Psionics Advice?
- Thread starter Sado
- Start date
If you're using 3.0 rules, skip it. Either use a sorcerer instead, or use a different system (I used the force adept class from Star Wars).
If you're using 3.5 rules use the Expanded Psionics Handbook and play a psion if you want a more mental, less physical character; play a psychic warrior if you want a more physical, less mental character.
Dave
If you're using 3.5 rules use the Expanded Psionics Handbook and play a psion if you want a more mental, less physical character; play a psychic warrior if you want a more physical, less mental character.
Dave
Someone
Adventurer
Assuming you´ll use the expanded psionics handbook, you can try several levels of "complexity";
-Take a non-psionic martial class (preferably fighter or monk; monk could be the best choice), take the Wild Talent feat and then psionic feats. Later you can try a prestige class, like psionic fist or warmind if you like.
-Play a soulknife. They have no powers, may be a little underpowered and since they are built to be a lightly armored fighter they are not as easy to play as a tank.
-Play a Wilder. Think on him as a bard that doesn´t sing and packs a really big puch. They have a small number of powers to worry about.
-And last, the psion/psiwarrior option. They may require a more careful planning, but in the end they are nomore difficult to play than wizards or clerics -except that they tend to use power points very quickly, so you have to be careful with them-
-Take a non-psionic martial class (preferably fighter or monk; monk could be the best choice), take the Wild Talent feat and then psionic feats. Later you can try a prestige class, like psionic fist or warmind if you like.
-Play a soulknife. They have no powers, may be a little underpowered and since they are built to be a lightly armored fighter they are not as easy to play as a tank.
-Play a Wilder. Think on him as a bard that doesn´t sing and packs a really big puch. They have a small number of powers to worry about.
-And last, the psion/psiwarrior option. They may require a more careful planning, but in the end they are nomore difficult to play than wizards or clerics -except that they tend to use power points very quickly, so you have to be careful with them-
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soulknifes arent very 'psionic' really, they are just another fighter type.
Wilders have few choices in powers and a few pretty simple abilities. If you dont mind being picky over power choice they are pretty easy to play.
Psychic warriors arent that bad either, so long as you have played fighters in the past. They get bonus feats, which can be any fighter feat or psionic feat, of course all prereqs must be met (so no weapon specialization). They also get a few powers, but not a whole lot and not very quickly so you can pretty easily get into the swing of things. They are also mainly combat oriented so that makes it easier, just pick ones the boost the style of combat you want to go for.
Of course, you can always come back here or the psionics board on wotc to get some advice for character building as well
Wilders have few choices in powers and a few pretty simple abilities. If you dont mind being picky over power choice they are pretty easy to play.
Psychic warriors arent that bad either, so long as you have played fighters in the past. They get bonus feats, which can be any fighter feat or psionic feat, of course all prereqs must be met (so no weapon specialization). They also get a few powers, but not a whole lot and not very quickly so you can pretty easily get into the swing of things. They are also mainly combat oriented so that makes it easier, just pick ones the boost the style of combat you want to go for.
Of course, you can always come back here or the psionics board on wotc to get some advice for character building as well
Particle_Man
Explorer
I'd say go for a Psion. I mean, if you are going to be in a psionic campaign, you might as well go for the gusto. They start with a small number of powers, and gain 1 or 2 per level, so there is time to learn how they work as you go. Psions come in 6 "flavors", so pick the one that matches what you want to do (personally, I like the Shapers). The only slightly complicated parts are feats and augmentable powers. Feats I deal with below. Augmentable powers you can learn as you take a power that is augmentable. But don't always augment your powers to the max or you will run out of points too soon (see below).
Now for simplicity, I suggest you take a human, and for every feat you get (bonus feats, regular feats, the free human feat), get the feat that gives you extra power points. [Psionic Talent is the name of the feat]. This is for two reasons: 1) It means that you don't have to worry about complicated feats, and 2) It is very easy to run out of power points. One way to minimize this is to get more power points. The other is not to "blow you wad" in every fight. Husband your points like a miser, for when your party really needs you. In fact, write in a big red felt pen at the top of your character sheet: "Husband your points like a miser!!!!!" so you don't forget this vital fact.
The one feat you might consider instead of one of the Psionic Talents is Psionic Body, which gives you hit points (which Psions are weak on). And there is a nice synergy between Psionic Talent and Psionic Body.
Now there are other cool things you can do with feats when you get more comfortable, involving either maintaining or expending psionic focus, but I wouldn't worry about that part yet. Just keep your concentration skill topped up (for manifesting on the defensive, if nothing else) and if, once you are more comfortable with the character, you want a different feat from Psionic Talent, you can look them over.
There is a magic (ok, psionic) item you want to find called a Crystal Capacitor (basically, a free shot of power points). But that comes later. In general, crystals are abundant in the psionic items.
Now for simplicity, I suggest you take a human, and for every feat you get (bonus feats, regular feats, the free human feat), get the feat that gives you extra power points. [Psionic Talent is the name of the feat]. This is for two reasons: 1) It means that you don't have to worry about complicated feats, and 2) It is very easy to run out of power points. One way to minimize this is to get more power points. The other is not to "blow you wad" in every fight. Husband your points like a miser, for when your party really needs you. In fact, write in a big red felt pen at the top of your character sheet: "Husband your points like a miser!!!!!" so you don't forget this vital fact.
The one feat you might consider instead of one of the Psionic Talents is Psionic Body, which gives you hit points (which Psions are weak on). And there is a nice synergy between Psionic Talent and Psionic Body.
Now there are other cool things you can do with feats when you get more comfortable, involving either maintaining or expending psionic focus, but I wouldn't worry about that part yet. Just keep your concentration skill topped up (for manifesting on the defensive, if nothing else) and if, once you are more comfortable with the character, you want a different feat from Psionic Talent, you can look them over.
There is a magic (ok, psionic) item you want to find called a Crystal Capacitor (basically, a free shot of power points). But that comes later. In general, crystals are abundant in the psionic items.
A psionic being (meaning one who either has power points or psi-like abilities) can be "psionically focused". The focus isn't all that useful in and of itself - you can expend it to "take 15" on a Concentration check (don't roll the die, you automatically get 15+bonuses). Regaining psionic focus takes a full-round action and a Concentration roll with DC 20 (there are feats that make it a move action and that give you +4 to your roll).Sado said:
The fun thing comes in with all the feats that let you make use of psionic focus. First, there are a handful of feats that just require you to be focused - Up the Walls and Speed of Thought come to mind. Then there are a whole bunch of feats that require you to expend your focus. In order to use one of those, you must be focused, and after you've used it, you're not anymore (exception: if you have a psicrystal and the right feat, you can "store" a second focus in your psicrystal).
Sado
First Post
I'm leaning toward the Soul Knife right now. I know it doesn't really capture the spirit of Psionics, but I find myself really liking the class.
In regard to Mind Blade Enhancement, I can't find descriptions for some of them. The regular ones like "Defending" and "Keen" I know, but I guess some of the others are psionic-specific. I can't find the following:
Lucky
Psychokinetic
Sundering
Collision
Mindcrusher
Psychokinetic Burst
Suppression
Bodyfeeder
Mindfeeder
Soulbreaker
I've been using the Psionic online SRD at http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html
If anyone can point me to the desriptions for these enhancements I would appreciate it.
In regard to Mind Blade Enhancement, I can't find descriptions for some of them. The regular ones like "Defending" and "Keen" I know, but I guess some of the others are psionic-specific. I can't find the following:
Lucky
Psychokinetic
Sundering
Collision
Mindcrusher
Psychokinetic Burst
Suppression
Bodyfeeder
Mindfeeder
Soulbreaker
I've been using the Psionic online SRD at http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html
If anyone can point me to the desriptions for these enhancements I would appreciate it.
