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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Technik4" data-source="post: 3509733" data-attributes="member: 7211">I think a character using a heavy crossbow and trying to use the Psionic Feat chain needs all the help they can get - in this case, it seems as if you're arguing for full BAB.Yet, many characters have the same option. Explain how a rogue dipping into fighter (or psywar) isn't very much to his advantage. And if you do dip, your mind blade progression falls behind (the prestige classes I designed do not end up with a mind blade equal to what a normal character would have, in terms of magical bonuses until 10th or 11th character level - before that using their mind blade is a fairly underwhelming proposition.It's a very limited bonus feat list. There are no bonus feats regarding ranged weapons. There is no bonus feat to gain more power points on the list either. Almost every class (including the ranger and barbarian) have better skills than the Fighter. The fact is they don't have enough skill points to be a really good rogue without a decent Int. Concentration is already a must, if they take Move Silently and Hide, Tumble is likely their last skill. If they want to go Spot and Listen, again probably take Tumble as the 4th. But they can't get it all (and that is assuming they don't get the more fighter-y skills like climb, jump, and swim).The basis for this change is being underwhelmed by the XPH's version of Soulknife. I feel it is a weak, narrow base class that is rarely taken. I also feel there is room for a Psionic 'Fighter' variant. If the Psion is the Wizard, the Wilder is the Sorcerer, and the Psionic Warrior is an attempt at a gish (Fighter/Magic-User), then there is still room for the straight-up Psionic Fighter. How do you create a full BAB psionic class? You don't give them a power point progression, or hardly any powers, but you do give them bonus feats. In this case, I consider the skills to be a wash (check those proficiencies again). Also, you end up with a character with a 'free weapon', who has extra money to spend since he is saving so much on his primary weapon. Again I point out the extreme lack of ranged options and the inherent limitations of the mind blade. If you feel Free Draw is a weak feat, then compare it to Quick Draw. Yes, they aren't that strong, but they are about the right power for a feat.I want a competitive psionic class that encourages multiclassing but doesn't become an auto-take. I feel the Fighter in the core rules is in the same spot. There are many situations where 1 or 2 or 4 levels of fighter can really help achieve a character concept. In the same vein, I think it's hard to create a Psionic Tank. PsyWars need to much pre-combat time to buff and as I think we've all agreed, the base Soulknife class is lacking. Taking 4 levels of Psywar will definitely impact your mind blade progression.I want it to be a good comparison and I want there to be compelling reasons to multiclass. By multiclassing, you delay mind blade progression and feat progression. I think you are overestimating the usefulness of the bonus feats, when in fact, many of them will be needed just to have a competent mind-blade (again, the mind blade is a 1d6 piercing weapon with 19-20/x2 crit). The fighters and barbarians of the world are in no danger of being out-damaged by a soulknife...but I'd like them all to be competent at hitting monsters.Aye, but there are a limited number of feats. It's easy to theorize and say how easily they can overcome their deficiencies...but the cost is still present. Compare a soulknife who is patching up his deficiencies with a fighter who is just improving his strengths.It's not a matter of possibly buying a back-up weapon, at high levels you will be depending on back-up weapons in a few situations (ranged combat, combat vs creatures without minds, combat in anti-magic zones). At the levels when a Soulknife will buy a back-up +1 Morningstar (let's say, 6-10th level) his mind blade is at best a +2 weapon with 2 enhancements (let's say +1d4 psionic damage and keen). But a 10th level fighter can easily have a +2 Flaming Greatsword, outdamaging the Soulknife by quite a margin (assuming the Soulknife took Shape Mind Blade and is wielding it 2-handed for 1d10 damage).I remember Inner Strength and back in 3.0 I dont think the feat options were as rich as they are now. These days it seems ludicrous for a Psywar or (especially) a Psion to take it as a feat unless it is to qualify for a prestige class.I have decided to change Focused Talent to a class ability. At each level the Soulknife gains 1 power point. I think the Soulknife's class abilities should cost power points. First, it gives an incentive to multiclass (a Psion/Soulknife going for Knife to the Soul is giving up a lot of mind-blade progression, but could be a decent gish). Second it allows a Soulknife a bit of resource management. Mind Blank for the day or use some of your class's powers? Vigor up before a fight? It is in all cases an extremely limited amount of power points. At 20th level 20 power points is a tiny amount of power...points.Yes, I posted the structure but didn't really detail it that well. I still haven't managed to, but basically it is standardized mind blade progression. If you eliminate all instances of those powers, and look at the base Soulknife class (either my version, or the XPH's) you get this:1 Mind Blade Progression Level 1234 Mind Blade Progression Level 256 Mind Blade Progression Level 378 Mind Blade Progression Level 4910 Mind Blade Progression Level 51112 Mind Blade Progression Level 61314 Mind Blade Progression Level 71516 Mind Blade Progression Level 81718 Mind Blade Progression Level 91920 Mind Blade Progression Level 10That was the reason for creating the 3 variant Soulknife classes, each built around the Mind Blade progression as printed in the XPH. Having a standardized progression allows you to easily (or more easily) give existing material a mind blade progression, or enable a rule like substituting 2 levels of manifester increase for 1 level of mind blade progression.I don't like the thought of going through this much work to end up with the same problem. I guess I must tackle it from the standpoint of balancing a Full BAB Soulknife.That is the realm of the PsyWarrior. I strictly do NOT want it to be easy for the soulknife to get Expansion. The whole point is being an option to be used side-by-side with a Psionic Warrior (or multiclassed with), not overriding the class. I added Vigor to create a progression of limited powers (to go with Bladewind and Knife to the Soul). I added Mind Blank as a defensive option for dedicated Soulknives. Bard-like Psionic Fighters already have the Psionic Warrior, or the Psion/Fighter multiclassing option. I am trying to fill different shoes with the Soulknife.I'd also like to point out that I appreciate this criticism as it makes me inspect my methods and goals more closely and will hopefully yield a better solution.</blockquote>

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