Psionics- Where to Start?

[Psion]

The Expanded Psionics Handbook is all you'll need for 3.5.

The Complete Psion is a nightmare that's best avoided. There are one or two feats in it worth considering, and some of the powers aren't bad. But all told, it's one of WotC's worst supplements.

Eh. Though I would agree that Hyperconscious is a better book, the negative reaction to Complete Psionic is overwrought. It does have some weaknesses (Divine Mind base class being very unplayable for one, about a dozen soulblade feats that could have been reduced to one feat with the right wording being another), the ardent class in interesting, as are several feats, powers, and creatures, and it contains many necessary power nerfs.

 

[Klaus]

Expanded Psionics Handbook.
Races of Eberron.
Complete Psionic.
Secrets of Sarlona.

That about covers it.

 

[Nifft]

Expanded Psionics Handbook.
Races of Eberron.
Complete Psionic.
Secrets of Sarlona.

That about covers it.

Fixed that for you.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Deekin]

Eh. Though I would agree that Hyperconscious is a better book, the negative reaction to Complete Psionic is overwrought. It does have some weaknesses (Divine Mind base class being very unplayable for one, about a dozen soulblade feats that could have been reduced to one feat with the right wording being another), the ardent class in interesting, as are several feats, powers, and creatures, and it contains many necessary power nerfs.

Meh, IMO, Untapped Potential, by Dreamscarred press, is the Better book. 2 Excellet Base classes, 1 good base class, an excellent collection of feats, powers and PrCs, along with a handfull of really cool monsters, not to mention the Racial paragon classes and Racial substitution classes.

 

[Deekin]

Expanded Psionics Handbook.
Races of Eberron.
Secrets of Sarlona.
Untapped Potential.

That about covers it.

Fixed that for you.

Cheers, -- N

Fixed the Fix for you.

 

[Psion]

Meh, IMO, Untapped Potential, by Dreamscarred press, is the Better book.

Never implied otherwise. But that's quite a different thing than saying "Complete Psionic is a nightmare best avoided." Because it's not.

 

[Bacris]

I'll never say Complete Psionic is horrible, but I'd give it a 4 out of 10, compared to a 9 out of 10 for Expanded Psionics Handbook and a 7 or 8 out of 10 for Hyperconscious

I haven't read through Secrets of Sarlona enough to comment, as my groups don't use Eberron

If you're just getting started in psionics, my recommendation would be pick up the XPH, and then go to the WotC psionics forum and read up on the "New DM / Player's Guide to Psionics" and the "3.5 Psionics FAQ" as well as the "Myth: The XPH Is Overpowered" threads. I didn't contribute to the first two, but I wrote the last, and while it could use some updating, it's still pretty close to my view of the XPH from a player who has used it since the day it came out. There are some aspects of psionics that do require understanding the rules pretty well - augmentation, psionic focus, and manifester levels are the most important... and most are covered.

 

[Nifft]

and it contains many necessary power nerfs.

IMHO it contains many unnecessary power nerfs, ignores the few powers that actually need nerfs, and introduces some terrible powers which need nerfs themselves. (I'll dig out specifics on request. It's been a long time since I discussed that book in depth. There's a good thread on about it on the WotC Psionics board.) The classes range from decent (Ardent) to bad (Divine Mind). The feats range from poor to unusable.

As you can tell, I was very unhappy with that purchase.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Psion]

IMHO it contains many unnecessary power nerfs,

I count one. (And probably not the one some of you might think.)

If your favorite power got nerfed, that might tell why you hate it. Even if it needed it.

The classes range from decent (Ardent) to bad (Divine Mind).

Like I already said.

The feats range from poor to unusable.

That, I disagree with. I saw many very useful feats, particularly the ones aimed at specific races or classes, as well as the likes of master dorje and dual dorje wielder.

 

[Bacris]

That, I disagree with. I saw many very useful feats, particularly the ones aimed at specific races or classes, as well as the likes of master dorje and dual dorje wielder.

I don't know if I'd say many, although I will agree there were some useful feats.

Most of the racial feats could have been bundled into a single feat "Enhanced Psi-Like Ability" - pick one racial psi-like ability, get 2 extra uses per day. The same as the mind blade feats you already mentioned.

Dual Dorje / Master Dorje was kind of cool, and the Ardent-based feats I liked... but all the Illithid based feats were ridiculous. Especially the Blast feat that gives no indication of what it actually does...

The wilder feats were also kind of nice.

Practiced Manifester needed another look than the simple copy / paste / find / replace that it got, since by the wording, it gives additional Bonus Power Points Per Day, whether it intends to or not.