Fighter taking a few levels in Wilder... Worth it?

[Zadam]

Thanks for all replies so far!

Hmmm I just had another thought (throw another spanner in the works! )

How does 4 levels in Wilder compare to 4 levels in Psion for a character who will be mostly a Fighter? My character is 14 Cha and 12 Int, so that automatically makes me lean slightly in favour of Wilder, HOWEVER... If we do a comparison based on a char with these stats:

Wilder (at 4th level):
BAB: +3
Wild Surge +2, Elude Touch, Surging Euphoria
PP's: 17 + 4 = 21
Powers Known: 3
Max power: 2nd
Plus a bit more skill points and HP than a Psion.

Psion (at 4th level):
BAB: +2
One Bonus Psionic feat, Discipline
PP's: 17 + 2 = 19
Powers Known: 9
Max power: 2nd

So in summary is would seem that the advantages of Wilder in my character case are:
+1 BAB, Wild Surge means I can manifest effectively as lvl 6, Elude Touch, and Surging Euphoria. Also have 2 extra PP's per day, and finally, will have a few more HP and skill points.

The advantages of Psion are:
Bonus Psionic feat, can specialize in a Discipline, 3 times as many powers known!!!!.

It seems at first glance like Wilder would be the better option.... But I just can't go past the 3 powers (basically 2 1st level and 1 2nd level) vs 9 powers for a Psion... This would really give the characters Psionics much more flexibility... 3 Powers isn't really much, I would probably pick 3 very "generic" powers...

Argh! Someone help me decide!!!

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

My take on this:

1. As a fighter, you want powers that won't cost you an action in combat. You also want powers that are not easily duplicatable by magic items or spells from allies.

2. Since the prime advantage of a wilder is wild surge, you want powers that are augmentable and scale well with level.

3. Don't forget the other bonus of taking psionic classes: you gain the ability to take Psionic feats. Up the walls, psionic charge, psionic weapon, wounding weapon, and/or deep impact should all look pretty interesting.

4. As a fighter, your BAB is what makes you effective. You should keep as much of it as possible. (So, if you do go Psion, only take two levels then find a way to take warmind of Illithid Slayer if you want more psi powers).

5. Of your choices, Vigor is a good choice because, with a wild surge, you can get extra hit points without spending power points. Do it before you open a door and it doesn't cost you an action.

Force Screen is a solid choice because, with a wild surge, you can get a +5 shield bonus. However, by level 12+, animated shields will do the same thing all the time without any power point cost.

I would seriously consider something like Empty Mind--an immediate action that gives you a bonus to will saves.

At 2nd level, specified energy adaptation is a poor choice. With only four levels, you won't be able to manifest it as an immediate action. And it is strictly inferior to getting resist energy from the party cleric or wizard. Biofeedback would be a better choice. Augment it to last longer and block more damage and manifest it before going into dangerous areas. The only way to duplicate that effect is to wear adamantine armor (which prevents you from getting the better AC offered by mithral armor), or get stoneskin cast on you. And stoneskin is not only more expensive, but is also ineffective against adamantine weapons.

 

[Testament]

Thicken Skin is nice, the UNNAMED AC bonus is just wrong.
Biofeedback is good for the X/- DR.
Force Screen is always good.

 

[Corsair]

Personally, I'd take levels in Favored Soul instead. Better HD than wilder, all good saves, and ability to use clerical wands.

 

[moritheil]

My take on this:

I would seriously consider something like Empty Mind--an immediate action that gives you a bonus to will saves.

That's the name I was looking for above! Thanks.

 

[Zadam]

Thicken Skin is nice, the UNNAMED AC bonus is just wrong.
Biofeedback is good for the X/- DR.
Force Screen is always good.

From what I understand Thicken Skin provides "a +1 enhancement bonus to your Armor Class"... Does that mean it wouldn't stack with enchanted armor, or a ring of protection etc?

 

[RigaMortus]

From what I understand Thicken Skin provides "a +1 enhancement bonus to your Armor Class"... Does that mean it wouldn't stack with enchanted armor, or a ring of protection etc?

This is not an unnamed bonus. It provides you with a +1 enhancement bonus to your natural armor class. So it will stack with the armor bonus from armor, the shield bonus of a shield, the deflection bonus of a ring of protection, and even natural armor (note that it is an enhancement bonus, not simple +1 natural armor bonus).

 

[Jack Simth]

It seems at first glance like Wilder would be the better option.... But I just can't go past the 3 powers (basically 2 1st level and 1 2nd level) vs 9 powers for a Psion... This would really give the characters Psionics much more flexibility... 3 Powers isn't really much, I would probably pick 3 very "generic" powers...

Argh! Someone help me decide!!!

Well, if you are okay with burning PP's, you can get some of the benefits of a Wild Surge with the Overchannel feat.

OVERCHANNEL [PSIONIC]

You burn your life force to strengthen your powers.
Benefit: While manifesting a power, you can increase your effective manifester level by one, but in so doing you take 1d8 points of damage. At 8th level, you can choose to increase your effective manifester level by two, but you take 3d8 points of damage. At 15th level, you can increase your effective manifester level by three, but you take 5d8 points of damage.

The effective increase in manifester level increases the number of power points you can expend on a single power manifestation, as well as increasing all manifester level-dependent effects, such as range, duration, and overcoming power resistance.

Normal: Your manifester level is equal to your total levels in classes that manifest powers.

Hmm.... Does the "level" that controls the boost to manifester level in the above refer to Character Level, Manifester Level, or Psionic Class level?


Also, if you are going that route, you will also want to pick up:

TALENTED [PSIONIC]

You can overchannel powers with less cost to yourself.
Prerequisite: Overchannel.

Benefit: To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus. When manifesting a power of 3rd level or lower, you do not take damage from overchanneling.

Oh, and just to throw another monkey wrench into the mix, have you thought about going BOTH Psion and Wilder? Two levels in each gives you 1 Int bonus point, 2 Cha bonus points, 6 Wilder points, 6 Psion points (total 15), the Psion's bonus feat, Elude Touch, and Wild Surge +1, 7 1st level powers (but no 2nd), and an effective normal manifester level of 4.

 

[Zadam]

Hmm... Thats pretty cool then. But still, +1AC isn't that awesome a power really... I'm starting to get worried about the fact that most Psionic Powers take a standard action to manifest, meaning one less round of dishing out damage (in most cases) per power I want to use. This could almost be more of a hindrance than a benefit

The only way around this that I can see is to take powers that either last a long time (1hr/lvl or more), or can be manifested instantaneously. Unfortunately most of the good powers don't have either of these criteria... Hmm.

 

[Zadam]

Oh, and just to throw another monkey wrench into the mix, have you thought about going BOTH Psion and Wilder? Two levels in each gives you 1 Int bonus point, 2 Cha bonus points, 6 Wilder points, 6 Psion points (total 15), the Psion's bonus feat, Elude Touch, and Wild Surge +1, 7 1st level powers (but no 2nd), and an effective normal manifester level of 4.

*Head explodes*