Real World Experience with XPH Psions?

[3d6]

I have a psion in the campaign I DM, which has just reached 12th level. The psion (who is a kineticist) has been very competitive with the wizard (who is an evoker) so far. The primary problem the psion has faced is that he runs out of power points much faster than the wizard runs out of good spells. For example, in the last session, after a full day of adventuring, the wizard had used all his 5th-level spells, all but 1 of his 4th-level spells, and all but 2 of his 3nd-level spells. Thus, he still had about 3 rounds of combat left in him. The psion, on the other hand, had 3 power points left, even though he had been very, very conservitive in spending pp that session, using nothing but energy wall (against mooks) and energy current.

I would say your number one priority as a psion is making sure not to overdo things. If a combat seems to be going well, don't manifest to the limit of your abilities. (I.e., don't fully augment powers except in somewhat to very difficult fights.) Seek out items and abilities that either give increased power points, or reduce power point costs.

Obtaining hustle (through Expanded Knowledge) in conjunction with Psionic Meditation, Psicrytal Affinity and Psicrystal Containment is a must. The ability to use two metapsionic feats in a round (or a metapsionic feat in conjunction with Talented or Psionic Endowment) is fantastic.

 

[Plane Sailing]

There is a monk1/seer9 in my campaign, and his damage causing capacity has leapt skywards since the 3.0 rules (even with my houserules which improved things at that time).

My only real concern is the flexibility that choosing energy type at manifestation time gives to him - it allows far greater tailoring of power to avoid resistances or take advantage of vulnerabilities than I'm comfortable with. In the future I'll probably go with one of two houserules that I've seen suggested - either (a) pick one energy type for each power as you select it. That is the one you get. or (b) pick your primary energy type and by default that is the one that all your energy powers do, but you can augment for +2pp to change the energy type to any different one at manifestation time.

Cheers

 

[Christian]

Thoughts from those with experience are appreciated ... I'm building a Psion 1 for a new campaign, and had the thought that the Psionic Shot feat would help him retain combat effectiveness even when low on PP. Then I had the thought that the time spent regaining psionic focus and reloading the crossbow would make that not worthwhile. Anyone seen a build like this in action?

 

[Henry]

I have DM'ed two people using Psionics, one is a Kalashtar (Eberron) cleric with Psionic feats who just took his first level of Wilder, and the other has multiclassed into a Psion. In a Demo game, one person has played a 4th level telepath.

The psionic shot feat (and I suspect, the psionic weapon feat) is not unbalanced at all; in fact, it's quite nice, and still can miss like any other attack. The mind thrust ability is a VERY nice ability, especially when used by a wilder. However, since its save negates the entire power, it's actually been not nearly as successful as some of the naysayers at first complained over on the wotC boards. In practice, its damage total actually works out slightly less than energy ray, when you account for any mindless critters or constructs you may be encountering. (The look on a pure Telepath's face when facing a vermin or mindless construct is truly enjoyable. )

Otherwise, as levels increase, I will have more to speak of from actual experience; but so far, no complaints. I rather think Scion has probably hit it on the head, regarding there being no absolutely must-have powers, if you are assuming the changes you mentioned.

 

[The Souljourner]

IEven assuming the house rules you speak of, many powers seem to be very difficult for the enemy to resist. Partly because low-level powers are often more expansive with respect to type of creature affected and partly because of the inherent Heighten Spell built in to augmentation. Coupled with Overchannel, Psion save DCs still increase faster than comparable arcane equivalents.

It's really just overchannel that makes the DCs higher, right? I mean, assuming +1 DC per 2 PP, you start off with the same DC as a spellcaster. So, the problem must be overchannel.

Sounds like Psions are pretty well regarded, with no real balance problems.

Now all I have to do is figure out what kind of Psion to be.

-The Souljourner

 

[dren]

My only real concern is the flexibility that choosing energy type at manifestation time gives to him - it allows far greater tailoring of power to avoid resistances or take advantage of vulnerabilities than I'm comfortable with. In the future I'll probably go with one of two houserules that I've seen suggested - either (a) pick one energy type for each power as you select it. That is the one you get. or (b) pick your primary energy type and by default that is the one that all your energy powers do, but you can augment for +2pp to change the energy type to any different one at manifestation time.

Almost word for word, the exact same change my group iniated last session. I was heading towards option b, but the players want A. Oh, and if we are throwing out options, they can change to true element (fire, air, earth, water) for +2 PP, but for any of the quasi elements (electricity, acid, force, etc) the cost is +4 PP. I find that these quasi-things are much more powerful, as fewer creatures have resistances to them...but YMMV.

 

[Shadowdweller]

It's really just overchannel that makes the DCs higher, right? I mean, assuming +1 DC per 2 PP, you start off with the same DC as a spellcaster. So, the problem must be overchannel.

Well, not quite. As I said, there's an inherent Heighten Spell built in to most augmentable powers.

For instance: An eighth level wizard does 8d6 damage with a fireball. If an eighth levl psion wishes to do 8d6 damage with their blast spell, they have to augment it. And if they do-- although yes, power point wise it does cost them the equivalent of a higher level spell slot-- it ALSO raises the save DC (whether or not this is specifically desired). The upshot being that blast for blast, a Psion's "spells" tend to cost more but have a higher DC. Not necessarily a balance issue because of the increased cost, but something that occurs nonetheless.

And then there's psionic items, like the psionitrix. Which increases save DC over and above that granted by Psionic Endowment (the psionic version of Spell Focus-- and whether it's even halfway worthwhile is utterly irrelevant here!). 8k gold isn't much at all for such a benefit from about 8th or 9th level on. As Thanee is very fond of point out, there may not be any real reason not to convert to a non-psionic version for others...but in the RAW it's that much easier to increase save DC for a psion.

 

[Christian]

The psionic shot feat (and I suspect, the psionic weapon feat) is not unbalanced at all; in fact, it's quite nice, and still can miss like any other attack.

Yeah, no kidding. Does it really get much use amongst characters that take it? It seemed to me, on reflection, that by the time your Concentration skill got high enough to be generally using the feat every other round, the +2d6 isn't that big a deal any longer ... I'm not sure I want to burn my character's two first-level feats on that.

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

augmented powers

I am also preparing to DM using Psionics for the first time. I was looking at Augmenting Powers and treating them as "meta-magic" spells -- i.e. increasing the manifesting time to 1 full round, instead of standard action.

Does this go too far in hampering Psionic characters? I may just play them as is, but let the players know that house rules are likely to be added, if needed.

Thanks,

Brian
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[Plane Sailing]

For instance: An eighth level wizard does 8d6 damage with a fireball. If an eighth levl psion wishes to do 8d6 damage with their blast spell, they have to augment it. And if they do-- although yes, power point wise it does cost them the equivalent of a higher level spell slot-- it ALSO raises the save DC (whether or not this is specifically desired).

I sorta think that to make an accurate comparison you could say that a wizard could use heighten spell to cast his fireball in a higher level spell slot for DC as well as damage - but if he isn't fussed about the DC he can get the damage upped for free. The psion has no choice but to heighten his spells in order to do more damage (apart from use of maximise/empower etc)