Psionic vs Arcane: Build me some characters.

[AuraSeer]

Another question: what kind of gear will that halfling rogue be sporting? A stock NPC rogue with gear from the DMG list will require very different tactics than a PC rogue with standard wealth who can write his own shopping list.

 

[Majere]

Standard NPC gear on the rogue.

 

[green slime]

Rediculous comparision.

Wizards get Scribe Scroll feat for free, and yet you have negated their ability to carry around a large supply of secondary spells in the form of scrolls.

Anyone ever played a wizard that DIDN'T have a collection of scrolls handy?

And, the purpose of the game isn't to just slay monsters. You can overcome a challenge by avoiding it altogether, or neutralizing it in some other manner.

 

[Thanee]

Well, to have at least on character posted in here, here's the rough write-up for a psion, who should be able to defeat all five creatures with a very good chance (some PP are left-over still, if a spell should fail). And the character has tons of options beyond what is needed here as well.

Elan Psion Telepath 10th level

S8 D12 C14(16) I20(24) W14 C6

HP 61
PP 125

S: Autohypnosis +10(6cc), Concentration +21(13), Diplomacy +13(13), Knowledge (arcana) +8(1), Knowledge (dungeoneering) +10(3), Knowledge (local) +8(1), Knowledge (nature) +10(3), Knowledge (psionics) +14(5), Knowledge (religion) +8(1), Knowledge (the planes) +10(3), Psicraft +22(13), Sense Motive +15(13). Speaks Common and four other languages.

F: Psionic Meditation, Psionic Endowment, Greater Psionic Endowment, Empower Power, Overchannel, Expanded Knowledge (Metamorphosis), Metamorphic Transfer.

P: Crystal Shard, Detect Psionics, Defensive Precognition, Inertial Armor, Vigor; Psionic Suggestion, Concussion Blast, Detect Hostile Intent, Energy Stun; Crisis of Breath, Hostile Empathic Transfer, Dispel Psionics, Touchsight; Psionic Dominate, Schism, Psionic Dimension Door, Psychic Reformation, Energy Adaptation, Telekinetic Maneuver, Metamorphosis; Psionic Plane Shift, Power Resistance.

E: Headband of Intellect +4 (16k), Third Eye of Penetrate (8k), Psionatrix of Telepathy (2k), Shirt of Health +2 (4k), Cloak of Resistance +2 (4k), Ring of Lesser Vigor (Fast Healing 1) (8k), Lesser Belt of Concentration (2.5k), 4,500 gp.

Halfling - Dominated (duration increased to 1 day/lvl; 11 PP). DC 26.
Treant - Blasted away with an empowered Energy Stun (fire; (8d6+8)x1.5; 12 PP). DC 26.
Dread Wraith - Destroyed with multiple (5) empowered Concussion Blasts ((4d6)x1.5; 11 PP). That one's costly!
Hezrou - Dominated (type upgraded and duration increased to 1 hour; 12 PP). DC 26, +14 vs SR/PR.
Fire Elemental - Dominated (type upgraded and duration increased to 1 hour; 12 PP). DC 26.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Rediculous comparision.

Wizards get Scribe Scroll feat for free, and yet you have negated their ability to carry around a large supply of secondary spells in the form of scrolls.

Well, everyone should know, that this ability is very useful, but allowing expendable items just leads to screwed results in such a comparison (much more than what is "taken away" from the wizard here). Certainly not because of the bunch of scrolls the wizard carries around, but those would hardly come into play here, anyways.

Anyone ever played a wizard that DIDN'T have a collection of scrolls handy?

Yep, actually. At least not more than a handful, which have been found.

Bye
Thanee

 

[green slime]

... At least not more than a handful, which have been found.

So you DID have a collection of handy scrolls. The question wasn't whether you had scribed them.

 

[green slime]

E: Headband of Intellect +4 (16k), Third Eye of Penetrate (8k), Psionatrix of Telepathy (2k), Shirt of Health +2 (4k), Cloak of Resistance +2 (4k), Ring of Lesser Vigor (Fast Healing 1) (8k), Lesser Belt of Concentration (2.5k), 4,500 gp.

I dislike the use of non-standard equipment: Lesser Belt of Concentration, Shirt of Health, and Ring of Lesser Vigour. You cannot assume that they would be okayed by the DM. What is a ring of Lesser Vigour?

Halfling - Dominated (duration increased to 1 day/lvl; 11 PP). DC 26.
Treant - Blasted away with an empowered Energy Stun (fire; (8d6+8)x1.5; 12 PP). DC 26.
Dread Wraith - Destroyed with multiple (5) empowered Concussion Blasts ((4d6)x1.5; 11 PP). That one's costly!
Hezrou - Dominated (type upgraded and duration increased to 1 hour; 12 PP). DC 26, +14 vs SR/PR.
Fire Elemental - Dominated (type upgraded and duration increased to 1 hour; 12 PP). DC 26.

Spent 102 PP of 125 PP and took 12d8 damage or on average 54 hp of 61, correct?

 

[Thanee]

I dislike the use of non-standard equipment: Lesser Belt of Concentration, Shirt of Health, and Ring of Lesser Vigour.

I see what you mean.

Well, it doesn't really do anything in this comparison, anyways. Just thought it would fit and isn't really unreasonable. The first two are existing items pretty much, just with a different slot (but with a glance on affinity). I have yet to see a DM who would not allow those.

You cannot assume that they would be okayed by the DM. What is a ring of Lesser Vigour?

Lesser Vigor is the 1st level spell from Complete Divine, which grants Fast Healing 1.

Spent 102 PP of 125 PP and took 12d8 damage or on average 54 hp of 61, correct?

Something like that, yep. Some healing (from item (like above ring, or CLW@will item, or whatever else), or simply ignoring some of the damage with the Elan's ability (2 hp per PP), or manifest metamorphosis to heal 10 hp each; those two require PP, tho) would be necessary, of course.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Majere]

Rediculous comparision.

Wizards get Scribe Scroll feat for free, and yet you have negated their ability to carry around a large supply of secondary spells in the form of scrolls.

Anyone ever played a wizard that DIDN'T have a collection of scrolls handy?

And, the purpose of the game isn't to just slay monsters. You can overcome a challenge by avoiding it altogether, or neutralizing it in some other manner.

Object of the exercise is to see who can do the most damage; Not who can cast dominate person/passwall etc. I simply want to see how much boom the classess can do each and every day (hense no expendable items)

Majere

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

At the moment, your comparison suffers from a simple problem: it is composed entirely of single targets. The winning spells in such a comparison will inevitably be Energy Ray, Crystal Shard, Scorching Ray (empowered), and Magic Missile (also empowered). Energy Ball, Energy Stun, Fireball, Cone of Cold, etc are not the most efficient way to deal damage to single targets but they are undoubtedly an essential part of an artillerist/blaster's repertoire.