[PrC] Psychomancer

[Nifft]

Submitted for your perusal: the PSYCHOMANCER

Requirements:
* Feats: At least one Metamagic and one Metapsionic Feat
* Skills: Spellcraft 8 ranks, Psicraft 8 ranks
* Spells: Ability to cast 3rd level Arcane spells
* Powers: Ability to manifest 3rd level Psionic powers


Class Benefits:
* Hit Die: d4
* BAB: as Wizard
* Good Save: Will
* Bad Saves: Fort, Reflex
* Skill Points: 4 + Int bonus/level
* Class Skills: Alchemy, Autohypnosis, Concentration, Knowlege(Any), Psicraft, Remote View / Scry, Spellcraft

[color=skyblue]Abilities by Level:
Level BAB  Fort Ref  Will  Manifester and Spellcaster Level   Special
1     +0   +0   +0   +2    +1 Caster Level                    Meta Synergy
2     +1   +0   +0   +3    +1 Manifester Level                Companion Synergy
3     +1   +1   +1   +3    +1 Manifester and Caster Level     Eldrich Sublimation
4     +2   +1   +1   +4    +1 Caster Level                    Psionic Metarcana
5     +2   +1   +1   +4    +1 Manifester Level                Psychomotive Penetration
6     +3   +2   +2   +5    +1 Manifester and Caster Level     --
7     +3   +2   +2   +5    +1 Caster Level                    Eldrich Psinergy
8     +4   +2   +2   +6    +1 Manifester Level                Psionic Preparation
9     +4   +3   +3   +6    +1 Manifester and Caster Level     --
10    +5   +3   +3   +7    +1 Manifester and Caster Level     Mental Arcana
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Special Abilities:

Meta Synergy (Ex): The character can apply Metapsionic Feats to arcane spells and Metamagical Feats to psionic powers. The standard conversion of +1 level = +2 power points applies.

Companion Synergy (Ex): The character may merge his Psi Crystal and his Familiar into a single entity. He gains benefit from both, and it gains powers as though his Psychomancer levels were added to both his Psion and his arcane caster levels. The two different parts track HP separately, and the combined creature is not considered destroyed unless both parts are destroyed. The merged entity uses the higher of its two Int ratings, and both parts gain the benefits of each other's natural and special abilities, even if the part imparting that rating or ability is destroyed.

For example, a Wizard5 / Psion6 / Psychomancer5 would have a single companion with the powers of both a Psi Crystal 11 and a Familiar 10. The creature would have:
- One Psicrystal Personality (with bonus trait)
- One Familiar bonus trait
- Alertness, improved evasion, share spells, empathic link, Touch, Speak with master, Speak with animals of its type
- Sighted, Telepathic link, Self-propulsion, Speak with other creatures, Power resistance 16
- Int 11
- Crystal: AC 18, Hardness 5, HP 20
- Familiar: +5 Natural Armor, Hardness 5, HP (Master/2)

Creating a merged entity requires a Familiar, a Psi Crystal, one day and 1,000 gp of materials. Should the merged entity be slain, the Psychomancer loses 400 xp/level (Fort save [DC 20] for half).

Eldrich Sublimation (Sp): The character may spontaneously convert prepared spells or unused spell slots into power points, at the rate of one power point per spell level sacrificed. This is a standard action which provokes an attack of opportunity.

Psionic Metarcana (Su): The character can apply a metamagic (or metapsionic) feat to one of his spells "on the fly", without using a higher-level spell slot or increasing the casting time. Instead, he must pay 2 PPs for each level that the spell would have been raised. For example, a Wizard could Quicken his prepared Fireball by paying 8 PPs at the time of casting. The caster may spend up to his Psychomancer level in power points. This is a free action.

Psychomotive Penetration (Su): The character may expend power points to boost the penetrative effects of one of his spells. For every 2 power points spent, the character gains a +1 bonus on his next caster level check to beat spell resistance. Spending power points in this way is a free action. The caster may spend up to twice his Psychomancer level in power points this way.

Eldrich Psinergy (Ex): The character has gained some special benefit from his mixed studies, depending on his specific Psion class:
- Egoist: +1 to Transmutation DCs
- Nomad: +1 to Conjuration DCs
- Savant: +1 to all Dispel Magic caster level checks
- Shaper: +1 to Evocation DCs
- Seer: +1 to all caster level checks to overcome Spell Resistance
- Telepath: +1 to Illusion DCs
- Psychic Warrior: +1 to all saves

Psionic Preparation (Ex): If the arcane caster is able to prepare spells, he may prepare a psionic power as a spell of equal level (that is, in place of preparing a spell of that level). "Casting" the power does not consume power points.

Mental Arcana (Su): The character can cast a spell as a purely mental action. Invoking this ability expends the spell slot and uses PPs as though the spell were a power of the spell's level. (In other words, a paralyzed Wizard could cast a prepared Dispel Magic on himself, but it would cost him 5 PPs in addition to using up the prepared spell.) The mental Power evokes a Display depending on the normal spell's components:
- Material = Mental
- Somatic = Visual
- Verbal = Auditory
A spell with expensive material components can be cast, but with the additonal PP cost of 1 PP per 10 GP.
A spell with a Focus cannot be cast as a mental actions if the Focus is unavailable.

EDIT: Added stuff about merged familiars and spontaneous spell casters.

 

[The Iron Mark]

I really like this class. It's like an Psychic MT, but with cool abilities! One thing though,

Eldrich Sublimation (Sp): The character may spontaneously convert prepared spells into power points, at the rate of one power point per spell level sacrificed. This is a standard action which provokes an attack of opportunity.

Why 1 spell level for 1 pp? Shouldn't it be (2*spell level)-1? That way the amount of pp you get is enough to fuel an equivalent level power. Otherwise, I don't think a character would ever use this ability.

 

[Nifft]

I really like this class. It's like an Psychic MT, but with cool abilities! One thing though,
Why 1 spell level for 1 pp? Shouldn't it be (2*spell level)-1? That way the amount of pp you get is enough to fuel an equivalent level power. Otherwise, I don't think a character would ever use this ability.

It's not about overt power, it's about supreme flexibility. I think that doubling the available Power Points is too strong an ability. However, adding the ability to gain Power Points at a high cost is still a decent ability IMHO.

Allowing conversion of prepared spells into (2*level)-1 would effectively allow Wizards to spontaneously convert spells into Powers, which is a hefty ability.

-- Nifft

 

[Anabstercorian]

Dude, this thing rocks! Excellent design decisions, but are you sure it should get access to 9th level spells AND powers? I'd make it so that at 10th level you can choose to advance in either Caster or Manifester ability, but not both. That said... Man. The possibilities...

 

[LordJaeden]

I really like this PrC, it is an elegant blend of magic and psionics.

@Anabstercorian:
From what I can tell the Psychomancer is not going to get both 9th level spells or powers unless you hit epic levels. The class requires both 3rd level spells and 3rd level powers to even qualify. That means 5th level Wizard and 6th Psion(or is it 5th? I thought psions advanced like a sorc in spell power *shurgs* I will assume that a Psion get his 3rd level power at level 5 since it works best that way). Even if you only need 5 levels of each you still only get 7 additional caster levels to both classes. That means that at level 19 this class can finally cast 6th level spells and manifest 6th level powers.

@Nifft:
One of the first things that stikes me how long this character could keep casting spells and manifesting powers. Something along the lines of "While you do not have as much bang for your buck you sure do have a lot of bucks" Giving up 7th, 8th and 9th level spells and powers for a huge amount of flexibility and a expanded spell list. I'm not sure if that is game breaking or not but is sure does look cool.

A few things I would like to see, I don't have acces to my Psionics handbook but I will do my best.

Companion Synergy: Combining both of the Familliars and the Psi Crystals (*cough*Magic Rock*cough*) ablilities seems like it may be a little overpowered. A little elaboration on what happens may be in order.

Eldrich Sublimation: Another of the things that stood out to me is how much this class is geared towards Wizards leaving Sorcerers and Bards 'out in the cold'. A little rewording to allow them to make use of this power would be good. Do not forget that a Sorcerer gets their 3rd level spells at level 6 and a Bard at level 7 so even then they cannot 'finish' the class by level 20 like a Wizard/Psion.

Psychomotive Penetration: I would suggest that this be capped at one half his Psychomancers level. Hmmm, on second though leave it as is. The Psychomancer is not going to have nearly (read: a little over half) the caster level of a Wizard. At level 20 by spending 20 power point to get the full bonus of Psychomotive Penetration the Psychomancer will have spell penetration that is 2 higher than a wizard of the same level. I might even say that it is underpowered, by costing to many PP but then I am not sure how many points this class gets (no book )

Mental Arcana: hmmmmmmmmmm, this ability is making me think, I can't decide if it is perfect, overpowered, underpowered or what.

Fact1: Only the dedicated Wizard/Psion will get this ability, taking any other levels or have levels in Psychic Warrior, Sorcerer, or Bard make it impossible to get this ability before level 20.

Fact2: This ability mimics three feats, Still Spell, Silent Spell and Eschew Magical Components.

Fact3: Using this ability for a level 1 spell is really cheap, 3 free feats for 1 power point

Fact4: Using this ablility for a level 6 spell is really expensive, 3 free feats for 11 power points.

Bah, I would say it is a good one. Mental Arcana is the level 10 PrC ablility, it is meant to be the 'crown jewel' of the class. The fact that you need to be level 20 before you get it entitles this ablility to kick ass

Overall I would say this is a superb Presitge Class, all it needs is a little polish, a little clarification and a little rewording to give Sorcerers and Bards a chance to use the ablilities. I really like the creativity and ingenuity of this class. This is one file that is going in my DnD folder.

 

[Axelos]

Hey Nifft, this looks a lot like my twice-gifted PrC, but I know you've been working on this at least a little longer than I've been working on mine, so don't worry about me thinking you stole the idea or anything--particularly since much of it is very different anyway. The Psionic Metarcana ability is the only thing that really looks like something I did with mine.

Overall, I hate to say, I think I prefer your PrC to the one I developed. However, I still like the concept behind mine better(child of a psion or psychic warrior and a sorcerer who learns to utilize both gifts in many ways a simple psion/sorcerer could not). Of course, mine restricts the character to someone with innate arcane spellcasting, so no wizards.

Awesome job.

 

[Nifft]

Hey! I'm glad y'all like the PrC so far!

Axelos: Yeah, I've been thinking about this since I saw the Mystic Theurge. However, seeing your treatment -- and the comments which followed -- was very helpful in crystalizing the specifics. I hadn't actually written down a word of my idea before reading your class, so I'm not sure I can claim to have been "working on it" longer than you.

I think your Twice-Gifted should have access to some special Feats (like a Psi Warrior), or you should steal Mental Arcana from my PrC and give them that (but earlier, since a Sorc's spells are far less flexible than a Wizard's).

LordJaeden: Here's the Mental Arcana smackdown I was thinking of: Quickened Schism (5+8=13 PP), then two spells (one Mental Arcana, one regular) or one spell and one power. It's a long road, but you eventually get to 3.0e's Haste. Finally, Mental Arcana isn't exactly 3 Feats for a few PP -- the manifested spell will still create some sort of Display, which might give the caster away just as clearly as overt spellcasting would. The really cool part is -- no possible counterspelling!

I added some stuff about the merged familiar/crystal entity, too -- the idea was clear to me, but when I sat down and looked at the specifics, there were LOTS of areas that needed rulings. Please let me know if there are any ambiguous or un-explained areas.

-- Nifft