psions use one stat for basing powers off of (INT). They get more points per level, and more powers per level.
-Psychic Warriors are solely WIS-based, and get fewer feats but more powers, and enough points to use them more than once.
-Soulknives are now a separate class.
-New class: Wilder. Kind of like a bard for Psions.
-Combat modes are gone, subsumed as new powers to choose from, and most are immediate actions (can be used even when not your turn).
-Most powers can be augmented (boosting damage, Save DC, duration, etc.) by spending more power points than necessary on them. Still a max power point expenditure equal to your level.

Go look at the Revised SRD; most all of the new mechanics are now in the Rev. SRD on Wizards' website!

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35