Psionics Balanced?

[nittanytbone]

Psionics are easier to "nova" with. This lets a Psion burn through all of their resources in a shorter period of time.

For example:

Warlock --> Sorcerer --> Specialist Wizard --> Wizard --> Psion

If your campaign has many encounters/day, then folks on the left side of the spectrum will fare better. If your encounter has fewer encounters/day, then folks on the right side will fare better.

Thus, I think the power level of psionic characters is highly correlated to the type of campaign.

 

[Jhulae]

We never found them to be overbalanced in our campaigns. YMMV.

 

[Nail]

Awww Nail, first you soothe the storm with a diplomatic answer and then you pour oil onto the flames with your last word.

Sooooo ... eefil. Inspiring. Thanks.

I aim to please.

 

[Drowbane]

As mentioned: Run the 4 encounters per day and psidudes aren't too strong. Run one per day and they shine. Run 20 per day and the whole group plays fighters.

Warblades and Warlocks?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I DM'd World's Largest Dungeon with one player using a Psion and I found them to be overpowered and probably wouldn't use them again.

It's true that over the course of four or five encounters they are balanced with other spellcasters, but the problem I ran into was that after two encounters with all PP spent already the group would just retreat and rest. Sometimes it was one encounter, sometimes it was three encounters, but as soon as the PP ran out, it was resting time.

If I were to allow psionics into a campaign again, I'd have to spend a lot more time making sure that there was a) more psionic opponents, b) a time-limit to the group's adventuring, and c) I would really look at restricting how many points could be spent augmenting powers.

 

[Bacris]

If I were to allow psionics into a campaign again, I'd have to spend a lot more time making sure that there was a) more psionic opponents, b) a time-limit to the group's adventuring, and c) I would really look at restricting how many points could be spent augmenting powers.

A popular house rule for this sort of situation is to not allow more than 1/4~1/2 of the pps to be used in any one encounter - scale based upon CR.

Of course, it should be pointed out that wizards can do the same thing as this tactic, except easier - 3rd level wizard can cast rope trick to give you a safe place to rest and recoup - psions have to run away.

 

[Psion]

A popular house rule for this sort of situation is to not allow more than 1/4~1/2 of the pps to be used in any one encounter - scale based upon CR.

Of course, it should be pointed out that wizards can do the same thing as this tactic, except easier - 3rd level wizard can cast rope trick to give you a safe place to rest and recoup - psions have to run away.

I was about to say, "does nobody use wandering monsters anymore?" But rope trick is there just for that purpose, neh?

 

[Bacris]

Yup - my DM does use random encounters if we use the retreat / rest tactic - and partially backfills the losses if we leave the dungeon entirely... so it's not a viable tactic.

And we don't have a wizard for rope trick, so we have to suck it up and actually ration our resources

 

[Nyarlathotep]

There are no 1st level powers as good as magic missile. There are no 3rd level powers as good as haste, particularly not as cast by a 5th level character.

I'd argue the Crystal Shard is pretty close. No spell resistance or save, you do have to make a ranged touch attack, but damage-wise it's nasty (and one of our Psion's preferred powers).

Powers that deal damage to mental attributes are pretty brutal as well, although with the Spell Compendium, this is no longer the sole province of Psions.

 

[Nifft]

I'd argue the Crystal Shard is pretty close. No spell resistance or save, you do have to make a ranged touch attack, but damage-wise it's nasty (and one of our Psion's preferred powers).

No argument that crystal shard is excellent. It's one of my favorite powers. Along with Psionic Shot and Greater Psionic Shot (and Psionic Meditation), it's a wonderful way to plink through an encounter where you don't want to waste your power points.

It's just that magic missile takes down incorporeal monsters. Auto-hit, [Force] damage. Brutal.

IMHO crystal shard is great, but magic missile is better. :\

Cheers, -- N