Why Psions are NOT underpowered

[lupo]

I think that there is one gigantic thing that people forget when they talk about psions. Unlike all other spell/power users, psions have the ability to use meta-magic truly on the fly. They need not study thier powers already juiced, or waste a full round manifesting them. This is not much use at low level when you have virtually no Psp's, but once you reach a level that has some power to it, you can really make this versatility matter. It is an ability that I have used several times and it has made a difference every time.

What do you think?

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Here we go again.

 

[hammymchamham]

I agree its an advantage. If a DM uses "psionics are different," its much easier to cut through an enemie's SR, or ignore it all together, depending on the DM's rule.

In one of the games I play in the DM uses psionics are different and SR doesn't apply. Where as the sorceror and wizard will struggle with that dragon's SR, I won't need to worry about it.

I'm not playing the psion to power game, I prefer wizards for that myself. I just want to give it a try. My experience with Psionics is limited. I had a fellow player use one for levels 1-2 and have fought one. I've also only had the book for a month.

 

[Bastoche]

At high level, every classes are powerful. That's the point of being high level. Psion has more psps, spellcasters have more spells (either on list or to cast) fighters has many feats, rogues and monks have many nifty abilities. High level characters have many magic items.

 

[lupo]

I am not looking to start another thread about the merits of the class as a whole, I am looking to get opinions about the power of the ability to use metapsionics with no cost outside of additional powerpoints

 

[Darklone]

IME, if you only use core rules and psi handbook, some psionic meta feats rock, such as Trigger Power...

A psionic is at a disadvantage comparing his full firepower with e.g. a sorcerer (sorcerer has more spell levels per day). But the psio (has more skill points, but not important here) has a wider array of special feats to choose from. E.g. Greater Psionic Focus or that darn Trigger power feat... Had a telepath who had that 3d6 damage power triggered... .

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Which metapsionic feats are you talking about, and are you talking about direct-damage, or something else?

1) Overpowere is more powerful than Maximize Spell. Wrong! Psionic powers don't freely scale. A wizard using Maximized Fireball does 60 damage. A psion using Overpowered Whitefire does, on average, 25 damage.

2) Metapsionics and metamagic should not apply to stat boosting, Simulacra, etc. You can break Animal Affinity by putting Overpower on it, but you can also break a stat-boosting spell by abusing Empower. This isn't specific to psions, BTW.

 

[Apok]

Yes, it is an advantage (one of the few that Psion's actually get) but it's just not enough to compensate for their general inferiority to Sorcs and Wizards.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

IMO, the biggest advantage of the Psion is his immunity to MageKill tactics.

He can still manifest all of his powers while grappled, instead of the small # that other classes can use.

Being bound and gagged doesn't prevent him from maninfesting.

Most importantly, there is no spell components pouch for an enterprising young thief to steal or divine focus for the fighter to sunder.

 

[ruleslawyer]

What (Psi)SeveredHead said. On-the-fly metamagic isn't nearly a compensation for power scaling. The ability to meta-enhance a spell or power without wasting an FRA to do so usually comes into play with damage-dealing spells. So, while a 10th-level psion is able to cast an Overpowered whitefire (25 hp damage) as a standard action, his 10th-level sorcerer buddy can cast a regular 10d6 fireball (35 hp average damage) as a standard action without even having to expend a higher-level spell slot (the equivalent of the excess PP burned by the psion)!

Allow a limited version of damage scaling comparable to that in If Thoughts Could Kill, and you might have a point.