Expanded PsiHB Excerpts

[Vocenoctum]

Psychic strike is an interesting ability (especially since it seems that the first strike of every combat will be a psychic strike for a soulknife--the ability appears to last forever until used). Somehow I suspect that 5d8 is small potatoes next to a real fighter's iterative attacks at 19th level (and the 5 points of power attack that it would take to equalize their attack bonusses).

True, at 20th level, but at lower levels, before the Soulblade gets his iterative attacks at 8th level, he'll most likely charge every round in a stand up fight. There's no reason not to, as the ME action is otherwise unused.
So, at 7th level, with his bastard sword +1 blah, he gets the +2d8 almost every time. (if he keeps it charged, he moves to the enemy the first round, hits, then charges & hits until he's forced to move again)

Probably not broken, but still something to consider.

 

[Driddle]

The Psicrystal Affinity feat would suggest that a character doesn't immediately start with the Pet Rock ability now; you've gotta pay for it with a feat. ... I know that will be a good thing for those among us who resent the weakness of familiars and such.

 

[Creamsteak]

Gestalt Hexblade/Soulknife! New Baddy NPC for my game...

 

[jasamcarl]

The Soulknife is interesting. I share EB's conscerns, though I'm curious what the actual expected ability damage would be. Given how high level combat turns on a couple of rounds, and that, inherently a creature with a weak ability score would be unlikely to be seriously effected by its loss (10-15% greater chance of failing a will save notwithstanding) in terms of offensive ability until it actually reaches 0, I'm not as sure of its brokeness. I am completly open to being proved wrong on this though, because I haven't done the math.

 

[shadowlight]

Based on this preview, I will definitely be sticking with the Psychic's Handbook by Green Ronin which suits my tastes on the subject much better.

I agree... looks like the same-old-lame-old PsiHB. I'll be sticking with Green Ronin's Psychic's Handbook as well.

 

[Warrior Psychic]

Okay, this is going to sound like a really, really stupid complaint, but here it goes.

It upsets me that Githyanki are now sucky Psychic Warriors. Doesn't anyone other than me see this as wrong? The fact that Psychic Warriors now manifest via Wisdom just doesn't seem to jive well with me.

I mean, it makes sense ... but now the Githyanki have lost their "niche". I mean, they are psychic ... and they are warriors.

A stupid, easily "fixed" complaint. It is probably something I will houserule (I'll give the Githyanki a -2 to Cha instead)

 

[Felon]

Hmm. The thri-keen became a much worse deal than they were in MMII and Savage Species. Their level adjustment went up from +1 to +2, and I do believe they not only got uglier, but they got kinda dumb too. I sure hope they received some cool abilities to make up the difference.

I don't care for the half-giant at all. Not only does the whole idea of a medium-sized giant not sit quite right, but I really need someone to explain to me how being of a giantish-lineage has some special relation to psionicism. Are giants psionically-oriented creatures in some particular setting, like Dark Sun? Or maybe it's just that their brain's a bit bigger, eh? At any rate, +1 LA isn't justified by the ability bonuses alone, so I hope they have some other cool attributes.

Many of the feats look quite interesting, though again many of them seem to have little to do with psionicism. I sure hope Stand Still, Sidestep Charge, Reckless Offense, Greater Manyshot, and Open-minded find their way in the SRD soon.

 

[reiella]

Hmm. The thri-keen became a much worse deal than they were in MMII and Savage Species. Their level adjustment went up from +1 to +2, and I do believe they not only got uglier, but they got kinda dumb too. I sure hope they received some cool abilities to make up the difference.

I don't care for the half-giant at all. Not only does the whole idea of a medium-sized giant not sit quite right, but I really need someone to explain to me how being of a giantish-lineage has some special relation to psionicism. Are giants psionically-oriented creatures in some particular setting, like Dark Sun? Or maybe it's just that their brain's a bit bigger, eh? At any rate, +1 LA isn't justified by the ability bonuses alone, so I hope they have some other cool attributes.

1) Non-Psionic Thri-Kreen hada +1 LA (ECL 3) and a Psionic Thri-Kreen had a LA of +3 (ECL 5). So in fact, their LA went down it appears, most likly in part due to no longer having Combat Modes (mediocre) and possbily losing some of hte PLAs (possibly Lesser Metaphysical Weapon if I had to guess).

2) Half-Giants are from Dark Sun, no clue how much of the history they'll bring forward, but it was a very different type of "Half-Giant". They were an artifically created lifeform by meshing Athasian Giants and Humans. Athasian Giants were also very different beasts... That said, I'm most likly going to be disappointed in them anyway. If they adopt the 'Transient Mindedness' of the Half-Giant, however, it may well be justified.

 

[Nifft]

I'm liking the Soulknife as a Spring Attack fighter. He's not a classic tank, but he's got good HP and Bard saving throws. I see myself creating a cool Soulknife/Shadowdancer hybrid PrC in the near future. It's certainly a cool psi-flavored class, which uses very little Psionics (note the total lack of Powers outside of the Wild Talent Feat).

-- N

 

[Gez]

Am I the only one who find their maenads weird?