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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 1755551" data-attributes="member: 3146">Of course, it doesn't matter much if the psion has manifested Synthsete and can see through his ears just as well as he can see through his eyes.Well, considering that polymorph is 1 min/level now, you should write:"a mage who is not expecting immediate combat and has neither the skin of the Proteus nor a ring of free action." Of course, that would sound much less convincing.Or takes thought to draw the AoO early through movement, has a high enough AC to evade the wizard's dagger or staff (not too hard really), or simply has multiple attacks and the ability to make a full attack.It's also relevant vs. a variety of common spells like Evard's Black Tentacles, Bigby's Grasping Hand, Bigby's Crushing Hand, etc. Against sorcerors or wizards, those spells often end encounters.Only one grapple check. And that's pretty much a given unless the wizard has already polymorphed into an annis hag or something similar--in which case, he is still likely to lose (base grapple +14) to a slightly buffed grappler on the other side (7th level enlarged monk with an 18 strength (probably through gauntlets of ogre power) and Improved Grapple +18). (I say slightly buffed because a multiclassed grappler would be better as would said monk if he were also bull's strengthed, a half-orc, blessed, prayered, using Suregrip (T&B), or had weapon focus: grapple).Again, the only relevant ally here is a melee rogue. Archers are no help, spellcasters are less of a help than they would be otherwise, and warrior types are only slightly more helpful than they would be otherwise. And even then, the melee rogue is only relevant if the target is vulnerable to crits.Even if he has spent significant thought and resources on the matter, he's still in a worse position than the psion in that situation.Awe-inspiring, maybe not. But if you don't think it's a significant advantage, you're not paying attention.Now we have a second contestant in the most ludicrous comparison contest. The ability to manifest powers mostly unhindered in a grapple is FAR more significant than being able to shoot an extra 10 feet. It's something that is likely to come up in 10-20% of combats for a PC (making it more comparable to a fighter who doesn't carry a ranged weapon at all than a fighter who has a 100' range bow rather than 110') and is likely to come up in 30% of combats for a spellcasting NPC--going up to 50% of combats if a PC starts using Evard's Black Tentacles and 90% of combats once PCs hit 13th level and start using Grasping Hand. Of course, that will depend upon the party makeup but it's something that regularly devastates unprepared NPC spellcasters.</blockquote>

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