Asmor
First Post
I've got to come up with a 17th level character for a campaign (campaign's not gonna be starting for a while, so I'm not in any rush). I'm pretty sure I want to be a psion because I've been on a psionics kick lately and my last character was a fighter/paladin and I'm sick of the whole martial thing for now. Plus, the party doesn't have a decent offensive caster out of 6-7 members (other casters are a Cleric and a significantly lower-level Tarot Mage, 3rd party thing).
So my first instinct was to go with Cerebremancer, with a Wizard/Psion build. Psion for the business spells, Wizard for the utility. I've decided I probably won't go that direction, though, because it just seems a little repetitive and redundant, not to mention all the extra book keeping.
So now I'm split between going straight Psion or going Psion 7/Psion Uncarnate 10. I really like the idea of playing an Uncarnate Shaper. I find the whole duality (is that the right word?) of an incorporeal thing who can create physical manifestations rather interesting. I'd style myself almost as a force of nature.
On the flip side, though, this means losing 4 manifester levels, which seems like it might be a pretty big deal. Given that most of the damage spells are augmentable, that's almost like -4d6 to all my damage and -2 to all my saves, not to mention losing out on the really cool abilities that level 9 powers can give you. It would also mean a big difference in power points, the straight psion having almost 60 percent more (assuming a 28 intelligence, 18 natural + 4 ability increase + 6 item, that's 205 PP vs. 326). As a 13th-level manifester I could cast 15 max-level powers per day (at 13pp each) vs. a 17th-level manifester casting 17 max-level powers per day (at 17pp each).
Roleplaying isn't really a huge part of this game, so my preference for the character idea isn't as important as most people might suggest, although I certainly won't discount it. The fact that I'm torn on this decision of coolness vs. raw power is evidence that the idea does mean a bit to me...
So basically I guess what it boils down to is how useful the whole Uncarnate thing is. Given that we're 17th level, I'd say it's a fair assumption that anything that wants to hit me could hit me, so the only real benefit I get is flying and a 50% miss chance.
What is your opinion?
So my first instinct was to go with Cerebremancer, with a Wizard/Psion build. Psion for the business spells, Wizard for the utility. I've decided I probably won't go that direction, though, because it just seems a little repetitive and redundant, not to mention all the extra book keeping.
So now I'm split between going straight Psion or going Psion 7/Psion Uncarnate 10. I really like the idea of playing an Uncarnate Shaper. I find the whole duality (is that the right word?) of an incorporeal thing who can create physical manifestations rather interesting. I'd style myself almost as a force of nature.
On the flip side, though, this means losing 4 manifester levels, which seems like it might be a pretty big deal. Given that most of the damage spells are augmentable, that's almost like -4d6 to all my damage and -2 to all my saves, not to mention losing out on the really cool abilities that level 9 powers can give you. It would also mean a big difference in power points, the straight psion having almost 60 percent more (assuming a 28 intelligence, 18 natural + 4 ability increase + 6 item, that's 205 PP vs. 326). As a 13th-level manifester I could cast 15 max-level powers per day (at 13pp each) vs. a 17th-level manifester casting 17 max-level powers per day (at 17pp each).
Roleplaying isn't really a huge part of this game, so my preference for the character idea isn't as important as most people might suggest, although I certainly won't discount it. The fact that I'm torn on this decision of coolness vs. raw power is evidence that the idea does mean a bit to me...
So basically I guess what it boils down to is how useful the whole Uncarnate thing is. Given that we're 17th level, I'd say it's a fair assumption that anything that wants to hit me could hit me, so the only real benefit I get is flying and a 50% miss chance.
What is your opinion?
), it is quite a bit underpowered. The PrC doesn't actually do anything worth the 4 manifester levels you loose until you get Uncarnate at level 10. And 4 levels is worth a lot for a main manifester. If you enter it, I recommend that you do so in the expectation that your powers will be weaker, and you should concentrate more on the infiltration aspects of a Psion Uncarnate: walking through doors in complete silence, instant disguises, and Bluff/Disguise/Sense Motive all as class skills. Don't expect your manifesting to be anything spectacular, and act more like a Bard when choosing powers and considering how you can use them (abliet, a Bard with some fairly significant blasting potential).
