How is a 1st Level Psion/Wilder playable?

[Moonstone Spider]

Thanks for the build Blightersbane. How would you convert that into a Wilder? Leave Mind Thrust as the remaining power?

For others, how are cantrips so useless compared to first level Psion powers? A lot of the powers seem to be equal to or less than a Cantrip. Ghost Sound is Create Sound, Psionic Daze is just like L0 Daze except it can be augmented. Missive is pretty much Message except it's got 1/4 Message's range, the target can't reply, and it only gives you 10 words instead of a whole conversation.

 

[Hypersmurf]

For others, how are cantrips so useless compared to first level Psion powers? A lot of the powers seem to be equal to or less than a Cantrip.

Yes, but first level Psions don't use the cantrippy 1st level powers. They use Mind Thrust, Vigor, and Inertial Armor, not Float and Far Hand.

-Hyp.

 

[KarinsDad]

For others, how are cantrips so useless compared to first level Psion powers? A lot of the powers seem to be equal to or less than a Cantrip. Ghost Sound is Create Sound, Psionic Daze is just like L0 Daze except it can be augmented. Missive is pretty much Message except it's got 1/4 Message's range, the target can't reply, and it only gives you 10 words instead of a whole conversation.

0th level spells are mostly useless in combat.

They are not useless as utility spells.

Psions could take utility spells, but it is a balancing act. Combat spells or non-combat spells.

Wizards and Sorcerers are classes designed to have a few 0th level utility spells. But, they are limited in the number of their highest level spells they can cast in a day to a handful. Psions are designed to Nova (i.e. augment their powers to some higher level than the power itself and higher than equal level Wizards and Sorcerers can manage).

Pros and Cons. The Nova capability is not as apparent at lower levels and does not really exist at first level.


As for max number of first level spells/powers per day at first level (with 18 primary ability score), it is 4 Sorcerer, 3 Specialized Wizard, 2 Wizard, 4 Psion, 5/6 Psion of certain races. So, first level Psions can easily manifest more effective powers per day than first level Wizards can cast spells.

0th level spells are typically an annoyance factor at best in combat.

 

[Jack Simth]

You can go mini-nova at 1st, it just takes a little work.

For a Human Psion, that's Psionic Body, Overchannel, and Talented. You've got 10+Con Modifier HP, probably one bonus power point (two, with an Int of 18), and two base power points. So once or twice a day, you can Mind Thrust someone for 2d10 (average 11 - that will kill a LOT of CR 1 opponents.... some outright), will save DC 14 negates, or Vigor for 10 temporary HP. Or whatever.

If you're an Elan, you've got two racial bonus power points (bringing you up to five or six), and you drop Psionic Body (OUCHIE - that cost 6 HP!) so that becomes two or three times per day.

A Maenid Wilder skip Overchannel and Talented, and use their native Wild Surge (which also augments, free of charge....) and can, five or times a day, potentially, put out it's one first level power augmented to two power points..... so five or six 10 temporary HP boosts, or five or six 2d10 mind thrusts... but not both on the same character.

 

[Stephen Hawking]

Like every mage, you just use a light crossbow for damage really unless you're focused on a gish build with the stats to back you up on it.

Using tanglefoot bags or other alchemy stuff is another option, least for the harder targets.

I almost always take psionic grease. The area is pretty large, and 1 round is fine for what it is in addition to making things fall down.

Finally, you can use your psicrystal's (assuming you got one) to always aid another (self) for skill stuff. Which is a nice +2 that most others can't enjoy, since combat isnt everything. Or even have the psicrystal move in, with its hardness and half your hp, it could be a tough little AoO provoker and combat aid.

Also as others have said, psionic body + other psi feats is a good hp boost.

 

[Aloïsius]

Human. Psionic talent. Psionic talent. Psionic talent. 2+3+4 = +9 power point.

If your DM allow character flaws, choose two of them and take another two Psionic talent. 2+3+4+5+6= +20 power point at first level. Have a nice day !

 

[Blightersbane]

Yes, mindthrust would harness the flavor of the Wilder perfectly.

BB

Thanks for the build Blightersbane. How would you convert that into a Wilder? Leave Mind Thrust as the remaining power?

For others, how are cantrips so useless compared to first level Psion powers? A lot of the powers seem to be equal to or less than a Cantrip. Ghost Sound is Create Sound, Psionic Daze is just like L0 Daze except it can be augmented. Missive is pretty much Message except it's got 1/4 Message's range, the target can't reply, and it only gives you 10 words instead of a whole conversation.

 

[amethal]

Human. Psionic talent. Psionic talent. Psionic talent. 2+3+4 = +9 power point.

If your DM allow character flaws, choose two of them and take another two Psionic talent. 2+3+4+5+6= +20 power point at first level. Have a nice day !

Personally I prefer :-

Human. Psionic Talent. Psionic Talent. Psionic Body. Sacrifice some pp for hp.