Fighter/Psion

[Caeleddin]

I am making a Psion-type character in the game I was talking about in another thread. I chose 2/10 Fighter/Psion because the DM insisted 2 levels of Fighter or none. It has always been my preferrence to have another class FIRST before being a Sorceror/Psion type. This is because I don't believe that "self-taught" classes like Sorceror and Psions should start off as a straight class. In a medieval world, you start training for your "class" at age 6-8. At that time, your inborn talents (Psi or magic) would be rudimentary. As you grow older (13-15), you get more control and start to manifest them properly and so you gain the "class". But you will always have the base training you got as a child. I chose Fighter because they are the most common base trained class (supposedly).

Anyway, enough of preferrence background.

The character concept is an irascible, acidic doctor, bordering on the arrogant (based him off "House" if anyone watches that series).

My first question is, what do you think of the following build:

Human Fighter/Psion 2/10

Str 9
Con 12
Dex 12
Int 15 (+3 stat increase)
Wis 14
Cha 8

Feats:
Wild Talent, Enlarge Power, Empower Power, Burrowing Power, Split Ray, Extend Power
Fighter: Weapon Focus (Ray), Weapon Finesse
Psion: Expanded Knowledge (Animal Affinity), Power Penetration, Greater Power Penetration

The DM has banned Psionic Meditation as being too powerful, so I can use all my MetaPsionic feats only once every other round. A big neutering, I know, but my DM is like that, as you well know.


My second question is: What powers are good for a Psion? Is the following spell list ok? Suggestions?

I am thinking of the following:
Level 1: Catfall, Energy Ray, Matter Agitation, (need 2 more), Animal Affinity (from feat)
Level 2: Psionic Identify, Psionic Knock, Psionic Tongues, Energy Missile
Level 3: Energy Cone, Body Adjustment, Dispel Psionics, Eradicate Invisibility
Level 4: Energy Adaption, Psionic Freedom of Movement, Energy Ball, Inertial Barrier
Level 5: Power Resistance, Psionic True Seeing, (need 2 more)


Any suggestions to the build and powers will be welcomed. Feel free to play around with it.

 

[Jdvn1]

Did you roll your stats in order? You don't need a 14 Wis.

 

[Caeleddin]

No. I assigned them. 13 Wis is needed for Speed of Thought, which I plan to get later, so I put 14 in now. +10ft movement is always good when you have to run away or when the rest of the party is legging it.

What is your recommendation?

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, as it is, your Str modifier for the damage of your attacks is -1. Did you roll 14 12 12 12 9 8? Don't worry about Speed of Thought. If you're worried about running away, get something like Dimension Door or Expeditious Retreat. I forget what the Psionic versions are called (probably similar names), but there are powers you can get for this sort of situation.

By Psion 10, you have 4th level spells, right? 5th is coming up soon, and you're not going to get to the higher level powers in time. Put the 14 into Int, the 12's into your Physical stats and get Combat Expertise or something. You don't need Weapon Finesse.

What books are you allowed to use?

 

[Diirk]

If you really want speed of thought I'd put the 14 in int and a 12 in wis, then +2 from stat bumps to int at 4th and 8th, then the final +1 to wis at 12th results in 16 int/13 wis, which is better for skill points and psion stuff, and you can still qualify for the feat.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Animal Affinity is a 2nd level power.
Catfall is realtivly useless, it can eat a lot of power points, and is weaker than feather fall.
for a first level power see vigor, skate, force shield, telempatic projection,

Why would a fighter take a feat in WF(ray)? at the time you couldnt use any rays.
improved intiative would serve you better.

And since you are so limited on Refocusing you should prolly trade some of the metamagic for other feats - overchannel, more expanded knowledge, or psionic body(+18hp)

do you need energy cone? E Missle can hit 5 targets and E ball works better on groups.
TK manuverer is a great power - (I dont remember the level)

You say the concept is a doctor - but you only have 1 healing power - psions make bad docs. It would fit the concept better if you had a level of expert instead of fighter, that would at least give you medical skills. (healing, PS herbalism, diplomacy, etc.)

 

[Caeleddin]

The DM assigned stats are 15, 14, 12, 12, 9, 8. I get 3 stat increases.

I am a 10th level Psion. I get 4x 5th Level powers.

Psionic Dimension Door is the name. There is no Expeditious Retreat for any Psi except Nomads and that is called Burst. I am a Kineticist.

I am playing a doctor type. A low Wis would hurt my Heal skill (which is already a cross-class skill as it is). I am not too worried about a low Str or the Weapon Finesse. I have Animal Affinity to offset the low Str, and the Weapon Finesse is a Fighter feat that I had to take.

In order to get 9th level powers at level 17, I have to put 15 into Int and every stat boost into it. So, I am stuck with my base stats for all other stats. I should have mentioned this. Sorry.

 

[Jdvn1]

Why would a fighter take a feat in WF(ray)? at the time you couldnt use any rays.
improved intiative would serve you better.

Good point. And a +1 isn't really worth it anyway.

 

[Jdvn1]

Psionic Dimension Door is the name. There is no Expeditious Retreat for any Psi except Nomads and that is called Burst. I am a Kineticist.

Then go for Psionic Dimension Door. You don't need higher speed than that.

I am playing a doctor type. A low Wis would hurt my Heal skill (which is already a cross-class skill as it is). I am not too worried about a low Str or the Weapon Finesse. I have Animal Affinity to offset the low Str, and the Weapon Finesse is a Fighter feat that I had to take.

In that case, I'd go for the level in Expert like EvilHalfling said. Or with Cleric or something. Why do you have to take Weapon Finesse?

In order to get 9th level powers at level 17, I have to put 15 into Int and every stat boost into it. So, I am stuck with my base stats for all other stats. I should have mentioned this. Sorry.

When you wrote "Int 15 (+3 stat increase)" it threw me off. You're a level 12 character, so if you've put it all into Int, just write "Int 18."

 

[Caeleddin]

EvilHalfling - Was thinking of actually carrying a shield into combat, so I don't need to waste points on Shield (interestingly, I am the only one to use shields in the party, the others being 2 Rogues, 2 Archer Rangers and a Sorceror).

I took Heal as a cross-class (my DM suggested it) and maxxed it. This is a low divine game, so there is no Clerics and whatnots running around. Cure spells are all neutered. There is a lot more doctor types around than cleric types.

I took Cone because Cone of Cold is a staple for my Sorcerors. If you think they are not worth it, I will change it. What would you suggest to replace it and my empty slots?

Actually, Weapon Finesse would be the first Fighter feat. The second Fighter feat (at character level 3) is the Weapon Focus (ray), which I need for Split Ray.

My DM wants to "evaluate" Psionic Meditation. If I am struggling without it, then he will allow me to change my feats to compensate. He wants to "ensure that the power levels within the party is the same", so he is "closely monitoring everyone and assigning bonuses as needed to bring them on par with everyone else".