Replacement for Psionic Combat?

[Ace32]

I'm using psionics in my game (ITCK and Dragon feat modified ofcourse), but I have no use for psionic combat. Would it detriment the class to lose those abilities? Would I need to replace them with something else? If so, any suggestions? I was thinking along the lines of a bonus feat or two.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I don`t think removing Psionic Combat will change anything balance-wise.
To me, it seemed really useless and to complicated. In a world, where psions are seldomly seen, you will never be able to use these abilities...

If you still want to use it, you might simplify it.. Maybe just an opposed manifester level check or something like that...

 

[Brantai]

I've been toying with the idea of putting together a psionic combat system reminiscent of "The Cell"...
As for the usefulness of psionic combat modes, my psion in FR has yet to run into any other psionic thingys, and she uses [whichever mode does chr damage,... I don't remember offhand] more than any of her powers. Why, you ask? A simple strategy:
1)stun w/ psionic combat mode
2)slit throat
3)repeat as necessary
*evil grin*

 

[Shirt Guy John]

It's called mindblast. I was wondering if that strategy would work.

In our campaigns, no one ever was involved in psionic combat... ever. It almost could have happened once with a mind flayer, but the psion didn't really care, and just kicked his ass (he was an Egoist and the DM just sucked ass... oh yeah, he was me...)

I was gonna see about doing a few things with psionic combat...

1.) Maybe make a feat or something that allowed Psionic Combat to deal ability damage to non-psionic creatures. Pretty powerful feat, but it would have some kind of draw-back or somethin'
2.) Figure out what to give in place of Psionic combat. I was thinkin' about a couple bonus feats.... Like the re-sculpt mind feat from dragon, but weaker and free-er and with no combat at all...
3.) Make a Psychic Warrior dedicated to Psionic Combat instead of Physical combat. I thought that that one would be interesting....

 

[Kip the Bold]

1.) Maybe make a feat or something that allowed Psionic Combat to deal ability damage to non-psionic creatures. Pretty powerful feat, but it would have some kind of draw-back or somethin'

Thats a really good idea...balancing it would be pretty tricky though. Maybe have it cost extra power points to deal ability damage to non-psi?

 

[Caliber]

Psionic combat is there in order to help give Psions a kind of uniqueness, something to differentiate Psions from other casters. Most Psions, however, find that it is more effective to just use their other powers than to try and engage the rare few Psionic opponents they meet in Psionic combat.

I tried to re-write the rules but nothing ever really came of it. Most likely you could scrap it, and instead allow a bonus feat for every combat mode that would be otherwise learned. Perhaps for every two learned?

Either way, you should try to space them out a bit more (the Psion class shouldn't get 5 free feats at 1st.)

 

[Shirt Guy John]

Thats a really good idea...balancing it would be pretty tricky though. Maybe have it cost extra power points to deal ability damage to non-psi?

Yeah, I was gonna go with that and a DC decrease for the will saves, me-thinks.

 

[Mark Chance]

Alternate Psionic Combat

Check out Domini Sententiae, available on my web site:

http://home.houston.rr.com/mchance3/