How to make a Psionic Archer

[Corlon]

Just a couple things

The first thing is that the psion has 1d4 hit die, making him pretty easy to kill if you can get him. 2. Who cares about astral constructs, when you're that high, the person would jump over them, and race after you. 3. One anti magic field and you're slammed in the dirt (that is of course if you're using psionics are magic, if you're not then you can use a anti psionics field.

And I know you're going to say you would just move out of it but... there are a lot of ways to keep people in a anti magic field, grappling works wonders

And this isn't just fighting NPCs, the dragon would probably put the field around you (with his sorcerer levels) as soon as he realized what you could do, and with his huge strength, would jam you into the ground.

I know these are pretty exact scenarios, but I just like to look at the uninvincible things in all of these posts.

 

[Jeph]

Heh. I playtested a Psion that spent *ALL* his pp on Ioun Stones once . . . had over 300,000. That was pretty damn hilarious. The guy was like a golem! The Gm arbitrarily gave him 9/10 cover, and his targets full concealment.

The test was hilareous. He spent all his skills and feats on Ioun Stone Creation. He sucked, but it was dern funny.

 

[Jeph]

Re: Just a couple things

The first thing is that the psion has 1d4 hit die, making him pretty easy to kill if you can get him. 2. Who cares about astral constructs, when you're that high, the person would jump over them, and race after you. 3. One anti magic field and you're slammed in the dirt (that is of course if you're using psionics are magic, if you're not then you can use a anti psionics field.

And I know you're going to say you would just move out of it but... there are a lot of ways to keep people in a anti magic field, grappling works wonders

And this isn't just fighting NPCs, the dragon would probably put the field around you (with his sorcerer levels) as soon as he realized what you could do, and with his huge strength, would jam you into the ground.

I know these are pretty exact scenarios, but I just like to look at the uninvincible things in all of these posts.

If the dragon attacked him, he could just cast time stop, teleport away, and then set a few nast traps for the dragon if he managed to trace the 'port.

Null Psionics Field is centered on the caster. I.E. useless against a character with speed 60 and knows every single teleporting power. Same with Antimagic field.

Yeah, they might just jump over the constructs, but they can't hurt.Especially if you create them near you, then they can act as body gaurds, and give you cover against enemy ranged attacks.

 

[Jeph]

+5 Flame Frost shock Acid Sonic Mighty (+4) Composite Longbow: *DUH*


You only need (and can afford) +1 arrows. Use secondary disciplines from If Thoughts Could Kill (www.montecook.com) and take Greater Metaphysical Weapon from the Mind's Eye. Good, now for a cost of 26 power points, they're all +5 weapons for most of the day. Slap on an Extend Power if you need to.

If you use a halfling, you get a +1 size bonus to AC. Use a sling... slightly less damage, but you get another +1 bonus. Get a +1 impact sling and +1 charged bullets

Actually, this guy spent 400,000 gp on his bow and arrows combined, and had 350,000 left over, but yeah, a +1 flame frost shock acid sonic keen arrow with greater metaphysical weapon on them would both be more effective and more priceworthy.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

Taking Fell Shot right away is a waste, you won't have the PP to go more than a round, if that. Rapid Shot is a MUCH better choice at lower level for a few reasons. BAB diference is very low, only 1 point (if that) between a Fighter and a Psion for a few levels. Also, being the only creature, player, NPC with 2 attacks per round at 1-5th level cannot be overemphasized. After those levels the Rapid Shot advantage stabilizes, but is still pretty good. The upside is around 6+ level you start to have enough PP to make Fell Shot worth taking.

IMO the hafling is a better choice, with 2 levels of a warrior class. Say, Ranger if the DM lets you swap 2-weapon fighting for Bow feats. You get some armor proffs, weapon profs, skills such as Hide and Spot, but most importantlly +2 BAB. This means that by 20th your BAB will be +11/+6/+1, netting you 3 attackes as opposed to the 2 a straight Psion gets. With Rapid Shot you are getting 4 attacks just like any fighter in the group, and probably hitting more too with Fell Shot.

Sling, Shortbow, Longbow dont really matter because the difference in base damage is only a point or two. All your damage dealing comes from magical augmentation.

Sell your soul to get a Mindfeeder Bow.

EDIT: Oh, and use If Thoughts Could Kill. Bruce Cordel gave Psions secondary disciplines to curb stat dependency as well as a few more PP to throw around. Makes Psions nearly as decent as Sorcerers now, but certainly more fun.

 

[Bloodstone]

Sling, Shortbow, Longbow dont really matter because the difference in base damage is only a point or two. All your damage dealing comes from magical augmentation.

I believe half the fun of the build is the range, which unless I'm missing something, the sling simply cannot match...

Furthermore, a halfling get the bonus to hit with thrown weapons. If you choose to treat the sling as a thrown weapon then it has a max of 5 range increments of 50' each. That comes to a total of 250 foot range before feats or any other enhancements. At that distance, you are suffering a -10 to hit

If you choose to treat the sling as a projectile weapon (i know several people that do) then the halfling gets no bonus and the max range is bumped up to 500 feet and you are -20 to hit something at that range.

By contrast the composite longbow IS a projectile weapon with a range increment of 110 feet. that means you can take shots at 1100 feet without any sort of enhancement. Sure, it's at -20, but still...

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I thought halflings specifically got a bonus to slings.
Anyway, you're right about the range.
I suggest taking Mind's Eye Vigor chain powers for the hp, and secondary discipline Psychometabolism.

 

[Magic Rub]

Heh. I playtested a Psion that spent *ALL* his pp on Ioun Stones once . . . had over 300,000. That was pretty damn hilarious. The guy was like a golem! The Gm arbitrarily gave him 9/10 cover, and his targets full concealment.

The test was hilareous. He spent all his skills and feats on Ioun Stone Creation. He sucked, but it was dern funny.

I thought Ioun stones only orbited a persons head? Ah it's a small house rule to have them orbit anywhere I guess.

Originally posted by (Psi)SeveredHead
I thought halflings specifically got a bonus to slings.
Anyway, you're right about the range.
I suggest taking Mind's Eye Vigor chain powers for the hp, and secondary discipline Psychometabolism.

Hey & with a pile of spent Ioun Stones you'd have a HUGE ammo supply.

"I make an Ioun, I use an Ioun, I toss an Ioun, I like it!"
(o.k. so the qoute isn't totally correct )

 

[Bob5th]

By contrast the composite longbow IS a projectile weapon with a range increment of 110 feet. that means you can take shots at 1100 feet without any sort of enhancement. Sure, it's at -20, but still...

-18 actually 10 increaments -2 per increment past the first.

I don't think the acid, fire, ... stacks for bows and arrows so free up some space on the bow and get Mind feeder. Go Psy warr so you have BAB to get Imp Crit and you won't have to worry about PP as much. Manyshot would be nice.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

I believe half the fun of the build is the range, which unless I'm missing something, the sling simply cannot match...

Furthermore, a halfling get the bonus to hit with thrown weapons.

Range is not as big a problem with the Psychoporters mobility, but whatever floats your boat man. The beauty is that you can do both since ranged feats are general, not weapon specific.

I still think Halfling is a better choice than Elf. That 3rd attack, Armor Profs, Weapons profs, Hit points and Fort save are very much worth 2 levels of Psion. Losing CON is not good since the Psions HP are already low, plus Concentration checks. Losing STR is no big deal for a Psychoporter since his attack is DEX based and his damage is weapon enhancement based. When you start dropping bad guys in a round you will be glad you are Small and can Hide. Who cares about Sleep resistance your Will save is high enough.

The only thing the Elf really has on the Halfling is increased movement speed. Not a worry for a Psychoporter.