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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Technik4" data-source="post: 3508065" data-attributes="member: 7211">Well, the reason is that this class was originally a PrC and later changed to a base class. My current DM doesn't like it as a base class, but thinks a 15-level PrC is a great idea. And when I came up with the Mind Blade progression, I felt I had found something really good.No, you are missing a few things in your analysis. The mind blade has limitations, namely that it doesn't work on things without a mind. That's not quite as limiting as a rogue, but I think it's worth noting. The class does not have access to the fighter's range of feats. Most of the feats are designed to enhance the mind blade, or add some mobility. Skills are better, but honestly I don't think it's a big deal as Concentration is a must for any Psionic character who plans on expending his focus.The proficiencies are not 'slightly fewer', they are pretty bad. Light Armor and Simple Weapons? Also keep in mind the mind blade at best becomes a 2-handed 1d10 weapon - you can never turn it into a greatsword. The ranged capabilities of the class are severely limited. I kept the d10 from the base class printed in the XPH, reduced the will saving throw, and actually took away some of the bonus abilities when I replaced them with feats (the idea being that not every Soulknife has weapon focus and greater weapon focus, or perhaps the ability to throw their mind blade).A level 6 Soulknife from the XPH has the following:BAB:+4Good Ref and WillMind Blade +1 (with one enhancement), Weapon Focus (Mind Blade), Wild Talent (2 PP), Throw Mind Blade, Psychic Strike +1d8, Free Draw, Shape Mind Blade, and Speed of Thought.Light ArmorMy proposed level 6 Soulknife has:BAB: +6/+1Good RefMind Blade +1 (with one enhancement), Focused Talent (6 PP), 3 Bonus Feats, and knows Vigor as a power with a manifester level of 3.Light ArmorIf you concede that to optimize the character he must take Weapon Focus (Mind Blade) and Shape Mind Blade (which will have a BAB 5+ requirement when I stat it) you have 1 feat left-over. You can't get Throw Mind Blade, Psychic Strike +1d8, Free Draw, and Speed of Thought with 1 feat. Hence the BAB increase. Reducing the hit die of the class is counter-productive - it only shines in melee and it has a low armor threshold.I believe there was a fundamental shift in the design philosophy for the Soulknife going from the original Psi Handbook to the XPH. The Soulknife was redesigned not as a psionic assasin base class (though potential is still there), but as a fighter-variant (like the barbarian or the ranger). At some point, the BAB got reduced to 3/4. Reducing is probably why the designer added Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus as bonus feats (especially at levels where the Soulknife doesn't get an increase - 1 and 9). But for a melee-based class with almost no powers and a small pool of skills, I don't think it's enough. Especially when/if you want to multiclass, you'll find your mind blade to be very weak in comparison.Meanwhile, a 6th level fighter could easily have:BAB: +6/+1Good FortFeats: WF (Greatsword), Power Attack, WS (Greatsword), CleaveHeavy Armor</blockquote>

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