need help with a Psion NPC

[Uller]

The group I DM for has encountered a two brothers from a distant land who are travelling through the same dangerous area the PCs are going to be going through. Both groups (the PCs and these two brothers) could use eachothers help, but the brothers are Chaotic Evil and if given the opportunity will try to get the PCs to come along with them rather than break company when the time comes - The NPCs are travelling to a land on the other side of the mountain pass where the PCs are travelling to...the brothers would rather the PCs (or some of them) come with them to help them get through this dangerous wilderness because the PCs are very familliar with it.

I thought I'd use the opportunity to introduce psionics into the game in order to make these NPCs a bit more exotic. The two brothers are Kyrric, a Psion 5 and Palthar, a PsyWar 3. They are looking for guides to get them through the pass so they can deliver some rare spell components to an evil Wizard in the homeland of one of the PCs (the PC doesn't know this of course). So they will inevitably see this PC and some of the others as being useful for getting around these lands. During the early part of the adventure, I want the brothers to be very useful to the party. The party will be fighting goblins and wild men in an effort to get information about a Barghest in the area that they want to destroy.

So, here is what I was thinking for the Psion:

He has the following stats:
Str 11, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 11, Wis 10, Chr 17. So I was going to make him a telepath with a few psychokinetic powers. Charm Person and Suggestion seem obvious. Inflict Pain will be is main damage power. That's all fine and fits with the character I'm trying to create, but one thing I've noticed (and maybe this is a problem with psions in general) is that at low levels there doesn't seem to be a lot of powers that are useful for defense. With d4 hit points and no armor proficiencies it'd be nice to see something to either absorb or prevent damage. Ideas? I'm half-tempted to have him spend a feat on Light Armor so he can wear a chian shirt at least....

No for the Psychic Warrior: I'm not really interested in the Claw of X/Bite of Y path for powers. I'd rather take powers that boost fighting abilities in general (he's going to use a great sword and wear scale mail). Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Spatula]

The main defense option for low-level psions is Intertial Armor. Also note that the drawbacks for non-proficient armor use depend on the armor's check penalty, so armors with no penalty (padded, leather, masterwork studded leather, mithril chain shirt) can be used without the feat.

Note that Inflict Pain has been errata'd to have a duration of instantaneous.

For the psychic warrior, you want a slightly above-average wisdom so you can take powers like Combat Prescience, Combat Precognition, etc. Although at 3rd level the NPC isn't going to have a lot of powers. Other good low-level options are Biofeedback and the errta'd Vigor. For talents, be sure to take Burst - +10 speed as a free action, 2+lvl / day. It's a must-have for melee-types, especially those wearing medium or heavy armor.

 

[Uller]

The main defense option for low-level psions is Intertial Armor. Also note that the drawbacks for non-proficient armor use depend on the armor's check penalty, so armors with no penalty (padded, leather, masterwork studded leather, mithril chain shirt) can be used without the feat.

Note that Inflict Pain has been errata'd to have a duration of instantaneous.

For the psychic warrior, you want a slightly above-average wisdom so you can take powers like Combat Prescience, Combat Precognition, etc. Although at 3rd level the NPC isn't going to have a lot of powers. Other good low-level options are Biofeedback and the errta'd Vigor. For talents, be sure to take Burst - +10 speed as a free action, 2+lvl / day. It's a must-have for melee-types, especially those wearing medium or heavy armor.

Oh, I see...Inertial Armor is a feat. That'll do, I think. I had forgotten about the errata on Inflict Pain. That's fine. Maybe I'll give him Brain Lock instead. Disabling an opponent for 5 rounds seems very useful (and is the kind of thing to make a player say "WTF???")

Thanks!

 

[edventure]

Powers

I find Biofeedback to be invaluable to my Psy Warrior. He has a +3 STR bonus, with Biofeedback running he takes 6 off all damage and it becomes subdual instead. Also it makes healing go farther as any healing comes off regular and subdual at the same time effectively doubling the healed HP.

I believe it's available to Psions as well but without a STR bonus it won't do your Psion much good.

 

[Hardhead]

Remember, even without the proficiency, a psion can wear armor. Even if it gives him a armor check penalty, it's no big deal unless he has a lot of touch attacks. Oh, and the errata for Inflict Pain is dumb. It makes the power terrible (compared to, say, Concussion, which deals the same damage, hits constructs and undead, and saves for half instead of none. I don't use the errata).

 

[Uller]

Yeah. I'm still up in the air about whether to spend a feat on Inertial Armor vs. Light Armor Prof vs. Just give him Materwork Studded Leather armor. The last option really seems like the best. It doesn't cost a feat (which is huge) and it leaves open the ability to get magic armor. Inertial Armor (like the Mage Armor spell) is limited to +4 and can never get better (of course since it is a force effect it has its own benefits...)

As for the errata Inflict Pain spell: I know what you mean but the last time we played with a Psion in our group was pre-errata. She used Inflict Pain fairly regularly. It seemed too powerful to us. 3 PSPs for what could be 15d6 damage to a single foe...wow. Sure you have to concentrate so it costs you 5 rounds worth of actions to do it, but it still seemed like a bit much. Maybe give it a duration of 3 rounds or allow an additional saving throw each round to resist the damage. Once one save is made, the power is ended and the psion must spend more PSPs to keep doing some damage. That seems a nice happy medium...

Remember, even without the proficiency, a psion can wear armor. Even if it gives him a armor check penalty, it's no big deal unless he has a lot of touch attacks. Oh, and the errata for Inflict Pain is dumb. It makes the power terrible (compared to, say, Concussion, which deals the same damage, hits constructs and undead, and saves for half instead of none. I don't use the errata).