The Soulknife: How does it play?

[Desdichado]

Not to impinge on Krug's series of threads here, but I've been very interested in the soulknife class from what I've read of it, and I might be interested in playing on in the near(ish) future. Can anyone tell me how it plays? Although I like the class, it does seem a little on the weak side, and I know I've seen lots of chatter here and there about giving the soulknife fighter BAB instead of the cleric BAB it has now. Does that change seem necessary?

 

[MerricB]

The one Soulknife that was played in my campaign fared very poorly against the ghouls it faced in its first (and only) session. He got eaten.

I have a lot of respect for the Soulknife, though. I think the main problem that it suffers is a lack of good enhancements for its blade rather than its Base Attack progression. The Kalashtar Soulknife subsitition level that allows the use of the Holy enhancement rectifies a major problem with the class.

The Kalashtar racial feat (Soulblade Warrior) also greatly improves the class. (Both the subsitution levels and the feat are found in Races of Eberron).

As I recall, I've seen a Soulblade in play in another game, and it was striking in how much damage it can do! However, against Undead and Constructs it needs a boost.

Cheers!

 

[EricNoah]

I'm seeing it as a little underpowered too. The player and I developed some additional cool fun things you can do with the mind blade (new feats essentially) -- ignore certain amounts of material-based DR; use it on a helpless victim to do a mind probe; use it to block/reflect ray attacks; use it to stagger/stun an opponent with a kind of mini mind blast; stuff like that.

 

[Desdichado]

I'd be really interested in seeing whatever material you've come up with for that.

 

[Mark Chance]

As I recall, I've seen a Soulblade in play in another game, and it was striking in how much damage it can do! However, against Undead and Constructs it needs a boost.

Why a boost against undead and constructs?

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I'd be really interested in seeing whatever material you've come up with for that.

So would I. I played a soulknife up to 8th level, and I really, really enjoyed it. With the right feats, he can actually be something of a tank as well as a good short range combatant. But alas, random dice rolls worked against me, and I couldn't save him against being attacked by a bunch of wraiths.

 

[EricNoah]

I'd be really interested in seeing whatever material you've come up with for that.

Here ye be ... these haven't been playtested or anything and I'm concerned about the power level on one or two of them, but overall I think they'll be ok.

 

[MerricB]

Why a boost against undead and constructs?

Because the Soulblade's primary way of dealing significant damage (Psychic Strike) only works against living, non-mindless targets.

Yes, I know. The Rogue has the same ability with Sneak Attack. However, Rogues have other things they can do, and - in any case - the rogue can use a +2 flaming shock shortsword without much trouble.

Yes, Soulblades have access to the collision weapon enhancement (+2 bonus equivalence for +5 damage). I'd rather have flaming and shock (+1d6 fire +1d6 electricity).

Cheers!

 

[Desdichado]

Here ye be ... these haven't been playtested or anything and I'm concerned about the power level on one or two of them, but overall I think they'll be ok.

Hey, cool! Those look really cool!

 

[Mark Chance]

Because the Soulblade's primary way of dealing significant damage (Psychic Strike) only works against living, non-mindless targets.

That's it? One class feature -- that is more or less superior to sneak attack -- isn't useful against two classes of foes, and, therefore, the class is underpowered and needs a boost?

That seems like an awfully minor complaint to me.