Psionically powered non psionic classed characters?

[Hawkeye]

I was reading through the Expanded Psionics Handbook and saw something that I thought was a little bit strange. Now, you can only take Psionic feats if you have a power point reserve or psi-like abilities. So, does that mean that any character can take the Wild Talent Feat, gaining 2 power points, and then be able to take psionic feats, without the need to actually take a class that uses psionic powers? For example, you could have a Ranger with the Wild Talent feat that could use Psionic shot?

Hawkeye

 

[Nifft]

Yes, absolutely. You'll probably want to invest in Greater Psionic Shot and Psionic Meditation, too, so you can deal an extra +4d6 damage on your one big shot every round.

You could alternately take a naturally Psionic race (like a Half-Giant) and qualify for [Psionic] feats, like Psionic Shot, without Wild Talent.

Cheers, -- N

 

[wildstarsreach]

Yes, absolutely. You'll probably want to invest in Greater Psionic Shot and Psionic Meditation, too, so you can deal an extra +4d6 damage on your one big shot every round.

You could alternately take a naturally Psionic race (like a Half-Giant) and qualify for [Psionic] feats, like Psionic Shot, without Wild Talent.

Cheers, -- N

He's right here and I would but some of the DM hate psionics in our group and I don't push it. But you are right in that assumption.

 

[Nifft]

He's right here and I would but some of the DM hate psionics in our group and I don't push it. But you are right in that assumption.

Absolutely. DM is allowed to say no to Psionics. Or to magic, which is broken.

But if he says yes, and is playing by the rules as they appear in the SRD, then my answer stands.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Or to magic, which is broken.

You know, if I wasn't already happily married and I knew my wife would kill me, I'd say I love you.

As it stands, we'll leave it at: QFT.

I still allow magic, too. But I so much more prefer psionics.

 

[Hawkeye]

Nice to know. Thank you for the help. Regarding the single shot: The descriptions don't say that its only for one attack, just that discharging your psionic focus allows you to use the ability that round. Next round you have to get your focus back, then attack again the following round (or a single attack after using Psionic Meditation as a move action). Is that correct?

Hawkeye

 

[Nonlethal Force]

My understanding of Psionic Shot is that it only works for a single shot, not the whole round. In this sense, Psionic Meditation works well if the enemies can't get to you and force you to move. Thus, you single shot and use your move action to regain your focus. If you can, do it in that order. That way you have your focus before spending actions in the next round.

 

[Hawkeye]

It might just be an editing error, but the text does say "ranged attacks".

Hawkeye

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Yes, but not where it counts.

It says "ranged attacks" in the intro sentence. As in, "a ranger may make many ranged attacks over the course of their lifetime and many of them may be psionically focused to deal extra damage."

However, in the actual description it says "Your ranged attack deals +2d6 points of damage."

Granted, this is just my reading, and I'll concede that I'm not the author and do not know intent.

Edit:

It also says that you must decide whether or not to use this feat before making an attack. If your attack misses, you still expend your focus.

I'm not absolutely correct on my D&D lingo, but I believe each round is composed of several itterative attacks (assuming you've got them, of course). Thus, for a +6/+1 ranger they have two attacks in a round. You decided which attack you want to expend your focus on and your focus is gone after that attack happens.

 

[Nifft]

Nice to know. Thank you for the help. Regarding the single shot: The descriptions don't say that its only for one attack, just that discharging your psionic focus allows you to use the ability that round. Next round you have to get your focus back, then attack again the following round (or a single attack after using Psionic Meditation as a move action). Is that correct?

Mostly. Here's the text (from the SRD online:

Psionic Shot [Psionic]
You can charge your ranged attacks with additional damage potential.

Prerequisite
Point Blank Shot.

Benefit
To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus. Your ranged attack deals +2d6 points of damage. You must decide whether or not to use this feat prior to making an attack. If your attack misses, you still expend your psionic focus.

Bold added. Note now it applies to one ranged attack.

You can make a full attack in the first round, but only one attack benefits from Psionic Shot. The short description ("flavor text") mentions attacks, but the mechanics part ("benefit") only mentions one attack. It seems pretty clear, right?

Cheers, -- N