Uses for spare power points?

[Jeff Wilder]

I run an Eberron game. I have a new player who wants to run a kalashtar paladin. He understands that I don't use psionics (the psionics books are literally the only 3.5 WotC books I don't own) and he's okay with that.

That said, as a kalashtar he gets 1 power point per level. I don't want to punish his choice -- especially as it was clearly made without optimization in mind -- so I'm seeking one of the two fixes. The former is preferred.

First, are there any psionics quirks, feats, powers that he can take that don't require dipping further into the psionics rules than his 1 power point per level? Something easy in rules terms, but mildly interesting and fitting his class and race?

Alternatively, what are some equivalently powerful class features I could sub for the 1 PP/level? I have no idea, since I don't use psionics, just how valueable -- or valueless -- the special ability is.

 

[SteelDraco]

The kalashtar power points allow the use of the psionic focus rules, and many associated feats, but that might be going more into it than you want to. If you want to look at some of them and see, have a gander at the psionic feats in the SRD. Some of the abilities are fun, without having to learn the additional spellcasting classes.

Other than that? No, I don't think there are any uses of power points that aren't part of the psionics rules.

 

[Krafen]

There are several psionic feats that allow you to expend your psionic focus (which you regain by making a concentration check) to get a bonus. Most of the feats simply require the character to have a power point reserve, although there are a few feat chains. Here are a few examples from the SRD:


Psionic Weapon [Psionic]

You can charge your melee weapon with additional damage potential.
Prerequisite

Str 13.
Benefit

To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus.

Your attack with a melee weapon deals an extra 2d6 points of damage. You must decide whether or not to use this feat prior to making an attack. If your attack misses, you still expend your psionic focus.


Speed Of Thought [Psionic]

The energy of your mind energizes the alacrity of your body.
Prerequisite

Wis 13.
Benefit

As long as you are psionically focused and not wearing heavy armor, you gain an insight bonus to your speed of 10 feet.


Wounding Attack [Psionic]

Your vicious attacks wound your foe.
Prerequisite

Base attack bonus +8.
Benefit

To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus. You can make an attack with such vicious force that you wound your opponent. A wound deals 1 point of Constitution damage to your foe in addition to the usual damage dealt.

You must decide whether or not to use this feat prior to making an attack. If your attack misses, you still expend your psionic focus.

 

[Particle_Man]

There are a bunch of psionic feats that merely require a) that you have at least one PP, and b) that you either maintain or expend your psionic focus. Psionic focus is gained by taking a full round action to make a DC 20 Concentration check.

Some of the feats let you do cool stuff like walk on walls (maintain) do 2d6 more damage on an attack (expend) etc.

So you have options. Check out the SRD for psionic feats.

 

[Pyrex]

If you're willing to allow them, having PP's gives him access to the whole range of [psionic] feats, some of which would be *great* for a Paladin, but those center around expending Psionic Focus rather than PP's.

Another simple fix would be to allow him to add his PP's to his daily Lay on Hands total.

 

[ainbimagh]

Your playing in Eberron just treat them as one extra action point per level or something

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I actually like those psionic focus feats, but I see two issues with it: first, they don't really get better with number of power points, unless I'm reading things wrong; second, I don't think he'll want to delve into another big source of feats. He's a pretty casual player.

I was thinking of offering the below. Comments? Too powerful?

You can use these power points as follows:

For each power point you expend before rolling a die,
you can add +1 to the die roll. You can split this up
however you like ... +5 on one roll, +1 on 5 different
rolls, +3 to one roll and +1 to two other rolls,
whatever. The bonus can apply to any attack roll,
damage roll, saving throw, or skill or ability check.

You can describe this in any cool way you want ... but
it is fairly obvious to onlookers that the bonus is
due to some kind of magic. The more points you spend
on one roll, the more obvious that will be.

Your power points recycle at dawn, every day, like all
your paladin powers.

This cool with you?

 

[Thanee]

As long as the PP stay at that level, it probably is.

You could also give him access to a feat that mimics the Elan's (not the bard) racial abilities, which are PP driven and very useful.

[SBLOCK]Resistance (Su): Elans can use psionic energy to increase their resistance to various forms of attack. As an immediate action, an elan can spend 1 power point to gain a +4 racial bonus on saving throws until the beginning of her next action.

Resilience (Su): When an elan takes damage, she can spend power points to reduce its severity. As an immediate action, she can reduce the damage she is about to take by 2 hit points for every 1 power point she spends.

Repletion (Su): An elan can sustain her body without need of food or water. If she spends 1 power point, an elan does not need to eat or drink for 24 hours.[/SBLOCK]

Bye
Thanee

 

[Three_Haligonians]

The Expanded Psionic Handbook has a weapon enhancement that costs 35,000 gp. For it, the enhancement bonus to the weapon depends on how many PP the wielder has in reserve.

Also, check out the D&D website - a really old "Mind's Eye" article lists a bunch of minor magic items that are activated by expending one or more "talents" (the psionic equivalent of cantrips). It wouldn't be too hard to just replace spending talents with spending a few PP instead.

Edit: Or I could be a nice guy and just show you it - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20021225a

Most of the powers the items let you use have cantrip equivalents, or you could even come up with your own. Or he could.. or something.

Just some thoughts,

Also kudos to you: most "non-psionic" DM's would probably just sweep that portion of the character under the rug and totally ignore it. Way to build bridges.

J from Three Haligonians

 

[boolean]

Give him the chance to get a Deep Crystal weapon at some point.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/specialMaterials.htm#crystalDeep