Author Topic: A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant  (Read 10231 times)

Offline Waazraath

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A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant
« on: November 24, 2012, 05:10:21 AM »
Objective of this guide: to find an as-RAW-as-possible interpretation of the psionic variant of the Abjurant champion.

Contents

    • Psionic abjurant champions
    • The problems
    • The solution
    • Variants (or: a less strict interpretation)
    • Conclusion
    • Lists of applicable powers

Psionic abjurant champions

Abjurant champion is a prestige class from Complete Mage. It's a full bab, full caster prestige class with a d10 hd, a good will save and 2 skillpoints / level. It's generally considered to be a good class and a must for every gish build.

What makes it interesting are the rules under 'adaption'. The text says: "The abjurant champion can be made into a divine prestige class by altering the requirements and spellcasting progression. Alternatively, with a bit more work, the class can be transformed into a psionic prestige class, with its boost costing a range of psionic power points. (emphasis mine)

This is extremely nice. In the first place, it's simply a very good class, just as much for psionic characters as for arcane (or divine for that matter). Secondly, there aren't any other classes that allow both full BaB as well as full manifester progression. This makes this class a great addition for any psi gish build, even if it's only as simple as wilder 15 / psionic abjurant champion 5, or psychic warrior 15 / psionic abjurant champion 5.

Besides, given that it is in the book, using the variant is RAW.

The problems

The problem is, of course, in the line "with a bit more work". Let's go through the prestige class and see where the work is. Abilities that don't need any transistion to a psionic variant are black, arcane ones that are easily replaced with the same psionic ones are blue, and problems are red.

Entry requirements

Base attack bonus: +5
Feat: combat casting --> replace with combat manifestation
Spellcasting: must be able to cast 1st -level arcane spells, including at least one abjuration spell --> replace with 'must be able to manifest 1st-level powers, including ... eh... problem.'
Special: must be proficient with at least one martial weapon.


Class features

spellcasting --> manifestation
Extended abjuration --> problematic
Swift abjuration --> problematic

Arcane boost --> psionic boost. Instead of spending an uncast spell, expend the corresponding amount of power points, according to the table on page 63 Expanded Psionic Handbook (XPH).

(click to show/hide)

Class skills

climb, concentration, craft, handle animal, intimidate, jump, ride, swim
Knowledge (arcana) --> knowledge (psionics)
Spellcraft --> psicraft
[/color]

The solution

So basicly, the 'more work' boils down to defining a replacement for 'abjuration' within the powers. Unfortunately, though there are rules in the XPH about psionic disciplines corresponding with arcane schools (p56-58), there is no discipline that is the equivalent of the abjuration for the sake of psionics-magic transperancy.

In some cases, people advocate to use the discipline of psychokinesis instead of abjuration, with the reasoning that the class is made for effects like inertial armor and force shield, that both of those power are psychokinesis, and therefore it is a good replacement. I won't take this stance. In the first place, psychokinisis is in the first place the blast discipline; using this variant doesn't create an abjurant champion, but an abjurant / evocation hybrid champion, which isn't really what the class seems to aim at. In the second place, inertial armor might seem a logical power for a psionic abjurant champion, but its magical equivalent, mage armor, is a conjuration spell. Assuming that inertial armor would be logical, and from there looking 'what discipline is inertial armor from' doesn't seem the correct way to reason. Finally, a spell like dismissal is (obviously) abjuration, but its equivalent (psionic dismissal) is psychoportation. There simply isn't a corresponding discipline for the abjuration school.

My solution for fixing this would be a lot more work, but also more correct: simply review all powers and see if there is an abjuration spell equivalent. If yes, then it flies, if not, too bad. Basicly, the 'abjurant champion'  gets replaced with a 'defensive power champion'. Instead of a replacing school with a discipline, I replace individual powers. This is imo more RAW supported, since by RAW there is no replacement for the abjuration school in psionics-magic transperancy.
This solves all the above mentioned problems: for the sake of requirements, one 'defensive power known'  is needed, and extended abjuration and swift abjuration get replaced with extended defensive power and swift defensive power.

The only new problem is the name, few prestige classes deserve lame-ass name like Defensive Power Champion, especially a class this cool.

I hope this guide can offer an interpretation of the psionic variant abjurant champion which is as close to RAW as possible, and about which can't be argued too much.
(click to show/hide)

Variants (or: a less strict interpretation)


This is a rather strict interpretation of the psionic variant abjurant champion. I did this deliberately, to stay as close to RAW as possible. But in some ways, one can argue that this version is a bit nerfed compared with its arcane counterpart. Below several suggestions that, the DM willing, can be used to improve/alter this class.
- Good arcane (and divine) casters have access to the sanctified spell '(greater) luminous armor', an abjuration spell, that gives an armor bonus, and a -4 on melee attacks, that lasts for 1 hour/lvl. This is the most powerful spell to use with the abjurant armor ability, the greater version gives +8AC, +13 with 5 levels of abjurant champion, effectively +17 against melee. Psionics have no equivalent of this spell.
-  The skill autohypnosis is accessible to almost all psionic (prestige) classes, it would be logical to be a class skill as well for a psionic variant abjurant champion
- It might be a mistake of the creators of the class that they didn't realize 'mage armor' didn't work with the class, it being conjuration. It seems like the class has been made for both mage armor and shield. In the example build in Complete Arcane, mage armor is used with the abjurant armor ability. Besides, except one rare spell in an obscure sourcebook (luminous armor in Book of Exalted Deeds), there are no abjuration spells that give an armor bonus. Following this line of reasoning, it wouldn't be weird to allow inertial armor to be used with the psionic variant (or mage armor with the original variant, for that matter). On the other hand: inertial armor can be augmented, so that makes it a bit dangerous; do you really want the power to give +17 on AC, next to a +13 force screen?

Conclusion

That's all folks. Please give me your opinion in the relevant discussion thread: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=8146.0

Other discussions on this topic can be found, among other places, here:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236901
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=9941.0
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236760

Any help with adding to the lists of powers below: much appreciated, also see the discussion thread! I started already with the powers for the psychic warrior, in time (hopefully with some help) I'll get to making list for the other psionic classes. I'm aware that a lot of points, there can be discussion on whether a power really 'corresponds' with a spell or not, there is a room for interpretation there as well. Looking forward to hear some opinions.
[/list]
« Last Edit: November 30, 2012, 04:22:04 AM by Waazraath »

Offline Waazraath

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Re: A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2012, 05:10:33 AM »
Psyichic warrior: defensive power list

Power --> corresponding spell

level 1
  • Force screen --> shield

level 2
  • Energy adaption, specified --> resist energy

level 3
  • mental barrier --> (lesser) deflect (PHB2)

level 4
  • Energy adaption --> resist energy
  • Freedom of movement, psionic --> duh
« Last Edit: November 24, 2012, 04:12:19 PM by Waazraath »

Offline Waazraath

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Re: A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant
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Re: A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant
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Re: A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant
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Offline Waazraath

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Re: A guide to interpret the psionic abjurant champion variant
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