ITCK: Kuresh PC race too powerful?

[DrSpunj]

Howdy. I recently picked up Bruce Cordell's If Thoughts Could Kill by Malhavoc Press. I found the Kuresh race in the rules section in back rather interesting, but at first (and second) glance it seems really powerful. For anyone who wants to play a Psion, they seem really overpowered.

Comparing them to a human:
-Same size, Medium
-Same Base Speed, 30'
-Better Vision, Low-light Vision
-Better racial skill bonuses, +2 Spot, Search and Sense Motive
-Halfling Saving Throw Luck bonus, +1 on all saving throws
-Psionic defense Saving Throw bonus, +2 racial bonus on saving throws vs psionic attack modes (stacks with Luck bonus above)
-One extra psionic or metapsionic feat at 1st level (have to meet prereqs)
-Same Languages, Common and Bonus: Any
-Favored Class: Psion

If you consider a human PC really only gets a bonus feat (which is nearly matched by a bonus psionic or metapsionic feat above) and +1 skill points/level (which is arguably somewhat balanced by the +2 racial bonuses above in good/often-used skills) I don't see why anyone wouldn't take Kuresh. The other bonuses are pretty hefty and IMO more than make up the difference. I know it can reasonably be argued that every non-human race has a definite strength (Half-orcs for Barbarians, Halflings for Rogues, etc) but this still seems a bit over the top.

Anyone played a Kuresh Psion or Psychic Warrior? or had someone else play them in the game they're in? It's not likely to come up anytime soon in ours, but I like the idea of a psionically-oriented race. I just don't know if this needs to be toned down a bit or if I'm just overreacting

Thanks.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Better Vision, Low-light Vision

Same as halfling or elf.

Better racial skill bonuses, +2 Spot, Search and Sense Motive

Similar to halfling or elf.

Halfling Saving Throw Luck bonus, +1 on all saving throws

Yeah, it's sweet. Same as halfling, similar to the dwarf.

Psionic defense Saving Throw bonus, +2 racial bonus on saving throws vs psionic attack modes

This isn't a big deal, since psions are always trying to avoid psionic combat and it doesn't make up for the -8 penalty you face for not paying for defense modes

I dont' get the complaint; they're similar to halfings and elves in the bonuses that they get (eg Elves gain +2 Spot, which is pretty sweet, yet kureshim don't gain the elven immunity to Sleep or resistance to Charm spells). If you took a close look at, say, the gnome, they look pretty powerful as well (four spells if you include Speak with Animals)!

As for the psionic feats, if a non-psionic kursh doesn't take Inner Strength (taking a feat slot, BTW), they can't gain any useful benefit. In effect, a kuresh can gain Inner Strength for free, that's it! One lousy power point.

I'm not sure whether kuresh automatically lose the non-psionic buffer, but it's not important. Either they're vulnerable to stat loss, or to Mind Blast.