REVIEW: Part 2
Since I still cannot post the review on the reviews page, here comes the second part of my review:
[blue] [bold] Chapter 3: Feats [/bold] [/blue]
This chapter includes a medium selection of new feats - some of which are adaptions of old feats from the PsiHB (Mental Adversary, Disarm Mind, Psychic Bastion, Mind Trap,and most noticeably - Inertial Armor Redux) as well as some new ones:
Anticipate Power (Psionic) - Sort of a psionic counterspell. You expend psp to counter powers.
Cortical Resonance (Metapsionic) - Your powers deal extra power against either psionic or non-psionic creatures but not both
Durable Constructs (Psionic) - Your constructs last longer
Elemental Spike (Metapsionic) - Powers gain a +1d4 elemental spike (choose element) extra damage. At no extra cost! Good to see meta-feats with smaller effects that are free.
Enduring Tattoo (Item Creation) - An update to Scribe Tattoo
Inertial Armor Redux (Psionic) - I thought I'd add a few comments to the remake of the Inertial Armor feat (and this feat seems to be meant as a REPLACEMENT for Inertial Armor and Improved Inertial Armor). This version doesn't stack with armor (good call IMO) but can be upgraded by +2 to AC for each time you take the feat. The more PP you have left, the greater part of your Inertial Armor stays active. No longer a "must-have" feat but still a damn good one - a well-thought out fix.
Overwhelm Buffer (Psionic) - An extension of Mental Adversary that allows the Psion to drag non-psionics into the Mindscape and combat their subconscious avatars there.
Permanent Tattoo (Item Creation) - Another extension of Scribe Tattoo
Preconscious Power (Metapsionic) - A wonderful power (especially since it has no magical equivalent) with a great unique psionic feel to it. Powers enhanced with this feat are still available when you are disabled (in negative hp for instance). My favourite...
Primordial Surge (Psionic) - Another really nasty feat, you impart an image of your foes demise into them on a successful attack roll.
Psychic Specialisation (Psionic) - A psychic warrior feat that give them a late edge on the fighter by fully attuning the PsyWar to the platonic ideal of his weapon.
Skill Finesse (Psionic) - Use your key ability for two skills
Subconscious Power (Metapsionic) - As Preconscious Power except you cannot target foes of whom you are not aware.
Visceral Surge (Psionic) - A nastier version of Primordial Surge.
Wounding Cut (Psionic) - Sonic resonance from your weapon bleeds your target.
Wounding Resonance (Metapsionic) - Enhances sonic powers.
All in all, a good and very solid collection of powers. Many have a uniquely psionic feel and are not merely rehashes of metamagic feats.
[blue] [bold] Chapter 4: Powers [/bold] [/blue]
This is one great collection of powers that should have many Psion and PsyWarrior players out there drooling. There's a small list of new Talents - of which we can never have enough. All the psionic Attack and Defense modes have been converted to regular powers. A good choice that is easy to integrate into any game.
The selection presented in this chapter really helps the Psion stand out more against sorcerers and wizards. Let me highlight some of these powers below:
Psychic Bodyguard: You make will saves for the target - your party fighters will love you for this.
Construct Toughness: A nice low level spell that makes you immune to criticals and bludgeon damage.
Mineralize, Metallize, Mithralize, and Adamantify: A collection of powers that make stoneskin look measly but last shorter. These powers seem quite powerful - but are in touch with how other products have described the invulnerability of adamantite (DR 20/+7, Acid Res 20) and mithral. I'm not bothered by these - Psions
will be very tough to take down with these power in short fights - much to my glee.
Casual Loop: A wonderful power! The target is forced to repeat his last actions for 1/round per level
Shatter Storm: Gem shrapnels explode with various effects and deal out large amount of damage. A series of powers for Shapers making them a true match for any Evoker.
Other than this there's a whole slew more of great powers like Brutalize Wounds, Erase Presence, and Throw Ectoform. But this review is long enough already.
[blue] [bold] Chapter 5: Psionic Items [/blue] [/bold]
I'll make this short (like the chapter) since I'm no fan of items. The chapter has a good selection of PsiCrystal Staves and Companion Stones for the former and finishes off with a new innovation called Synaptic Masks. Nothing spectacular here and the chapter is only 2 pages.
[green] Conclusion [/green]
All the chapters of this book are filled with useful rules material for Psions and Psychic Warriors. If you are big fan this book is nothing less than a must for you - so go download it (and no - not from some P2P network ;-D) already. This book finally fixes the psionic combat system,
gives us a great selection of unique prestige classes for psionics that have been sorely missed and introduces a list of powers that really make the Psion shine in comparison to wizards and sorcerers. A superb effort from Bruce Cordell. He is - truly - THE "psionics guy". Don't let
anyone tell you otherwise.....
-Zarrock