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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ruleslawyer" data-source="post: 1700778" data-attributes="member: 1757">And here we have it. Psychic warriors have a gigantic advantage over fighters: They can be both specialists (thus stacking up against classes like the barbarian in power) and generalists, thus duplicating the flexibility of a feat-heavy fighter. In general, I tend to agree with Thanee that classes with powers outshine classes like the fighter at high levels; the fighter REALLY loses out due to his lack of exclusive high-level class abilities, but that's another topic. The PW in particular, however, seems to me an example of how to do the fighter just plain better. Take a look at the side-by-side:HP:PW gets d8, fighter d10BUT, PW can buff his hp using spells, an option that the fighter has to spend actual money on. Moreover, the difference here is 1 hp/level, which IMX hardly breaks the bank.Skills:Nothing to speak of on either count, EXCEPT that the PW actually gains serious benefits by using his skills (notably Autohypnosis, Concentration, and Jump). A human fighter who wants the Expertise feat tree (Int 13+) is going to have a LOT of wasted skill points; a PW in the same position can dump points into the aforementioned skills and get real value out of them. Feats: PW gets 8 bonus, fighter gets 11 bonusHOWEVER, PW gets feats at both 1st and 2nd level, thus matching the fighter in feat tree acquisition at low levels, AND, PW gets access to fighter AND psionic feats, which IMHO are just plain better than regular feats even when the psionic focus requirement is taken into account.Ultimately, the tradeoff here is 1 hp/level and either a single extra feat tree or a tactical feat in exchange for six levels of powers, including Expansion as early as 1st level and Psionic Lion's Charge soon after, both of which instantly trump the fighter's combat options and battlefield control ability. The only major asset that the fighter enjoys after all this is BAB. However, the nice thing about BAB is that you can take PrCs to make it up! All the PW needs to do is take Illithid Slayer, which has the advantages of shoring up BAB AND Will save as well as providing some nifty abilities (mainly the Cerebral Immunity ability, which does take 9 levels to get, but there's good stuff along the way too!).In short, I think the PW is slightly more "advanced" than the fighter, requiring significant character optimization and tactical energy to play effectively, but the payoff is far higher than with the fighter.[Edit: That said, PsyWarr2/Ftr2/Warmind 10 might be the toughest build; at the cost of 1 point of BAB, 3 hit points, and 4 bonus feats, you get a good Reflex save, +4 insight(!) bonuses to Str, Con, and AC, DR 3/-, an excellent suite of psywarr powers, and some neat tactical options. Throw in some barbarian levels and Extra Rage, and you have a combatant who can inflict MAJOR hurt in 3-4 combats per day.]</blockquote>

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