elite array psychic warrior help.

[krupintupple]

hey all,

just wondering where you'd place the 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 of the elite array. the character will be starting at level 6, so if you could figure in the +1 ability increase gained at 4th, i'd be very appreciative.

my thoughts are as follows:

Str 15
Con 13 (14 at 4th)
Dex 12
Wis 14
Int 10
Cha 8

 

[Bacris]

That's really not an easy question.

What TYPE of psychic warrior do you plan to play? A heavy-hitter? Battlefield controller? Mobility build?

Also, what race and what other sources are allowed?

Judging by the way you placed the stats, you're looking at more of a damage dealer than anything else?

 

[Starbuck_II]

hey all,

just wondering where you'd place the 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 of the elite array. the character will be starting at level 6, so if you could figure in the +1 ability increase gained at 4th, i'd be very appreciative.

my thoughts are as follows:

Str 15
Con 13 (14 at 4th)
Dex 12
Wis 14
Int 10
Cha 8

Yeah, that seems to be a good Human array.
Heavy armor fits with 12 Dex.
Don't need too much Base Wisdom so 14 is good.
Don't need Cha.


How is your build/Character?
Are Flaws allowed for feats?

I like the idea of a Love-craftian Psiwarrior:

Human
Psychic Warrior 2
Feats:
H. Illithid Heritage
1. Illithid Skin
Flaw1. Illithid Grapple
Flaw2. Illithid Grapple
PW1. Illithid Grapple
PW2. Illithid Grapple

Powers: Bite of the Wolf, Grip of Iron, Offensive Prescience, Animal Affinity, Psionic Lion’s Charge

Your un-buffed full attack routine is 4 tentacles +3 melee (1d4 + 2). Buffed, it becomes 4 tentacles +3 melee (1d4 + 4) and bite -2 melee (1d8 + 3). At level 3, Psionic Body would be a good feat, giving you 14 hit points.

You can get more since Lv6, but idea is same.

 

[krupintupple]

That's really not an easy question.

What TYPE of psychic warrior do you plan to play? A heavy-hitter? Battlefield controller? Mobility build?

Also, what race and what other sources are allowed?

Judging by the way you placed the stats, you're looking at more of a damage dealer than anything else?

i'm hoping to put together a damage-dealer with some mobility, as i've been attempting to try to plan a build around 'leap attack' (at 6th level) from complete adventurer, combined with 'psionic weapon' for added effect.

sources are: all 'complete' books, dragon magic, frostburn, expanded psi book and core. of course, if there's something that is just too good to miss, let me know and i'll see if the DM will allow it.

races are: core & 'dragontouched' from dragon magic. boring, but yeah, we're stuck with em.

i'm thinking, feat-wise (5 for human psywar 4):
power attack, psionic weapon, speed of thought, psionic body, psychic medatation

 

[Bacris]

Adding "maintain focus" feats with "expend focus" feats can cause problems and usually isn't recommended, because you're going to lose your speed bonus anytime you use Psionic Weapon - and then have to use a Move Action to get it back. Unless you plan to get a second focus via Psicrystal Containment, it's usually recommended to either stack "maintain focus" feats rather than mix with "expend focus" feats, because you'll lolse those "always on" benefits.

Additionally, as you can't wear heavy armor and use Speed of Thought, a higher Dex might not be a bad idea, although for your concept, I don't think it's worth losing out on Con, Wis, or Str. You might consider a Dex-boosting item as money allows later and accept that you'll be a bit squishier due to Speed of Thought.

Finally, Power Attack and Psionic Weapon aren't necessarily a great combination at low level, because you're giving up your attack roll for higher damage, but that psionic focus on Psionic Weapon is lost if you hit or miss - you can't choose to release it on a successful hit. You already have only Average Base Attack - so you're at a 1 point loss on the Good Base Attack classes, and now you're giving that up and possibly blowing your focus (and therefore also losing Speed of Thought) and not landing the hit.

Not to discount your build, just some things to think about.

High-damage psychic warriors are definitely fun, it's just a matter of finding the right balance.

 

[krupintupple]

...it's usually recommended to either stack "maintain focus" feats rather than mix with "expend focus" feats, because you'll lolse those "always on" benefits.

that's actually a very good point, i honestly hadn't thought about that.

so, i'm wondering if the following feats (the always on type) would make a more solid build?

power attack, speed of thought, up the walls, psionic body, ????*

*perhaps some manner of feat that gives bonus to charging or something?

ultimately, i'd like to make use of a leap-attacker who could use said tactic in many situations, such as leaping off walls or trees or something. i realize that my BAB is going to be lower, and without things like rage or cleric-friendly buffs, i'll be hitting less, so i'm going to try to shy away from bottoming out power attack too heavily. however, even a -2 to attack will net me +6 damage, via leap attack, which isn't too bad; especially if i fall onto people via leap attack from a wall, as I get +1 for being above them (melee only)

 

[krupintupple]

also, not to hijack my own thread, but what are some of the 'must have' 2nd level psywar powers?

i've been looking them over and am considering between 'hustle', 'animal affinity', 'dissolving weapon' and 'damp power' from complete psionic.

hustle could be good for getting into position to leap attack someone, animal affinity seems too versitile to give up, dissolving weapon is nice damage, and damp power seems to basically render me mostly unharmed by enemy casters, as it hits spells, spell-likes, psionic and psionic-likes.

 

[akbearfoot]

If you want to abuse leap attack with power attack and a 2-H weapon then you should probably skip speed of thought and up the walls...instead take psionic weapon and Deep Impact. Up the walls is cute and has a few interesting tactical benefits, but deep impact is practically mandatory for a power attack build. Later you'll want Psionic meditation, Solicit Psicrystal and Psicrystal containment.

Hustle is amazingly good, as is Damp Power and Animal Affinity. Although you may want to skip hustle and wait till you can get Psionic Lions CHarge, it is sick. At mid levels you can hustle to move away from the bad guys, then Psionic Lions charge them, power attack for several points then burn Psionic focus twice to have 3 attacks with very high hit probablity all doing x3 PA.