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D&D 5e / Re: 5e Silvery Barbs
« on: March 07, 2024, 02:31:45 AM »
OK. German is not my native language. Pulling that one from the main post.
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D&D 5e / 5e Silvery Barbs
« on: March 06, 2024, 01:58:43 AM »
5e Silvery Barbs
This mini-guide is in response to other analysis of the D&D 5e spell Silvery Barbs, such as Riley Silverman's:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1371-silvery-barbs-snatch-a-victory-from-the-jaws-of
-or-
a Reddit thread on Silvery Barbs:
https://www.reddit.com/r/3d6/comments/zdh2l7/silvery_barbs/
Why this mini-guide?
I agree with Riley's analysis as far as it goes. There is a lot of hate for the Silvery Barbs spell because it slows down combat, and because some players abuse the spell. I think a lot of the hate comes from not understanding what it really does and how it is actually balanced. After using Silvery Barbs in a 5e game, I've seen it work to prevent another PC from getting into death save territory, and I've seen it fail to prevent a crushing attack when the BAD GUY succeeded in his attack re-roll. To give Silvery Barbs a fair shake, I've put together the following analysis.
What is Silvery Barbs?
Silvery Barbs is a 1st level Enchantment spell on page 38 of the 5e Sourcebook Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
What Does Silvery Barbs Do?
From 5e PHB185: "Enchantment spells affect the minds of others, influencing or controlling their behavior."
Silvery Barbs is not luck. Silvery Barbs lets you spend your reaction in a round to interrupt a successful d20 roll of one of three types by another creature you can see within 60 feet. Then once it has distracted a creature, SB lets you buff a second one, giving an advantage to the caster or any creature the caster can see within 60 feet. The advantage can be used on THE NEXT attack roll, saving throw, or ability roll within the next minute (10 rounds).
Who Can Cast Silvery Barbs?
Other classes which can get Silvery Barbs are Wizard and Sorceror. Feats that can get Silvery Barbs are Fey Touched and Magic Initiate.
Who is the ideal target of Silvery Barbs?
Any creature
+ with low Wisdom
+ with no Spell Resistance
+ without immunity or Resistance to Enchantments.
How many times can a character cast Silvery Barbs?
In a round? Once
Across a day? Like any other first level arcane enchantment spell. Assuming a 20th level character and willing to burn all spell slots:
- Arcane Trickster: 11, by burning all 1st-4th level spell slots
- Bard: 22, by burning all 1st-9th level spell slots
- Sorceror: 22, by burning all 1st-9th level spell slots
- Wizard: 22, by memorizing SB in all 1st-9th level spell slots, and then burning them
Is Silvery Barbs more powerful than other reaction spells of 1st level?
For comparison:
- Absorb Elements - reduce elemental damage by half, adds +1d6 elemental damage to your next melee attack, lasts 1 round and only defends the caster
If a Barbarian took Absorb Elements via Magic Initiate feat, the absolute maximum damage prevented would be 20d12 (240).
- Feather Fall - will save up to 5 characters from death due to falling, a maximum of 20d6 x 5 = 100d6 (600). This spell lasts up to 10 rounds.
- Hellish Rebuke - when you get hit, deal a max of 21d10 (210) damage instantly
- Shield - when you get hit, avoid it by adding 5 to your AC. this buff lasts the rest of the round, so it defends against becoming a pincushion from a flight of arrows from an entire archery unit (think 20d8, or 160, just to put a number on it), which Silvery Barbs cannot.
- Silvery Barbs - in the right conditions, SB could cause the attack roll of 9th level Disintegrate (max 19d6+40 = 154) to miss and then give a 19th level rogue advantage for a Sneak Attack (10d6 max+ weapon damage). However, a 9th level Scorching Ray would produce 11 rays of 2d6 damage each, and SV could only put disadvantage on the attack roll of one of the 11. For an upscaled Scorching Ray, you would want Absorb Elements or Shield instead of Silvery Barbs.
Any five of these reaction spells is accessible via Magic Initiate.
Each of these reaction spells is a rig which will work out in the right circumstances. However, if you try to use a reaction spell in one of these other circumstances, it will not help you.
Is Silvery Barbs more powerful than non-reaction 1st level spells?
For comparison:
- Cure Wounds can ramp up to 9d8(72) + attribute bonus in healing for any single creature you can touch.
- Disguise Self lets you look like someone else, useful for passing guard checkpoints, framing others, or defrauding others of goods.
- Faerie Fire grants advantage on every visible creature and object in a 20 foot cube and lasts up to 10 combat rounds. It also makes invisible creatures lose the benefit of invisibility.
- Fog Cloud grants full cover, preventing enemy spellcasters or archers from directly targeting objects or creatures in the cloud. This can prevent targeting 9th level Disintegrate, thus an argument can be made that this spell can prevent (19d6+40 x 600) (one hour duration in rounds) hp strong.
- Healing Word can ramp up to 9d4(36) + attribute bonus in healing for any single creature you can see within 60 feet
- Still Image can grant full cover and/or manipulate an enemy's actions by showing them what you want them to see.
About the Verbal Component
The caster has to use a Verbal component, but since this is a reaction, the caster only gets maybe 4 syllables. It would be best if the caster used an insult as his Verbal component to make it easy to disturb the first target of the spell. If you are running a mouthy caster, here's a list of insults which can be used as the Verbal component of Silvery Barbs. Think carefully about how corrosive to get when sitting across the table from other players, especially for a family game or one involving minors. D&D is for fun, so shoot for comedy when picking your insults. If you would rather not use insults, consider "Distraction!", a three syllable word as an alternative. As a player, it would be best to run these by your GM to make sure they are ok with the effect you you may have ob the environment at the table. For insults, here are some classics and originals:
Blister - someone who shows up after the work is done
several other meanings: https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/rpllqry
Original:
Afternoon Farmer - 1800s English slang for someone who takes a lax approach to working. most farmers start work before dawn
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/l7dmyry
If you have a GM that uses Latin for Draconic, "Blister" turns into "Pustula", which may have other connotations.
Bob tail - prostitute or impotent man
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/wb25pbq
B'zugda-hiara ("Lawn ornament", a killing insult in dwarvish)
- Raising Steam, Terry Pratchett
Fleabag - smelly person or old worn out prostitute
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/uwxzbva
Gnollspunk - male reproductive material of gnolls. For spunk, see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/7ye7rjy
Goatlover - peasant or country-dweller
For original, see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/tj5ej3y#3vf4i4a
an insult used on Croaker in the Black Company series by Glen Cook
Goblinbottom - original. For bottom, see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/xfztsdy
Gritsucker - what dwarves call non-dwarves,Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
Half Ogre - original
Harpy Licker - original. Harpies sometimes line their nest with offal or body parts, so their nests tend to be plague dens. Thus anyone that would lick a harpy is most likely a person with low hygiene standards and/or diseased.
Lathspell - old English for "evil news". Opposite of gospel. Used by Grima Wormtongue in The Two Towers by Tolkien.
Milksop - a weak or cowardly man
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milksop
Mooncalf - usually, simpleton. Prospero calls Caliban a mooncalf in Shakespeare's play the Tempest, meaning deformed rather than a simpleton and implying that Caliban is a tiefling hundreds of years before D&D wrote up that character race.
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mooncalf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncalf
P****breath - anonymous
Poopstain - anonymous
Possible original:
"It looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama's a** and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress."
- GNY. SGT. HARTMAN, Full Metal Jacket
Sheepshagger - anonymous, insult to peasants, the Welsh, or certain Scots regiments
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/dkxzqdi#jtrx4hy
Smallberries - John Smallberries is the name of a character in the film Buckaroo Banzai, but makes a great insult for men.
Spiderbait - This is the name of an Australian rock band, but it works in the context of a Drow insult. "You are so useless, you are only good for spiderbait!" in only three syllables.
Trolltrack - original "You are the poop of trolls" in just two syllables
Umberkibble - original "Your only use is as the food of umber hulks" in just four syllables
Where can 4-syllable insults be re-used?
These concentrated insults might also be used for the College of Lore reaction feature "Cutting Words" or the College of Eloquence bonus action feature "Unsettling Words".
I hear Silvery Barbs is really easy to Abuse?
For DMs:
As Montgomerylol, "It's only really bad if your players are aiming to abuse it..."
Like any other spell, if a player seeks to abuse a spell, they can ignore or misinterpret the text of the spell. Responsible players can use Silvery Barbs to save a buddy from taking a heavy (possibly fatal) attack, and provide a counterstrike. If you have concerns, instead of outright banning SB, try letting the player use it in a sidebar training session. If you or the player don't feel like you have a handle on the mechanics, or it slows down combat too much, or if it doesn't seem fun, ask them to re-learn. If using insults as a verbal component seems too negative for the table you run, substitute a non-insult phrase of four syllables or less.
For players:
If you want Silvery Barbs as one of your spells, clear it with your DM before play. After using it a couple of times, consider the DM and fellow players. If it seems like this spell slows the game, and doesn't seem fun, then maybe replacing it by re-learning at the next level is the right move for the table you're at.
Miscellanea/Opinion:
In her article, Riley points at Bards as the likely design target for SB. Instead, I suspect Silvery Barbs is more for Arcane Tricksters. SB is an Enchantment spell, which lands it on the spell list of the Arcane Trickster subclass of Rogue. With one reaction, an Arcane Trickster can force a re-roll of a bad guy's successful attack or save and buff himself. So long as the rogue does not have to make a save before initiative comes around, he can get advantage on initiative. If the DM runs initiative as roll once per combat, the rogue's next roll is an ability roll or an attack roll. Used defensively, SB may save an ally from a ray or crushing attack from a foe, then can give that same ally an advantage for their next saving throw. Used offensively, you may cause a foe to re-roll a saving throw and also let the arcane trickster trigger a sneak attack next round. Alternatively, the rogue can hold off and not attack or use an ability for up to 10 rounds, waiting for the right opportunity. With this action economy, I expect Arcane Trickster to make slightly better use of Silvery Barbs than a Bard.
Power and Limitations
I agree with Riley's analysis as far as it goes. There is a lot of hate for the Silvery Barbs spell because it slows down combat.
Acknowledgements: Nathan, for putting up with Silvery Barbs at his table. Adam, Beau, and Robert, for helping winnow out insults which did not have enough punch or were not global enough. Ben, Charlie, Steve and Tim for tolerating a mouthy bard/arcane trickster at the table with them.
Is something missing or inaccurate? Please reply to this post.
This mini-guide is in response to other analysis of the D&D 5e spell Silvery Barbs, such as Riley Silverman's:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1371-silvery-barbs-snatch-a-victory-from-the-jaws-of
-or-
a Reddit thread on Silvery Barbs:
https://www.reddit.com/r/3d6/comments/zdh2l7/silvery_barbs/
Why this mini-guide?
I agree with Riley's analysis as far as it goes. There is a lot of hate for the Silvery Barbs spell because it slows down combat, and because some players abuse the spell. I think a lot of the hate comes from not understanding what it really does and how it is actually balanced. After using Silvery Barbs in a 5e game, I've seen it work to prevent another PC from getting into death save territory, and I've seen it fail to prevent a crushing attack when the BAD GUY succeeded in his attack re-roll. To give Silvery Barbs a fair shake, I've put together the following analysis.
What is Silvery Barbs?
Silvery Barbs is a 1st level Enchantment spell on page 38 of the 5e Sourcebook Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
What Does Silvery Barbs Do?
From 5e PHB185: "Enchantment spells affect the minds of others, influencing or controlling their behavior."
Silvery Barbs is not luck. Silvery Barbs lets you spend your reaction in a round to interrupt a successful d20 roll of one of three types by another creature you can see within 60 feet. Then once it has distracted a creature, SB lets you buff a second one, giving an advantage to the caster or any creature the caster can see within 60 feet. The advantage can be used on THE NEXT attack roll, saving throw, or ability roll within the next minute (10 rounds).
Who Can Cast Silvery Barbs?
Other classes which can get Silvery Barbs are Wizard and Sorceror. Feats that can get Silvery Barbs are Fey Touched and Magic Initiate.
Who is the ideal target of Silvery Barbs?
Any creature
+ with low Wisdom
+ with no Spell Resistance
+ without immunity or Resistance to Enchantments.
How many times can a character cast Silvery Barbs?
In a round? Once
Across a day? Like any other first level arcane enchantment spell. Assuming a 20th level character and willing to burn all spell slots:
- Arcane Trickster: 11, by burning all 1st-4th level spell slots
- Bard: 22, by burning all 1st-9th level spell slots
- Sorceror: 22, by burning all 1st-9th level spell slots
- Wizard: 22, by memorizing SB in all 1st-9th level spell slots, and then burning them
Is Silvery Barbs more powerful than other reaction spells of 1st level?
For comparison:
- Absorb Elements - reduce elemental damage by half, adds +1d6 elemental damage to your next melee attack, lasts 1 round and only defends the caster
If a Barbarian took Absorb Elements via Magic Initiate feat, the absolute maximum damage prevented would be 20d12 (240).
- Feather Fall - will save up to 5 characters from death due to falling, a maximum of 20d6 x 5 = 100d6 (600). This spell lasts up to 10 rounds.
- Hellish Rebuke - when you get hit, deal a max of 21d10 (210) damage instantly
- Shield - when you get hit, avoid it by adding 5 to your AC. this buff lasts the rest of the round, so it defends against becoming a pincushion from a flight of arrows from an entire archery unit (think 20d8, or 160, just to put a number on it), which Silvery Barbs cannot.
- Silvery Barbs - in the right conditions, SB could cause the attack roll of 9th level Disintegrate (max 19d6+40 = 154) to miss and then give a 19th level rogue advantage for a Sneak Attack (10d6 max+ weapon damage). However, a 9th level Scorching Ray would produce 11 rays of 2d6 damage each, and SV could only put disadvantage on the attack roll of one of the 11. For an upscaled Scorching Ray, you would want Absorb Elements or Shield instead of Silvery Barbs.
Any five of these reaction spells is accessible via Magic Initiate.
Each of these reaction spells is a rig which will work out in the right circumstances. However, if you try to use a reaction spell in one of these other circumstances, it will not help you.
Is Silvery Barbs more powerful than non-reaction 1st level spells?
For comparison:
- Cure Wounds can ramp up to 9d8(72) + attribute bonus in healing for any single creature you can touch.
- Disguise Self lets you look like someone else, useful for passing guard checkpoints, framing others, or defrauding others of goods.
- Faerie Fire grants advantage on every visible creature and object in a 20 foot cube and lasts up to 10 combat rounds. It also makes invisible creatures lose the benefit of invisibility.
- Fog Cloud grants full cover, preventing enemy spellcasters or archers from directly targeting objects or creatures in the cloud. This can prevent targeting 9th level Disintegrate, thus an argument can be made that this spell can prevent (19d6+40 x 600) (one hour duration in rounds) hp strong.
- Healing Word can ramp up to 9d4(36) + attribute bonus in healing for any single creature you can see within 60 feet
- Still Image can grant full cover and/or manipulate an enemy's actions by showing them what you want them to see.
About the Verbal Component
The caster has to use a Verbal component, but since this is a reaction, the caster only gets maybe 4 syllables. It would be best if the caster used an insult as his Verbal component to make it easy to disturb the first target of the spell. If you are running a mouthy caster, here's a list of insults which can be used as the Verbal component of Silvery Barbs. Think carefully about how corrosive to get when sitting across the table from other players, especially for a family game or one involving minors. D&D is for fun, so shoot for comedy when picking your insults. If you would rather not use insults, consider "Distraction!", a three syllable word as an alternative. As a player, it would be best to run these by your GM to make sure they are ok with the effect you you may have ob the environment at the table. For insults, here are some classics and originals:
Blister - someone who shows up after the work is done
several other meanings: https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/rpllqry
Original:
Afternoon Farmer - 1800s English slang for someone who takes a lax approach to working. most farmers start work before dawn
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/l7dmyry
If you have a GM that uses Latin for Draconic, "Blister" turns into "Pustula", which may have other connotations.
Bob tail - prostitute or impotent man
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/wb25pbq
B'zugda-hiara ("Lawn ornament", a killing insult in dwarvish)
- Raising Steam, Terry Pratchett
Fleabag - smelly person or old worn out prostitute
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/uwxzbva
Gnollspunk - male reproductive material of gnolls. For spunk, see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/7ye7rjy
Goatlover - peasant or country-dweller
For original, see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/tj5ej3y#3vf4i4a
an insult used on Croaker in the Black Company series by Glen Cook
Goblinbottom - original. For bottom, see https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/xfztsdy
Gritsucker - what dwarves call non-dwarves,Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
Half Ogre - original
Harpy Licker - original. Harpies sometimes line their nest with offal or body parts, so their nests tend to be plague dens. Thus anyone that would lick a harpy is most likely a person with low hygiene standards and/or diseased.
Lathspell - old English for "evil news". Opposite of gospel. Used by Grima Wormtongue in The Two Towers by Tolkien.
Milksop - a weak or cowardly man
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milksop
Mooncalf - usually, simpleton. Prospero calls Caliban a mooncalf in Shakespeare's play the Tempest, meaning deformed rather than a simpleton and implying that Caliban is a tiefling hundreds of years before D&D wrote up that character race.
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mooncalf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncalf
P****breath - anonymous
Poopstain - anonymous
Possible original:
"It looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama's a** and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress."
- GNY. SGT. HARTMAN, Full Metal Jacket
Sheepshagger - anonymous, insult to peasants, the Welsh, or certain Scots regiments
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/dkxzqdi#jtrx4hy
Smallberries - John Smallberries is the name of a character in the film Buckaroo Banzai, but makes a great insult for men.
Spiderbait - This is the name of an Australian rock band, but it works in the context of a Drow insult. "You are so useless, you are only good for spiderbait!" in only three syllables.
Trolltrack - original "You are the poop of trolls" in just two syllables
Umberkibble - original "Your only use is as the food of umber hulks" in just four syllables
Where can 4-syllable insults be re-used?
These concentrated insults might also be used for the College of Lore reaction feature "Cutting Words" or the College of Eloquence bonus action feature "Unsettling Words".
I hear Silvery Barbs is really easy to Abuse?
For DMs:
As Montgomerylol, "It's only really bad if your players are aiming to abuse it..."
Like any other spell, if a player seeks to abuse a spell, they can ignore or misinterpret the text of the spell. Responsible players can use Silvery Barbs to save a buddy from taking a heavy (possibly fatal) attack, and provide a counterstrike. If you have concerns, instead of outright banning SB, try letting the player use it in a sidebar training session. If you or the player don't feel like you have a handle on the mechanics, or it slows down combat too much, or if it doesn't seem fun, ask them to re-learn. If using insults as a verbal component seems too negative for the table you run, substitute a non-insult phrase of four syllables or less.
For players:
If you want Silvery Barbs as one of your spells, clear it with your DM before play. After using it a couple of times, consider the DM and fellow players. If it seems like this spell slows the game, and doesn't seem fun, then maybe replacing it by re-learning at the next level is the right move for the table you're at.
Miscellanea/Opinion:
In her article, Riley points at Bards as the likely design target for SB. Instead, I suspect Silvery Barbs is more for Arcane Tricksters. SB is an Enchantment spell, which lands it on the spell list of the Arcane Trickster subclass of Rogue. With one reaction, an Arcane Trickster can force a re-roll of a bad guy's successful attack or save and buff himself. So long as the rogue does not have to make a save before initiative comes around, he can get advantage on initiative. If the DM runs initiative as roll once per combat, the rogue's next roll is an ability roll or an attack roll. Used defensively, SB may save an ally from a ray or crushing attack from a foe, then can give that same ally an advantage for their next saving throw. Used offensively, you may cause a foe to re-roll a saving throw and also let the arcane trickster trigger a sneak attack next round. Alternatively, the rogue can hold off and not attack or use an ability for up to 10 rounds, waiting for the right opportunity. With this action economy, I expect Arcane Trickster to make slightly better use of Silvery Barbs than a Bard.
Power and Limitations
I agree with Riley's analysis as far as it goes. There is a lot of hate for the Silvery Barbs spell because it slows down combat.
Acknowledgements: Nathan, for putting up with Silvery Barbs at his table. Adam, Beau, and Robert, for helping winnow out insults which did not have enough punch or were not global enough. Ben, Charlie, Steve and Tim for tolerating a mouthy bard/arcane trickster at the table with them.
Is something missing or inaccurate? Please reply to this post.
3
Handbook Submission / Re: 3.5e Ardent - reserved for future use
« on: April 11, 2020, 04:04:15 PM »
reserved for future use
4
Handbook Submission / Re: 3.5e Ardent - reserved for future use
« on: April 11, 2020, 04:04:00 PM »
reserved for future use
5
Handbook Submission / Re: 3.5e Ardent - reserved for future use
« on: April 11, 2020, 04:03:35 PM »
reserved for future use
6
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Appendix V - Modelling Other Fictional Characters
« on: April 11, 2020, 04:03:14 PM »
Appendix V - Modelling Other Fictional Characters
Fixes for Feat/skill shortages:
Full Ride PrC's - Is this ability more important than ML or another mantle?
L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/10-10 PrC: Psychic Theurge: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925b
-/-/+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class/+1 level of existing manifesting class
Req's: Kn(psionics):6r, Kn(religion):6r. cast 2nd-level divine spells. manifest 2nd-level powers
Warning! 1/2BAB progression! Note: summoner build:Druid or healer build: Cleric or OA3.5e Shaman
Roles: 1. Spellcaster/Summoner or Spellcaster/Booster
Healing Focus: Ard1(Mantles:Force,Freedom)/OAShaman1(Domains:Undeath,Summoner or Healing)/Ard2(M:Life)/Sha2/Ard3/Sha3/Psychic Theurge 10/Sangehirn 4
Summoning Focus: Ard1(Mantles:Elements,Creation)/Dr1/Ard2(M:Natural World or Freedom)/Dr2/Ard3/Dr3/Psychic Theurge 10/
Entropomancer(non-good):CD036 4 or Tattooist 4 or Cleric 7/Druid 7/Shaman 7
Feats:
L1-Healer:Mind Over Body /L1-Tattooist:Scribe Tattoo
L3-Healer:Psionic Body /L1-Tattooist:Skill Focus(Pr[tattooist])
L6:Practiced Manifester(Ardent)
L9:Practiced Spellcaster(Cleric/Druid/Shaman, per build)
L12:Psicrystal Affinity
L15:Psicrystal Containment(let your crystal expend psionic focus for you)
L18:Con:Ectopic Form(EmeraldGyre)/EM:Extend Supernatural Ability(ToM)/T:Overchannel
Notes:
Why the Oriental Adventures Shaman and not Cleric? less terrible skills,bonus martial arts feat,apply CHA bonus to all saves
Why finish with Sangehirn? pick up the Sangehirn touch range power of Body Adjustment and Psychic Chirurgy and Touch Range sustenance
at a power level cheaper then clerics get create food and water.
Why finish with Entropomancer? get supernatural ability to suppress all healing magic within 20' centered on you for 4 rounds.
This seems who cares until the bad guy tries to quaff that cure potion at the end of combat
Why finish with Tattooist? The 3.0 feat "Master Psychic Tattoo" from Mind's Eye may be a hard sell for DM approval.
Tattooist comes from 3.5 Dark Sun and seems somewhat more balanced. With a four level dip you can create Psychic tattoos
of powers up to 5th level. Since each character can have up to 20 tattoos, you can ink up the party with a fair armory of powers.
Why finish with 4 levels of straight Ardent? gain another Mantle, full ML, take Psionic Meditation to combo Hustle for regaining psionic focus
Why finish with 4 levels of straight Druid? get to L9 druid spells, including spontaneous SNA9
Why finish with 4 levels of straight Shaman? get to L9 Shaman spells. Also, get that second domain spell per day for L1-4 spell levels
Leveraging the Substitute power ACF from Mind's Eye:
FREEDOM:
+3 Glibness, Psionic:SoS - sometimes to stay free, a PC has to lie his arse off... "He went that way!" or "what teleportation circle?"
5: Clerics and Druids get Freedom of Movement as an L4 Spell. sub Baleful Teleport or Anticipatory Strike or Adapt Body for this
5: if your build is for 20ML, sub Temporal Reiteration for Teleport, Psionic
+7 Ethereal Jaunt, Psionic:XPH - something that is NOT teleporting. yay!
+9 Teleportation Circle, Psionic:XPH - a dismissable trap, so there are multiple ways to leverage this to ensure your freedom
Plus, as a psionic power, no costly material component. If you are not a full ML build, you can omit it.
LIFE:
3: substitute Empathic Transfer, Hostile for Body Purification - scales the heal you get but permits touch attack that scales up to 85hp
Body Purification will come back in Sangehirn modified to permit you to heal comrades by touch too. till then you get
heals through Cleric levels which are about half as max effective per use, but you can sac other mem'd spells to get em
+7 Oak Body
+9 Timeless Body
FORCE:
1: Substitute Inertial Armor or Matter Agitation for Deflection Field, which does not scale and requires concentration.
A Quori Mindhunter build will take Inertial armor, which tops out at +13 armor bonus.
For offensive and/or utility, sub Matter Agitation to solve the "I need a fire" survival problem
+7 Decerebrate
+9 Tornado Blast
ELEMENTS:
1 Elemental Steward: Summoner? Take this as your first power.
2: Sub Psionic Levitate for Earth Walk
+4 Energy Ball
6: Sub Psionic Disintegrate for Blackstone Hammer. With 1/2BAB, ability to hit with a Hammer isn't that good.
Plus, Disintegrate is good for disappearing excess materials created by Creation spells.
Thematically, you're reducing stuff to dust, or its component elements.
7/8: nothing good for the theme. leave the hole. you still get to pick from 28 powers in three mantles.
9: if you won't get Cleric 8 or Druid 8 spells, you could sub Psionic earthquake for Tornado Blast.
CREATION:
+2 Add Crystalstorm, a noPR 2d4hp ray w/FORT save vs 1d4 Con damage,maxing at either 40hp or 12Con
+3 Add either Concealing Amorpha, Greater: XPH or Dream Spirit, Psionic:SoS
4: Consider subbing Quintessence:XPH128 for Fabricate, Psionic
Reason: introduces a different form of utility which does not rely on Craft rolls
ingame karma risk: raids by inevitables(FF108).
5: Sub Hail of Crystals:XPH111 for Major Creation, Psionic
Reason:HoC maxes at 100hp, PR-free, providing a Blaster option with Reflex save
+7 Ectoplasmic Coccoon, Mass: XPH097. Personally, I think this is creepy. but hey, it fits the theme.
+8 Bend Reality
NATURAL WORLD:
1: ask your GM to houserule the following augment for Stone Mind:
For each additional power point you spend, you receive 5'r of tremorsense
+3 Dispel Psionics or Darkvision, Psionic
+6 Suspend Life or Overland Flight, Psionic - bears hibernate and birds fly. very natural.
+8 Recall death - death is part of the natural world. animals die and become food for other animals, etc.
Powers Chosen:
CL1-Dimension Hop(max10'), Inertial Armor(+4 armor bonus/1 hour) OR Elemental Steward(1r) and Chameleon(+10 to Hide/1r)
CL2-Dimension Hop(max15'), Inertial Armor(+4 armor bonus/2 hours) OR Elemental Steward(2r/4d6hp) and Chameleon(+10 to Hide/2r)
CL3-Dimension Hop(max20'), Inertial Armor(+4 armor bonus/3 hours) OR Elemental Steward(3r/4d6hp),Aug for 50% chance for a second and Chameleon(+10 to Hide/3r)
pick one: ConcussionBlast(1d6-9d6 force or nonlethal damage,no save)
EnergyMissile(3d6-20d6,REF/FORT=half)
Hustle(trade a swift action for a move action)
Animal Affinity(+4 buff to one ability, no need to mem separately)
Scent(v Dr2)
-OR- CrystalStorm(ray:2d4hp+FORT vs 1d4 Con damage)
CL4- more of same
CL5-Emp.Transfer, Hostile(inflict+cure yourself)/EtherealVolley (par w/SC:Cl3:Ghost Touch Weapon)/Glibness/Concealing Amorpha, Greater: XPH/Darkvision(personal)
CL6- more of same
CL7-4th-StygianWard(as Cl4/Dr5:DeathWard)/TKManuever/Fly(vW3)/EnergyBall(XPH100:)/Fabricate(vW5)/Metamorphosis(Polymorph, but good)
CL8-4th-pick a second
CL9-5th-RevivifyXP(like raise dead but no lost level/con/powers)/IncarnateXP/Temporal Reiteration or Anticipatory Strike or Adapt Body/
Adapt Body/Hail of Crystals/Oak Body
CL10-5th-pick a second
CL11-6th-MendWounds(55-95hp,20'burst option,damages undead,vCl6:Heal and Cl7:Cure Serious Wounds,Mass) or Restoration(only if you don't have it via divine)/Concussive Detonation/Evade Burst/Disintegrate(22d6,FORT save for 5d6)/Fabricate, Greater Psionic/Suspend Life
CL12-6th-pick a second
CL13-7th-ethereal jaunt(vShaman5)/decerebrate/ectoplasmic Coccoon/Animate Plants(vDr7)
CL14-7th-pick a second
CL15-8th-GrTeleport/TrueMetabolismA!(re-grow/re-attach limbs v Cl7:Regenerate)/Telekinetic Sphere/BendRealityXP/RecallDeath(die or WILL for 5d6; if you couldn't get disintegrate)
CL16-8th-pick a second
cannot summon a monster whose alignment is opposed. Thus, TN is best alignment for Shaman.
To partly (7/9) 0workaround, sub Axiomatic or Anarchic for Fiendish or Celestial. An LG shaman could summon
an Axiomatic (LN) monstrous centipede instead of a Fiendish one, but not a spider.
A CE shaman could summon an Anarchic (CN) giant fire beetle instead of a Celestial one, but not a dog.
Once a template substitution is chosen all creatures with one template that can be summoned with the sub, are.\
Remember! Duration is rounds/ML for Ardent (due to Practiced Manifester) and rounds/divine spellcaster level for Dr/Sh/Cl!
CL1-Ardent:1:Elemental Steward (ES): Heal,Intimidate, or stonemason,2d6hp energy ray
CL2-Druid:1:Conjure Ice Beast (CIB) I: Icebeast Serval:3 attacks w/ 1d6 cold on each + 1d6 cold damage for anyone in the same square
sac a spell for Summon Nature's Ally (SNA) I: 2HD Wolf (trip),Eagle/Owl for flyer, or Monkey for utility
CL2-Shaman:1:no spontaneous summoning, access to SNA I
Domain(Summoner): SMI:CE-Fiendish Monstrous spider-webs,poison,tremorsense
CL3-Ardent:2:ES: Augment for 50% chance of a second ES. Price in line with SMII odds of summoning a second creature of SMI type.
Astral Construct: medium 2HD+20hp construct with 40' speed + either Trip or 20'avg Fly
CL4-Druid:2:same options
CL5-Ardent:3:ES: Augment twice for 50% chance of a second and third ES. Price in line with SMIII odds of summoning
a second and third creature of SMI type.
AC: medium 3HD+20hp construct with 40' speed + either Trip or 20'avg Fly
Dream Spirit,Psionic: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+2hp
CL6-Druid:3:CIBII:icebeast hippogriff minus flying +engulf2d6Cold and +1d6Cold on each attack
Dr2:Summon Swarm:PHB289:bats,rats,or spiders
Dr2:Summon Dire Hawk:RoTW175:5d8+10 medium 80'avg flyer for min/level. Attack:Talon +9 melee (1d4+1).11'wingspan
sac a spell for SNAII:hippogriff in its normal flying form
CL6-Shaman:3:Sh2:Ancestral Vengeance*. Ancestral spirit deals 1d6/twolevels damage (maximum 5d6), 1d6/level (maximum 10d6)to undead.
+Sh2(D:Summoner): SMII:Fiendish/Axiomatic Wolf or 1d2 Fiendish/Anarchic monstrous spiders
CL7-PsyTheurge:1:ES: Augment 3x for 3x 50% chance of a second, third, and fourth ES. SM line doesn't extent to summon this many.
ES combat may be as flankers, but if so, 3x2x2d6hp = 4d6hp - 12d6hp spread across two rounds, then fall back on slams.
AC: med.5HD+20hp construct + Extra Attack or Imp.Grab
DSP: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+3hp
same divine options as CL6, for 4 rounds
CL8-PsyTheurge:2:same ES,AC, and DSP options as PsyTheurge:1, but for 8 rounds
SM:Celestial Bison, Fiendish Ape or Eladrin, Coure (spam faerie fire & magic missile)
SNA:Lion -> Pounce
CIB:Icebeast Nashrou Demon (MM4)(4attacks,reach) or Icebeast Ape
SDA:Dustform Ashworm
+Cl/Sh3(D:Undeath) Animate DeadM: Creates undead skeletons and zombies.
CL9-PsyTheurge:3:ES: Augment 4x for 4x 50% chance of a second, third, and fourth ES. SM line doesn't extend to this point.
ES combat may be as flankers, but if so, 4x2x2d6hp = 4d6hp - 16d6hp spread across two rounds, then fall back on slams.
AC: Lg.7HD+30 hp construct + Extra Attack or Imp.Grab
DSP: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+3hp
same divine options as CL8, for 6 rounds
CL10-PsyTheurge:4:ES: same ES,AC, and DSP options as PsyTheurge:3, but for 10 rounds
SM: Celestial Lion, Fiendish Dire Wolf, Arcadian Avenger (MM5) or Demon, Gadacro (MM5) or Guardinal, Cervidal (MM2)
SNA:Unicorn or Giant Crocodile
CIB:Voor(MM4)(6 attacks) or Giant Crocodile
SDA:Dustform Deinonychus or Giant Eagle
+ Dr4: Summon Elementite Swarm:PlHB:7HD 80'perfect flyer swarm w/2d6 attack and the ability to make people nauseous.
+ Sh4: Lesser Spirit Ally*. Exchange services with one summoned spirit of up to 8 HD that shares your philosophical alignment
+ Cl/Sh4(D:Summoner) Planar Ally, LesserX: Exchange services with a 6 HD extraplanar creature.
CL11-PsyTheurge:5:ES:Augment 5x for 5x 50% chance of a second, third, and fourth ES. SM line doesn't extend to summoning this number.
ES combat may be as flankers, but if so, 5x2x2d6hp = 4d6hp - 20d6hp spread across two rounds, then fall back on slams.
AC: Lg.10HD+30 hp construct + Extra Attack or Imp.Grab
DSP: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+5hp
same divine options as CL10, for 8 rounds
CL12-PsyTheurge:6:ES: same ES,AC, and DSP options as PsyTheurge:3, but for 10 rounds
SM:Celestial Griffon or Leskylor(BoED)
SNA:Dire Lion or Janni
CIB:Polar bear or G.Crocx2
SDA:Dustform Formian, Warrior
+ Sh5: Commune with Greater Spirit
+ Sh5(D:Halfling) Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound
+ Sh5(D:Hunger) Ghoul Gauntlet†: Convert victim to a ghoul under your control.
+ Sh5(D:Pestilence) Plague of Rats† Summons horde of rats.
+ Sh5(D:Rune) Planar Binding, Lesser: Traps extraplanar creature of 6 HD or less until it performs a task
+ Sh5(D:Summoner) Summon Monster V: Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you.
CL13-PsyTheurge:7:
CL14-PsyTheurge:8:SMVI:Eladrin, Bralani or
AC:Lg10HD+30hp construct + menu B - CIB:Dire Bear or Baleen Whale or Fiendish Snake, Giant Constrictor
Extra Attack or Imp.Grab - SDA:Dustform Hippopotamus or Demon, Artaaglith (Ghost)
+ Sh6: Spirit Ally: Up to 16 HD worth of summoned spirits, no two ofwhich can be more than 30 ft. apart when they appear
+ Dr6: Summon Greater Elemental:PlHB105:21HD Elemental
&nb
Create sound - Ghost Sound
Detect Psionics - Detect Magic
Far Hand - Mage Hand
Force Screen - Shield
Inertial Armour - Mage Armour
Missive - Message
Specified Energy Adaptation - Resist Energy
Dispel Psionics - Dispel Magic
Energy Bolt (Lightning) - Lightning bolt
Energy Burst (Fire) - Flameburst
Energy Wall (Fire) - Wall of Fire
Telekinetic Force/Telekinetic Thrust - Telekinesis
Aura Sight - Detect G/E/L/C
Incarnate - Permanency
Power Resistance - Spell Resistance
Microcosm - Power Word: Kill
Restore Extremity - Regenerate
Null Psionics Field - Antimagic Field
Remote Viewing - Scrying
Astral Construct - Summon Monster N
Read Thoughts - Detect Thoughts
Compression - Reduce Person
Expansion - Enlarge Person
Metaphysical Claw/Weapon - Magic Fang/Weapon
Construct: ice shape? animate snow and ice?
0:mending(P/W0:SoS), message(s/w0:P/W1:missive:XPH), --flare(W0)
1:shield(s/w1:Force Screen:XPH), animate rope(P/W:animate rope:XPH), grease(P/W1:XPH), entangle(D1/R1->P/W1:entangling ectoplasm:XPH), mount(s/w1),repair light damage(W1),command(C1),hypnotism(B1/s/w1),shocking grasp(s/w1),magic missile(s/w1),burning hands(s/w1),produce flame(D1)
2:bull's strength(P/W2:Animal Affinity:XPH), arcane lock(P/w2:psionic lock:XPH), ?-mirror image(s/w2), hold person(B2/C2/s/w3), ?-melf's acid arrow(s/w2), gentle repose(C2/s/w3),web(s/w2),spider climb(D2/s/w2),protection from energy(r2/C3/D3/s/w3), shield other(C2),darkness(B2/C2/s/w2),sound burst(B2/C2->P/W3:Energy Burst[Sound]:XPH),shatter(B2/s/w2)
3+:keen edge(PsyWar3:XPH), fly(P/W3:XPH), lightning bolt(s/w3:Energy Bolt (Lightning):XPH), greater magic weapon(s/w3/C4->P/W1:Metaphysical weapon:XPH), dispel magic(C3/s/w3:dispel psionics:XPH),slow(B3/s/w3->P/W3:Heavy Earth:CPsi),illusory script(P/S3:secret script:SoS),fireball(s/w3:Energy Ball (Fire):XPH),
3-:stone shape(d3/d3/earth3/s/w5), lesser geas(B3/s/w4), --animate dead(C3/s/w4), ?-poison(D3/C4), meld into stone(c3/d3), crushing despair(B3/s/w4),haste(B3/s/w3),hold monster(S/w3)
4:arcane eye(P/W4:SoS),fabricate(s/w5->Shaper4:XPH),sending(C4,S/W5->P/W4:Correspond:XPH), freedom of movement(P/W4:XPH), dimensional anchor(Egoist4:XPH), ?-stoneskin(s/w4/D5), shadow conjuration(B4/S/W4), wall of ice(s/w4), locate creature(B4,s/w4), --fuse sand(s/w4/D5), --flame strike(D4/C5),
5:lesser planar binding(s/w5), slay living(C5->telepath7:Crisis of Life:XPH), commune(c5), contact other plane(s/w5), Mordenkainen’s faithful hound(s/w5), transmute rock to mud(D5/s/w5),cloudkill(s/w5)
/----bend reality border----/
6:geas/quest(B6/C6/W6->Telepath8:Mind Seed:XPH), cone of cold(s/w6->P/W3:Energy cone[Cold]:XPH),antimagic field(s/w6:Null Psionic Field:XPH), flesh to stone(s/w6->P/W6::Blackstone Hammer:CPsi),
animate objects(B/C6), planar binding(s/w6), --heal(C6/D7), create undead(C6/s/w6), liveoak(D6), awaken sand(D6),planar ally(C6),
7:limited wish(P/W7:bend reality:XPH), resurrection(C7->P/W9:Reality revision:XPH), symbol of stunning(C7/s/w7), regenerate(C7/D9:Restore Extremity:XPH),insanity(P/W7:insanity:XPH),sunbeam(D7->P/W8:Light Burst:XPH),forcecage(P/W7:Ectoplasmic Coccoon,Mass:XPH),statue(s/w7),control undead(s/w7),-?destruction(C7),--mordenkainen's sword(s/w7)
8:discern location(C8/s/w8->P/W9:Metafaculty:XPH),-?polymorph any object(s/w8),greater planar binding(s/w8),--maze(s/w8)
9:wish/miracle(P/W9:Reality revision:XPH), teleportation circle(s/w9:XPH),energy drain(P/W9:Stygian conflagration), Prismatic Sphere(s/w), --shades(s/w9),
(click to show/hide)
Fixes for Feat/skill shortages:
Full Ride PrC's - Is this ability more important than ML or another mantle?
L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/10-10 PrC: Psychic Theurge: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925b
-/-/+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class/+1 level of existing manifesting class
Req's: Kn(psionics):6r, Kn(religion):6r. cast 2nd-level divine spells. manifest 2nd-level powers
Warning! 1/2BAB progression! Note: summoner build:Druid or healer build: Cleric or OA3.5e Shaman
Roles: 1. Spellcaster/Summoner or Spellcaster/Booster
Healing Focus: Ard1(Mantles:Force,Freedom)/OAShaman1(Domains:Undeath,Summoner or Healing)/Ard2(M:Life)/Sha2/Ard3/Sha3/Psychic Theurge 10/Sangehirn 4
Summoning Focus: Ard1(Mantles:Elements,Creation)/Dr1/Ard2(M:Natural World or Freedom)/Dr2/Ard3/Dr3/Psychic Theurge 10/
Entropomancer(non-good):CD036 4 or Tattooist 4 or Cleric 7/Druid 7/Shaman 7
Feats:
L1-Healer:Mind Over Body /L1-Tattooist:Scribe Tattoo
L3-Healer:Psionic Body /L1-Tattooist:Skill Focus(Pr[tattooist])
L6:Practiced Manifester(Ardent)
L9:Practiced Spellcaster(Cleric/Druid/Shaman, per build)
L12:Psicrystal Affinity
L15:Psicrystal Containment(let your crystal expend psionic focus for you)
L18:Con:Ectopic Form(EmeraldGyre)/EM:Extend Supernatural Ability(ToM)/T:Overchannel
Notes:
Why the Oriental Adventures Shaman and not Cleric? less terrible skills,bonus martial arts feat,apply CHA bonus to all saves
Why finish with Sangehirn? pick up the Sangehirn touch range power of Body Adjustment and Psychic Chirurgy and Touch Range sustenance
at a power level cheaper then clerics get create food and water.
Why finish with Entropomancer? get supernatural ability to suppress all healing magic within 20' centered on you for 4 rounds.
This seems who cares until the bad guy tries to quaff that cure potion at the end of combat
Why finish with Tattooist? The 3.0 feat "Master Psychic Tattoo" from Mind's Eye may be a hard sell for DM approval.
Tattooist comes from 3.5 Dark Sun and seems somewhat more balanced. With a four level dip you can create Psychic tattoos
of powers up to 5th level. Since each character can have up to 20 tattoos, you can ink up the party with a fair armory of powers.
Why finish with 4 levels of straight Ardent? gain another Mantle, full ML, take Psionic Meditation to combo Hustle for regaining psionic focus
Why finish with 4 levels of straight Druid? get to L9 druid spells, including spontaneous SNA9
Why finish with 4 levels of straight Shaman? get to L9 Shaman spells. Also, get that second domain spell per day for L1-4 spell levels
Leveraging the Substitute power ACF from Mind's Eye:
FREEDOM:
+3 Glibness, Psionic:SoS - sometimes to stay free, a PC has to lie his arse off... "He went that way!" or "what teleportation circle?"
5: Clerics and Druids get Freedom of Movement as an L4 Spell. sub Baleful Teleport or Anticipatory Strike or Adapt Body for this
5: if your build is for 20ML, sub Temporal Reiteration for Teleport, Psionic
+7 Ethereal Jaunt, Psionic:XPH - something that is NOT teleporting. yay!
+9 Teleportation Circle, Psionic:XPH - a dismissable trap, so there are multiple ways to leverage this to ensure your freedom
Plus, as a psionic power, no costly material component. If you are not a full ML build, you can omit it.
LIFE:
3: substitute Empathic Transfer, Hostile for Body Purification - scales the heal you get but permits touch attack that scales up to 85hp
Body Purification will come back in Sangehirn modified to permit you to heal comrades by touch too. till then you get
heals through Cleric levels which are about half as max effective per use, but you can sac other mem'd spells to get em
+7 Oak Body
+9 Timeless Body
FORCE:
1: Substitute Inertial Armor or Matter Agitation for Deflection Field, which does not scale and requires concentration.
A Quori Mindhunter build will take Inertial armor, which tops out at +13 armor bonus.
For offensive and/or utility, sub Matter Agitation to solve the "I need a fire" survival problem
+7 Decerebrate
+9 Tornado Blast
ELEMENTS:
1 Elemental Steward: Summoner? Take this as your first power.
2: Sub Psionic Levitate for Earth Walk
+4 Energy Ball
6: Sub Psionic Disintegrate for Blackstone Hammer. With 1/2BAB, ability to hit with a Hammer isn't that good.
Plus, Disintegrate is good for disappearing excess materials created by Creation spells.
Thematically, you're reducing stuff to dust, or its component elements.
7/8: nothing good for the theme. leave the hole. you still get to pick from 28 powers in three mantles.
9: if you won't get Cleric 8 or Druid 8 spells, you could sub Psionic earthquake for Tornado Blast.
CREATION:
+2 Add Crystalstorm, a noPR 2d4hp ray w/FORT save vs 1d4 Con damage,maxing at either 40hp or 12Con
+3 Add either Concealing Amorpha, Greater: XPH or Dream Spirit, Psionic:SoS
4: Consider subbing Quintessence:XPH128 for Fabricate, Psionic
Reason: introduces a different form of utility which does not rely on Craft rolls
ingame karma risk: raids by inevitables(FF108).
5: Sub Hail of Crystals:XPH111 for Major Creation, Psionic
Reason:HoC maxes at 100hp, PR-free, providing a Blaster option with Reflex save
+7 Ectoplasmic Coccoon, Mass: XPH097. Personally, I think this is creepy. but hey, it fits the theme.
+8 Bend Reality
NATURAL WORLD:
1: ask your GM to houserule the following augment for Stone Mind:
For each additional power point you spend, you receive 5'r of tremorsense
+3 Dispel Psionics or Darkvision, Psionic
+6 Suspend Life or Overland Flight, Psionic - bears hibernate and birds fly. very natural.
+8 Recall death - death is part of the natural world. animals die and become food for other animals, etc.
Powers Chosen:
CL1-Dimension Hop(max10'), Inertial Armor(+4 armor bonus/1 hour) OR Elemental Steward(1r) and Chameleon(+10 to Hide/1r)
CL2-Dimension Hop(max15'), Inertial Armor(+4 armor bonus/2 hours) OR Elemental Steward(2r/4d6hp) and Chameleon(+10 to Hide/2r)
CL3-Dimension Hop(max20'), Inertial Armor(+4 armor bonus/3 hours) OR Elemental Steward(3r/4d6hp),Aug for 50% chance for a second and Chameleon(+10 to Hide/3r)
pick one: ConcussionBlast(1d6-9d6 force or nonlethal damage,no save)
EnergyMissile(3d6-20d6,REF/FORT=half)
Hustle(trade a swift action for a move action)
Animal Affinity(+4 buff to one ability, no need to mem separately)
Scent(v Dr2)
-OR- CrystalStorm(ray:2d4hp+FORT vs 1d4 Con damage)
CL4- more of same
CL5-Emp.Transfer, Hostile(inflict+cure yourself)/EtherealVolley (par w/SC:Cl3:Ghost Touch Weapon)/Glibness/Concealing Amorpha, Greater: XPH/Darkvision(personal)
CL6- more of same
CL7-4th-StygianWard(as Cl4/Dr5:DeathWard)/TKManuever/Fly(vW3)/EnergyBall(XPH100:)/Fabricate(vW5)/Metamorphosis(Polymorph, but good)
CL8-4th-pick a second
CL9-5th-RevivifyXP(like raise dead but no lost level/con/powers)/IncarnateXP/Temporal Reiteration or Anticipatory Strike or Adapt Body/
Adapt Body/Hail of Crystals/Oak Body
CL10-5th-pick a second
CL11-6th-MendWounds(55-95hp,20'burst option,damages undead,vCl6:Heal and Cl7:Cure Serious Wounds,Mass) or Restoration(only if you don't have it via divine)/Concussive Detonation/Evade Burst/Disintegrate(22d6,FORT save for 5d6)/Fabricate, Greater Psionic/Suspend Life
CL12-6th-pick a second
CL13-7th-ethereal jaunt(vShaman5)/decerebrate/ectoplasmic Coccoon/Animate Plants(vDr7)
CL14-7th-pick a second
CL15-8th-GrTeleport/TrueMetabolismA!(re-grow/re-attach limbs v Cl7:Regenerate)/Telekinetic Sphere/BendRealityXP/RecallDeath(die or WILL for 5d6; if you couldn't get disintegrate)
CL16-8th-pick a second
cannot summon a monster whose alignment is opposed. Thus, TN is best alignment for Shaman.
To partly (7/9) 0workaround, sub Axiomatic or Anarchic for Fiendish or Celestial. An LG shaman could summon
an Axiomatic (LN) monstrous centipede instead of a Fiendish one, but not a spider.
A CE shaman could summon an Anarchic (CN) giant fire beetle instead of a Celestial one, but not a dog.
Once a template substitution is chosen all creatures with one template that can be summoned with the sub, are.\
Remember! Duration is rounds/ML for Ardent (due to Practiced Manifester) and rounds/divine spellcaster level for Dr/Sh/Cl!
CL1-Ardent:1:Elemental Steward (ES): Heal,Intimidate, or stonemason,2d6hp energy ray
CL2-Druid:1:Conjure Ice Beast (CIB) I: Icebeast Serval:3 attacks w/ 1d6 cold on each + 1d6 cold damage for anyone in the same square
sac a spell for Summon Nature's Ally (SNA) I: 2HD Wolf (trip),Eagle/Owl for flyer, or Monkey for utility
CL2-Shaman:1:no spontaneous summoning, access to SNA I
Domain(Summoner): SMI:CE-Fiendish Monstrous spider-webs,poison,tremorsense
CL3-Ardent:2:ES: Augment for 50% chance of a second ES. Price in line with SMII odds of summoning a second creature of SMI type.
Astral Construct: medium 2HD+20hp construct with 40' speed + either Trip or 20'avg Fly
CL4-Druid:2:same options
CL5-Ardent:3:ES: Augment twice for 50% chance of a second and third ES. Price in line with SMIII odds of summoning
a second and third creature of SMI type.
AC: medium 3HD+20hp construct with 40' speed + either Trip or 20'avg Fly
Dream Spirit,Psionic: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+2hp
CL6-Druid:3:CIBII:icebeast hippogriff minus flying +engulf2d6Cold and +1d6Cold on each attack
Dr2:Summon Swarm:PHB289:bats,rats,or spiders
Dr2:Summon Dire Hawk:RoTW175:5d8+10 medium 80'avg flyer for min/level. Attack:Talon +9 melee (1d4+1).11'wingspan
sac a spell for SNAII:hippogriff in its normal flying form
CL6-Shaman:3:Sh2:Ancestral Vengeance*. Ancestral spirit deals 1d6/twolevels damage (maximum 5d6), 1d6/level (maximum 10d6)to undead.
+Sh2(D:Summoner): SMII:Fiendish/Axiomatic Wolf or 1d2 Fiendish/Anarchic monstrous spiders
CL7-PsyTheurge:1:ES: Augment 3x for 3x 50% chance of a second, third, and fourth ES. SM line doesn't extent to summon this many.
ES combat may be as flankers, but if so, 3x2x2d6hp = 4d6hp - 12d6hp spread across two rounds, then fall back on slams.
AC: med.5HD+20hp construct + Extra Attack or Imp.Grab
DSP: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+3hp
same divine options as CL6, for 4 rounds
CL8-PsyTheurge:2:same ES,AC, and DSP options as PsyTheurge:1, but for 8 rounds
SM:Celestial Bison, Fiendish Ape or Eladrin, Coure (spam faerie fire & magic missile)
SNA:Lion -> Pounce
CIB:Icebeast Nashrou Demon (MM4)(4attacks,reach) or Icebeast Ape
SDA:Dustform Ashworm
+Cl/Sh3(D:Undeath) Animate DeadM: Creates undead skeletons and zombies.
CL9-PsyTheurge:3:ES: Augment 4x for 4x 50% chance of a second, third, and fourth ES. SM line doesn't extend to this point.
ES combat may be as flankers, but if so, 4x2x2d6hp = 4d6hp - 16d6hp spread across two rounds, then fall back on slams.
AC: Lg.7HD+30 hp construct + Extra Attack or Imp.Grab
DSP: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+3hp
same divine options as CL8, for 6 rounds
CL10-PsyTheurge:4:ES: same ES,AC, and DSP options as PsyTheurge:3, but for 10 rounds
SM: Celestial Lion, Fiendish Dire Wolf, Arcadian Avenger (MM5) or Demon, Gadacro (MM5) or Guardinal, Cervidal (MM2)
SNA:Unicorn or Giant Crocodile
CIB:Voor(MM4)(6 attacks) or Giant Crocodile
SDA:Dustform Deinonychus or Giant Eagle
+ Dr4: Summon Elementite Swarm:PlHB:7HD 80'perfect flyer swarm w/2d6 attack and the ability to make people nauseous.
+ Sh4: Lesser Spirit Ally*. Exchange services with one summoned spirit of up to 8 HD that shares your philosophical alignment
+ Cl/Sh4(D:Summoner) Planar Ally, LesserX: Exchange services with a 6 HD extraplanar creature.
CL11-PsyTheurge:5:ES:Augment 5x for 5x 50% chance of a second, third, and fourth ES. SM line doesn't extend to summoning this number.
ES combat may be as flankers, but if so, 5x2x2d6hp = 4d6hp - 20d6hp spread across two rounds, then fall back on slams.
AC: Lg.10HD+30 hp construct + Extra Attack or Imp.Grab
DSP: incorporeal w/ incorporeal touch attack using caster's BAB+Dex to hit for 1d6+5hp
same divine options as CL10, for 8 rounds
CL12-PsyTheurge:6:ES: same ES,AC, and DSP options as PsyTheurge:3, but for 10 rounds
SM:Celestial Griffon or Leskylor(BoED)
SNA:Dire Lion or Janni
CIB:Polar bear or G.Crocx2
SDA:Dustform Formian, Warrior
+ Sh5: Commune with Greater Spirit
+ Sh5(D:Halfling) Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound
+ Sh5(D:Hunger) Ghoul Gauntlet†: Convert victim to a ghoul under your control.
+ Sh5(D:Pestilence) Plague of Rats† Summons horde of rats.
+ Sh5(D:Rune) Planar Binding, Lesser: Traps extraplanar creature of 6 HD or less until it performs a task
+ Sh5(D:Summoner) Summon Monster V: Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you.
CL13-PsyTheurge:7:
CL14-PsyTheurge:8:SMVI:Eladrin, Bralani or
AC:Lg10HD+30hp construct + menu B - CIB:Dire Bear or Baleen Whale or Fiendish Snake, Giant Constrictor
Extra Attack or Imp.Grab - SDA:Dustform Hippopotamus or Demon, Artaaglith (Ghost)
+ Sh6: Spirit Ally: Up to 16 HD worth of summoned spirits, no two ofwhich can be more than 30 ft. apart when they appear
+ Dr6: Summon Greater Elemental:PlHB105:21HD Elemental
&nb
Create sound - Ghost Sound
Detect Psionics - Detect Magic
Far Hand - Mage Hand
Force Screen - Shield
Inertial Armour - Mage Armour
Missive - Message
Specified Energy Adaptation - Resist Energy
Dispel Psionics - Dispel Magic
Energy Bolt (Lightning) - Lightning bolt
Energy Burst (Fire) - Flameburst
Energy Wall (Fire) - Wall of Fire
Telekinetic Force/Telekinetic Thrust - Telekinesis
Aura Sight - Detect G/E/L/C
Incarnate - Permanency
Power Resistance - Spell Resistance
Microcosm - Power Word: Kill
Restore Extremity - Regenerate
Null Psionics Field - Antimagic Field
Remote Viewing - Scrying
Astral Construct - Summon Monster N
Read Thoughts - Detect Thoughts
Compression - Reduce Person
Expansion - Enlarge Person
Metaphysical Claw/Weapon - Magic Fang/Weapon
Construct: ice shape? animate snow and ice?
0:mending(P/W0:SoS), message(s/w0:P/W1:missive:XPH), --flare(W0)
1:shield(s/w1:Force Screen:XPH), animate rope(P/W:animate rope:XPH), grease(P/W1:XPH), entangle(D1/R1->P/W1:entangling ectoplasm:XPH), mount(s/w1),repair light damage(W1),command(C1),hypnotism(B1/s/w1),shocking grasp(s/w1),magic missile(s/w1),burning hands(s/w1),produce flame(D1)
2:bull's strength(P/W2:Animal Affinity:XPH), arcane lock(P/w2:psionic lock:XPH), ?-mirror image(s/w2), hold person(B2/C2/s/w3), ?-melf's acid arrow(s/w2), gentle repose(C2/s/w3),web(s/w2),spider climb(D2/s/w2),protection from energy(r2/C3/D3/s/w3), shield other(C2),darkness(B2/C2/s/w2),sound burst(B2/C2->P/W3:Energy Burst[Sound]:XPH),shatter(B2/s/w2)
3+:keen edge(PsyWar3:XPH), fly(P/W3:XPH), lightning bolt(s/w3:Energy Bolt (Lightning):XPH), greater magic weapon(s/w3/C4->P/W1:Metaphysical weapon:XPH), dispel magic(C3/s/w3:dispel psionics:XPH),slow(B3/s/w3->P/W3:Heavy Earth:CPsi),illusory script(P/S3:secret script:SoS),fireball(s/w3:Energy Ball (Fire):XPH),
3-:stone shape(d3/d3/earth3/s/w5), lesser geas(B3/s/w4), --animate dead(C3/s/w4), ?-poison(D3/C4), meld into stone(c3/d3), crushing despair(B3/s/w4),haste(B3/s/w3),hold monster(S/w3)
4:arcane eye(P/W4:SoS),fabricate(s/w5->Shaper4:XPH),sending(C4,S/W5->P/W4:Correspond:XPH), freedom of movement(P/W4:XPH), dimensional anchor(Egoist4:XPH), ?-stoneskin(s/w4/D5), shadow conjuration(B4/S/W4), wall of ice(s/w4), locate creature(B4,s/w4), --fuse sand(s/w4/D5), --flame strike(D4/C5),
5:lesser planar binding(s/w5), slay living(C5->telepath7:Crisis of Life:XPH), commune(c5), contact other plane(s/w5), Mordenkainen’s faithful hound(s/w5), transmute rock to mud(D5/s/w5),cloudkill(s/w5)
/----bend reality border----/
6:geas/quest(B6/C6/W6->Telepath8:Mind Seed:XPH), cone of cold(s/w6->P/W3:Energy cone[Cold]:XPH),antimagic field(s/w6:Null Psionic Field:XPH), flesh to stone(s/w6->P/W6::Blackstone Hammer:CPsi),
animate objects(B/C6), planar binding(s/w6), --heal(C6/D7), create undead(C6/s/w6), liveoak(D6), awaken sand(D6),planar ally(C6),
7:limited wish(P/W7:bend reality:XPH), resurrection(C7->P/W9:Reality revision:XPH), symbol of stunning(C7/s/w7), regenerate(C7/D9:Restore Extremity:XPH),insanity(P/W7:insanity:XPH),sunbeam(D7->P/W8:Light Burst:XPH),forcecage(P/W7:Ectoplasmic Coccoon,Mass:XPH),statue(s/w7),control undead(s/w7),-?destruction(C7),--mordenkainen's sword(s/w7)
8:discern location(C8/s/w8->P/W9:Metafaculty:XPH),-?polymorph any object(s/w8),greater planar binding(s/w8),--maze(s/w8)
9:wish/miracle(P/W9:Reality revision:XPH), teleportation circle(s/w9:XPH),energy drain(P/W9:Stygian conflagration), Prismatic Sphere(s/w), --shades(s/w9),
7
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Appendix IV - Modelling Ethshar witches
« on: April 11, 2020, 04:01:56 PM »
Appendix IV - Modelling Ethshar witches
The Ethshar series by Lawrence Watt-Evans is an excellent setting for a campaign. If you and your GM, want to flesh out witches as Ardents, and Sorcerors as Wilders, the hints below will get you started...
The Ethshar series by Lawrence Watt-Evans is an excellent setting for a campaign. If you and your GM, want to flesh out witches as Ardents, and Sorcerors as Wilders, the hints below will get you started...
(click to show/hide)
RoW186-Zella the Witch sees through the wizard spell Sanguinary Deception
UW145-light a fire in an instant, in proper fuel... open a locked door, but not shatter one... predict a storm, but not bring one - Matter agitation? Far Hand? ???
UW152-"...you can't read minds unless you know the right language?" - Read Thoughts
UW152-"learn languages quickly" - Tongues, Psionic
UW158-"I set wards and he tripped one" - Alarm, PsionicSoS
UW162-"strangle them at a distance" - Crisis of Breath
UW162-"poison their water... make their food go bad..." - ????
UW164-"often reacted to unseen events while in perceptive trances" - Clairvoyance/clairaudience?
UW165-"convinced the sentries he was telling the truth... they had accepted him as an Ophkarite courier despite his lack of uniform, his unfamiliarity with the Opkkaritic language, and the fact that he had appeared on foot, from entirely the wrong direction" - Psychic charm? Psychic dominate? Glibness, PsionicSoS
UW173-"sentries... disappearing, then turning up dead in entirely the wrong place" - ?
WSS173-"...the chair walked stiff-legged and awkward, over to Tobas" - Control Object
WSS196-"I need to know where something is relative to myself, before I can do anything to it."
WSS196-"I have the witch sight and the witch-smell and I can hear minds and read hearts" - Psychic Scent, Read Thoughts, Mind Probe
WSS214-"She responded by raising a hand that glowed weakly" - My Light? Control Light
WSS214-"in a second or two, a blue flame sprang up from a corner of the ancient plank, then spread across one end and brightened to a cheerful yellow" - Matter Agitation?
WSS220-"'I can warm it up... ' She took the pouch and held it... After a moment it started to steam." - Matter Agitation
WSS233-"She ran her hand over her skirt experimentally, and the blood ran out in a small stream, leaving clean fabric" - Prestidigitation, PsionicSoS
WSS235-"and speed the healing of their injuries"
WSS257-"She turned and the doors opened before her"-Knock,Psionic
WSS-Karanissa sleeps through days - Suspend Life
IR056-"I can cure warts and calm fears and the like" - Calm Emotion, Remove Fear
IR202-"...crystals are just to aid in focusing the mind, and the herbs-- that's really herbalism,not true withcraft. Most of us learn some of that, but it's not really the same thing."
SBD056-"[witches] had fed father and son strength, drawing it out of their own bodies- but to no avail. When the spell was broken, the weakness returned within hours. Witchcraft could, at great cost to the witch, put the elder Kathon back on his feet for a day or two, but could do nothing permanent."-???
SBD112-"she could feel odd, sometimes incomprehensible bits of sensations fairly often, especially when near other people."
SBD112-"she sensed a wet heat from a man's thoughts... The cool blackness from the potted daisies in her room a the inn - was that normal?"
SBD139-"the murderer had left no psychic traces... some witches could choose to leave no traces; warlocks often left no traces, but had no control over it" -
SBD144-"We can generally tell when people believe what they say"
SBD208-"We sense some upset"
SBD257-"Karanissa... she'll try it herself... but she isn't sure she can heal a wound that bad"
SBD257-"warlocks have trouble at healing, they don't have the sublety of touch, but if *I* did it, with a warlock helping, I know how to draw on a warlock's strength..." - Bestow Power, Metafaculty
SBD274-"A faint orange witch-light appeared..." - Control Light
BoD86-"looking for the psychic trace her quarry must have surely left here"-Psychometry,XPD
BoD86-"witch's trick of convincing someone to do what she wanted him to do without him realizing it"
BoD86-"had exhausted herself... had almost collapsed right there in the street"
BoD87-"Teneria always remembered the empty candy basket and the baffled expression of the man holding it, the puzzled discomfort of his aura." - Dominate,Psionic
BoD87-"She could levitate, she thought, but there wasn't any point to it. She would just wear herself out." - Levitate,Psionic
BoD88-"she had seen in Falea's mind that Sander the Theurgist had located Dumery of Shiphaven somewhere on the Great River" - Read Thoughts
BoD88-"she could sense in the the presence of someone far, far older than he looked, and she knew that Valder... had been enchanted long ago."
BoD90-"warmth and affection... she held those thoughts... projected them in all directions..." - Telempathic Projection
BoD92-"[the spriggan] might provide a psychic link that she could use"
BoD118-"...worked a locating spell Sella had tought her, using the spriggan as her familiar"
BoD118-"She was scanning the area, looking for psychic traces." - psychometry, psychic tracking
BoD120-"witchlight was tiring... she manages a small glow from one palm..."
BoD120-"setting [the tree limb] afire at one end also used up more energy than she could afford, but was not as taxing as maintaining a witchlight
BoD120-"His aura was dim, but steady, and she could not sense any thought at all"-Aura Sight
BoD120-"she worked a quick diagnostic spell and found that the fall had broken two of his ribs and cracked the bone in his left wrist"
BoD121-"witchcraft isn't natural, and your body isn't made for it-there are no warnings. In trance, you can keep up a spelluntil your body has no life left in it at all, hasn't got the energy remaining to keep your heart pumping. A witch can keel over, just like that, if she tries to do too much." - overchannel
BoD125-"Teneria used a subtle spell, loosening the other's finger muscles and making her own sleeve smoother and more slippery"
BoD126-"Artificially speeding the contraction of her pupils, Teneria shaded her eyes and peered out."
BoD126-"Teneria... touched his mind, and found a roiling mass of terror and confusion. Something was compelling him..." - mind probe, mindlink
BoD126-"Teneria... reached up with her own thoughts, calming him... she was able to muffle it slightly..."
BoD127-"though communications was made difficult by... the warlock... thinking in his native Sardironese... She was absorbing the language quickly" - Mindlink, Tongues
BoD127-"he repaired the damage to the bones... The bone-knitting he had done in seconds would have taken her three or four hours"
BoD149-"used her magic to locate herself"-Know Location and Location or Psychic Divination
NoM215-warlock healing a head injury causes the patient to turn into a warlock.
SM110-"instead of falling, she spread her arms and drifted gracefully to earth" - Catfall? Psionic Levitate?
SM153-"A faint pale glow was coming from the mirror itself; as Gresh watched, it started to rise into the air."
SM157-"I could feel their dismay when you asked it"
SM159-"I'm a witch; I can soothe animals. I can hear you even if you don't talk aloud at all..." - calm animals
VA033-"witches weren't powerful enough to be conquerors and generally had fairly strict rules about what they would and wouldn't do"
VA110-"I'm sure Neyam screamed when he was flogged... No he didn't. Witches can block their pain."
VA209-"He was permitted to heal himself"
Healing; witches can heal or sustain people by transferring energy to ward off fatigue or illness or simple telekinetic manipulation to heal wounds.
Telepathy; One of the fundamental powers of witchcraft is sensitivity to the feelings of living things around them. Developed and focused, this means that a witch can read the mind, and ultimately manipulate the feelings and thoughts, of subjects.
Telekinesis; Witches seem to be able to do everything Warlocks can with regards to telekinetic manipulation, however being limited to the power their own body generates sharply limits their feats compared to those of Warlocks.
Precognition; Witches make excellent seers and are one of the few types of magician that routinely foresees the customers that will visit during a day.
Learning languages; witches can easily and quickly learn the language of people among whom they find themselves and become fluent in it. In this witches have an advantage over those whose physical magic is more powerful but does not confer this ability.
UW145-light a fire in an instant, in proper fuel... open a locked door, but not shatter one... predict a storm, but not bring one - Matter agitation? Far Hand? ???
UW152-"...you can't read minds unless you know the right language?" - Read Thoughts
UW152-"learn languages quickly" - Tongues, Psionic
UW158-"I set wards and he tripped one" - Alarm, PsionicSoS
UW162-"strangle them at a distance" - Crisis of Breath
UW162-"poison their water... make their food go bad..." - ????
UW164-"often reacted to unseen events while in perceptive trances" - Clairvoyance/clairaudience?
UW165-"convinced the sentries he was telling the truth... they had accepted him as an Ophkarite courier despite his lack of uniform, his unfamiliarity with the Opkkaritic language, and the fact that he had appeared on foot, from entirely the wrong direction" - Psychic charm? Psychic dominate? Glibness, PsionicSoS
UW173-"sentries... disappearing, then turning up dead in entirely the wrong place" - ?
WSS173-"...the chair walked stiff-legged and awkward, over to Tobas" - Control Object
WSS196-"I need to know where something is relative to myself, before I can do anything to it."
WSS196-"I have the witch sight and the witch-smell and I can hear minds and read hearts" - Psychic Scent, Read Thoughts, Mind Probe
WSS214-"She responded by raising a hand that glowed weakly" - My Light? Control Light
WSS214-"in a second or two, a blue flame sprang up from a corner of the ancient plank, then spread across one end and brightened to a cheerful yellow" - Matter Agitation?
WSS220-"'I can warm it up... ' She took the pouch and held it... After a moment it started to steam." - Matter Agitation
WSS233-"She ran her hand over her skirt experimentally, and the blood ran out in a small stream, leaving clean fabric" - Prestidigitation, PsionicSoS
WSS235-"and speed the healing of their injuries"
WSS257-"She turned and the doors opened before her"-Knock,Psionic
WSS-Karanissa sleeps through days - Suspend Life
IR056-"I can cure warts and calm fears and the like" - Calm Emotion, Remove Fear
IR202-"...crystals are just to aid in focusing the mind, and the herbs-- that's really herbalism,not true withcraft. Most of us learn some of that, but it's not really the same thing."
SBD056-"[witches] had fed father and son strength, drawing it out of their own bodies- but to no avail. When the spell was broken, the weakness returned within hours. Witchcraft could, at great cost to the witch, put the elder Kathon back on his feet for a day or two, but could do nothing permanent."-???
SBD112-"she could feel odd, sometimes incomprehensible bits of sensations fairly often, especially when near other people."
SBD112-"she sensed a wet heat from a man's thoughts... The cool blackness from the potted daisies in her room a the inn - was that normal?"
SBD139-"the murderer had left no psychic traces... some witches could choose to leave no traces; warlocks often left no traces, but had no control over it" -
SBD144-"We can generally tell when people believe what they say"
SBD208-"We sense some upset"
SBD257-"Karanissa... she'll try it herself... but she isn't sure she can heal a wound that bad"
SBD257-"warlocks have trouble at healing, they don't have the sublety of touch, but if *I* did it, with a warlock helping, I know how to draw on a warlock's strength..." - Bestow Power, Metafaculty
SBD274-"A faint orange witch-light appeared..." - Control Light
BoD86-"looking for the psychic trace her quarry must have surely left here"-Psychometry,XPD
BoD86-"witch's trick of convincing someone to do what she wanted him to do without him realizing it"
BoD86-"had exhausted herself... had almost collapsed right there in the street"
BoD87-"Teneria always remembered the empty candy basket and the baffled expression of the man holding it, the puzzled discomfort of his aura." - Dominate,Psionic
BoD87-"She could levitate, she thought, but there wasn't any point to it. She would just wear herself out." - Levitate,Psionic
BoD88-"she had seen in Falea's mind that Sander the Theurgist had located Dumery of Shiphaven somewhere on the Great River" - Read Thoughts
BoD88-"she could sense in the the presence of someone far, far older than he looked, and she knew that Valder... had been enchanted long ago."
BoD90-"warmth and affection... she held those thoughts... projected them in all directions..." - Telempathic Projection
BoD92-"[the spriggan] might provide a psychic link that she could use"
BoD118-"...worked a locating spell Sella had tought her, using the spriggan as her familiar"
BoD118-"She was scanning the area, looking for psychic traces." - psychometry, psychic tracking
BoD120-"witchlight was tiring... she manages a small glow from one palm..."
BoD120-"setting [the tree limb] afire at one end also used up more energy than she could afford, but was not as taxing as maintaining a witchlight
BoD120-"His aura was dim, but steady, and she could not sense any thought at all"-Aura Sight
BoD120-"she worked a quick diagnostic spell and found that the fall had broken two of his ribs and cracked the bone in his left wrist"
BoD121-"witchcraft isn't natural, and your body isn't made for it-there are no warnings. In trance, you can keep up a spelluntil your body has no life left in it at all, hasn't got the energy remaining to keep your heart pumping. A witch can keel over, just like that, if she tries to do too much." - overchannel
BoD125-"Teneria used a subtle spell, loosening the other's finger muscles and making her own sleeve smoother and more slippery"
BoD126-"Artificially speeding the contraction of her pupils, Teneria shaded her eyes and peered out."
BoD126-"Teneria... touched his mind, and found a roiling mass of terror and confusion. Something was compelling him..." - mind probe, mindlink
BoD126-"Teneria... reached up with her own thoughts, calming him... she was able to muffle it slightly..."
BoD127-"though communications was made difficult by... the warlock... thinking in his native Sardironese... She was absorbing the language quickly" - Mindlink, Tongues
BoD127-"he repaired the damage to the bones... The bone-knitting he had done in seconds would have taken her three or four hours"
BoD149-"used her magic to locate herself"-Know Location and Location or Psychic Divination
NoM215-warlock healing a head injury causes the patient to turn into a warlock.
SM110-"instead of falling, she spread her arms and drifted gracefully to earth" - Catfall? Psionic Levitate?
SM153-"A faint pale glow was coming from the mirror itself; as Gresh watched, it started to rise into the air."
SM157-"I could feel their dismay when you asked it"
SM159-"I'm a witch; I can soothe animals. I can hear you even if you don't talk aloud at all..." - calm animals
VA033-"witches weren't powerful enough to be conquerors and generally had fairly strict rules about what they would and wouldn't do"
VA110-"I'm sure Neyam screamed when he was flogged... No he didn't. Witches can block their pain."
VA209-"He was permitted to heal himself"
Healing; witches can heal or sustain people by transferring energy to ward off fatigue or illness or simple telekinetic manipulation to heal wounds.
Telepathy; One of the fundamental powers of witchcraft is sensitivity to the feelings of living things around them. Developed and focused, this means that a witch can read the mind, and ultimately manipulate the feelings and thoughts, of subjects.
Telekinesis; Witches seem to be able to do everything Warlocks can with regards to telekinetic manipulation, however being limited to the power their own body generates sharply limits their feats compared to those of Warlocks.
Precognition; Witches make excellent seers and are one of the few types of magician that routinely foresees the customers that will visit during a day.
Learning languages; witches can easily and quickly learn the language of people among whom they find themselves and become fluent in it. In this witches have an advantage over those whose physical magic is more powerful but does not confer this ability.
8
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Appendix III - Non Canon Material
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:59:57 PM »
Appendix III - Non Canon Material
Everything in this Appendix is non-canon. Assume it's all RED and that your GM bans it until he/she says otherwise.
Possible New Powers for Independent Research
Pathfinder possibilities
4e possibilities
Material Buildouts for Psionic PrCs WoTC Suggested, but did not build out
Everything in this Appendix is non-canon. Assume it's all RED and that your GM bans it until he/she says otherwise.
Possible New Powers for Independent Research
(click to show/hide)
Pathfinder SRD
Hyperconscious
Other Sources
(click to show/hide)
Alienation - Telepath4
Battlesense - Telepath3
Blinding Flash - as another way to use Prestidigitation, Psionic
Compelling Voice - Telepath2
Compression - P/W1
Crystal Light - as another way to use Prestidigitation, Psionic
Endorphin Surge - PsyWar2
Everyman - P/W2,Psywar2
Expose Weakness - PsyWar3
Graft Armor - PsyWar3
Improved Response - Tactician3 -> GUARDIAN3
Sensory Cascade -> P/W4
Technique As One - Tactician7 -> CONFLICT7
Unravel Psionics - P/W9
Untouchable Aura - Dread9->PAIN&SUFFERING9
Battlesense - Telepath3
Blinding Flash - as another way to use Prestidigitation, Psionic
Compelling Voice - Telepath2
Compression - P/W1
Crystal Light - as another way to use Prestidigitation, Psionic
Endorphin Surge - PsyWar2
Everyman - P/W2,Psywar2
Expose Weakness - PsyWar3
Graft Armor - PsyWar3
Improved Response - Tactician3 -> GUARDIAN3
Sensory Cascade -> P/W4
Technique As One - Tactician7 -> CONFLICT7
Unravel Psionics - P/W9
Untouchable Aura - Dread9->PAIN&SUFFERING9
(click to show/hide)
Alloyed Hide - P/W2,PsyWar2
Dominate, Psionic - Telepath4
Dream, Psionic - P/W5
Impresa - P/W5
Leech Known Power - P/W5
Nightmare, Psionic - P/W5
Phantasmal Killer, Psionic - P/W4
Psianimate Dead - P/W5
Psychic Bodyguard - P/W2
Resistance, Psionic - P/W1
Sleep,Psionic P/W1
Teleport Auxiliary - Nomad 1 (more useful than Astral Traveler)
Throw Ectoform - Shaper2 (mirror image sub)
Transmigrate - Egoist6
Dominate, Psionic - Telepath4
Dream, Psionic - P/W5
Impresa - P/W5
Leech Known Power - P/W5
Nightmare, Psionic - P/W5
Phantasmal Killer, Psionic - P/W4
Psianimate Dead - P/W5
Psychic Bodyguard - P/W2
Resistance, Psionic - P/W1
Sleep,Psionic P/W1
Teleport Auxiliary - Nomad 1 (more useful than Astral Traveler)
Throw Ectoform - Shaper2 (mirror image sub)
Transmigrate - Egoist6
(click to show/hide)
Thieves World Players Manual by Green Ronin
Armor of Darkness
Word of Ruin
Armor of Darkness
Word of Ruin
Pathfinder possibilities
(click to show/hide)
Psionic feats:
Intuitive Fighting - PF makes this feat psionic with a pre-req of Blind-fighting, instead of its 3/5e Exalted form.
Intuitive Fighting - PF makes this feat psionic with a pre-req of Blind-fighting, instead of its 3/5e Exalted form.
4e possibilities
(click to show/hide)
MANTLE OF CLARITY
Benefit: Each ally within 20 feet of you gains a +2 bonus to Spot and Hearing checks.
You and each ally within 20 feet of you gain a bonus to all defenses against opportunity attacks. The bonus equals your Wisdom modifier.
---Once per round, when you take damage, each ally within 20 feet may take a 5 foot step.
MANTLE OF READINESS&CAUTION
Benefit: When you take damage, allies within 20' gain a +2 bonus to saving throws until the end of your next turn.
When you make a save, allies within 20' gain a +2 bonus to saving throws until the start of your next turn.
---During surprise rounds and the first nonsurprise round of any encounter, you and each ally who starts his or her turn within 20 feet gain a +10 foot bonus to speed.
MANTLE OF ELATION
Benefit:
Each ally within 20 feet of you gains a +2 bonus to Diplomacy checks and Intimidate checks.
You and each ally within 20 feet of you gain a bonus to damage rolls for opportunity attacks. The bonus equals your Constitution modifier.
---When you take damage, each opponent within 20 feet becomes flat-footed until the start of your next turn.
MANTLE OF IMPULSIVENESS
Benefit:
Each ally within 20 feet of you gains a +2 bonus to Endurance checks and Intimidate checks.
When an ally within 20 feet of you is targeted by an attack of opportunity, that ally gains a competence bonus to damage rolls equal to your Constitution modifier until the end of his or her turn.
---When you take damage, each ally within 20 feet gains a +1 bonus to damage rolls until the start of your next turn. This bonus increases by 1 for every four manifester levels beyond ML1.
Benefit: Each ally within 20 feet of you gains a +2 bonus to Spot and Hearing checks.
You and each ally within 20 feet of you gain a bonus to all defenses against opportunity attacks. The bonus equals your Wisdom modifier.
---Once per round, when you take damage, each ally within 20 feet may take a 5 foot step.
MANTLE OF READINESS&CAUTION
Benefit: When you take damage, allies within 20' gain a +2 bonus to saving throws until the end of your next turn.
When you make a save, allies within 20' gain a +2 bonus to saving throws until the start of your next turn.
---During surprise rounds and the first nonsurprise round of any encounter, you and each ally who starts his or her turn within 20 feet gain a +10 foot bonus to speed.
MANTLE OF ELATION
Benefit:
Each ally within 20 feet of you gains a +2 bonus to Diplomacy checks and Intimidate checks.
You and each ally within 20 feet of you gain a bonus to damage rolls for opportunity attacks. The bonus equals your Constitution modifier.
---When you take damage, each opponent within 20 feet becomes flat-footed until the start of your next turn.
MANTLE OF IMPULSIVENESS
Benefit:
Each ally within 20 feet of you gains a +2 bonus to Endurance checks and Intimidate checks.
When an ally within 20 feet of you is targeted by an attack of opportunity, that ally gains a competence bonus to damage rolls equal to your Constitution modifier until the end of his or her turn.
---When you take damage, each ally within 20 feet gains a +1 bonus to damage rolls until the start of your next turn. This bonus increases by 1 for every four manifester levels beyond ML1.
Material Buildouts for Psionic PrCs WoTC Suggested, but did not build out
(click to show/hide)
Abjurant Champion, PsionicCM050 - Blue for tanks if approved by your GM
Daggerspell PsionCAdv031 - Blue for PLEASEHITME builds if your GM approves.
L1 d4/2SP/0/2/0/2/5-10 Prc:Mindbender: CAr054: -/-/Telepathy/+1 level of existing manifester class
Req's: nongood. Bluff:4r, Diplomacy:4r, Intimidate:4r, Sense Motive:4r. manifest one telepathy power of 3rd level or higher
Notes: good one level dip.
MM:
L1 d8/4SP/0/0/0/0/10-10 PrC: Psionic Chameleon: RoD116: -/-/Aptitude focus 1/day (+2)
Req's: Race: Human, Shifter, or Doppelganger. Bluff-8r, Disguise-8r, Sense Motive-4r, Spellcraft 4r. Feat: Able Learner
Notes: 3 level dip, write Psionic focus similar to Erudite.
(click to show/hide)
Original, non-psionic PrC:
L1 d10/2SP/1/0/0/2/5-5 PrC: Abjurant Psion: CM050: Abjurant armor, extended abjuration
Req's: BAB+5. FEAT: Combat Casting. cast 1st level spells, including at least one abjuration
Special: proficient in at least one martial weapon.
Material buildout for Psionic version:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BAB+5.
Feat: Combat Manifesting.
Manifesting: Must be able to cast 1st-level psionic powers, including at least one abjuration power.
Special: Must be proficient with at least one martial weapon.
Manifesting: At each level, you gain new PP per day, powers known and an increase in manifester level as if you had also gained a level in an psionic manifesting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one psionic manifesting class before becoming an abjurant champion, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining PP per day, manifester level, and powers known.
Abjurant Armor (Su): Any time you cast an abjuration power that grants you an armor bonus or shield bonus to AC, you can increase the value of the bonus by your abjurant champion class level. Abjurant champions rely on mage armor, shield, and similar spells instead of actual armor.
Extended Abjuration (Su): You depend on your abjuration powers to protect you in combat. Double the duration of abjuration powers you manifest, as if you had applied the Extend Power feat to them (but without any change in level, casting time, or expending psionic focus to do so).
Swift Abjuration (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, you can manifest abjuration powers as a swift action, as if you had applied the Quicken Spell feat to them (but without any change in level and without expending psionic focus). The maximum level of spell you can quicken in this way is equal to 1/2 your class level (rounded up).
Psionic Boost (Su): Beginning at 4th level, you gain the ability to burn power points to empower your martial abilities. As a swift action, you can spend power points as if manifesting a power of a given level (max 9) to grant yourself one of the following insight bonuses for 1 round.
• Bonus on attack rolls equal to the power's level.
• Bonus on weapon damage rolls equal to twice the power's level.
• Bonus to AC equal to the power's level.
• Bonus on saving throws equal to the power's level.
• Resistance to acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic equal to 5 x the power's level.
Martial Psionicist (Ex): At 5th level, you master the art of combining your militant and psionic training. From this point on, your manifester level in a chosen psionic manifesting class is equal to your base attack bonus (unless it would otherwise be higher). For example, a 7th-level fighter/1st-level erudite/5th-level abjurant champion has a base attack bonus of +12 (and thus a caster level of 12th). You can apply this benefit to only one psionic class to which you have added manifesting levels by your advancement as an abjurant champion.
Changes to Table 3-1: The Abjurant Champion
1. Change all instances of "arcane" to "psionic"
2. Change all instances of "spellcasting" to "manifesting"
3. Change "Martial arcanist" to "Martial psionicist"
4. In "Class Skills", change "Knowledge(arcana)" to "Knowledge(psionics)"
5. In "Class Skills", change "Spellcraft" to "Psicraft"
L1 d10/2SP/1/0/0/2/5-5 PrC: Abjurant Psion: CM050: Abjurant armor, extended abjuration
Req's: BAB+5. FEAT: Combat Casting. cast 1st level spells, including at least one abjuration
Special: proficient in at least one martial weapon.
Material buildout for Psionic version:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BAB+5.
Feat: Combat Manifesting.
Manifesting: Must be able to cast 1st-level psionic powers, including at least one abjuration power.
Special: Must be proficient with at least one martial weapon.
Manifesting: At each level, you gain new PP per day, powers known and an increase in manifester level as if you had also gained a level in an psionic manifesting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one psionic manifesting class before becoming an abjurant champion, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining PP per day, manifester level, and powers known.
Abjurant Armor (Su): Any time you cast an abjuration power that grants you an armor bonus or shield bonus to AC, you can increase the value of the bonus by your abjurant champion class level. Abjurant champions rely on mage armor, shield, and similar spells instead of actual armor.
Extended Abjuration (Su): You depend on your abjuration powers to protect you in combat. Double the duration of abjuration powers you manifest, as if you had applied the Extend Power feat to them (but without any change in level, casting time, or expending psionic focus to do so).
Swift Abjuration (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, you can manifest abjuration powers as a swift action, as if you had applied the Quicken Spell feat to them (but without any change in level and without expending psionic focus). The maximum level of spell you can quicken in this way is equal to 1/2 your class level (rounded up).
Psionic Boost (Su): Beginning at 4th level, you gain the ability to burn power points to empower your martial abilities. As a swift action, you can spend power points as if manifesting a power of a given level (max 9) to grant yourself one of the following insight bonuses for 1 round.
• Bonus on attack rolls equal to the power's level.
• Bonus on weapon damage rolls equal to twice the power's level.
• Bonus to AC equal to the power's level.
• Bonus on saving throws equal to the power's level.
• Resistance to acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic equal to 5 x the power's level.
Martial Psionicist (Ex): At 5th level, you master the art of combining your militant and psionic training. From this point on, your manifester level in a chosen psionic manifesting class is equal to your base attack bonus (unless it would otherwise be higher). For example, a 7th-level fighter/1st-level erudite/5th-level abjurant champion has a base attack bonus of +12 (and thus a caster level of 12th). You can apply this benefit to only one psionic class to which you have added manifesting levels by your advancement as an abjurant champion.
Changes to Table 3-1: The Abjurant Champion
1. Change all instances of "arcane" to "psionic"
2. Change all instances of "spellcasting" to "manifesting"
3. Change "Martial arcanist" to "Martial psionicist"
4. In "Class Skills", change "Knowledge(arcana)" to "Knowledge(psionics)"
5. In "Class Skills", change "Spellcraft" to "Psicraft"
Daggerspell PsionCAdv031 - Blue for PLEASEHITME builds if your GM approves.
(click to show/hide)
L1 d6/6SP/0/0/2/2/9-10 Prc: Daggerspell Psion: (see Daggerspell Mage, CAdv031) -/-/Daggercast
Req's: Any nonevil.Concentration:8r.Feats: Weapon Focus (dagger), Two-Weapon Fighting.
Special: ML 5th.Special: Sneak attack +1d6
Notes: use daggers to deliver touch spells. At L10, get a free quicken as part of a dagger attack.
Material buildout for Psionic version:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
AL: Any non-evil
Feat: Weapon Focus(dagger), Two-Weapon Fighting.
Special: Psionic manifester level 5th.
Special: Sneak attack +1d6.
Modify Class Skills as follows:
- Change "Knowledge(arcana) to Knowledge(psionics)".
- Change "Spellcraft" to "Psicraft".
Change Class Features as follows:
Daggermanifest(Ex): Daggerspell psions seamlessly blend the use of their two daggers with powerful manifesting abilities. While wielding two daggers, a daggerspell psion can manifest full-round powers as standard actions, standard action powers as move-equivalent powers, and swift action powers as free action powers. Manifesting a power in this way still provokes attacks of opportunity. In addition, a daggerspell psion can deliver a touch spell with a dagger attack (either a melee touch attack or a normal melee attack, but not with a thrown dagger.)
Invocation of the Knife(Su): Beginning at 2nd level, the daggerspell psion develops a strong psychic connection between their psionic manifesting abilities and the daggers they wield. Whenever a daggerspell psion manifests a psionic power that deals energy damage, he can turn half of the damage dealt by the power into slashing damage rather than energy damage. Energy damage does not apply to this damage, but damage resistance might. This power does not affect a creature's ability to resist the power with a saving throw or power resistance.
Using this power does not require an action; its use is part of the action required to cast the spell. Only spells with a duration of Instantaneous can be modified by this ability.
Power Points per Day/Powers Known: Beginning at 2nd level, a daggerspell psion gains new power points per day, manifest level, and powers known as if he had also gained a level in a psionic manifesting class to which he previously belonged before adding the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he had more than one psionic manifesting class before becoming a daggerspell psion, he must choose to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining ML, powers per day, and powers known.
Sneak Attack(Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, a daggerspell psion deals an extra 1d6 damage when flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied their DEX bonus.This extra damage applies to ranged attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. It increases to 2d6 at 6th level and to 3d6 at 9th level. See rogue class feature in the Player's Handbook. If a daggerspell psion gets a sneak attack bonus from another source(such as rogue), the bonuses on damage stack.
Bonus Augments: At 4th level, a daggerspell psion gains augments to powers if he already has them. For the power "Call Weaponry", a daggerspell psion receives the Augment: "Augment: Pay 3 extra PP to call a dagger as a free action."
For "Metaphysical Weapon", or any other power which enhances a weapon by adding extra or bonus damage or for "Blackstone Hammer" or other powers which add additional effects to a weapon, a daggerspell psion receives the Augment: "Augment: Pay 2 extra PP to manifest this power on a dagger you hold as a move-equivalent action, or pay 4 extra PP to manifest this power on a dagger you hold as a swift action."
Double Daggermanifest(Ex): As a daggerspell psion advances in level, the connection between his manifesting and his two-dagger fighting style strengthens. At 5th level and higher, a psion can hold the charge for one touch power for each dagger that he is holding in his hands. He must designate which dagger holds each power at the time the power is manifested. If one of these daggers leaves the daggerspell psion's hands, the power immediately discharges (unless the dagger is thrown by a daggerspell psion with the psionic throw ability; see below).
Psionic Erosion(Su): At 7th level and higher, a daggerspell psion can infuse psionic manifesting power into his daggers, temporarily enabling them to deliver ability damage. To use this ability, a psion must expend power points as if manifesting a power of the desired level. For instance, 1PP = 1st level, 3PP = 2nd level, 5PP = 3rd level, etc. The daggerspell psion chooses one dagger and an ability type(STR,DEX,CON,WIS,INT, or CHA) when this ability is activiated. The chosen dagger deals an extra 1 point of ability damage of the chosen type. This effects lasts for a number of rounds equal to the level of the "power level" purchased via power points. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack, even if different ability types are chosen. Instead, the new chosen energy type becomes effective for the number of rounds equal to the new "power level". If the dagger is thrown, the ability damage applies to the attack, but then the effect immediately dissipates.
Using this ability is a Swift action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
Psionic Throw(Ex): At 8th level and higher, a daggerspell psion can imbue psychic energy into his thrown daggers. The psion can deliver a touch power with a thrown dagger just as if he were making a melee attack. If the dagger hits the target, the touch power is discharged against the creature or object struck. If the dagger missed the target, the dagger returns to the psion just before his next turn (as if it had the returning special ability; see DMG) and retains the power just as if it had missed with a melee attack.
Daggerspell flurry(Ex): A 10th-level daggerspell psion can blend manifesting with a flurry of dager attacks. When using this ability, the psion can quicken one power as part of a full attack with his daggers. Doing this has no effect on the power's effective level, nor does it expend psionic focus. A daggerspell psion must make at least one melee attack in any round he uses this ability, and he cannot make an attack with anything other than a dagger(although if a power manifested in conjunction with this ability requires an attack roll, he can still make the power's attack).
A daggerspell psion can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Dexterity bonus (minimum 1).
Req's: Any nonevil.Concentration:8r.Feats: Weapon Focus (dagger), Two-Weapon Fighting.
Special: ML 5th.Special: Sneak attack +1d6
Notes: use daggers to deliver touch spells. At L10, get a free quicken as part of a dagger attack.
Material buildout for Psionic version:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
AL: Any non-evil
Feat: Weapon Focus(dagger), Two-Weapon Fighting.
Special: Psionic manifester level 5th.
Special: Sneak attack +1d6.
Modify Class Skills as follows:
- Change "Knowledge(arcana) to Knowledge(psionics)".
- Change "Spellcraft" to "Psicraft".
Change Class Features as follows:
Daggermanifest(Ex): Daggerspell psions seamlessly blend the use of their two daggers with powerful manifesting abilities. While wielding two daggers, a daggerspell psion can manifest full-round powers as standard actions, standard action powers as move-equivalent powers, and swift action powers as free action powers. Manifesting a power in this way still provokes attacks of opportunity. In addition, a daggerspell psion can deliver a touch spell with a dagger attack (either a melee touch attack or a normal melee attack, but not with a thrown dagger.)
Invocation of the Knife(Su): Beginning at 2nd level, the daggerspell psion develops a strong psychic connection between their psionic manifesting abilities and the daggers they wield. Whenever a daggerspell psion manifests a psionic power that deals energy damage, he can turn half of the damage dealt by the power into slashing damage rather than energy damage. Energy damage does not apply to this damage, but damage resistance might. This power does not affect a creature's ability to resist the power with a saving throw or power resistance.
Using this power does not require an action; its use is part of the action required to cast the spell. Only spells with a duration of Instantaneous can be modified by this ability.
Power Points per Day/Powers Known: Beginning at 2nd level, a daggerspell psion gains new power points per day, manifest level, and powers known as if he had also gained a level in a psionic manifesting class to which he previously belonged before adding the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he had more than one psionic manifesting class before becoming a daggerspell psion, he must choose to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining ML, powers per day, and powers known.
Sneak Attack(Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, a daggerspell psion deals an extra 1d6 damage when flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied their DEX bonus.This extra damage applies to ranged attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. It increases to 2d6 at 6th level and to 3d6 at 9th level. See rogue class feature in the Player's Handbook. If a daggerspell psion gets a sneak attack bonus from another source(such as rogue), the bonuses on damage stack.
Bonus Augments: At 4th level, a daggerspell psion gains augments to powers if he already has them. For the power "Call Weaponry", a daggerspell psion receives the Augment: "Augment: Pay 3 extra PP to call a dagger as a free action."
For "Metaphysical Weapon", or any other power which enhances a weapon by adding extra or bonus damage or for "Blackstone Hammer" or other powers which add additional effects to a weapon, a daggerspell psion receives the Augment: "Augment: Pay 2 extra PP to manifest this power on a dagger you hold as a move-equivalent action, or pay 4 extra PP to manifest this power on a dagger you hold as a swift action."
Double Daggermanifest(Ex): As a daggerspell psion advances in level, the connection between his manifesting and his two-dagger fighting style strengthens. At 5th level and higher, a psion can hold the charge for one touch power for each dagger that he is holding in his hands. He must designate which dagger holds each power at the time the power is manifested. If one of these daggers leaves the daggerspell psion's hands, the power immediately discharges (unless the dagger is thrown by a daggerspell psion with the psionic throw ability; see below).
Psionic Erosion(Su): At 7th level and higher, a daggerspell psion can infuse psionic manifesting power into his daggers, temporarily enabling them to deliver ability damage. To use this ability, a psion must expend power points as if manifesting a power of the desired level. For instance, 1PP = 1st level, 3PP = 2nd level, 5PP = 3rd level, etc. The daggerspell psion chooses one dagger and an ability type(STR,DEX,CON,WIS,INT, or CHA) when this ability is activiated. The chosen dagger deals an extra 1 point of ability damage of the chosen type. This effects lasts for a number of rounds equal to the level of the "power level" purchased via power points. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack, even if different ability types are chosen. Instead, the new chosen energy type becomes effective for the number of rounds equal to the new "power level". If the dagger is thrown, the ability damage applies to the attack, but then the effect immediately dissipates.
Using this ability is a Swift action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
Psionic Throw(Ex): At 8th level and higher, a daggerspell psion can imbue psychic energy into his thrown daggers. The psion can deliver a touch power with a thrown dagger just as if he were making a melee attack. If the dagger hits the target, the touch power is discharged against the creature or object struck. If the dagger missed the target, the dagger returns to the psion just before his next turn (as if it had the returning special ability; see DMG) and retains the power just as if it had missed with a melee attack.
Daggerspell flurry(Ex): A 10th-level daggerspell psion can blend manifesting with a flurry of dager attacks. When using this ability, the psion can quicken one power as part of a full attack with his daggers. Doing this has no effect on the power's effective level, nor does it expend psionic focus. A daggerspell psion must make at least one melee attack in any round he uses this ability, and he cannot make an attack with anything other than a dagger(although if a power manifested in conjunction with this ability requires an attack roll, he can still make the power's attack).
A daggerspell psion can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Dexterity bonus (minimum 1).
L1 d4/2SP/0/2/0/2/5-10 Prc:Mindbender: CAr054: -/-/Telepathy/+1 level of existing manifester class
Req's: nongood. Bluff:4r, Diplomacy:4r, Intimidate:4r, Sense Motive:4r. manifest one telepathy power of 3rd level or higher
Notes: good one level dip.
MM:
L1 d8/4SP/0/0/0/0/10-10 PrC: Psionic Chameleon: RoD116: -/-/Aptitude focus 1/day (+2)
Req's: Race: Human, Shifter, or Doppelganger. Bluff-8r, Disguise-8r, Sense Motive-4r, Spellcraft 4r. Feat: Able Learner
Notes: 3 level dip, write Psionic focus similar to Erudite.
9
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Appendix II - Action Economy of Psionic Focus
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:58:47 PM »
Appendix II - Action Economy of Psionic focus
Economy of Psionic focus
Normally, a psionic character has to spend one round and pass a DC20 check to become psionically focused. This is a huge deal. This makes most of the granted abilities from ardent mantles and from psionic feats one per encounter unless the psionic character can re-focus. It also limits the psion to using ONE of several options until he refocuses. For most Ardent builds, refocusing is a vulnerable time to be avoided. For PLEASEHITME builds, this is one technique to encourage foes to attack the Ardent.
Example Action Economies
Psionic mantles or feats that do not rely on psionic focus(6+4):
Gain psionic focus(6):
Be psionically focused to(8+13):
Expend psionic focus(1+13+31+20):
Economy of Psionic focus
Normally, a psionic character has to spend one round and pass a DC20 check to become psionically focused. This is a huge deal. This makes most of the granted abilities from ardent mantles and from psionic feats one per encounter unless the psionic character can re-focus. It also limits the psion to using ONE of several options until he refocuses. For most Ardent builds, refocusing is a vulnerable time to be avoided. For PLEASEHITME builds, this is one technique to encourage foes to attack the Ardent.
Example Action Economies
(click to show/hide)
Normal action economy:
1. focus before fight
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:expend focus to return damage to an opponent equal to half the damage it deals you, apply a metapsionic feat, gain 50% miss chance, etc
5. round3:spend a FULL ROUND to focus again... look like a tempting target so bad guys attack you
6. back to step 3
Quicken/Psychic Meditation action economy
1. focus before fight
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:(free)power,(move)gain focus
5. (repeat)
Psicrystal/Psychic Meditation action economy:
1. focus & focus psicrystal
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:expend focus to apply Linked Power(Hustle) when manifesting power
5. round3:(move)gain psionic focus,(move),(standard)power
Instant Clarity and Psychic Meditation economy(swordsage multiclass build):
1. focus before fight
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:(standard)execute manuever,(swift)expend focus to recover manuever
5. round3:(standard)power or attack,(swift)gain psionic focus
6. round4:(standard)execute manuever,(swift)expend focus to recover manuever
7. round5:(standard)power or attack,(swift)gain psionic focus
8. round6:(standard)execute manuever,(swift)expend focus to recover manuever(last one for the day)
9. round7:(standard)power or attack,(swift)gain psionic focus
10. round8:
1. focus before fight
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:expend focus to return damage to an opponent equal to half the damage it deals you, apply a metapsionic feat, gain 50% miss chance, etc
5. round3:spend a FULL ROUND to focus again... look like a tempting target so bad guys attack you
6. back to step 3
Quicken/Psychic Meditation action economy
1. focus before fight
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:(free)power,(move)gain focus
5. (repeat)
Psicrystal/Psychic Meditation action economy:
1. focus & focus psicrystal
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:expend focus to apply Linked Power(Hustle) when manifesting power
5. round3:(move)gain psionic focus,(move),(standard)power
Instant Clarity and Psychic Meditation economy(swordsage multiclass build):
1. focus before fight
2. round1:fight starts
3. round1:while psionically focused do crazy things like run on walls and/or ceiling, gain 10-foot bonus to speed,pay one less PP to manifest while standing on stone, etc
4. round2:(standard)execute manuever,(swift)expend focus to recover manuever
5. round3:(standard)power or attack,(swift)gain psionic focus
6. round4:(standard)execute manuever,(swift)expend focus to recover manuever
7. round5:(standard)power or attack,(swift)gain psionic focus
8. round6:(standard)execute manuever,(swift)expend focus to recover manuever(last one for the day)
9. round7:(standard)power or attack,(swift)gain psionic focus
10. round8:
Psionic mantles or feats that do not rely on psionic focus(6+4):
(click to show/hide)
ACF:Dominant Ideal(M'sE) Purple: For one mantle, lets you cast powers from that mantle with metapsionics without expending psionic focus!!!
Without this ACF, to cast a power with two metapsionics, an ardent has to expend his own focus and his psycrystal's
MANTLE:CONFLICT Weapon Focus feat as a bonus feat with a weapon of your choice... pick "ray" or "something"spear
MANTLE:CREATION Ectopic Form feat (CPsi50)as a bonus feat and learn the form of your choice. You must meet all the feat's prerequisites
for the form of your choice.
MANTLE:LIGHT AND DARKNESS When you gain this mantle, choose whether you gain low-light vision or darkvision out to 60feet. If you already have both,
you can double the range of your low-light vision or add 30 feet to the range of your darkvision.
MANTLE:MAGIC Gain Use Magic Device as a class skill. If you purchased ranks in UMD or Use Psionic Device at the cross-class rate,
you get additional ranks in UMD or UPD as if it had always been a class skill for you. In addition, you always treat
magic and psionics as identical. Thus, powers such as dispel psionics work for both magic and psionics.
This mantle is most useful in campaigns where magic and psionics are considered different systems.
MANTLE:MENTAL POWER To determine bonus PP for the class that gives you this mantle, treat your WIS score as 2 points higher than its actual value
MANTLE:NATURAL WORLD Gain the wild empathy class feature(PHB35), except the result is determined by 1d20 + ML + your CHA modifier.
Duerran Metaform Training Grey Dwarf You can expend 5 PP to activate your enlarge person spell-like ability. Though the triggering energy is psionic (and thus can’t be
initiated where psionics is unavailable) , all other effects work like standard spell-like abilities.
Duerran Stealth Training Gray dwarf You can expend 5 PP to activate your invisibility spell-like ability. Though the triggering energy is psionic (and thus can’t be
initiated where psionics is unavailable), all other effects work like standard spell-like abilities.
Kalashtar Mindlink [RACIAL] Kalashtar,mindlink psi-like ability.
You can use mindlink psi-like ability granted by your kalashtar heritage 3x/day. ML for your mindlink ability = your CL
Mind Mask(SoS) - Effects that detect alignment reveal that you are neutral, and detect magic/psionics reveal you to be nonmagical/nonpsionic,
regardless of your true nature. +1 bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting spells, powers, and abilities.
Screams "take me with Deception Mantle"
Psycarnum Crystal CON13,Psicrystal Affinity,
essentia pool. As long as your psicrystal is within arm’s reach, you gain 1 bonus point of essentia.
Quori Dread Chosen/Kalashtar/Inspired As a move action, demoralize opponent for —1 morale penalty on attack rolls and damage rolls when targeted opponent attacks you.
Without this ACF, to cast a power with two metapsionics, an ardent has to expend his own focus and his psycrystal's
MANTLE:CONFLICT Weapon Focus feat as a bonus feat with a weapon of your choice... pick "ray" or "something"spear
MANTLE:CREATION Ectopic Form feat (CPsi50)as a bonus feat and learn the form of your choice. You must meet all the feat's prerequisites
for the form of your choice.
MANTLE:LIGHT AND DARKNESS When you gain this mantle, choose whether you gain low-light vision or darkvision out to 60feet. If you already have both,
you can double the range of your low-light vision or add 30 feet to the range of your darkvision.
MANTLE:MAGIC Gain Use Magic Device as a class skill. If you purchased ranks in UMD or Use Psionic Device at the cross-class rate,
you get additional ranks in UMD or UPD as if it had always been a class skill for you. In addition, you always treat
magic and psionics as identical. Thus, powers such as dispel psionics work for both magic and psionics.
This mantle is most useful in campaigns where magic and psionics are considered different systems.
MANTLE:MENTAL POWER To determine bonus PP for the class that gives you this mantle, treat your WIS score as 2 points higher than its actual value
MANTLE:NATURAL WORLD Gain the wild empathy class feature(PHB35), except the result is determined by 1d20 + ML + your CHA modifier.
Duerran Metaform Training Grey Dwarf You can expend 5 PP to activate your enlarge person spell-like ability. Though the triggering energy is psionic (and thus can’t be
initiated where psionics is unavailable) , all other effects work like standard spell-like abilities.
Duerran Stealth Training Gray dwarf You can expend 5 PP to activate your invisibility spell-like ability. Though the triggering energy is psionic (and thus can’t be
initiated where psionics is unavailable), all other effects work like standard spell-like abilities.
Kalashtar Mindlink [RACIAL] Kalashtar,mindlink psi-like ability.
You can use mindlink psi-like ability granted by your kalashtar heritage 3x/day. ML for your mindlink ability = your CL
Mind Mask(SoS) - Effects that detect alignment reveal that you are neutral, and detect magic/psionics reveal you to be nonmagical/nonpsionic,
regardless of your true nature. +1 bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting spells, powers, and abilities.
Screams "take me with Deception Mantle"
Psycarnum Crystal CON13,Psicrystal Affinity,
essentia pool. As long as your psicrystal is within arm’s reach, you gain 1 bonus point of essentia.
Quori Dread Chosen/Kalashtar/Inspired As a move action, demoralize opponent for —1 morale penalty on attack rolls and damage rolls when targeted opponent attacks you.
Gain psionic focus(6):
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Concentration skill - Green:DC20 full round action, to get psionically focused
Instant Clarity(ToB) Concentration:7r As a swift action, become psionically focused after successfully initiating a martial strike. 3/day
Instant Clarity can be used in place of the Psionic Meditation feat to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other special ability.
You can take both this feat and Psionic Meditation.
Narrow Mind Wis13 +4 bonus on Concentration checks to become psionically focused
Ascetic Psion Imp.UnarmedStrike,ML1st You can become psionically focused as a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity
Powergrace(M'sE) able to manifest a power +1 bonus on all saves against psionic powers and psi-like abilities
Psicrystal Containment ML3rd Purple:Your psicrystal can hold a psionic focus
Psionic Meditation Wis13, Concentration:7r Purple:Become psionically focused as a move action
Instant Clarity(ToB) Concentration:7r As a swift action, become psionically focused after successfully initiating a martial strike. 3/day
Instant Clarity can be used in place of the Psionic Meditation feat to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other special ability.
You can take both this feat and Psionic Meditation.
Narrow Mind Wis13 +4 bonus on Concentration checks to become psionically focused
Ascetic Psion Imp.UnarmedStrike,ML1st You can become psionically focused as a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity
Powergrace(M'sE) able to manifest a power +1 bonus on all saves against psionic powers and psi-like abilities
Psicrystal Containment ML3rd Purple:Your psicrystal can hold a psionic focus
Psionic Meditation Wis13, Concentration:7r Purple:Become psionically focused as a move action
Be psionically focused to(8+13):
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MANTLE:COMMUNICATIONS ...gain +2 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks
Focused or not, when making a rushed Diplomacy check as a full-round action, take only –5 penalty on the check.
MANTLE:CORRUPTION AND MADNESS When psionicallly focused, cannot be confused
MANTLE:DESTRUCTION ...gain benefits of Improved Sunder feat.
Expend psionic focus as part of a sunder attempt, to treat the hardness of the object you are sundering as 4 less.
MANTLE:ELEMENTS ...gain one of four benefits, which you pick when gaining focus
MANTLE:FORCE ...gain +1 deflection bonus to your Armor Class.
MANTLE:FREEDOM Blue:...gain +10-foot bonus to your speed.
You can expend your focus to add your ML to a roll made to resist being grappled or to escape from a grapple.
MANTLE:KNOWLEDGE ...make Knowledge checks as if trained. You can expend your psionic focus to gain a +5 bonus on one Knowledge check.
MANTLE:REPOSE Blue:...gain +2 bonus on Concentration checks.
You can expend your focus as a free action for a +5 bonus on a single Concentration check.
Deep Vision(CPsi) Darkvision ...increase natural darkvision by 30 feet
Deflective Armor Heavy Armor Optimization Blue:...protects against touch attacks while focused - rays,harm,various save or lose? yes, please
Earth Power Earth Sense Blue:...Pay 1 less PP to manifest power while you stand on stone or earth - save PP? yes, please
Focused Body(M'sE) - ...gain a +2 bonus on Balance, Climb and Tumble checks
Focused Shield Shield Proficiency ...+1 to shield bonus
Ghost Attack BAB+3 ...ignore incorporeal miss chance on critical hit
Improved Speak Without Sound
Ghostwise Halfling ...increase telepathy range to 100 feet for the at-will supernatural ability Speak Without Sound.
Psionic Dodge Dex13, Dodge Red:...gain +1 dodge bonus to AC which stacks with dodge bonus -
Dodge itself is red. Why take a dodge variant that requires psionic focus?
Focused Shield(CPsi) Shield Proficiency Red:...increase shield bonus provided by shield by 1
Focused Skill User(CPsi) Blue:...gain +2 competence bonus with 3 skills chosen when you take the feat
Hint: Pick Concentration
Mental Juggernaut(CPsi) When not psionically focused, +1 save against effects that would otherwise daze or stun you
Be psionically focused to gain +2 save against effects that would otherwise daze or stun you
Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to ignore consequences of a failed save against any power,
psi-like ability, or other psionic or magical effect that would otherwise daze or stun you.
Psymbiot(CPsi) Kno(psionics):8r,ML3rd Be psionically focused w/1+ psionic characters/creatures with ML3rd+ stands w/in 10ft of you,
gain +2 bonus on ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws.
Speed of Thought Wis13 Red:...gain +10 feet to speed in light or medium armor
FREEDOM mantle does this better by permitting heavy armor. Why not use the Tap Mantle feat to get that instead or better still
just take the FREEDOM mantle?
Stygian Archon 2 powers that use negative powers
...add 1ML when manifesting a power that utilizes, disrupts, or detects negative energy
Up the Walls Wis13 ...run on walls and ceilings
Focused or not, when making a rushed Diplomacy check as a full-round action, take only –5 penalty on the check.
MANTLE:CORRUPTION AND MADNESS When psionicallly focused, cannot be confused
MANTLE:DESTRUCTION ...gain benefits of Improved Sunder feat.
Expend psionic focus as part of a sunder attempt, to treat the hardness of the object you are sundering as 4 less.
MANTLE:ELEMENTS ...gain one of four benefits, which you pick when gaining focus
MANTLE:FORCE ...gain +1 deflection bonus to your Armor Class.
MANTLE:FREEDOM Blue:...gain +10-foot bonus to your speed.
You can expend your focus to add your ML to a roll made to resist being grappled or to escape from a grapple.
MANTLE:KNOWLEDGE ...make Knowledge checks as if trained. You can expend your psionic focus to gain a +5 bonus on one Knowledge check.
MANTLE:REPOSE Blue:...gain +2 bonus on Concentration checks.
You can expend your focus as a free action for a +5 bonus on a single Concentration check.
Deep Vision(CPsi) Darkvision ...increase natural darkvision by 30 feet
Deflective Armor Heavy Armor Optimization Blue:...protects against touch attacks while focused - rays,harm,various save or lose? yes, please
Earth Power Earth Sense Blue:...Pay 1 less PP to manifest power while you stand on stone or earth - save PP? yes, please
Focused Body(M'sE) - ...gain a +2 bonus on Balance, Climb and Tumble checks
Focused Shield Shield Proficiency ...+1 to shield bonus
Ghost Attack BAB+3 ...ignore incorporeal miss chance on critical hit
Improved Speak Without Sound
Ghostwise Halfling ...increase telepathy range to 100 feet for the at-will supernatural ability Speak Without Sound.
Psionic Dodge Dex13, Dodge Red:...gain +1 dodge bonus to AC which stacks with dodge bonus -
Dodge itself is red. Why take a dodge variant that requires psionic focus?
Focused Shield(CPsi) Shield Proficiency Red:...increase shield bonus provided by shield by 1
Focused Skill User(CPsi) Blue:...gain +2 competence bonus with 3 skills chosen when you take the feat
Hint: Pick Concentration
Mental Juggernaut(CPsi) When not psionically focused, +1 save against effects that would otherwise daze or stun you
Be psionically focused to gain +2 save against effects that would otherwise daze or stun you
Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to ignore consequences of a failed save against any power,
psi-like ability, or other psionic or magical effect that would otherwise daze or stun you.
Psymbiot(CPsi) Kno(psionics):8r,ML3rd Be psionically focused w/1+ psionic characters/creatures with ML3rd+ stands w/in 10ft of you,
gain +2 bonus on ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws.
Speed of Thought Wis13 Red:...gain +10 feet to speed in light or medium armor
FREEDOM mantle does this better by permitting heavy armor. Why not use the Tap Mantle feat to get that instead or better still
just take the FREEDOM mantle?
Stygian Archon 2 powers that use negative powers
...add 1ML when manifesting a power that utilizes, disrupts, or detects negative energy
Up the Walls Wis13 ...run on walls and ceilings
Expend psionic focus(1+13+31+20):
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take 15 on Concentration check um? look at all the other things you can do instead. only do this if door #2 is a teammate dies
MANTLE:CHAOS Expend psionic focus for +1d6 points of chaotic damage with a melee or rangedattack or a spell that deals damage.
MANTLE:CONSUMPTION Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to gain 5 temporary hp when someone in 10 feet is wounded.
These temporary hit points lastfor up to 1 minute.
MANTLE:DEATH Expend psionic focus to kill a dying creature, as the death knell spell (PH 217).
MANTLE:DECEPTION Expend psionic focus to displace yourself until your next action. While displaced,
any attacks that target you have a 50% chance to miss you entirely.
MANTLE:ENERGY Expend psionic focus for ER5 vs one energy type for number of rounds equal to 3 + your Wis modifier.
At 10th level, you gain ER10 instead.
MANTLE:EVIL Expend psionic focus for +1d6 points of evil damage with a melee or rangedattack or a spell that deals damage.
MANTLE:FATE Expend psionic focus 1/day to add a bonus on one d20 roll equal to level in the class that allowed you to access this ability.
MANTLE:EVIL Expend psionic focus for +1d6 points of lawful damage with a melee or rangedattack or a spell that deals damage.
MANTLE:LIFE Expend psionic focus as swift action as you manifest a power from this mantle, to raise your effective ML by 1
(increasing the number of PP you can spend on manifesting the power, among other benefits).
MANTLE:PAIN&SUFFERING Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to share the pain of the next melee attack that deals damage to you.
The attacker takes damage equal to half the damage it deals you.
MANTLE:PHYSICAL POWER Expend psionic focus as a free action to gain +2 bonus to Str, Dex, or Con for 1 round.
MANTLE:THE PLANES Expend psionic focus to gain +4 bonus on ML checks made to overcome an outsider's power resistance.
Stacks with Power Penetration or Greater Power Penetration
MANTLE:TIME Expend psionic focus 1/day to delay the onset of one damaging attack or effect for 1 round.
Aligned Attack BAB+6 Expend psionic focus for +1d6 & alignment to attack
Focused Perception(CPsi)
Blindfighting Expend psionic focus to gain blindsense 60' for 1 round
Focused Sunder Str13,Power Attack,Improved Sunder Expend psionic focus to ignore 1/2 hardness of foe’s weapon
Gestalt Might [HOST] As a swift action, you can expend your psionic focus to gain a +2 insight bonus to STR and DEX for 1 round.
Inquisitor Wis13 Expend psionic focus for +10 bonus on Sense Motive checks to oppose Bluff
Insidious Terror Quori Dread When you use a mind-affecting psionic power against a target demoralized by your Quori Dread, you can expend psionic focus
to increase DC of the Will save by 1. If the power is a fear effect, the DC is increased by 3.
Instinctive Consummator(CPsi)
Str13,Power Attack, Cleave Expend psionic focus to confirm critical
Invest Armor - Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to increase armor bonus of the armor that you're wearing by 3.
Energize Armor - Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to invest Armor with ER10 against next energy attack
Mental Leap Str13,Jump:5r Expend psionic focus for +10 bonus on Jump checks
Midnight Augmentation [INCARNUM]
Con13, able to manifest 2nd-level psionic powers
1/day, you can invest essentia into this feat and choose a particular psionic power that you know. If you expend your psionic focus when manifesting that power, the power point cost to augment that power is reduced by a value equal to the invested essentia. This can’t reduce the augmentation cost to less than 1. You can’t invest more essentia in this feat than the chosen power’s level, even if the maximum essentia capacity of this feat would nor mal ly be higher than that value. Once the amount of essentia invested is chosen, it cannot be altered and remains invested for 24 hours. You gain 1 point of essentia.
Power Penetration Expend psionic focus for +4 bonus on ML checks to overcome a creature’s power resistance
Greater Power Penetration Expend psionic focus for +4 bonus on ML checks to overcome a creature’s power resistance
Stacks with Power Penetration
Power Specialization ML4th,Weapon Focus (ray) +2 bonus damage to ray or ranged touch attack damaging powers or
Expend psionic focus to add your key ability bonus modifier instead
Psionic Charge Wis 13 Expend psionic focus to make one turn of up to 90 degrees during your movement.
Other restrictions on charges still apply
Psionic Endowment Expend psionic focus for +1 to save DC of a power you manifest
Greater Psionic Endowment When using Psionic Endowment, add +2 to save DC instead of +1
Psionic Feint(M'sE) Improved Feint Expend psionic focus to feint as a swift action
Psionic Fist Str13 Expend psionic focus to add +2d6 for natural weapon or unarmed strike
Greater Psionic Fist BAB+5 +4d6 instead of +2d6 when using Psionic Fist
Unavoidable Strike BAB+5 Expend psionic focus to resolve unarmed or natural weapon attack as touch attack
Psionic Shot Point Blank Shot Expend psionic focus for +2d6 damage on ranged attack
Greater Psionic Shot BAB+5 When using Psionic shot +4d6 damage instead of +2d6 damage
Fell Shot Dex13 Expend psionic focus to resolve ranged attack as touch attack
Return Shot BAB+3 Expend psionic focus to deflect thrown or projectile ranged attacks back at attacker
Psionic Tumble - Expend psionic focus to ignore the Tumble DC modifiers for difficult surfaces and accelerated tumbling
Psionic Weapon Str13 Expend psionic focus for +2d6 melee weapon damage
Greater Psionic Weapon BAB+5 +4d6 damage instead of +3d6 when using Psionic Weapon feat
Deep Impact BAB+5 Expend psionic focus to Resolve melee weapon attack as touch attack
Psycarnym Infusion CON13,Concentration:4r ...Until start of your next turn, one of your soul-melds, incarnum feats, class features, or other incarnum receptacles
is treated as if it had essentia invested in it equal to its maximum essentia capacity.
Psychic Renewal(ToB) - As a swift action, expend your psionic focus spending PP equal to the maneuver’s level to recover a expended maneuver
Skin of the Construct Expend psionic focus to fuse the essence of an astral construct that you have personally manifested with your own body.
Talented Overchannel Expend psionic focus to not take damage from overchanneling when manifesting a power of 3rd level or lower
Metapsionic feats: To use a metapsionic feat, expend psionic focus and pay an increased PP cost per the feat description.
Burrowing Power1 — Bypass barrier with power
Chain Power1 — Choose additional targets with power
Delay Power1 — Delay effect of power up to 5 rounds
Empower Power1 — Increase power’s variable, number effects by 50%
Enlarge Power1 — Double power’s range
Reach Power(M'sE) Enlarge Power You can manifest a power that normally has a range of "touch" at any distance up to 25 feet.
The power effectively becomes a ray, so you must succeed at a ranged touch attack to bestow the power upon a recipient.
A reach power costs a number of power points equal to its standard cost +2.
Extend Power1 — Double power’s duration
Knockdown Power — Power knocks targets prone
Linked Power — Manifest a power; linked power goes off next round
Maximize Power1 — Maximize power’s variable, numeric effects
Metapower any other metapsionic feat Permanently improve a psionic power
Opportunity Power1 — Make attacks of opportunity with touch powers
Paraelemental Power Privileged Energy Gain paraelemental choices when manifesting yourchosen energy power
Phrenic Leech — Drains 1d6 power points from foe; gives 1 to you
Quicken Power1 — Manifest powers as free action
Sculpt Power(M'sE) - You can modify an area power by changing the area's shape. The new area must be chosen from the following list:
- cylinder (10-foot radius, 30 feet high),
- 40-foot cone,
- four 10-foot cubes,
- or a ball (20-foot-radius spread). The sculpted power works normally in all respects except for its shape.
A sculpted power costs a number of power points equal to its standard cost +2.
Split Psionic Ray1 Any metapsionic feat Split one ray attack into two
Stygian Power Know two negative energy powers,Stygian Archon*
Foes are shaken when you manifest Stygian powers
Transdimensional Power — Manifest powers that affect targets in coexistentplanes and extradimensional space
Twin Power1 — Manifest power twice
Unconditional Power1 — Manifest power despite character condition
Widen Power1 — Double power's area
MANTLE:CHAOS Expend psionic focus for +1d6 points of chaotic damage with a melee or rangedattack or a spell that deals damage.
MANTLE:CONSUMPTION Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to gain 5 temporary hp when someone in 10 feet is wounded.
These temporary hit points lastfor up to 1 minute.
MANTLE:DEATH Expend psionic focus to kill a dying creature, as the death knell spell (PH 217).
MANTLE:DECEPTION Expend psionic focus to displace yourself until your next action. While displaced,
any attacks that target you have a 50% chance to miss you entirely.
MANTLE:ENERGY Expend psionic focus for ER5 vs one energy type for number of rounds equal to 3 + your Wis modifier.
At 10th level, you gain ER10 instead.
MANTLE:EVIL Expend psionic focus for +1d6 points of evil damage with a melee or rangedattack or a spell that deals damage.
MANTLE:FATE Expend psionic focus 1/day to add a bonus on one d20 roll equal to level in the class that allowed you to access this ability.
MANTLE:EVIL Expend psionic focus for +1d6 points of lawful damage with a melee or rangedattack or a spell that deals damage.
MANTLE:LIFE Expend psionic focus as swift action as you manifest a power from this mantle, to raise your effective ML by 1
(increasing the number of PP you can spend on manifesting the power, among other benefits).
MANTLE:PAIN&SUFFERING Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to share the pain of the next melee attack that deals damage to you.
The attacker takes damage equal to half the damage it deals you.
MANTLE:PHYSICAL POWER Expend psionic focus as a free action to gain +2 bonus to Str, Dex, or Con for 1 round.
MANTLE:THE PLANES Expend psionic focus to gain +4 bonus on ML checks made to overcome an outsider's power resistance.
Stacks with Power Penetration or Greater Power Penetration
MANTLE:TIME Expend psionic focus 1/day to delay the onset of one damaging attack or effect for 1 round.
Aligned Attack BAB+6 Expend psionic focus for +1d6 & alignment to attack
Focused Perception(CPsi)
Blindfighting Expend psionic focus to gain blindsense 60' for 1 round
Focused Sunder Str13,Power Attack,Improved Sunder Expend psionic focus to ignore 1/2 hardness of foe’s weapon
Gestalt Might [HOST] As a swift action, you can expend your psionic focus to gain a +2 insight bonus to STR and DEX for 1 round.
Inquisitor Wis13 Expend psionic focus for +10 bonus on Sense Motive checks to oppose Bluff
Insidious Terror Quori Dread When you use a mind-affecting psionic power against a target demoralized by your Quori Dread, you can expend psionic focus
to increase DC of the Will save by 1. If the power is a fear effect, the DC is increased by 3.
Instinctive Consummator(CPsi)
Str13,Power Attack, Cleave Expend psionic focus to confirm critical
Invest Armor - Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to increase armor bonus of the armor that you're wearing by 3.
Energize Armor - Expend psionic focus as an immediate action to invest Armor with ER10 against next energy attack
Mental Leap Str13,Jump:5r Expend psionic focus for +10 bonus on Jump checks
Midnight Augmentation [INCARNUM]
Con13, able to manifest 2nd-level psionic powers
1/day, you can invest essentia into this feat and choose a particular psionic power that you know. If you expend your psionic focus when manifesting that power, the power point cost to augment that power is reduced by a value equal to the invested essentia. This can’t reduce the augmentation cost to less than 1. You can’t invest more essentia in this feat than the chosen power’s level, even if the maximum essentia capacity of this feat would nor mal ly be higher than that value. Once the amount of essentia invested is chosen, it cannot be altered and remains invested for 24 hours. You gain 1 point of essentia.
Power Penetration Expend psionic focus for +4 bonus on ML checks to overcome a creature’s power resistance
Greater Power Penetration Expend psionic focus for +4 bonus on ML checks to overcome a creature’s power resistance
Stacks with Power Penetration
Power Specialization ML4th,Weapon Focus (ray) +2 bonus damage to ray or ranged touch attack damaging powers or
Expend psionic focus to add your key ability bonus modifier instead
Psionic Charge Wis 13 Expend psionic focus to make one turn of up to 90 degrees during your movement.
Other restrictions on charges still apply
Psionic Endowment Expend psionic focus for +1 to save DC of a power you manifest
Greater Psionic Endowment When using Psionic Endowment, add +2 to save DC instead of +1
Psionic Feint(M'sE) Improved Feint Expend psionic focus to feint as a swift action
Psionic Fist Str13 Expend psionic focus to add +2d6 for natural weapon or unarmed strike
Greater Psionic Fist BAB+5 +4d6 instead of +2d6 when using Psionic Fist
Unavoidable Strike BAB+5 Expend psionic focus to resolve unarmed or natural weapon attack as touch attack
Psionic Shot Point Blank Shot Expend psionic focus for +2d6 damage on ranged attack
Greater Psionic Shot BAB+5 When using Psionic shot +4d6 damage instead of +2d6 damage
Fell Shot Dex13 Expend psionic focus to resolve ranged attack as touch attack
Return Shot BAB+3 Expend psionic focus to deflect thrown or projectile ranged attacks back at attacker
Psionic Tumble - Expend psionic focus to ignore the Tumble DC modifiers for difficult surfaces and accelerated tumbling
Psionic Weapon Str13 Expend psionic focus for +2d6 melee weapon damage
Greater Psionic Weapon BAB+5 +4d6 damage instead of +3d6 when using Psionic Weapon feat
Deep Impact BAB+5 Expend psionic focus to Resolve melee weapon attack as touch attack
Psycarnym Infusion CON13,Concentration:4r ...Until start of your next turn, one of your soul-melds, incarnum feats, class features, or other incarnum receptacles
is treated as if it had essentia invested in it equal to its maximum essentia capacity.
Psychic Renewal(ToB) - As a swift action, expend your psionic focus spending PP equal to the maneuver’s level to recover a expended maneuver
Skin of the Construct Expend psionic focus to fuse the essence of an astral construct that you have personally manifested with your own body.
Talented Overchannel Expend psionic focus to not take damage from overchanneling when manifesting a power of 3rd level or lower
Metapsionic feats: To use a metapsionic feat, expend psionic focus and pay an increased PP cost per the feat description.
Burrowing Power1 — Bypass barrier with power
Chain Power1 — Choose additional targets with power
Delay Power1 — Delay effect of power up to 5 rounds
Empower Power1 — Increase power’s variable, number effects by 50%
Enlarge Power1 — Double power’s range
Reach Power(M'sE) Enlarge Power You can manifest a power that normally has a range of "touch" at any distance up to 25 feet.
The power effectively becomes a ray, so you must succeed at a ranged touch attack to bestow the power upon a recipient.
A reach power costs a number of power points equal to its standard cost +2.
Extend Power1 — Double power’s duration
Knockdown Power — Power knocks targets prone
Linked Power — Manifest a power; linked power goes off next round
Maximize Power1 — Maximize power’s variable, numeric effects
Metapower any other metapsionic feat Permanently improve a psionic power
Opportunity Power1 — Make attacks of opportunity with touch powers
Paraelemental Power Privileged Energy Gain paraelemental choices when manifesting yourchosen energy power
Phrenic Leech — Drains 1d6 power points from foe; gives 1 to you
Quicken Power1 — Manifest powers as free action
Sculpt Power(M'sE) - You can modify an area power by changing the area's shape. The new area must be chosen from the following list:
- cylinder (10-foot radius, 30 feet high),
- 40-foot cone,
- four 10-foot cubes,
- or a ball (20-foot-radius spread). The sculpted power works normally in all respects except for its shape.
A sculpted power costs a number of power points equal to its standard cost +2.
Split Psionic Ray1 Any metapsionic feat Split one ray attack into two
Stygian Power Know two negative energy powers,Stygian Archon*
Foes are shaken when you manifest Stygian powers
Transdimensional Power — Manifest powers that affect targets in coexistentplanes and extradimensional space
Twin Power1 — Manifest power twice
Unconditional Power1 — Manifest power despite character condition
Widen Power1 — Double power's area
10
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Appendix I - Comparison of Powers/Spells Known
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:58:22 PM »
Appendix I - Comparison of Powers/Spells Known
Spells/Powers Known Highest level spell/power known
(L0 does not count)
CONTROVERSY! RAI vs RAW for Ardent Powers Known
Spells/Powers Known Highest level spell/power known
(L0 does not count)
| L1 | L3 | L6 | L9 | L12 | L15 | L18 | L20 | ... | L1 | L3 | L5 | L7 | L9 | L11 | L13 | L15 | L17 | L19 | L20 | ||
| Wizard/WuJen/Druid | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Cleric/Shaman + domains! | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | inf | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Warmage | 13 | 13 | 24 | 34 | 46 | 61 | 68 | 74 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Beguiler | 3 | 5 | 14 | 22 | 32 | 34 | 50 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Duskblade | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 44 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Psion | 3 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 33 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Sorceror | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 27 | 31 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | ||
| ---> | Ardent | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| PsyWar | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Lurk | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| PsyRogue | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||
| Warlock | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Wilder | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Note: Bard is not included because it does not get spellcasting at its first level.
CONTROVERSY! RAI vs RAW for Ardent Powers Known
(click to show/hide)
About Ardent Powers known:
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***(The RAI of the quoted text has been clarified by the designer as to what was meant when the rules were written and how they were play-tested at WotC. Namely, the Ardent selection of powers based on power point limit was intended to be interpreted as by Class level, not Manifester level. As this clarification came after publication and was also not included in the official Complete Psionic errata, your DM may not count it as official. Check with your DM as to which interpretation is being used.)***
bgatesvoodoodoll: If WoTC wanted to fix this, they could have published errata. To the best of my knowledge, that did not occur, so RAW.
(click to show/hide)
***(The RAI of the quoted text has been clarified by the designer as to what was meant when the rules were written and how they were play-tested at WotC. Namely, the Ardent selection of powers based on power point limit was intended to be interpreted as by Class level, not Manifester level. As this clarification came after publication and was also not included in the official Complete Psionic errata, your DM may not count it as official. Check with your DM as to which interpretation is being used.)***
bgatesvoodoodoll: If WoTC wanted to fix this, they could have published errata. To the best of my knowledge, that did not occur, so RAW.
11
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Other Equipment
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:57:58 PM »
OTHER GEAR
-- Psionic Items
Torc of Power PreservationXPH177,SRD - pay 1 less PP each time you manifest a power, minimum 1.
Stacked PsionitricesCPsi111 - wear up to 5 with one basic psionitrix as a single psionic item, filling the Necklace slot. Each one let you manifest a different power once a day
Torc of PassionAE104 - turn that 1-level Wilder dip into a 5-level Wilder dip for Wild Surge purposes. Also reduces Overchannel damage from d8 dice to d6 dice.
Crystal PoleAE094 - awesome zone defense! plant one in the ground for deceleration AoE to take effect. Various versions have different PLAs, such as Eradicate Invisibilty.
Wastelander's CloakAE088 - eliminates the Armor penalty to FORT saves versus Heat.
Amulet of Enemy DetectionMIC - Always-on Detect Hostile Intent.
Boots of SkatingXPH,SRD - Superior movement enhancer, especially if you did not take FREEDOM mantle
Gloves of Object ReadingXPH,SRD - Take this if you don’t otherwise have access to the power. Can ruin your DM’s best laid plains.
Pendant of JoyRoE - While you wear it, you can give yourself, and nearby allies, a bonus to Diplomacy checks. Slip it on, then position yourself to give your negotiating team an edge over the competition.
Psychoactive SkinsXPH,SRD,MIC - Skin of Proteus beats all the others. But, since you can wear three at a time, other good choices include: Skin of the Hero, Skin of the Psion, and Skin of the Troll.
Third EyesXPH,SRD,MIC The following ones are really worth taking: Conceal, Concentration, Expose, Penetrate, and Sense.
DorjesXPH,SRD - manifest powers on your power list which you didn't take as powers known. A dorje of Identify is particularly good.
Power Stones - one-time-use psionic item that lets you manifest powers that are not on your power list.
Racial Psionic Items
Warforged ComponentsMoE - Warforged only (obviously). For a psionic Warforged character the Expanded Reservoir, Power Crystal, and Psychic Generator components are particularly useful. Especially if the character has the Psyforged Body feat (see the entry in the Feats section, of this guide).
Quori Embedded ShardsMoE - Kalashtar only. If you're of that race, get as many as you can.
-- Magic Items
-- Miscellaneous Gear
Torc of Power PreservationXPH177,SRD - pay 1 less PP each time you manifest a power, minimum 1.
Stacked PsionitricesCPsi111 - wear up to 5 with one basic psionitrix as a single psionic item, filling the Necklace slot. Each one let you manifest a different power once a day
Torc of PassionAE104 - turn that 1-level Wilder dip into a 5-level Wilder dip for Wild Surge purposes. Also reduces Overchannel damage from d8 dice to d6 dice.
Crystal PoleAE094 - awesome zone defense! plant one in the ground for deceleration AoE to take effect. Various versions have different PLAs, such as Eradicate Invisibilty.
Wastelander's CloakAE088 - eliminates the Armor penalty to FORT saves versus Heat.
Amulet of Enemy DetectionMIC - Always-on Detect Hostile Intent.
Boots of SkatingXPH,SRD - Superior movement enhancer, especially if you did not take FREEDOM mantle
Gloves of Object ReadingXPH,SRD - Take this if you don’t otherwise have access to the power. Can ruin your DM’s best laid plains.
Pendant of JoyRoE - While you wear it, you can give yourself, and nearby allies, a bonus to Diplomacy checks. Slip it on, then position yourself to give your negotiating team an edge over the competition.
Psychoactive SkinsXPH,SRD,MIC - Skin of Proteus beats all the others. But, since you can wear three at a time, other good choices include: Skin of the Hero, Skin of the Psion, and Skin of the Troll.
Third EyesXPH,SRD,MIC The following ones are really worth taking: Conceal, Concentration, Expose, Penetrate, and Sense.
DorjesXPH,SRD - manifest powers on your power list which you didn't take as powers known. A dorje of Identify is particularly good.
Power Stones - one-time-use psionic item that lets you manifest powers that are not on your power list.
Racial Psionic Items
Warforged ComponentsMoE - Warforged only (obviously). For a psionic Warforged character the Expanded Reservoir, Power Crystal, and Psychic Generator components are particularly useful. Especially if the character has the Psyforged Body feat (see the entry in the Feats section, of this guide).
Quori Embedded ShardsMoE - Kalashtar only. If you're of that race, get as many as you can.
-- Magic Items
-- Miscellaneous Gear
12
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Armor and Weapons
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:55:05 PM »
ARMOR AND WEAPONS
Mundane aka L1 options
Materials aka masterwork+ or what to get enchanted
Psionic/Magic
Mundane aka L1 options
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Weapon proficiency: simple only. Not having martial weapons does somewhat reduce a gish ardent’s damage output. These weapon options are more versatile than many people think. The ones that will love you back the most are crossbows, longspear, spear, club, dagger, unarmed strike and spiked shields.
Crossbows - Crossbows are an Ardent's longest range weapon. They hit for 1d10, but take a round to reload. Their arc to target is flatter than an actual bow, which may make it possible to hit targets in low ceiling environments, such as in caves or indoors. Start with a light crossbow. Be sure to get a crossbow with a bayonet or spike on the end so you're considered armed in melee.
Sling - price is right, weight is right. Ammo is free, too.
Longspear - 5' reach weapon, most important WP for TANK builds. Longspear is a polearm, and qualifies for feats which refer to polearms. Swap ends... hit somebody for 1d8 blunt damage.
Spear - Second most important weapon for TANK builds. 3 pounds lighter than a longspear, and still versatile. Set for charge, use haft as a staff for blunt damage. No reach without using powers. Instead, it can be thrown with a 20' increment.
Club - Free in most campaigns with trees somewhere nearby. get one. 1d6 blunt damage. Throws with a 10' increment.
Dagger - A dagger is a basic utility piece that anybody wearing a tin can for a living will usually not be without. Throw a dagger with 10 foot range increment. Daggers do either piercing or slashing damage.
Claws - Your Ardent's race, a template, or a power with Claws in the name may give you claws. Claws usually provide slashing damage in proportion to size. Unlike an Unarmed Strike, claws cause your Ardent to be counted as armed in melee reducing the attacks of opportunity opponents can take.
Unarmed Strike - 1d3 nonlethal damage. You always have this weapon of last resort. Without Improved Unarmed Strike, the opponent will get an attack of opportunity.
Shields - you are proficient in all shields except tower shields. This includes spiked shields, for defense. Non-proficient for attacking with the spike. However, if you have a spiked one, you count as armed in melee.
Also included: light mace, heavy mace, dart, gauntlet, sickle, morningstar, punching dagger, and javelin
Crossbows - Crossbows are an Ardent's longest range weapon. They hit for 1d10, but take a round to reload. Their arc to target is flatter than an actual bow, which may make it possible to hit targets in low ceiling environments, such as in caves or indoors. Start with a light crossbow. Be sure to get a crossbow with a bayonet or spike on the end so you're considered armed in melee.
Sling - price is right, weight is right. Ammo is free, too.
Longspear - 5' reach weapon, most important WP for TANK builds. Longspear is a polearm, and qualifies for feats which refer to polearms. Swap ends... hit somebody for 1d8 blunt damage.
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Charge: set for charges, inflicting 2d6 to the opponent incoming on a charge, then get an AoO for another 1d6. With the Expansion power, going from Medium to Large, these numbers turn into 2d8 and 1d8.
Reach: With Expansion power, going from Medium to Large, reach when bare handed jumps to 10' and the spear length doubles, so 20'reach. If not set for charge, then threaten a large amount of territory. With a high DEX bonus and the Combat Reflexes feat, annoy multiple combatants by hitting them each for 1d8 while they're in threatened area, and doing dumb stuff that allows an attack of opportunity. At some point, the longspear makes me an obstacle that causes opponents to ignore my teammates and focus on trying to hit ME. TANK? yes, thank you.
Swap ends for blunt damage: Swapping ends turns the haft into a greatclub. Sure, you are not proficient, but are you going to complain about having a blunt wooden weapon when you find out you need one?
Utility: Cheap to replace. A longspear is 1/10th the price of a greatsword.
Utility: Poke things you don't want to touch or can't reach. If it melts when poked at suspicious switches and levers or dangerous piles that may contain icky things, no big deal. If it keeps me from melting, goal!
Utility: Signal2: attach different colored pieces of cloth to signal to a buddy with high Spot skill. Be sure to agree on signals beforehand, or the buddy will wonder why I'm waving around my spare kilt on the end of my spear. I tend to hold out for a circumstance bonus if I signal with Expansion on.
Utility: Balance check circumstance bonus.
Utility: Jump... If you try to pole vault with it, be sure that you have a leather cover on the stabby end.
Utility: Cut off the length and use for creating a fire. You lose your reach, but gain a diversion fire. If you need a fire for warmth, sac the entire wood haft to survive cold environment till morning.
Reach: With Expansion power, going from Medium to Large, reach when bare handed jumps to 10' and the spear length doubles, so 20'reach. If not set for charge, then threaten a large amount of territory. With a high DEX bonus and the Combat Reflexes feat, annoy multiple combatants by hitting them each for 1d8 while they're in threatened area, and doing dumb stuff that allows an attack of opportunity. At some point, the longspear makes me an obstacle that causes opponents to ignore my teammates and focus on trying to hit ME. TANK? yes, thank you.
Swap ends for blunt damage: Swapping ends turns the haft into a greatclub. Sure, you are not proficient, but are you going to complain about having a blunt wooden weapon when you find out you need one?
Utility: Cheap to replace. A longspear is 1/10th the price of a greatsword.
Utility: Poke things you don't want to touch or can't reach. If it melts when poked at suspicious switches and levers or dangerous piles that may contain icky things, no big deal. If it keeps me from melting, goal!
Utility: Signal2: attach different colored pieces of cloth to signal to a buddy with high Spot skill. Be sure to agree on signals beforehand, or the buddy will wonder why I'm waving around my spare kilt on the end of my spear. I tend to hold out for a circumstance bonus if I signal with Expansion on.
Utility: Balance check circumstance bonus.
Utility: Jump... If you try to pole vault with it, be sure that you have a leather cover on the stabby end.
Utility: Cut off the length and use for creating a fire. You lose your reach, but gain a diversion fire. If you need a fire for warmth, sac the entire wood haft to survive cold environment till morning.
Spear - Second most important weapon for TANK builds. 3 pounds lighter than a longspear, and still versatile. Set for charge, use haft as a staff for blunt damage. No reach without using powers. Instead, it can be thrown with a 20' increment.
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Unless it's CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, or your PC is competing in an athletic competition, DO NOT THROW YOUR SPEAR. If you are under Expansion, the spear returns to normal size when you let go. Throw a javelin. They're made for that. Your spear cannot protect you from 40 feet away, even if it is sticking out of somebody else's eye socket. Poking things you would rather not directly touch, signalling and balance are still ok, with smaller circumstance bonuses. The Expansion power turns a spear into a longspear. Great for fishing and hunting boars.
Club - Free in most campaigns with trees somewhere nearby. get one. 1d6 blunt damage. Throws with a 10' increment.
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Combat combos? it's wood. If you have a druid, the Druid spell Shillelagh shifts a medium club's damage from 1d6 to 2d6 and tacks on a +1 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. If you have Expansion on, you are now looking at 3d6.
Utility?
- prop open doors.
- Break wooden clubs to make stakes for an unexpected vampire hunt.
- Shave wooden clubs for tinder to start a fire.
- Wrap the end with cloth and dip in oil for a torch.
Utility?
- prop open doors.
- Break wooden clubs to make stakes for an unexpected vampire hunt.
- Shave wooden clubs for tinder to start a fire.
- Wrap the end with cloth and dip in oil for a torch.
Dagger - A dagger is a basic utility piece that anybody wearing a tin can for a living will usually not be without. Throw a dagger with 10 foot range increment. Daggers do either piercing or slashing damage.
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Utility can include:
- Spear a piece of meat off the chicken that's on the spit over the open campfire.
- Heat the blade to seal wounds.
- Shave - beards for guys, legs for girls.
- Cut the rope on the chandelier so you get pulled up in the air while the chandelier falls.
- (ceremonial dagger) use a seal on the pommel to seal documents.
- (survival daggers) store Tiny items in a hollow handle, such as needle and thread.
- Spear a piece of meat off the chicken that's on the spit over the open campfire.
- Heat the blade to seal wounds.
- Shave - beards for guys, legs for girls.
- Cut the rope on the chandelier so you get pulled up in the air while the chandelier falls.
- (ceremonial dagger) use a seal on the pommel to seal documents.
- (survival daggers) store Tiny items in a hollow handle, such as needle and thread.
Claws - Your Ardent's race, a template, or a power with Claws in the name may give you claws. Claws usually provide slashing damage in proportion to size. Unlike an Unarmed Strike, claws cause your Ardent to be counted as armed in melee reducing the attacks of opportunity opponents can take.
Unarmed Strike - 1d3 nonlethal damage. You always have this weapon of last resort. Without Improved Unarmed Strike, the opponent will get an attack of opportunity.
Shields - you are proficient in all shields except tower shields. This includes spiked shields, for defense. Non-proficient for attacking with the spike. However, if you have a spiked one, you count as armed in melee.
Also included: light mace, heavy mace, dart, gauntlet, sickle, morningstar, punching dagger, and javelin
Materials aka masterwork+ or what to get enchanted
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spear haft- yew or ash for both strength and flex
Deep CrystalSRD -- This special material for weapons allows you to convert powerpoints into bonus damage. Very similar to arcane strike, but this one only costs you 1000 goldpieces instead of a featslot. Get your crossbow in this material.
Crossbow, light: 1035gp
Crossbow, heavy: 1050gp
Darkwood: 50% weight, price:as masterwork +10gp/lb
Longspear: 9lbs: 5 +125 +90 = 230 +1000(Deep Crystal) = 1230
Spear: 6lbs: 2 +125 +60 = 187 +1000(Deep Crystal) = 1187
shortspear: 3lbs: 1 +125 +30 = 156
Adamantine: bypasses /adamantine damage reduction, ignores hardness 20 and below when used to sunder items. DMG
Get an adamantine dagger. good for busting open locks, no skill roll needed. Also good for ropes enchanted with increased hardness.
Dagger: +3,127 gp
Duskwood: steel weapons 50% weight, +1500gp
Mithral: 50% weight, medium armor, not heavy,+9000gp
Glassteel: 50% weight, +2 max dex, -3 acp - really? you have that much dex that this is an issue?
Item Cost Modifier: light armor +2,000 gp, medium armor +6,000 gp, heavy armor +12,000 gp, shield +2,000 gp, weapon +500 gp, other items +100 gp/lb.
Serren: adds the ghost touched property. BoED
50 bolts = 4005 gp
Githcraft:
Armor: reduces ASF, grants a bonus to concentration checks.
Weapon: deals bonus damage to psionic creatures.
Deep CrystalSRD -- This special material for weapons allows you to convert powerpoints into bonus damage. Very similar to arcane strike, but this one only costs you 1000 goldpieces instead of a featslot. Get your crossbow in this material.
Crossbow, light: 1035gp
Crossbow, heavy: 1050gp
Darkwood: 50% weight, price:as masterwork +10gp/lb
Longspear: 9lbs: 5 +125 +90 = 230 +1000(Deep Crystal) = 1230
Spear: 6lbs: 2 +125 +60 = 187 +1000(Deep Crystal) = 1187
shortspear: 3lbs: 1 +125 +30 = 156
Adamantine: bypasses /adamantine damage reduction, ignores hardness 20 and below when used to sunder items. DMG
Get an adamantine dagger. good for busting open locks, no skill roll needed. Also good for ropes enchanted with increased hardness.
Dagger: +3,127 gp
Duskwood: steel weapons 50% weight, +1500gp
Mithral: 50% weight, medium armor, not heavy,+9000gp
Glassteel: 50% weight, +2 max dex, -3 acp - really? you have that much dex that this is an issue?
Item Cost Modifier: light armor +2,000 gp, medium armor +6,000 gp, heavy armor +12,000 gp, shield +2,000 gp, weapon +500 gp, other items +100 gp/lb.
Serren: adds the ghost touched property. BoED
50 bolts = 4005 gp
Githcraft:
Armor: reduces ASF, grants a bonus to concentration checks.
Weapon: deals bonus damage to psionic creatures.
Psionic/Magic
(click to show/hide)
Action Economy
Weapon: Quick LoadingMIC - for heavy crossbows, a full round reload action becomes a move action, for light or hand, you can get your full BAB attacks from a full round attack action. Suddenly crossbow seems like it can keep up with longbow in confined spaces. stores up to 100 bolts. While an Ardent will never be an L20 Elf Ranger loaded with castings of Arrowstorm, now you can start putting out some conventional long-range hp damage.
Weapon: DancingDMG - +4 bonus for 4 extra standard actions (attacks) across 4 rounds.
Shield: Lion's ShieldDMG - 3/day, as free action, command Lion's Head to attack with your full BAB, including your multiple attacks, if any. With 3/4 BAB, you'll get 3 per use, 9 total per day.
Weapon: DislocatorXPH - 1/day save rounds fighting a foe by teleporting one bad guy, like a mage's burly bodyguard. Note the non-psionic version of Dislocator in MIC is completely weaksauce as it only moves a target 10 feet on a failed save, where XPH version of Dislocator randomly teleports him 10-100 miles away.
Weapon: TeleportingXPH - did you have to go pull the spear outta the guy's eyesocket? no? you just saved 1+ move actions to get over to the dude and a standard action to pull it out of him. If it was critically important to throw your spear, then it is critically important to get it back.
Shield: HearteningXPH/MIC - vigor as an immediate action instead of a standard action. 5 temp HP for 4 minutes, this can be decent. Read both versions before choosing.
Weapon: Power StoringXPH/Spell StoringDMG - Power Storing lets you cast a standard action power ahead of time into a weapon, then unleash the effect as a swift action on a creature you hit with that weapon.
Weapon: EagerMIC - draw as a free action instead of move action. Weapon: ParryingXPH,SRD - +1 insight bonus to AC and saves. Doesn’t count as an enhancement bonus, so you can still fully trick out your weapon with other abilities.
Weapon: Galvanic Crysteel BladeMoE - Gives you an alternative, and useful, method of expending PP.
Versatility
Keepalive
Armor: FloatingXPH - for +4,000gp, ignore Swim check modifier, and +4 bonus to Swim. better than Buoyant in MIC
Armor: HealingMIC - +8,000gp for 1/day auto heal for 2d8+5 hp when you fall between -1 and -9 hp
Armor: LandingXPH - for +4,000gp, ignore first 60 feet of falling damage
Shield: Time ButtressXPH 1/day - timeless body
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Weapon: Quick LoadingMIC - for heavy crossbows, a full round reload action becomes a move action, for light or hand, you can get your full BAB attacks from a full round attack action. Suddenly crossbow seems like it can keep up with longbow in confined spaces. stores up to 100 bolts. While an Ardent will never be an L20 Elf Ranger loaded with castings of Arrowstorm, now you can start putting out some conventional long-range hp damage.
Weapon: DancingDMG - +4 bonus for 4 extra standard actions (attacks) across 4 rounds.
Shield: Lion's ShieldDMG - 3/day, as free action, command Lion's Head to attack with your full BAB, including your multiple attacks, if any. With 3/4 BAB, you'll get 3 per use, 9 total per day.
Weapon: DislocatorXPH - 1/day save rounds fighting a foe by teleporting one bad guy, like a mage's burly bodyguard. Note the non-psionic version of Dislocator in MIC is completely weaksauce as it only moves a target 10 feet on a failed save, where XPH version of Dislocator randomly teleports him 10-100 miles away.
Weapon: TeleportingXPH - did you have to go pull the spear outta the guy's eyesocket? no? you just saved 1+ move actions to get over to the dude and a standard action to pull it out of him. If it was critically important to throw your spear, then it is critically important to get it back.
Shield: HearteningXPH/MIC - vigor as an immediate action instead of a standard action. 5 temp HP for 4 minutes, this can be decent. Read both versions before choosing.
Weapon: Power StoringXPH/Spell StoringDMG - Power Storing lets you cast a standard action power ahead of time into a weapon, then unleash the effect as a swift action on a creature you hit with that weapon.
(click to show/hide)
Since Power Storing limits you to paying 5PP, Overchannel and a wilder's wild surge do not bypass this restriction. Now, look at Spell Storing. XPH055 states that any magic item that could affect psionics, does. Therefore, Spell Storing lets you have the same effect, but as a free action. Unlike Swift actions, you can have more than one free action per round. Second, Spell Storing allows you to store up to a third level spell (power). It does not numerically restrict this to 5 PP like Power storing does, so you can cast a third level power that has been augmented into a Spell Storing weapon. Spell Storing could store a third level power with no metapsionic feat applied, or a second level power with Extend, because that metapsionic feat bumps the level of the power to third (see Psionic Items and Metapsionic Powers, XPH041). For action economy and because Spell Storing permits more augments, Spell storing is more desirable.
Weapon: Galvanic Crysteel BladeMoE - Gives you an alternative, and useful, method of expending PP.
Versatility
(click to show/hide)
Shield: AnimatedDMG - free up your left hand to wield your spear
Weapon: ChangelingMIC - swap between shortspear/spear/longspear. Now that your left hand is free, change from shortspear to longspear to get some reach
Weapon: Rod of SurprisesMIC - 8-in-1 +1 weapon, including spear/longspear, and can extend to 60 feet and support 800 pounds. stack Immovable rod function and Dancing into it, and buy several as backups.
Shield: VersatileMIC - resize your shield. carry as buckler, combat as heavy shield. then use Ranged to throw it.
Shield: RangedXPH - throw your shield, have it return
Shield: HearteningMIC,XPH - read both versions before choosing. note that if you pick the MIC version, you can pay more to up the number of times per day you get the 5 temp hp under MIC crafting. Yes, it is listed above in the Action Economy shields.
Shield: ManifesterMIC - 1/day, use your shield to provide up to 5PP to manifest a power. Ardents get enough PP that this isn't a problem after the first 3-5 levels. This becomes a liability after a bit. Why hold onto a 5PP power bank for the bad guys?
Weapon: ChangelingMIC - swap between shortspear/spear/longspear. Now that your left hand is free, change from shortspear to longspear to get some reach
Weapon: Rod of SurprisesMIC - 8-in-1 +1 weapon, including spear/longspear, and can extend to 60 feet and support 800 pounds. stack Immovable rod function and Dancing into it, and buy several as backups.
Shield: VersatileMIC - resize your shield. carry as buckler, combat as heavy shield. then use Ranged to throw it.
Shield: RangedXPH - throw your shield, have it return
Shield: HearteningMIC,XPH - read both versions before choosing. note that if you pick the MIC version, you can pay more to up the number of times per day you get the 5 temp hp under MIC crafting. Yes, it is listed above in the Action Economy shields.
Shield: ManifesterMIC - 1/day, use your shield to provide up to 5PP to manifest a power. Ardents get enough PP that this isn't a problem after the first 3-5 levels. This becomes a liability after a bit. Why hold onto a 5PP power bank for the bad guys?
Keepalive
Armor: FloatingXPH - for +4,000gp, ignore Swim check modifier, and +4 bonus to Swim. better than Buoyant in MIC
Armor: HealingMIC - +8,000gp for 1/day auto heal for 2d8+5 hp when you fall between -1 and -9 hp
Armor: LandingXPH - for +4,000gp, ignore first 60 feet of falling damage
Shield: Time ButtressXPH 1/day - timeless body
13
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Multiclassing/PrC's
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:52:25 PM »
MULTICLASSING/PrC's
- The main reason to dip other classes is bonus feats and skills, two things that ardents sorely lack.
- Other considerations for dips include: gain access to class power list for Dorjes(or wands/staves), increase number of powers(or spells) known, reduce PP costs for specific powers, increase BAB/saves, obtain unique abilities.
- Each level taken in something other than Ardent loses one of 21 Powers Known, one Manifester Level, and PP for daily manifests. With enough "something elses" you lose some of your 6 domain choices, which is 5 after Dominant Ideal ACF.
- Where possible, use each race's Favorite Class (FC).
- Before building, read Practiced ManifesterXPH to decide whether to use a feat to preserve Manifester Level for up to 4 non-Ardent levels.
- Before building, read Additional Favored ClassUA100 to decide whether to use a feat to save 20% XP throughout your build.
Frontloads
Full Ride Prestige Classes
-- -- ThrallherdXPH152 - minions!
-- -- MetamindXPH147 - Time mantle! action economy, math, major creation
-- -- Anarchic InitiateCPsi017 - a PrC merge of Wilder with Planar Vanguard(M'sE 3e Prc)?
-- -- Psychic TheurgeM'sE - zipper PrC for Ardent and Druid/OA Shaman/Cleric
-- -- Sanctified MindLoM199 - no evil aberrants for you!
-- -- Psion UncarnateXPH148 - incorporeal!
-- -- ConstructorM'sE - bypass AC nerf. Make Astral Construct more versatile, powerful, useful
-- -- Dead Heart InterrogatorPII011 - affect fey and outsiders with mind-affecting powers!
-- -- PsiologistPII030 --- the Lawful foil to Anarchic Initiate, able to cast ~ML28 1/day after stacking
-- -- Iron MindRoS114 - TANK better than War Mind
-- -- TattooistPII040 - Tattooist can create (crawling) tattoos of 9th level powers.
-- -- ShadowmindCAd074 - a zipper PrC for Ardent and Psychic Rogue(M'sE)
-- -- Subverted PsionM'sE for HoH campaign
-- -- Soul ManifesterM'sE - a zipper PrC for Ardent and IncarnateMoI.
-- -- (Illithid) SlayerXPH146,SRD - SRD version permits choosing a race other than illithid for Favored Enemy. Capstone is Blast reflection. Blue for SRD only campaigns.
-- -- Flayerspawn PsychicCPsi030 - Sanctified Mind totally has this PrC's number
-- -- Quori MindhunterMoE077 - hunt and eject evil dream spirits
-- -- CerebromancerXPH141 - better for a Psion/Wizard mix, or a Wilder/Sorceror mix.
-- -- TekchachakPII041
-- -- Kreen SlayerPCI023 - Thri-Kreen hate elves like this...
-- -- SenseiPII035 as a zipper PrC for Monk and Ardent. Blue if GM accepts fixes.
Prestige Class Dips
- The main reason to dip other classes is bonus feats and skills, two things that ardents sorely lack.
- Other considerations for dips include: gain access to class power list for Dorjes(or wands/staves), increase number of powers(or spells) known, reduce PP costs for specific powers, increase BAB/saves, obtain unique abilities.
- Each level taken in something other than Ardent loses one of 21 Powers Known, one Manifester Level, and PP for daily manifests. With enough "something elses" you lose some of your 6 domain choices, which is 5 after Dominant Ideal ACF.
- Where possible, use each race's Favorite Class (FC).
- Before building, read Practiced ManifesterXPH to decide whether to use a feat to preserve Manifester Level for up to 4 non-Ardent levels.
- Before building, read Additional Favored ClassUA100 to decide whether to use a feat to save 20% XP throughout your build.
Frontloads
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-- -- Primary Manifester
-- -- Tank
-- -- Crafter - Make stuff. Use it to save your bacon. Swap stuff for favors/services. Sell the rest. Profit!
-- -- Gish - 2 levels of FC. If FC is Psion or Druid, pick another race from the race list above for your Gish build. Druid is more Tank. Otherwise...
3/4BAB, slightly more HP, option to pick a Weapon Focus or Improved Unarmed Combat:
Full BAB, moreHP, good FORT save, +martial weapons to upgrade melee damage:
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Wilder 1/Erudite 1
CL1)Wilder 1: 8 more SP, Wild surge+1, 1 level 1 power. You can use Dorjes for any power on the Psion/Wilder lists.
CL2)Erudite 1: L1 Powers Known:2+INT, 1 unique L1 power per day, psicrystal, bonus feat
CL3)Ardent 1: (CL3 Feat= Practiced Manifester:ardent)
At CL3 you could pick a level 2 power as if you didn't lose any MLs in ardent. Some planning as to when you should dip/PrC is needed so you don't lose an important power. This Frontload lacks early PP so watch PP economy (or do a recharge cheat). Another obvious draw back to front loading your non ardent levels is you don't get dominant ideal till that much later.
CL1)Wilder 1: 8 more SP, Wild surge+1, 1 level 1 power. You can use Dorjes for any power on the Psion/Wilder lists.
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You may want to pick up Dorjes for some of the following...
AlarmSoS
Arcane MarkSoS
Astral Traveler
Aura ReadingDS3.5
Bolt
Call to Mind
Comprehend LanguagesSoS
Conceal Thoughts
Detect PoisonDS3.5
Elfsight
Endure ElementsCPsi
Far Hand
Grease
Inertial Armor
Know Direction and Location
Matter Agitation
My Light
Pass Without TraceSoS
Prestidigitation/MendingSoS
Psychic TrackingDS3.5
Remove FearSoS
Sense Link
Skate
Speak With AnimalsSoS
Stygian DiscernmentCPsi
Synesthete
Tattoo AnimationDS3.5
Tenser's Floating DiskSoS
Unseen ServantSoS
AlarmSoS
Arcane MarkSoS
Astral Traveler
Aura ReadingDS3.5
Bolt
Call to Mind
Comprehend LanguagesSoS
Conceal Thoughts
Detect PoisonDS3.5
Elfsight
Endure ElementsCPsi
Far Hand
Grease
Inertial Armor
Know Direction and Location
Matter Agitation
My Light
Pass Without TraceSoS
Prestidigitation/MendingSoS
Psychic TrackingDS3.5
Remove FearSoS
Sense Link
Skate
Speak With AnimalsSoS
Stygian DiscernmentCPsi
Synesthete
Tattoo AnimationDS3.5
Tenser's Floating DiskSoS
Unseen ServantSoS
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Erudite permits learning a number of dorje powers for 20xp +50gp per power. If the Substitute Powers ACF is disallowed, then this Class feature of Erudite becomes more important for expanding your powers known for utility purposes. Taking as many of the L1 utility/Dorje powers listed above under Wilder L1 will save you money on Dorjes over time. Learn as an Erudite at either CL2 or CL3 before you take a second level of Ardent at CL4, sealing your Erudite ability to learn new powers for 20xp each...
At CL3 you could pick a level 2 power as if you didn't lose any MLs in ardent. Some planning as to when you should dip/PrC is needed so you don't lose an important power. This Frontload lacks early PP so watch PP economy (or do a recharge cheat). Another obvious draw back to front loading your non ardent levels is you don't get dominant ideal till that much later.
-- -- Tank
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Cloistered Cleric 1/Ardent:1/Barbarian 1/Ardent:2/Barbarian:2/Crusader:1/
-or-
Druid:2...
-or-
Druid:2...
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-- Druid: more SP and HP, max Concentration, Survival-5r for Track, Kn(nature)-5r with synergies, and unlock Spellcraft or put 5 ranks into Handle Animal for +2 synergy bonus to Wild Empathy.
- Deadly HunterUA058 variant trades away armor pro's and wild shape for ranger's favored enemy, swift tracker, Track feat, and monk's fast movement and Bonus to Armor Class when unarmored (including Wisdom bonus to AC). This good base for Slayer PrC answers the question "what should I do if I get jumped while sleeping without armor on?" It does not provide improved melee offense.
- Deadly HunterUA058 variant trades away armor pro's and wild shape for ranger's favored enemy, swift tracker, Track feat, and monk's fast movement and Bonus to Armor Class when unarmored (including Wisdom bonus to AC). This good base for Slayer PrC answers the question "what should I do if I get jumped while sleeping without armor on?" It does not provide improved melee offense.
-- -- Crafter - Make stuff. Use it to save your bacon. Swap stuff for favors/services. Sell the rest. Profit!
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TATTOOS - little investment, for fast cash turnarounds
DORJES - the middle way, focusing on in-demand products for psionic characters
CONSTRUCTS - big investment, big reward
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- How many sailors, men-at-arms, criminals, seamstresses, and psions get tats? An insane number. There's a lot of chair time. Customers talk. For the latest gossip, just listen and make encouraging noises.
- Learn Tattoo AnimationDS3.5 to get your tattoos back from non-paying clients, or nick psionic/magical tattoos from prisoners. Use TA to eliminate chair time for high value clients (like party members) by creating a tattoo on a body double, then moving it from the body double to the customer. TA is also good for handing out criminal marks on the forehead for law enforcement or punishment tat's like "I slept with Mayor Grumbly's daughter at the Ghoulash Festival" or any thing drunk frat boys with permanent marker write/draw on a sleeping pledge.
- Each party member can have up to 20 tattoos, either psionic or crawling.
CL1)Wilder 1
CL2)Ardent 1
CL3)Erudite 1 - as your CL3 feat, take Practiced Manifester:Ardent, and for your Erudite bonus feat, take Scribe Tattoo
…
CL6) Take Craft Universal Item for Crawling TattoosCPsi, Fighting TattoosAE095 (and a lot of other reasons)
Still reading? check out The Tattooist PrC, below.
- Learn Tattoo AnimationDS3.5 to get your tattoos back from non-paying clients, or nick psionic/magical tattoos from prisoners. Use TA to eliminate chair time for high value clients (like party members) by creating a tattoo on a body double, then moving it from the body double to the customer. TA is also good for handing out criminal marks on the forehead for law enforcement or punishment tat's like "I slept with Mayor Grumbly's daughter at the Ghoulash Festival" or any thing drunk frat boys with permanent marker write/draw on a sleeping pledge.
- Each party member can have up to 20 tattoos, either psionic or crawling.
CL1)Wilder 1
CL2)Ardent 1
CL3)Erudite 1 - as your CL3 feat, take Practiced Manifester:Ardent, and for your Erudite bonus feat, take Scribe Tattoo
…
CL6) Take Craft Universal Item for Crawling TattoosCPsi, Fighting TattoosAE095 (and a lot of other reasons)
Still reading? check out The Tattooist PrC, below.
DORJES - the middle way, focusing on in-demand products for psionic characters
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- See above under Primary Manifester re Wilder and Erudite for how to load up on money-making L1 Dorje powers.
- Swap a Dorje to a Lurk as his fee for a collections job, or to a PsyWar for providing backup when meeting shifty clients.
- Sell a Power Known to an Erudite, then sell em a Dorje for that power.
- Repair hp damaged (but not fully broken) Dorjes with Make Whole, PsionicSoS.
- Recharge blank Dorjes for a reasonable fee
- Buy used (now blank) Dorjes for a couple gp, recharge em, then sell em at listed market price... PROFIT!
- Craft PSIONIC RUNESTAFFS. Sell them. PROFIT!
- Also, who are your customers? other psionic characters. So... you know at least some other people to hire/ask for help, and there's a chance one knows the other nearby psionics.
CL1)Wilder 1
CL2-4)Ardent1-3 - as your CL3 feat, take Practiced Manifester:Ardent,
CL5)Erudite 1 - for your Erudite bonus feat, take Craft Dorje
CL6)take Dorje Mastery for a +4 ML bonus when using Dorjes (oooo… all those 1 hour dorje powers suddenly became 5 hour dorje powers)
- Swap a Dorje to a Lurk as his fee for a collections job, or to a PsyWar for providing backup when meeting shifty clients.
- Sell a Power Known to an Erudite, then sell em a Dorje for that power.
- Repair hp damaged (but not fully broken) Dorjes with Make Whole, PsionicSoS.
- Recharge blank Dorjes for a reasonable fee
- Buy used (now blank) Dorjes for a couple gp, recharge em, then sell em at listed market price... PROFIT!
- Craft PSIONIC RUNESTAFFS. Sell them. PROFIT!
- Also, who are your customers? other psionic characters. So... you know at least some other people to hire/ask for help, and there's a chance one knows the other nearby psionics.
CL1)Wilder 1
CL2-4)Ardent1-3 - as your CL3 feat, take Practiced Manifester:Ardent,
CL5)Erudite 1 - for your Erudite bonus feat, take Craft Dorje
CL6)take Dorje Mastery for a +4 ML bonus when using Dorjes (oooo… all those 1 hour dorje powers suddenly became 5 hour dorje powers)
CONSTRUCTS - big investment, big reward
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CL1-5) Psionic ArtificerMoE 1-5
CL6) Ardent 1, MANTLE: MAGIC, FEAT: Practiced Manifester: Ardent
CL7) Erudite 1, FEAT: Craft Psionic Construct
INT/CHA build, so might as well grab NATURAL WORLD for Metamorphosis. MAGIC mantle also opens Rogue Mastermaker PrCMoE081. MAD.
Craftable constructs
Available with MAGIC mantle and a Golem Construction manual
CL6) Ardent 1, MANTLE: MAGIC, FEAT: Practiced Manifester: Ardent
CL7) Erudite 1, FEAT: Craft Psionic Construct
INT/CHA build, so might as well grab NATURAL WORLD for Metamorphosis. MAGIC mantle also opens Rogue Mastermaker PrCMoE081. MAD.
Craftable constructs
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ML07 Homonculus, Dedicated WrightECS285 T/1-3HD - Cr(pottery) - your first Construct. With 8, you can craft up to 8 psionic items on the same day. Money is the only reason not to. To make that money use your 8 dedicated wrights to craft psionic tattoos after each party member has 20 tat's.
ML07 EffigyCAr152 - T/1HD-C?HD - Cr(woodwork)/Cr(leatherwork)/Cr(metalwork)/Kn(arch+eng)
The CL07-CL14 range can be a little rough without at least one good effigy. Consider Large animals...
ML07 Homonculus, ArbalesterMoE152 T/1-3HD - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(carpentry) - wait for later. Use these with sovereign glue to give some constructs turrets.
ML07 Homonculus, PackmateMoE152 S/2-6HD - Cr(sculpt) - flavor favorite for Terry Patchett fans... "The Luggage", w/o sapient pearlwood
ML07 Homonculus, Persistent HarrierMoE153 S/2-6HD - Cr(sculpt)
ML13 ShredstormMMIII153 F/14HD Cr(weapon), no good place to mount an Arbalester on this swarm. No utility, all combat.
ML14 Golem, TombstoneLiM105 L/14-21HD,H/22-42HD - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(stonemason),First available golem, can mount an Arbolester on each shoulder.
ML16 Golem, stained-glassMMII115 M/12-24HD,L/25-36HD - Cr(glassmaking) - better options available. No place for Arbolester turrets.
ML16 Golem, BrainFF085 L/12-18HD,H/19-36HD - Heal required for constructing the body, so Dedicated Wright cannot help. Flavor favorite for Illithids or finishing out with flayerspawn psychic PrC. Expect Sanctified Mind visitors who want to ask wth. No secure place to mount arbolesters.
ML16 Psion-KillerXPH208 L/15-21HD,H/22-45HD - Cr(stonemason),the only published 3.5e psionic construct. Good to mount an Arbolester on each shoulder.
ML16 Golem, HangmanMMIII069 L/18-27HD,H28-36HD - Cr(weave), good news: fast heal 10! great news: give this golem a "Rage of the Remorhaz" and it will inflict Fire damage on everything in 10 feet. bad news: no good place to mount arbolester.
ML16 Golem, Dragonflesh MMII115 L/30-60HD,H/61-90HD - Heal+Kn(nature),again, glueing arbolester to flesh, even dragonflesh, is not a secure mount for an arbolester. Also, Dedicated Wright cannot help assemble the body. Unless sending a very expensive declaration of war to a dragon, there are better selections on this list.
ML18 NimblewrightMMII162 M/10-15HD,L/16-30HD - Cr(sculpt)/Pr(mason) - if you have a frontline of golems, this guy makes great backup. he has the mobility to get to anything that gets past the others. Unlike other options, Nimble can think, even if he is chaotic and likes to stab things.
ML07 EffigyCAr152 - T/1HD-C?HD - Cr(woodwork)/Cr(leatherwork)/Cr(metalwork)/Kn(arch+eng)
The CL07-CL14 range can be a little rough without at least one good effigy. Consider Large animals...
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ML07 FleshrakerMMIII040 craft Med-size 7d10+20hp pouncer for 16000gp. Probably your first Effigy.
ML07 Dire PumaSand150 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. This pouncer has 20 foot Climb and various racial skill bonuses
ML07 TigerMM281 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. another pouncer, this one with less skill bonus and more combat feat
ML07 Giant OwlMM205 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. 70 foot flyer with skill bonuses. Giant Eagle at same price drops skill bonuses for 80 foot fly speed.
ML07 MegalocerosFro117 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp to get the original, prehistoric bullrush
ML07 Dire WolfMM065 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. a trip attacker.
ML08 RhinocerosMM278 craft 8d10+30hp for21000gp. Powerful charge(4d6+24), Gore(2d6+12) when not charging
ML08 Polar BearMM269 craft 8d10+30 for 21000gp. get a 30 foot swimmer which can hide in snowy areas, multi-attack and give real bear hugs(grappling)!
ML09 DiprotodonSand148 craft 9d10+30hp for 23000gp. a burrower with ImpNatAttack and 40 foot land speed in case the plan to dig a tunnel into the duke's treasury fails and you need a quicker exit.
ML11 ElephantMM272 craft11d10+40hp for 32000gp. features include trample(2d8+15), Slam(2d6+10), stamp(2d6+5), or gore(2d8+15). Also good to hire out to the sultan for pulling floats in a local parade and other hauling/labor tasks.
Each of these 10 effigies gets more powerful if the following templates are applied before the effigy template:
- MagebredECS295 (natAC+2,STR+4,DEX+2,CON+2, Feat:Multiattack orImpNatAttack)(NOTE: SQ's drop when the Effigy template is applied, so don't get attached)
- DraconicRotD074 (natAC+1,STR+2,CON+2,CHA+2,+2racial to Spot,+2racial to Intimidate)
ML07 Dire PumaSand150 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. This pouncer has 20 foot Climb and various racial skill bonuses
ML07 TigerMM281 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. another pouncer, this one with less skill bonus and more combat feat
ML07 Giant OwlMM205 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. 70 foot flyer with skill bonuses. Giant Eagle at same price drops skill bonuses for 80 foot fly speed.
ML07 MegalocerosFro117 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp to get the original, prehistoric bullrush
ML07 Dire WolfMM065 craft 7d10+30hp for 19000gp. a trip attacker.
ML08 RhinocerosMM278 craft 8d10+30hp for21000gp. Powerful charge(4d6+24), Gore(2d6+12) when not charging
ML08 Polar BearMM269 craft 8d10+30 for 21000gp. get a 30 foot swimmer which can hide in snowy areas, multi-attack and give real bear hugs(grappling)!
ML09 DiprotodonSand148 craft 9d10+30hp for 23000gp. a burrower with ImpNatAttack and 40 foot land speed in case the plan to dig a tunnel into the duke's treasury fails and you need a quicker exit.
ML11 ElephantMM272 craft11d10+40hp for 32000gp. features include trample(2d8+15), Slam(2d6+10), stamp(2d6+5), or gore(2d8+15). Also good to hire out to the sultan for pulling floats in a local parade and other hauling/labor tasks.
Each of these 10 effigies gets more powerful if the following templates are applied before the effigy template:
- MagebredECS295 (natAC+2,STR+4,DEX+2,CON+2, Feat:Multiattack orImpNatAttack)(NOTE: SQ's drop when the Effigy template is applied, so don't get attached)
- DraconicRotD074 (natAC+1,STR+2,CON+2,CHA+2,+2racial to Spot,+2racial to Intimidate)
ML07 Homonculus, PackmateMoE152 S/2-6HD - Cr(sculpt) - flavor favorite for Terry Patchett fans... "The Luggage", w/o sapient pearlwood
ML07 Homonculus, Persistent HarrierMoE153 S/2-6HD - Cr(sculpt)
ML13 ShredstormMMIII153 F/14HD Cr(weapon), no good place to mount an Arbalester on this swarm. No utility, all combat.
ML14 Golem, TombstoneLiM105 L/14-21HD,H/22-42HD - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(stonemason),First available golem, can mount an Arbolester on each shoulder.
ML16 Golem, stained-glassMMII115 M/12-24HD,L/25-36HD - Cr(glassmaking) - better options available. No place for Arbolester turrets.
ML16 Golem, BrainFF085 L/12-18HD,H/19-36HD - Heal required for constructing the body, so Dedicated Wright cannot help. Flavor favorite for Illithids or finishing out with flayerspawn psychic PrC. Expect Sanctified Mind visitors who want to ask wth. No secure place to mount arbolesters.
ML16 Psion-KillerXPH208 L/15-21HD,H/22-45HD - Cr(stonemason),the only published 3.5e psionic construct. Good to mount an Arbolester on each shoulder.
ML16 Golem, HangmanMMIII069 L/18-27HD,H28-36HD - Cr(weave), good news: fast heal 10! great news: give this golem a "Rage of the Remorhaz" and it will inflict Fire damage on everything in 10 feet. bad news: no good place to mount arbolester.
ML16 Golem, Dragonflesh MMII115 L/30-60HD,H/61-90HD - Heal+Kn(nature),again, glueing arbolester to flesh, even dragonflesh, is not a secure mount for an arbolester. Also, Dedicated Wright cannot help assemble the body. Unless sending a very expensive declaration of war to a dragon, there are better selections on this list.
ML18 NimblewrightMMII162 M/10-15HD,L/16-30HD - Cr(sculpt)/Pr(mason) - if you have a frontline of golems, this guy makes great backup. he has the mobility to get to anything that gets past the others. Unlike other options, Nimble can think, even if he is chaotic and likes to stab things.
Available with MAGIC mantle and a Golem Construction manual
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ML06 - FleshMM135 - Heal/Cr(leather) to assemble body. Berzerk. Green for crafters with CE alignment
ML07 - ClayMM134 - Cr(pottery). Berzerk. Green for crafters with CE alignment
ML14 - StoneMM137 - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(stonemason) - slow as an SLA
ML14 - Stone Golem,GreaterMM137 - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(stonemason) - slow as an SLA. is cost worth it?
ML16 - Iron GolemMM136 - Cr(armorsmithing) - poison as a breath weapon is cool. just be careful where you stand when it fires.
ML07 - ClayMM134 - Cr(pottery). Berzerk. Green for crafters with CE alignment
ML14 - StoneMM137 - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(stonemason) - slow as an SLA
ML14 - Stone Golem,GreaterMM137 - Cr(sculpt)/Cr(stonemason) - slow as an SLA. is cost worth it?
ML16 - Iron GolemMM136 - Cr(armorsmithing) - poison as a breath weapon is cool. just be careful where you stand when it fires.
-- -- Gish - 2 levels of FC. If FC is Psion or Druid, pick another race from the race list above for your Gish build. Druid is more Tank. Otherwise...
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3/4BAB, slightly more HP, option to pick a Weapon Focus or Improved Unarmed Combat:
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-- PsyWar: retain 2ML, 2 Powers! 2 feats! (either fighter bonus or psionic feats), +martial weapons for improved damage
-- Cleric: Deity, 2 Domains, War Domain for Weapon Focus. Cloistered Cleric ACF for 3rd domain and SP boost.
-- ShamanOA: Unarmed Strike, 2 domains, War domain for Weapon Focus
-- Monk: Unarmed strike, bonus feat, Evasion w/o pre-reqs
-- Swordsage - a 2 level dip gets more SP, +1 to init, a bonus feat (Weapon Focus) to be applied to choice of a limited list of weapons, 7 martial maneuvers known(4 ready), 2 martial stances, and if you pick carefully, Diamond Mind maneuvers for action economy and save counters.
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3/4BAB!, max Concentration, bonus PP from WIS
- L2:Mantled warrior ACFWeb - sac a bonus feat for a mantle, which will use the original power list.
- Soulbound Weapon ACFWeb - with a 2 level dip, you don't get the long term benefits
- L2:Mantled warrior ACFWeb - sac a bonus feat for a mantle, which will use the original power list.
- Soulbound Weapon ACFWeb - with a 2 level dip, you don't get the long term benefits
-- Cleric: Deity, 2 Domains, War Domain for Weapon Focus. Cloistered Cleric ACF for 3rd domain and SP boost.
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max Concentration, Deity, 2 Domains. Spontaneous Casting. Turn/Rebuke Undead. Bonus Lang's include Celestial.
Skills: Concentration-5r,Spellcraft-5r,Kn:religion-5r,Kn:arcana-1r,Kn:history-5r(for +2 bump to Lore)
- PHB domains:Knowledge(make all Kn skills class skills),Luck(reroll 1/day),Magic(use spell completion as W1),Travel(2 rounds FoM that activates automatically),War(MWP&Weapon Focus for limited selection of wargod related weapons)
- SpC domains:Spell(+2 unnamed bonus to concentration,spellcraft),Fate(Uncanny Dodge),Time(Imp.Init)
- Cloistered Cleric ACFUA050 to swap 3/4BAB for 6SP/level, Knowledge domain.
Skills: Concentration-5r,Spellcraft-5r,Kn:religion-5r,Kn:arcana-1r,Kn:history-5r(for +2 bump to Lore)
- PHB domains:Knowledge(make all Kn skills class skills),Luck(reroll 1/day),Magic(use spell completion as W1),Travel(2 rounds FoM that activates automatically),War(MWP&Weapon Focus for limited selection of wargod related weapons)
- SpC domains:Spell(+2 unnamed bonus to concentration,spellcraft),Fate(Uncanny Dodge),Time(Imp.Init)
- Cloistered Cleric ACFUA050 to swap 3/4BAB for 6SP/level, Knowledge domain.
-- ShamanOA: Unarmed Strike, 2 domains, War domain for Weapon Focus
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max Concentration, moreSP, Unarmed strike, animal companion (Swindlespitter, RidingDog, MedMonstrousSpider, or Tressym), Spirit sight (see ethereal, always on). Spellcraft-5r, Kn:spirits-5r, Kn:arcana-1r, Kn:religion-1r, Collector of Stories skilltrick(2SP), Craft-1r, Autohypnosis(CC,2SP->1r),Kn:Psionics(CC,2SP->1r),Heal (Wis)-5r,Healing Hands skilltrick(2SP)
- Shaman domains(OA):Fortune(reroll 1/day),War(MWP&Focus for med martial melee weapon),Travel(FoM around magic effect),Trickery(Bluff,Disguise,Hide as class skills),Stone(DR5/- vs stone, including falling damage)
- SpC domains:Spell(+2 unnamed bonus to concentration,spellcraft),Fate(Uncanny Dodge),Time(Imp.Init)
- Shaman domains(OA):Fortune(reroll 1/day),War(MWP&Focus for med martial melee weapon),Travel(FoM around magic effect),Trickery(Bluff,Disguise,Hide as class skills),Stone(DR5/- vs stone, including falling damage)
- SpC domains:Spell(+2 unnamed bonus to concentration,spellcraft),Fate(Uncanny Dodge),Time(Imp.Init)
-- Monk: Unarmed strike, bonus feat, Evasion w/o pre-reqs
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max Concentration, moreSP, moreHP, Unarmed strike, flurry of blows, evasion, Full BAB, monk weapons, all Good saves, WIS bonus to AC when unarmored, Jump-5r, Tumble-5r, Kn:arcana-1r, Kn:religion-5r, Collector of stories skilltrick(2SP), Craft-1r,
-- Swordsage - a 2 level dip gets more SP, +1 to init, a bonus feat (Weapon Focus) to be applied to choice of a limited list of weapons, 7 martial maneuvers known(4 ready), 2 martial stances, and if you pick carefully, Diamond Mind maneuvers for action economy and save counters.
Full BAB, moreHP, good FORT save, +martial weapons to upgrade melee damage:
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-- Barbarian: Uncanny Dodge, consider Spiritual Totem ACFCCh to trade Fast movement for Pounce.
-- Fighter: 2 fighter bonus feats! ACFs...
-- Paladin: for CHA builds. Also, check Deity for several good ACFs...
-- Ranger: Track, Combat style, ACFs...
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Fast movement(no armor? run!), Rage 1/day, Uncanny Dodge. Rack up 5 ranks of Jump, Listen, and Craft. Usually, Barbarian dips occur at CL2 and CL4 to avoid illiteracy, instead of classic frontloading.
-- Fighter: 2 fighter bonus feats! ACFs...
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- Dwarf? L1: Dwarf FighterRoS racial substitution level for 6 weapon focus feats for axes.
- L2: Dungeon Crasher ACFDSc sac fighter feat to bullrush foes into walls for 4d6 bludgeoning damage, plus trap defense bonuses
- L2: Resolute ACFCCh048 sac fighter feat for Su: immediate, at will, drop BAB in half till next turn to gain the loss as an unnamed bonus to Will saves. Resolute is Blue for Iron Mind PrC.
- L2: Dungeon Crasher ACFDSc sac fighter feat to bullrush foes into walls for 4d6 bludgeoning damage, plus trap defense bonuses
- L2: Resolute ACFCCh048 sac fighter feat for Su: immediate, at will, drop BAB in half till next turn to gain the loss as an unnamed bonus to Will saves. Resolute is Blue for Iron Mind PrC.
-- Paladin: for CHA builds. Also, check Deity for several good ACFs...
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max Concentration, 1 rank of Kn(religion), detect evil, Divine grace, lay on hands, Pair with CHA/NATURAL WORLD mantle for Su powers
- Paladin of FreedomUA - CG instead of LG, drops diplomacy for Bluff (feint in combat)
- Claw of the Sun and the AnkhCoV036:Horus-Re - P1:replace smite with bird of prey (d4 claws,3+CHA x/day)
- Vigilant Eye of HelmCoV051:Helm - P1: replace detect evil with always on Su:know greatest enemy
- Eternal OrderCoV039:Kelemvor - P1:replace smite with corpsestrike 1/day and undead knowledge
- Deity: Ilmater for the feat Broken One's Sacrifice, which pairs with GUARDIAN mantle. PLEASE HIT ME.
- Paladin of FreedomUA - CG instead of LG, drops diplomacy for Bluff (feint in combat)
- Claw of the Sun and the AnkhCoV036:Horus-Re - P1:replace smite with bird of prey (d4 claws,3+CHA x/day)
- Vigilant Eye of HelmCoV051:Helm - P1: replace detect evil with always on Su:know greatest enemy
- Eternal OrderCoV039:Kelemvor - P1:replace smite with corpsestrike 1/day and undead knowledge
- Deity: Ilmater for the feat Broken One's Sacrifice, which pairs with GUARDIAN mantle. PLEASE HIT ME.
-- Ranger: Track, Combat style, ACFs...
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max Concentration, moreSP, favored enemy, Track, wild empathy, Combat style, Kn(nature)-5r for +2 synergy for wild empathy, Kn(dungeon)-5r for tracking synergy, Kn(geography)-1r to permit roll, Bluff-5r gets synergy bonuses, Survival-5r for Tracking, cover these others as you like: Listen, Sense Motive, Spot
- L1: Arcane Hunter ACFCM to make your FE all arcane spellcasters.
- L1: Spiritual connection ACFCCh to swap wild empathy for SLA:3/day cast either speak with animals or speak with plants as second level caster.
- Ranger dips are blue for Slayer PrC builds.
- L1: Arcane Hunter ACFCM to make your FE all arcane spellcasters.
- L1: Spiritual connection ACFCCh to swap wild empathy for SLA:3/day cast either speak with animals or speak with plants as second level caster.
- Ranger dips are blue for Slayer PrC builds.
Full Ride Prestige Classes
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-- -- ThrallherdXPH152 - minions!
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/8-10 PrC: Thrallherd: XPH152: -/-/Thrallherd
Req's: Diplomacy:4r, Kn(psionics):8r. Feat: Inquisitor. Psionics: ML5, manifest mind-link.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Controller
Races: Human,Kalashtar,Aasimar
Mantles: Communication,Corruption/Madness,Death,Deception,Destruction,Elements,Life,Magic,The Planes
Analysis: First entry: CL5. Banbait, possibly game-breaking. At L1 get a cohort, and then start attracting followers. Capstone is another cohort. If any cohorts/followers ever die, get free replacements in 24 hours without having to do anything. No penalties to your “leadership score” for follower/cohort deaths, even if responsible for their death(s). Reduced cost of charm and dominate permit stacking Chain Power. Inquisitor feat gets a +10 bonus vs Bluff, then Thrallherd adds Sense Motive as a class skill. Consider a one-level dip of MarshalMHB30 for Motivate Dexterity as a Minor Aura and martial weapons.
Req's: Diplomacy:4r, Kn(psionics):8r. Feat: Inquisitor. Psionics: ML5, manifest mind-link.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Controller
Races: Human,Kalashtar,Aasimar
Mantles: Communication,Corruption/Madness,Death,Deception,Destruction,Elements,Life,Magic,The Planes
Analysis: First entry: CL5. Banbait, possibly game-breaking. At L1 get a cohort, and then start attracting followers. Capstone is another cohort. If any cohorts/followers ever die, get free replacements in 24 hours without having to do anything. No penalties to your “leadership score” for follower/cohort deaths, even if responsible for their death(s). Reduced cost of charm and dominate permit stacking Chain Power. Inquisitor feat gets a +10 bonus vs Bluff, then Thrallherd adds Sense Motive as a class skill. Consider a one-level dip of MarshalMHB30 for Motivate Dexterity as a Minor Aura and martial weapons.
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/5-10 PrC: Metamind: XPH147: -/-/Free manifesting 1st, 3/day
Req's: Kn(psionics)-8r, Psicraft-4r, Feat: Psicrystal Affinity. Psionics: ML4.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner/Blaster
Races: ?
Mantles: TIME,Corruption/Madness,Death,Deception,Destruction,Elements,Life,Magic,The Planes
Analysis: First entry: CL7. Banbait, possibly game breaking. 10 levels of Metamind delivers a capstone that lets you cast any power up to your ML, without having to pay even 1PP, for up to 10 rounds(1 minute) once per day. This sets up crazy spam combos... one build tops out at an ability to summon 180 elemental stewards across the course of that minute. If each elemental steward fires their ray and hits, that would be 720d6 hp damage and 180 chances for the bad guy to roll a 1 on saves.
Req's: Kn(psionics)-8r, Psicraft-4r, Feat: Psicrystal Affinity. Psionics: ML4.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner/Blaster
Races: ?
Mantles: TIME,Corruption/Madness,Death,Deception,Destruction,Elements,Life,Magic,The Planes
Analysis: First entry: CL7. Banbait, possibly game breaking. 10 levels of Metamind delivers a capstone that lets you cast any power up to your ML, without having to pay even 1PP, for up to 10 rounds(1 minute) once per day. This sets up crazy spam combos... one build tops out at an ability to summon 180 elemental stewards across the course of that minute. If each elemental steward fires their ray and hits, that would be 720d6 hp damage and 180 chances for the bad guy to roll a 1 on saves.
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L1 d6/4SP/0/0/0/2/10-10 PrC: Anarchic Initiate: CPsi018: -/-/Chaotic Surge (+/- up to 100% effects)
Req's: AL: any chaotic. Kn(psionics):8r, Kn(planes):8r, Special: Wild surge class feature or Overchannel feat.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Blaster/Sniper
Mantles: Energy,Forces,Magic
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. This is the only official, book-published, psionic PrC that offers full manifester level progression over all of its levels. Easy entry requirements, great class features, and a better chassis than the Psion. Increasing ML is better than decreasing costs. Chaotic surge is a free empower 50% of the time and makes this decent even as a L1 dip. L7 for the wild surge is good or L8 if you really want that postpone enervation. Capstone: expel targets that fail will save to Limbo... could simplify conflicts with debt collectors.
Req's: AL: any chaotic. Kn(psionics):8r, Kn(planes):8r, Special: Wild surge class feature or Overchannel feat.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Blaster/Sniper
Mantles: Energy,Forces,Magic
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. This is the only official, book-published, psionic PrC that offers full manifester level progression over all of its levels. Easy entry requirements, great class features, and a better chassis than the Psion. Increasing ML is better than decreasing costs. Chaotic surge is a free empower 50% of the time and makes this decent even as a L1 dip. L7 for the wild surge is good or L8 if you really want that postpone enervation. Capstone: expel targets that fail will save to Limbo... could simplify conflicts with debt collectors.
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/10-10 PrC: Psychic Theurge: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925b
-/-/+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class/+1 level of existing manifesting class
Req's: Kn(psionics):6r, Kn(religion):6r. cast 2nd-level divine spells. manifest 2nd-level powers
Roles: Primary Manifeser: Summoner/Booster
Analysis: First entry: CL7. Spontaneous caster class features fuel either a Healing focus via Cleric or Shaman or a Summoning focus via Druid. Having access to any one of these three spell lists opens up magic item use without resorting to UMD. Each also gives you summons spells so your Astral Constructs have buddies for combat at the bad guy's castle. The four CLs after the end of this 10-level PrC leave a number of options for further customization.
-/-/+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class/+1 level of existing manifesting class
Req's: Kn(psionics):6r, Kn(religion):6r. cast 2nd-level divine spells. manifest 2nd-level powers
Roles: Primary Manifeser: Summoner/Booster
Analysis: First entry: CL7. Spontaneous caster class features fuel either a Healing focus via Cleric or Shaman or a Summoning focus via Druid. Having access to any one of these three spell lists opens up magic item use without resorting to UMD. Each also gives you summons spells so your Astral Constructs have buddies for combat at the bad guy's castle. The four CLs after the end of this 10-level PrC leave a number of options for further customization.
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L1 d8/4SP/1/2/0/2/5-6 Prc: Sanctified Mind:LoM199 -/-/Incorporeal touch 1d6, uncarnate armor
Req's: AL: any non-evil. BAB+4, Kn(dungeoneering)-2r, Kn(psionics)-2r, Sense Motive-2r. Feat: Iron Will. WP: all martial weapons. Psionics: PP reserve of 1+.
Combat Role: Gish/Melee combatant
Mantles: Freedom,Conflict,Magic,Good,Light&Darkness,The Planes,Knowledge,Creation
Analysis: First Entry: CL5, assuming a one level dip for WP-all martial weapons. Full BAB and 5/6 ML for a 6 level PrC is potent, with Power Resistance as capstone. MoreHP, more SP. Listen, Spot, and Sense Motive are class skills, helping ardents with otherwise missing skills. Focused PrC, no wasted levels. Hard to hold anti-grapple feature well targeted against evil aberrations.
Req's: AL: any non-evil. BAB+4, Kn(dungeoneering)-2r, Kn(psionics)-2r, Sense Motive-2r. Feat: Iron Will. WP: all martial weapons. Psionics: PP reserve of 1+.
Combat Role: Gish/Melee combatant
Mantles: Freedom,Conflict,Magic,Good,Light&Darkness,The Planes,Knowledge,Creation
Analysis: First Entry: CL5, assuming a one level dip for WP-all martial weapons. Full BAB and 5/6 ML for a 6 level PrC is potent, with Power Resistance as capstone. MoreHP, more SP. Listen, Spot, and Sense Motive are class skills, helping ardents with otherwise missing skills. Focused PrC, no wasted levels. Hard to hold anti-grapple feature well targeted against evil aberrations.
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/6-10 Prc: Psion Uncarnate:XPH148 -/-/Incorporeal touch 1d6, uncarnate armor
Req's: Kn(psionics):8r, Psicraft:8r, Feat: Psionic Body. Psi: manifest 3rd-level powers. Special: Must have had some instruction by another psion uncarnate, have access to teachings of the Golden Mind, or belong to an org w/ access to or administered by the Golden Mind.
Note: at L10, you are permanently incorporeal. Until L3, no equip goes with you.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Force,Freedom,
Analysis: First entry: CL5. Because PU PrC requires Psionic Body, consider taking psionic feats at each opportunity over metapsionics. Become ghostly without being a ghost. A very odd PrC which loses four ML's. If you take it all, you won’t get 9th level powers. Instead, gain one of the best defensive abilities in 3.5e, and it’s always active, so let’s call it even.
Req's: Kn(psionics):8r, Psicraft:8r, Feat: Psionic Body. Psi: manifest 3rd-level powers. Special: Must have had some instruction by another psion uncarnate, have access to teachings of the Golden Mind, or belong to an org w/ access to or administered by the Golden Mind.
Note: at L10, you are permanently incorporeal. Until L3, no equip goes with you.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Force,Freedom,
Analysis: First entry: CL5. Because PU PrC requires Psionic Body, consider taking psionic feats at each opportunity over metapsionics. Become ghostly without being a ghost. A very odd PrC which loses four ML's. If you take it all, you won’t get 9th level powers. Instead, gain one of the best defensive abilities in 3.5e, and it’s always active, so let’s call it even.
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L1 d4/4SP/0/0/0/2/8-10 PrC: Constructor: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625b -/-/Advanced Construction
Reqs:Cr(any)-9r,FEAT:Boost Construct,ML5,Powers:astral construct, ecto protection, and psionic repair damage
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Creation,Guardian,Freedom,Time,Elements
Analysis: First Entry: CL6. PM Frontload accommodates the costs easily... learn Ecto Protection and Psionic Repair Damage as an Erudite. You can take Boost Construct feat at CL1 and Practiced Manifester as your Erudite bonus feat to avoid losing 2ML. Benefits: more SP, and Skill list drops Autohypnosis for Spot and Appraisal. Added abilities that improve the Astral Construct power, also required, which is one of the best powers in the game. These include new menu options to choose from, extra abilities for each construct created, a tenfold increase in the duration of your attack constructs, the option to create “utility constructs” which last 100 times longer, the ability to create more than one construct at a single time, and the ability to manifest Astral Construct as a Swift Action for the mere cost of your psionic focus.
Controversy! This PrC either wreaks havoc on the CPsi nerf to Astral Construct(yes), or the CPsi nerf wreaks havoc on it(no - read em both again). If your DM rules that the nerf applies to this PrC, this PrC becomes green.
Controversy! What does boost construct do for an AC manifested with ectopic form? RAW: "When you create an astral construct, you can give it one additional special ability from any menu that the construct currently has an ability from."
Thus, if it has an ability on a menu, you can pick an additional one. An Alabaster Aerial, who has both fly and deflection, and both on menu A, can therefore receive another power from menu A.
Reqs:Cr(any)-9r,FEAT:Boost Construct,ML5,Powers:astral construct, ecto protection, and psionic repair damage
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Creation,Guardian,Freedom,Time,Elements
Analysis: First Entry: CL6. PM Frontload accommodates the costs easily... learn Ecto Protection and Psionic Repair Damage as an Erudite. You can take Boost Construct feat at CL1 and Practiced Manifester as your Erudite bonus feat to avoid losing 2ML. Benefits: more SP, and Skill list drops Autohypnosis for Spot and Appraisal. Added abilities that improve the Astral Construct power, also required, which is one of the best powers in the game. These include new menu options to choose from, extra abilities for each construct created, a tenfold increase in the duration of your attack constructs, the option to create “utility constructs” which last 100 times longer, the ability to create more than one construct at a single time, and the ability to manifest Astral Construct as a Swift Action for the mere cost of your psionic focus.
Controversy! This PrC either wreaks havoc on the CPsi nerf to Astral Construct(yes), or the CPsi nerf wreaks havoc on it(no - read em both again). If your DM rules that the nerf applies to this PrC, this PrC becomes green.
Controversy! What does boost construct do for an AC manifested with ectopic form? RAW: "When you create an astral construct, you can give it one additional special ability from any menu that the construct currently has an ability from."
Thus, if it has an ability on a menu, you can pick an additional one. An Alabaster Aerial, who has both fly and deflection, and both on menu A, can therefore receive another power from menu A.
-- -- Dead Heart InterrogatorPII011 - affect fey and outsiders with mind-affecting powers!
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/4-10 PrC: Dead Heart Interrogator: PII011 -/-/Readthoughts, secular authority
Req's: nongood. Bluff-4r, Diplomacy-4r, Intimidate-4r, Sense Motive-4r. Feats:Inquisitor, Skill Focus(Sense Motive). ML3, Power: read thoughts. Spells: able to cast 2nd-level arcane or divine spells
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. half BAB progression and no +CL/ML on both classes? capstone is ability to mind probe creatures with 5+ INT that are normally immune. That being said, being able to brain-strip immunes is pretty tempting.
DHI: "I will pull the information from your mind!"
Demon: "That wont work, foolish mortal!"
DHI: (non-good laughter)
Demon: (screams)
DHI: "You really don't have much in there, do you?
Req's: nongood. Bluff-4r, Diplomacy-4r, Intimidate-4r, Sense Motive-4r. Feats:Inquisitor, Skill Focus(Sense Motive). ML3, Power: read thoughts. Spells: able to cast 2nd-level arcane or divine spells
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. half BAB progression and no +CL/ML on both classes? capstone is ability to mind probe creatures with 5+ INT that are normally immune. That being said, being able to brain-strip immunes is pretty tempting.
DHI: "I will pull the information from your mind!"
Demon: "That wont work, foolish mortal!"
DHI: (non-good laughter)
Demon: (screams)
DHI: "You really don't have much in there, do you?
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/10-10 PrC: Psiologist: PII030 -/-/Psioligism
Req's: AL:Lawful Kn(psionics):12r, Psicraft:12r. Feats:Psionic Affinity, Skill Focus(Kn[psionics]), Skill Focus(Psicraft), any two metapsionic feats. Psionics:Able to manifest 5th-level powers. Special:Must have trained in at least three different psionic academies or schools and must still be a member in good standing in one of them.
Analysis: First entry: CL9. After taking all 10 levels, Psiologists get... +3ML for purposes of augmenting powers (stacks with Overchannel), -2PP cost when using *A* metapsionic feat (no reduction to original power cost), quicken a power 2/day as if you had the feat, manifest a power from a chosen discipline as if you had +2ML once a day, and once a day cast a power from your chosen discilpline as if both maximized and empowered. if everything lines up, you should be able to manifest a power up to 27th ML and tack on a metapsionic feat for free. Psiologist's 5 feat investment makes it not a "get rich quick" scheme, but a "get rich big" scheme. With Dominant Ideal removing the loss of psionic focus, the huge once a day blast can be followed up by your regular manifesting without interruption and your psionic focus buffs stay in play.
Req's: AL:Lawful Kn(psionics):12r, Psicraft:12r. Feats:Psionic Affinity, Skill Focus(Kn[psionics]), Skill Focus(Psicraft), any two metapsionic feats. Psionics:Able to manifest 5th-level powers. Special:Must have trained in at least three different psionic academies or schools and must still be a member in good standing in one of them.
Analysis: First entry: CL9. After taking all 10 levels, Psiologists get... +3ML for purposes of augmenting powers (stacks with Overchannel), -2PP cost when using *A* metapsionic feat (no reduction to original power cost), quicken a power 2/day as if you had the feat, manifest a power from a chosen discipline as if you had +2ML once a day, and once a day cast a power from your chosen discilpline as if both maximized and empowered. if everything lines up, you should be able to manifest a power up to 27th ML and tack on a metapsionic feat for free. Psiologist's 5 feat investment makes it not a "get rich quick" scheme, but a "get rich big" scheme. With Dominant Ideal removing the loss of psionic focus, the huge once a day blast can be followed up by your regular manifesting without interruption and your psionic focus buffs stay in play.
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L1 d10/2SP/0/2/0/0/8-10 PrC: Iron Mind: RoS114: -/-/ Armored mind 1/day
Req's: BAB+3, Concentration:8r, Feats: Armor Proficiency (heavy), Invest Armor*, Iron Will. Powers: manifest one 1st-level psionic power.
Mantles: Justice,Conflict,Law,Freedom(DimensionHop,60'fly),Pain,Time
Races:
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. Unlike Psions or Wilders, Ardents get Armor Proficiency: Heavy. You totally got this. Time to tank. At IM:3, Mind Over Body permits use of Will save instead of FORT or REF. At IM:5,Mettle of Will negates the other half of "Save Will for half/partial". Consider 5 level dip at most. Consider frontloading L1 Marshal dip to get the "Motivate Dexterity" aura for your allies and martial weapon pro's. For taunting, consider using Psychic confusion and proximity. Also, you'll want your psionic crafted armor to be able to teleport you around the battlefield.
Req's: BAB+3, Concentration:8r, Feats: Armor Proficiency (heavy), Invest Armor*, Iron Will. Powers: manifest one 1st-level psionic power.
Mantles: Justice,Conflict,Law,Freedom(DimensionHop,60'fly),Pain,Time
Races:
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. Unlike Psions or Wilders, Ardents get Armor Proficiency: Heavy. You totally got this. Time to tank. At IM:3, Mind Over Body permits use of Will save instead of FORT or REF. At IM:5,Mettle of Will negates the other half of "Save Will for half/partial". Consider 5 level dip at most. Consider frontloading L1 Marshal dip to get the "Motivate Dexterity" aura for your allies and martial weapon pro's. For taunting, consider using Psychic confusion and proximity. Also, you'll want your psionic crafted armor to be able to teleport you around the battlefield.
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L1 d4/2SP/0/2/0/2/9-10 PrC: Tattooist: PII040 -/-/Exceptional scribing, improved tattoo
Req's: Pr(tattooist):10r, Psicraft:10r.Feats:Scribe Tattoo, Skill Focus(Pr[tattooist]). Psionics:manifest 4th-level powers.
Benefits: Scribe more tattoos per day, tattoos get resistance bonuses to being dispelled, craft crawling tattoos without taking the Craft Universal Item feat, raise level of highest level power you can craft as a tattoo from 3 to 9, add Forgery to class skills.
Analysis: First entry: CL7. Wow! 9th level powers at psionic tattoos!
Req's: Pr(tattooist):10r, Psicraft:10r.Feats:Scribe Tattoo, Skill Focus(Pr[tattooist]). Psionics:manifest 4th-level powers.
Benefits: Scribe more tattoos per day, tattoos get resistance bonuses to being dispelled, craft crawling tattoos without taking the Craft Universal Item feat, raise level of highest level power you can craft as a tattoo from 3 to 9, add Forgery to class skills.
Analysis: First entry: CL7. Wow! 9th level powers at psionic tattoos!
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L1 d6/4SP/0/0/2/2/7-10 PrC: Shadowmind: CAd074 -/-/Bonus power:Read Thoughts,+1level/existing manifester class
Reqs:Cr(any):BAB+3,Hide-5r,Move Silently-5r,Sleight of Hand-3r,ML3,able to manifest concealing amorpha
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Deception,Freedom,Fate
Analysis: First Entry: CL4. Intended or not, Shadowmind is a zipper class between Ardent and PsyRogue. Across 10 levels, Shadowmind loses three ML, but gains three bonus powers. Further, if you read the "Adaptation" section, you can adapt this PrC by substituting another 3 powers. That coupled with the Ardent Substitute Powers ACF means you have a large amount of flex in the final power class list at the end. Also, the fastest entry crosses PsyRogue, picking up EVASION, and TRAPFINDING. Shadowmind continues to have Search and Disable Device on the skill list, so the TRAPFINDING can grow as you level. By exit, both DD and search could be 15 ranks. Sneak attacks from PsyRogue also stack with sneak attack from Shadowmind. For Uncanny Dodge, take the power Danger Sense in the Fate mantle and augment it. After the smoke clears, Shadowmind does moderately well at welding Ardent and PsyRogue together, especially with ACF support.
Backstory: Other guides give Shadowmind negate reviews. If taken out of context, Shadowmind could be seen as negative. On 23-JUL-2004, WoTC published an article describing the Psychic Rogue base class, here: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723d. WoTC first printed Complete Adventurer in January, 2005. Instead of including Psychic Rogue, Spellthief was included with a footnote paragraph at the foot of CAd020, leaving it up to DMs to rule whether Spellthief affects both spells and powers. Meanwhile, WoTC went ahead and included Shadowmind on CAd077, which has what looks like high requirements for psionic characters. Manifesting concealing amorpha could happen at Psion3 / PsyWar4 / Wilder4 / PsyRogue5. Of these classes, either PsyRogue or Spellthief could fill all the skill req's in a 2 level dip. At CL3 Ardent can fill the concealing amorpha req with Practiced Manifester feat, and the next nearest class that could manifest concealing amorpha is Psion at CL5. This means PsyRogue2/Ardent1 enters Shadowmind1 at CL4, and PsyRogue2/Psion3 enters at CL6.
Reqs:Cr(any):BAB+3,Hide-5r,Move Silently-5r,Sleight of Hand-3r,ML3,able to manifest concealing amorpha
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Deception,Freedom,Fate
Analysis: First Entry: CL4. Intended or not, Shadowmind is a zipper class between Ardent and PsyRogue. Across 10 levels, Shadowmind loses three ML, but gains three bonus powers. Further, if you read the "Adaptation" section, you can adapt this PrC by substituting another 3 powers. That coupled with the Ardent Substitute Powers ACF means you have a large amount of flex in the final power class list at the end. Also, the fastest entry crosses PsyRogue, picking up EVASION, and TRAPFINDING. Shadowmind continues to have Search and Disable Device on the skill list, so the TRAPFINDING can grow as you level. By exit, both DD and search could be 15 ranks. Sneak attacks from PsyRogue also stack with sneak attack from Shadowmind. For Uncanny Dodge, take the power Danger Sense in the Fate mantle and augment it. After the smoke clears, Shadowmind does moderately well at welding Ardent and PsyRogue together, especially with ACF support.
Backstory: Other guides give Shadowmind negate reviews. If taken out of context, Shadowmind could be seen as negative. On 23-JUL-2004, WoTC published an article describing the Psychic Rogue base class, here: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040723d. WoTC first printed Complete Adventurer in January, 2005. Instead of including Psychic Rogue, Spellthief was included with a footnote paragraph at the foot of CAd020, leaving it up to DMs to rule whether Spellthief affects both spells and powers. Meanwhile, WoTC went ahead and included Shadowmind on CAd077, which has what looks like high requirements for psionic characters. Manifesting concealing amorpha could happen at Psion3 / PsyWar4 / Wilder4 / PsyRogue5. Of these classes, either PsyRogue or Spellthief could fill all the skill req's in a 2 level dip. At CL3 Ardent can fill the concealing amorpha req with Practiced Manifester feat, and the next nearest class that could manifest concealing amorpha is Psion at CL5. This means PsyRogue2/Ardent1 enters Shadowmind1 at CL4, and PsyRogue2/Psion3 enters at CL6.
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/13-13 PrC: Soul Manifester: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20060217a -/-/Psionic investment 1,+1 level of existing meldshaping class and existing psionic class
Reqs: AL: Any non-good, Feat: Lunatic Insight (tainted), manifest any 4th-level power, Taint: Mild depravity
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Booster
Mantles: Evil, Death, Consumption
Analysis: First Entry: CL7. Ardents are high CON, high WIS characters that are somewhat resistant to taint. It's possible to rack up a taint score of 20, which then converts to bonus PP/day. These guys are also the twisted guys that create phthisics, tainted minions, and callers in darkness. IF you don't have a good grasp on callers in darkness, consider watching the 1999 film House on Haunted Hill for reference.
Reqs: AL: Any non-good, Feat: Lunatic Insight (tainted), manifest any 4th-level power, Taint: Mild depravity
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Booster
Mantles: Evil, Death, Consumption
Analysis: First Entry: CL7. Ardents are high CON, high WIS characters that are somewhat resistant to taint. It's possible to rack up a taint score of 20, which then converts to bonus PP/day. These guys are also the twisted guys that create phthisics, tainted minions, and callers in darkness. IF you don't have a good grasp on callers in darkness, consider watching the 1999 film House on Haunted Hill for reference.
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L1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/13-13 PrC: Soul Manifester: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20060217a -/-/Psionic investment 1,+1 level of existing meldshaping class and existing psionic class
Reqs: AL: Any non-good, Feat: Lunatic Insight (tainted), manifest any 4th-level power, Taint: Mild depravity
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Booster
Mantles: ?
Analysis: First Entry: CL9.
Reqs: AL: Any non-good, Feat: Lunatic Insight (tainted), manifest any 4th-level power, Taint: Mild depravity
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Booster
Mantles: ?
Analysis: First Entry: CL9.
-- -- (Illithid) SlayerXPH146,SRD - SRD version permits choosing a race other than illithid for Favored Enemy. Capstone is Blast reflection. Blue for SRD only campaigns.
-- -- Flayerspawn PsychicCPsi030 - Sanctified Mind totally has this PrC's number
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L1 d6/2SP/0/0/0/2/6-10 Prc: Flayerspawn Psychic: CSci030: -/-/llithid Blast (15-ft. cone, stun 1d4 rounds)
Req's: manifest psionic charm, Kn(psionics)-8r,Feat: Illithid Heritage. Language: Undercommon.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Deception,Freedom,Fate
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. Slowly turn into an illithid. Blue for horror themed campaigns. Note that the Illithid Blast here is a Supernatural ability, not Spell-like, as the feat. Consider "Widen Supernatural Ability" and "Empower Supernatural Ability" in ToM.
Controversy! Text in PrC’s CPsi writeup states that the Illithid Blast feature of this class is a Supernatural ability that includes gaining the Illithid Blast feat. That feat says that the effect produced is a psi-like ability, but the PrC text over-rides the feat text. If your DM reviews and rules this feature is Spell-like, the PrC is definitely red because the lost manifester levels aren’t worth the exchange. Confirm with your DM which option he or she will enforce before giving this PrC any consideration.
Req's: manifest psionic charm, Kn(psionics)-8r,Feat: Illithid Heritage. Language: Undercommon.
Combat Role: Primary Manifester: Summoner
Mantles: Deception,Freedom,Fate
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. Slowly turn into an illithid. Blue for horror themed campaigns. Note that the Illithid Blast here is a Supernatural ability, not Spell-like, as the feat. Consider "Widen Supernatural Ability" and "Empower Supernatural Ability" in ToM.
Controversy! Text in PrC’s CPsi writeup states that the Illithid Blast feature of this class is a Supernatural ability that includes gaining the Illithid Blast feat. That feat says that the effect produced is a psi-like ability, but the PrC text over-rides the feat text. If your DM reviews and rules this feature is Spell-like, the PrC is definitely red because the lost manifester levels aren’t worth the exchange. Confirm with your DM which option he or she will enforce before giving this PrC any consideration.
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L1 d6/2SP/0/0/0/2/9-10 Prc: Quori Mindhunter:MoE077 -/-/Immunity to possession, psychic seep, sleepless mind
Req's: AL: non-evil, Concentration:9r, Feats: Iron Will, Narrow Mind*, Psionics: thought shield*. Special: Must lure and defeat a quori spirit in a dreamstate combat.
Notes: good mechanics, but leaves the door open to DM plot.
Analysis: First entry: CL6. Eberron specific? better BAB, and lose one ML. Three bonus powers known. On the other hand, the more interesting powers of the PrC involve possession, which is a rather rare campaign feature, and the prerequisites are crappy. If you don't like thought shield as a power, learn it as an Erudite. Use the Erudite bonus feat to take Narrow Mind. Iron Will can be your CL1 feat.
Req's: AL: non-evil, Concentration:9r, Feats: Iron Will, Narrow Mind*, Psionics: thought shield*. Special: Must lure and defeat a quori spirit in a dreamstate combat.
Notes: good mechanics, but leaves the door open to DM plot.
Analysis: First entry: CL6. Eberron specific? better BAB, and lose one ML. Three bonus powers known. On the other hand, the more interesting powers of the PrC involve possession, which is a rather rare campaign feature, and the prerequisites are crappy. If you don't like thought shield as a power, learn it as an Erudite. Use the Erudite bonus feat to take Narrow Mind. Iron Will can be your CL1 feat.
-- -- TekchachakPII041
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L1 d4/4SP/0/0/0/2/5-5 PrC: Tekchachak: PII041 -/-/Egg mind,reputation
Req's: Diplomacy:5r.Feats:Alertness, Teamwork. Psionics:Able to manifest 2nd-level powers.
Race:Thri-kreen or tohr-kreen.
Req's: Diplomacy:5r.Feats:Alertness, Teamwork. Psionics:Able to manifest 2nd-level powers.
Race:Thri-kreen or tohr-kreen.
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L1 d8/4SP/1/2/0/0/9-10 PrC: Kreen Slayer: PCI023 sim+mar/all/favored enemy(kreen)+2
Req's: Race: Elf or half-elf. Feats: Run, Track. WP: proficient in all martial weapons.
Psi: manifest 3rd level psionic powers. Special: Must have single-handedly slain a thri-kreen
Req's: Race: Elf or half-elf. Feats: Run, Track. WP: proficient in all martial weapons.
Psi: manifest 3rd level psionic powers. Special: Must have single-handedly slain a thri-kreen
-- -- SenseiPII035 as a zipper PrC for Monk and Ardent. Blue if GM accepts fixes.
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L1 d8/2SP/1/2/0/2/8-10 PrC: The Sensei: PII035 simple+/-/ACbonus, fast movement, fighting style, unarmed strike
Req's: BAB+4. Autohypnosis:3r, Concentration:7r, Jump:4r, Tumble:5r.Feats:Imp.Unarmed Strike or Weapon Focus(any) and Psionic Meditation. Psionics:Able to manifest 2nd-level powers.
Analysis: First Entry: CL5, with 2 level PsyWar/Skilled City Dweller(Ride->Tumble) or 2 levels of Monk frontload. If you are aiming for an armed fighting style, then Ranger frontload is better, but if aiming for unarmed fighting style, the Monk frontload is preferred. Monk frontload stacks for Unarmed damage, and the untyped Monk bonuses to AC stack with Sensei's insight bonus to AC. Whichever style you pick, fighting style gives you the ability to sac psi focus for +2d6 damage, then +4d6, then touch attacks with your chosen style.
Controversy! This PrC references "Improved Psionic Fist" and "Improved Psionic Weapon". These references may intend to reference "Greater Psionic Fist" and "Greater Psionic Weapon". Also, in one place, the PrC appears to reference "Improved Psionic Weapon" while discussing the unarmed style. Check with your GM to confirm that he/she agrees with this interpretation. If not, this PrC is red, and you are better off with Psionic Fist PrC for the unarmed style.
Req's: BAB+4. Autohypnosis:3r, Concentration:7r, Jump:4r, Tumble:5r.Feats:Imp.Unarmed Strike or Weapon Focus(any) and Psionic Meditation. Psionics:Able to manifest 2nd-level powers.
Analysis: First Entry: CL5, with 2 level PsyWar/Skilled City Dweller(Ride->Tumble) or 2 levels of Monk frontload. If you are aiming for an armed fighting style, then Ranger frontload is better, but if aiming for unarmed fighting style, the Monk frontload is preferred. Monk frontload stacks for Unarmed damage, and the untyped Monk bonuses to AC stack with Sensei's insight bonus to AC. Whichever style you pick, fighting style gives you the ability to sac psi focus for +2d6 damage, then +4d6, then touch attacks with your chosen style.
Controversy! This PrC references "Improved Psionic Fist" and "Improved Psionic Weapon". These references may intend to reference "Greater Psionic Fist" and "Greater Psionic Weapon". Also, in one place, the PrC appears to reference "Improved Psionic Weapon" while discussing the unarmed style. Check with your GM to confirm that he/she agrees with this interpretation. If not, this PrC is red, and you are better off with Psionic Fist PrC for the unarmed style.
Prestige Class Dips
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-- -- Cognition ThiefPGtF174:late one level dip to get Psychic Chirurgy and Mind Probe.
-- -- Psionic MonkPCI034:2 level dip for Evasion, bonus feat, and Skill boost+10.
-- -- SangehirnM'sE:late 3 level dip for Healing Touch, Touch versions of Body Adjustment, Touch version of Sustenance or possibly Psychic Chirurgy, if Substitute Powers ACF was disallowed by GM.
-- -- Prestige SoulknifePCI044:1 level dip for throw mindblade. Follow with 1 level dip into Soulbow to grab Zen Archery.
-- -- Diamond DragonDrM030:1 level dip for +1 unnamed bonus to CON, Green for 4 level dip for claws and breath weapon, Black for 6 level dip for +2 unnamed bonus to CON and wings that won't fly you with heavy armor
-- -- AuditorPII008:3 level dip for bonus feat, Contact, and Fast Gathering. Blue in an illiterate society
-- -- ElocaterXPH142:1 level dip for Scorn Earth, Sidestep Charge. Blue for Dwarf subtypes or Gish builds
-- -- Quori NightmareRoE148:3 level dip gets you 3 Supernatural abilities, keyed off of CHA save DCs. Blue for CHA builds.
-- -- Drake GuardianPII014:
-- -- Crystal MasterM'sE:gems above 4th aren't worth the levels.
-- -- Ectopic AdeptCPsi027):Black. 3 level dip lets you manifest Astral Construct power as standard action 3/day. Better PrC for Psion/Shaper, unless you have enough INT based bonus SP to maintain Pr(Sculpture).
-- -- Chameleon PrcRoD111
-- -- Psionic MonkPCI034:2 level dip for Evasion, bonus feat, and Skill boost+10.
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L1 d8/4SP/0/2/2/2/0-10 PrC: Psionic Monk: PCI034: -/-/Flurry of blows, skill boost +10, AC bonus
Req's: Concentration:2r, Jump:7r. Feats: Imp.Unarmed Strike, Psionic Fist. Psi: Must have a power point reserve.
Req's: Concentration:2r, Jump:7r. Feats: Imp.Unarmed Strike, Psionic Fist. Psi: Must have a power point reserve.
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L1 D6/4SP/0/2/0/2/9-10 PrC: Sangehirn http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625c -/-/Healing focus
Req's: Heal-9r. Mind Over Body, Psionic Body, ML5.
Analysis: First Entry: CL6. Healing focus and DR1/- are sort of who-cares. Healing touch is the reason to take 3 levels. May be a good finish for Psion Uncarnate or PsyTheurge.
Req's: Heal-9r. Mind Over Body, Psionic Body, ML5.
Analysis: First Entry: CL6. Healing focus and DR1/- are sort of who-cares. Healing touch is the reason to take 3 levels. May be a good finish for Psion Uncarnate or PsyTheurge.
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L1 d10/2SP/1/0/2/2/0-10 PrC: Soulknife: PCI044: simple+/li+sh/mindblade, throw mindblade
Req's: BAB+3. Kn(psionics):4r. Psi: Must have a power point reserve.
Req's: BAB+3. Kn(psionics):4r. Psi: Must have a power point reserve.
-- -- AuditorPII008:3 level dip for bonus feat, Contact, and Fast Gathering. Blue in an illiterate society
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L1 d6/4SP/0/0/0/2/8-10 Prc: Auditor: PII008 simple+/-/Contact 1x per week
Req's: Gather Info-8r, Listen-5r, Spot-5r. Feats:Inquisitor, Skill Focus(Sense Motive), Psionics:Able to manifest 3rd-level powers.
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. Flavor-wise, this PrC makes sense in an illiterate society with psions. Without wide-spread book-keeping you sort of have to check honesty through the brains of the people handling the goods. "Contact" is a good fit for face characters. Skill Focus on Sense Motive means that even without spending PP on psionics, this PC should be able to tell when someone is lying.
Req's: Gather Info-8r, Listen-5r, Spot-5r. Feats:Inquisitor, Skill Focus(Sense Motive), Psionics:Able to manifest 3rd-level powers.
Analysis: First Entry: CL5. Flavor-wise, this PrC makes sense in an illiterate society with psions. Without wide-spread book-keeping you sort of have to check honesty through the brains of the people handling the goods. "Contact" is a good fit for face characters. Skill Focus on Sense Motive means that even without spending PP on psionics, this PC should be able to tell when someone is lying.
-- -- Quori NightmareRoE148:3 level dip gets you 3 Supernatural abilities, keyed off of CHA save DCs. Blue for CHA builds.
-- -- Drake GuardianPII014:
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L1 d8/2SP/0/2/2/2/8-10 PrC: Drake Guardian: PII014 -/-/Elemental affinity, elemental power
Req's: BAB+3. Kn(planes)-8r, Survival-5r. Feats:Great Fortitude. Spells:cast protection from energy as a divine spell.
Psionics: manifest energy bolt. Special: Must be accepted and initiated by a drake.
Analysis: only advances ML or divine CL at any given level. This is at least graceful letting you decide cutoff.
Req's: BAB+3. Kn(planes)-8r, Survival-5r. Feats:Great Fortitude. Spells:cast protection from energy as a divine spell.
Psionics: manifest energy bolt. Special: Must be accepted and initiated by a drake.
Analysis: only advances ML or divine CL at any given level. This is at least graceful letting you decide cutoff.
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L1 D4/4SP/0/2/0/2/8-10 PrC: Crystal Master: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625d -/-/Improved Psicrystal
Req's: Kn(gemology)-4r, Craft(gemcutting)- 4r, Psicrystal Affinity, Psicrystal Containment,ML5.
Analysis: First Entry: CL5.
Req's: Kn(gemology)-4r, Craft(gemcutting)- 4r, Psicrystal Affinity, Psicrystal Containment,ML5.
Analysis: First Entry: CL5.
-- -- Ectopic AdeptCPsi027):Black. 3 level dip lets you manifest Astral Construct power as standard action 3/day. Better PrC for Psion/Shaper, unless you have enough INT based bonus SP to maintain Pr(Sculpture).
-- -- Chameleon PrcRoD111
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Race: Human Changeling or Doppelganger. Bluff-8r, Disguise-8r, Sense Motive-4r, Spellcraft-4r. Feat: Able LearnerRoD150
L1 D8/4SP/0/0/0/0/0PP+NUL/- Aptitude focus 1/day (+2) 4 2 0
L2 D8/4SP/1/0/0/0/0PP+NUL/- Bonus feat 4 3 1
L3 D8/4SP/2/1/1/1/0PP+NUL/- Mimic class feature 1/day 4 3 2 0
CL1 FEAT:Able Learner
CL1 RACE:Human +1SP/level, +1FEAT:Nymph's Kiss: +2 circumstance bonus on all Charisma-related checks,
+1 bonus on all saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities.
Starting with the level when you take this feat, you gain 1 extra skill point per level.
Brd1 d6/6SP/0/0/2/2/0PP+NUL/- Bard (PHB026) simple+/li+sh/Bardic music, Bardic Sage:bardic knowledge(1+2+INT), countersong, inspire courage+1(5rounds-2=3), fascinate(5rounds-2=3)
Skills: Bluff:4r, Disguise:4r, Kn(History):4r, Sense Motive:4r, Psicraft:2r, Concentration:4r,?:4r,?:1r
Psi1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/2PP+INT/3 Psion (XPB019) simple-/none/Bonus feat, discipline:Shaper, Powers known:3
Skills: Kn(history):4r->5r(bardic knowledge becomes 5+INT),Bluff:4r->5r
--------see Obscure Lore feat (CAdv111) for +4 to Bardic Knowledge
L1 D8/4SP/0/0/0/0/0PP+NUL/- Aptitude focus 1/day (+2) 4 2 0
L2 D8/4SP/1/0/0/0/0PP+NUL/- Bonus feat 4 3 1
L3 D8/4SP/2/1/1/1/0PP+NUL/- Mimic class feature 1/day 4 3 2 0
CL1 FEAT:Able Learner
CL1 RACE:Human +1SP/level, +1FEAT:Nymph's Kiss: +2 circumstance bonus on all Charisma-related checks,
+1 bonus on all saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities.
Starting with the level when you take this feat, you gain 1 extra skill point per level.
Brd1 d6/6SP/0/0/2/2/0PP+NUL/- Bard (PHB026) simple+/li+sh/Bardic music, Bardic Sage:bardic knowledge(1+2+INT), countersong, inspire courage+1(5rounds-2=3), fascinate(5rounds-2=3)
Skills: Bluff:4r, Disguise:4r, Kn(History):4r, Sense Motive:4r, Psicraft:2r, Concentration:4r,?:4r,?:1r
Psi1 d4/2SP/0/0/0/2/2PP+INT/3 Psion (XPB019) simple-/none/Bonus feat, discipline:Shaper, Powers known:3
Skills: Kn(history):4r->5r(bardic knowledge becomes 5+INT),Bluff:4r->5r
--------see Obscure Lore feat (CAdv111) for +4 to Bardic Knowledge
14
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Mantles II
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:51:02 PM »
MANTLES (CONT)
LIGHT&DARKNESS
When you gain this mantle, choose to gain low-light vision OR darkvision out to 60feet. Already have both?
Double range of LLV OR add 30 feet to range of DV.
1 Control LightA: Adjust ambient light levels. You also gain an augmentation option unavailable to other manifesters of this power.
Augment: If you spend 4 additional power points, you can create the effect of a daylight or darkness spell.
1 ElfsightXPH098: Gain low-light vision, +2 bonus on Search and Spot checks, and notice secret doors.
ACF Sensory GloomCPsi098: FORT save or override subject's nervous system to diminish senses
ACF SynestheteXPH134: Feel light or feel sound to work around blindness/deafness or +4 circumstance to Listen or +4 circumstance to Spot and Search with immunity to gaze attacks.
1 My LightA: Your eyes emit 20-ft. cone of light.
2 Claws of DarknessA,CPsi081: Gain claw attacks and slow grappled targets.
+3 Secret Page, PsionicSoS
ACF: Ubiquitous VisionCPsi139
4 Light BeamA,CPsi092: Deal 5d6-18d6 damage in 120-ft. line as a light, shadow, or darkness beam w/ additional effects.
ACF Shadow EftA,CPsi096: Summon a shadow eft. Augment to summon 4 total.
ACF Mind's EyeSoS133 - Augment: 6 additional power points allows the mind's eye to hear as well as see.
5 Shadow Walk, PsionicCPsi098: Step into shadow to travel rapidly.
+6 Form of DoomA,XPH108: transform into a generic tentacled nitemare beast, gain +5 nat AC, DR5/-, STR+4, 4 additional attacks, frightful presence(CHA!!!). just the thing for bumping into others in the dark.
+7 Blackwater MindSto126 targets using Telepathy on you must Will save or be blind,dazed, and shaken for 2d6 rounds (bet they wished they had Synesthete)
8 Light BurstA,CPsi092: As SunburstPHB285. 80-burst AoE REF save or blinded and 6d6-11d6 hp damage, MLd6 for undead, fungi,mold,oozes, & slimes. half damage on successful save.
+9 Stygian ConflagrationA,CPsi100: Pillar of black flame bestows negative levels on those in its path.
Ability: Gain low-light or dark vision if you don't have it or double your vision in said conditions if you already had it. Great ability for humans.
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
ACF: Add Stygian Conflagration, Blackwater Mind, and Form of Doom.
Do one of the following:
add Secret Page and drop Elflight, or
sub Sensory Gloom for Elflight. or
sub Synesthete for Elflight
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "Now some feasible choices are available. Between Light Beam and Shadow Walk, even the original power list seems like a natural foil for the Force mantle. Blackwater Mind seems like a stiff caution for mental pickpockets... 'stay out or while yer dazed and can't see us, we'll visit you in our nifty new Form of Doom with Claws of Shadow'. Unlike pre-ACF, this mantle starts to feel like a mantle.
Light Burst is a nice AoE blind.
Shadow walk is good utility for fast travel, rather than combat. It's also a way to escape Ectoplasmic Cocoons/Wall of Force.
Use My Light to create a light and therefore shadows to step into for Shadow Walk."
Uses: Samb had a negative opinion of this mantle. He found that the granted ability was great, but the original power list to be under-powered. This mantle seems usable as more than just Dorje bait now.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:17
CHAOS
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to nonchaotic creatures.
+1d6 points of damage with a melee/ranged attack or a spell that deals damage.
1 Destiny Dissonance: Your dissonant touch sickens a foe.
1 Matter Agitation: You heat a creature or object.
2 Distracting Shout*A: Distract opponents with your powerful shout.
ACF Id Insinuation
+3 Eradicate Invisibility
4 Personality Parasite: Subject's mind calves self antagonistic splinter personality for 1 round/level.
5 Catapsi: Psychic static inhibits power manifestation.
6 Inconstant Location*A: Make swift instantaneous moves in combat.
+7 Planar Champion*A (summons a cerebrilith to fight for you)
ACF Decerebrate
8 Chaos Fissure*: Wild surge and wild magicMotP014 apply to psionic powers and spells.
+9 Metamorphosis, Greater
Ability: aligned strike (chaos) which is meh at higher levels.
Powers: 7 powers before ACF
samb: "The powers in general are okay (catapsi and matter agitation), but gish players should pay attention to inconstant location. For 11 PP you can teleport anywhere you can see as a free action for 10 rounds. So you blink in full attack, blink to the next guy. Or blink out of danger and not provoke AoOs. Pretty darn good IMO. Then there's chaos fissure which gives you wild surge. It doesn't say how much wild surge it gives you but the thought that you can get wild surge as a power is intriguing."
bgatesvoodoodoll: Chaos Fissure for the win. The wild magic planar trait is defined on Manual of the Planes p14. Summon Planar Champion gets you a CE Cerebrilith. Otherwise, adding "chaotic" powers means adding spells that break/disrupt or at least add to chaos. Thus, Eradicate Invisibility, Decerebrate, and Gr Metamorphosis. These alignment mantles aren't very good in comparison to their brothers, the cleric domains. I would only take these as secondary mantles.
Uses: samb: "This mantle has potential at higher levels for gish builds, but even in early and mid levels powers like matter agitation and catapsi have their uses. Never a dominant mantle since not very many powers benefit from augments or metapower. Not enough good powers to really make it a primary either."
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 4
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:14
NATURAL WORLD
Gain the wild empathy class feature(PHB35), except the result is determined by 1d20 + ML + your CHA modifier.
1 Chameleon: Gain +10 enhancement bonus on Hide checks.
ACF Endure ElementsSoS - Augment: Each additional PP allows you to affect one additional creature.
ACF Psychic TrackingDS3.5 - use Psicraft rolls to track
1 Metaphysical ClawA: Your natural weapon gains +1bonus.
ACF:Claws of the Beast (if you don't get claws some other way.)
-1 Stone Mind*A: Gain bonuses on Search checks while standing on stone or earth.
2 Animal AffinityA: Gain +4 enhancement to one ability.
2 Psionic Scent: Gain the scent ability.
ACF Concentrate WaterDS3.5
+3 Dispel Psionics
ACF Water BornSto127 - aquatic subtype, amphibious, breathe water, swim speed
4 Metamorphosis: Assume shape of creature or object.
5 Oak BodyA: Your body becomes as hard as oak.
ACF: Crystallize: Turn subject permanently to crystal - FORT save or lose
ACF Neutralize Outsider PSc
ACF: Ethshar: Adapt Body
+6 Suspend Life or Overland Flight, Psionic
7 Animate Plants, Psionic*: One or more plants animate and fight for you.
ACF Neutralize Area PSc
+8 Recall death - Will save or die. 5d6 damage on successful save.
9 Earthquake, Psionic*: Intense tremor shakes 5-ft./levelradius.
Ability: Gain Wild empathy - needs a CHA build to make it work well. Remember, for a -4 modifier, you can also roll against magical beasts with INT1 or INT2.
Powers: 9 powers pre ACF.
Add Recall Death (definitely part of the natural world). Add either Suspend Life (hibernate like a bear) or Overland Flight, Psionic (fly like a bird). Add Dispel Psionics (protect the natural world from psionicists).
Samb: "The main power here that you really want is metamorphosis. Animal affinity is nice also. The other powers are of limited value."
Uses: Just metamorphosis. That's what makes this mantle a blue instead of red.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 1
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:14
CONSUMPTION
Expend focus as an immediate action to gain 5 temporary hit points when someone within 10 feet is wounded.
These temporary hit points last for up to 1 minute.
1 Hungry Touch*A: Your touch deals 1d6-10d6 damage while you heal. FORT save for half.
2 Feat LeechA: Borrow another's psionic or metapsionic feat
ACF Strength of My enemyXPH133 - steal 1 STR for ea successful melee hit from a foe. gain up to +8 to STR
ACF Stygian Weapon - melee attack inflicts 1d4 negative levels for 1 round, no save
ACF Larval FlayersA,CPsi091: summon 1d3 larval flayers, augment up to another 8 larval flayers.
+3 Empathic Transfer, HostileXPH099 - 50 - 200 hp
4 Power Leech: Drain 1d6 power points/round while you maintain concentration; you gain 1/round.
ACF Psychic Vampire - FORT save or drain 2PP/ML or deal 2 points WIS/INT/CHA damage (your choice)
ACF Shadow EftA,CPsi096: Summon a shadow eft. Augment to summon 4 total.
+5 Detain Ectoplasm - dispel ectoplasmic powers, such as AC. Re-use material for +1ML on metacreativity power
+6 Stygian TouchA - touch to bestow one negative level and earn 5 temp hp for an hour.
7 Power Thief*A: Steal and quickly use one power from a target.
7 DecerebrateXPH090: Remove portion of subject's brain stem.
ACF Energy Conversion
+8 ---
9 ApopsiX: You delete target's psionic powers
ACF AssimilateXPH076
Ability: expend focus to gain 5 temp hp when someone takes 10 damage near you. stacks with vigor since it is of a different source. May be a real life saver in certain conditions.
Power: 6 powers pre ACF
samb, pre ACF: "Many powers here are too situational, since they are primarily against psi users."
ACF: Add Stygian Touch, Detain Ectoplasm, and Empathic Transfer, Hostile
Sub Assimilate for Apopsi.
Sub Energy Conversion for Decerebrate, unless your view of Consumption mantle includes cannabalism.
Sub Psychic Vampire for Power Leech
Sub either Strength of My Enemy or Stygian Weapon for Feat Leech.
bgatesvoodoodoll: ERH picks up right where Hungry Touch would only provide 3d6 damage. Psychic vampire hits for 14PP-40PP, making it way more effective time-wise in eliminating PP reserves than Power Leech. At the top end, PV one shot disables psionics for the following: Ardent/Psion/WilderL6, Psychic Rogue 14, Divine Mind L16, Lurk/PsyWarL20. Detain Ectoplasm is thematically the way Consumption can handle dispelling Ectoplasm powers. Stygian Touch is how to hand out a single negative level to everyone in reach, assuming you have 5 foot reach from Expansion. Power Thief is a way to take powers away from psionics that know how to use them to hurt you. As a bonus, you get to use them, briefly. Energy Conversion is great for absorbing energy blasts and returning them to their previous owners. Assimilate lets you "eat" opponents in combat for temporary access to their powers and temp hp.
Uses: thrallherd, aberration races, evil half giant, or had leadership. 4 touch powers in one mantle makes this a good place for Reach Power metapsionic feat and a Dominant Mantle. Despite no good power to include at 8, this mantle seems to not miss it much. I think a flayerspawn might take straight Ardent for the post ACF version of Consumption. These are not the sort of beings that win fights by bluffing. They use as many of their foe's resources against them as they can.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:14
GUARDIAN
Expend your psionic focus as an immediate action to take the damage dealt to an adjacent ally by a single melee attack. Declare use of this ability after you know the result of the attack roll against your ally, but before damage is rolled.
1 Deaden Blow*A: A weapon deals nonlethal damage rather than lethal.
1 Thicken SkinA: Gain +1 enhancement bonus to your AC for 10 min./level.
ACF AlarmSoS - Augment: Each additional PP increases duration by 1 hour/level.
2 Damp Power*A: Variable numeric effects of enemy powers are minimized against you.
ACF Zone of AlertnessCPsi104
3 Dispel PsionicsA: Cancels psionic powers and effects.
ACF Glyph of WardingCPsi090
4 Wall of Ectoplasm: You create a protective barrier.
5 Protection from Psionics*A: Gain +3 insight bonus on saves against powers and psi-like abilities.
6 Mind over Energy*: Gain brief immunity to chosen energy type.
+7 Psionic SequesterX
ACF Phase Door, PsionicXPH124
8 Iron Body, Psionic: Your body becomes living iron
+9 ApopsiX
ACF Teleportation Circle, PsionicXPH136: Psionic teleport trap
Ability: immediate action to expend focus and take the hit for neighboring ally. This is fine and all but no "while focused" ability sucks.
Powers: 8 powers before ACF.
Samb: "Suggested additions are protection from evil, force screen, defensive precognition."
bgatesvoodoodoll: "Really? I'm thinking more high end bodyguard-like. Psionic sequester gives you someplace to stash the squishy person you're guarding while knives and spells are flying. During cleanup, use Apopsi to neuter a tricky psionic prisoner, or if you also took Magic mantle, a tricky spellcaster prisoner. Taking a hit for a person you guard also pairs well with Empathic Feedback from PAIN&SUFFERING mantle."
Uses: obvious choice for tanking ardents. Still not really dominant mantle good as only 1-3 powers really shine with augments/metapsionics. Could very well be a primary mantle since you could be taking many powers in here.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 8
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 1
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:14
REPOSE
While psionically focused, you gain a +2bonus on Concentration checks.
Expend your focus as a free action to gain a +5 bonus on a single Concentration check.
1 Empty MindA: You gain +2 on Will saves until your next action.
ACF Protection from (Chaos/Evil/Good/Law), Psionic
2 Serenity*A: Pacify a creature and stop it from fighting. ? Just one?
2 Empathic TransferA: Transfer another's wounds to yourself.
3 Solicit PsicrystalA: Your psicrystal takes over your concentration power.
ACF Speak with Dead, Psionic
ACF ThoughtsootheFoE153 +4 save vs Fear, or end early to purge fear, confusion, and fascinated debuffs
4 Steadfast Perception: Gain immunity to illusory effects, +6 bonus on Spot and Search checks.
+5 Power Resistance: Grant PR equal to 12 + level.
6 Suspend Life: Put yourself into a state akin to suspended animation.
7 Mind Blank, Personal: You are immune to scrying and mental effects.
+8 Stygian Veil
+9 Psychic ChirurgyX
Ability: +2 on concentration checks or expend it for +5 instead. So you can't use for regaining focus (or you can but it would be pointless) but you can use it for things like combat casting.
Powers: 7 powers before ACF. Repose means to rest, or to lie dead. Empathic transfer and solicit psicrystal are good powers if you had a specific build in mind. Mind blank is okay for defense against remote viewing and mental effects include all fear effects. Psychic Chirurgy adds some high end zip, and Stygian Veil fits the theme, letting you have Undead type temporarily. Power Resistance is good for preventing other psionics or spellcasters from disturbing your mental peace with crazy spells or powers. If you don't like Solicit Psicrystal,
sub in either Speak with Dead or Thoughtsoothe, which both fit the theme and add utility.
Uses:
Samb: "If you just have to have solicit psicrystal or mind blank then take this, but this is one mantle I can't find a use for when other powers do things better."
bgatesvoodoodoll: "I hate concentration powers. However, if I lost my mind and built a concentration focused Ardent build, I would take Repose for Solicit Psicrystal, then go for Force mantle and leave Deflection Field on that power list. Instead, I would take Speak with Dead... do you know how many dead guys are around at the end of most of the fights my party goes through? Repose might not be my first choice, but it certainly would not be my last, especially after adding Psychich Chirurgy to remove debuffs. That alone moves it up a category from Black to Green."
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 1
Total:13
CORRUPTION&MADNESS
While psionically focused, you cannot be confused.
1 Daze, PsionicA: Humanoid creature of 4 HD or lower loses next action.
-1 Primal Fear*A: Target is shaken for 1 round.
2 Brain LockA: Subject cannot move or take any mental actions.
ACF Ego Whip - 1d4 cha damage
ACF Id Insinuation - confusion
ACF Waking DreamsA,MoE either +1 morale bonus to attack/save or will save vs shaken
3 Mental Turmoil*A: Prevent target from using abilities that require mental calm.
ACF Mindfire
4 MindwipeA: Subject's recent experiences are wiped away, bestowing negative levels.
ACF Personality Parasite - Will or hostile schism
ACF Schism - secondary mind of ML-6 can perform one stabdard mental only action per round
+5 Psychotic Break- all creature in a 15 foot burst attack the nearest creature for rounds/level
+6 Fuse Flesh - FORT or immobile, then FORT or blind and deaf
7 Decerebrate: Remove portion of subject's brain stem.
7 InsanityA: Subject is permanently confused.
+8 Mind Seed
9 MicrocosmA: Creature or creatures live forevermore in a world of their own imaginations.
Ability: aligned strike (good), as per the other aligned strikes
Powers: 8 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre ACF: "Lots of save-or-die/suck/lose powers in here. Too bad most of them are mind affecting."
ACF: Add Mind Seed, Fuse Flesh, Psychotic Break.
Keep Mindwipe, or sub in either Schism or Personality Parasite.
Keep Mental Turmoil, or sub in Mindfire, depending on where you see the Corruption/Madness balance.
Pick one: Brain Lock, Ego Whip, Id Insinuation, or Waking Dreams
Drop Primal Fear.
bgatesvoodoodoll: "This mantle is 'Corruption and Madness', not just Madness. Fuse Flesh and Mindfire add in more nitemare-ish physical corruption. Decerebrate is great for this mantle. Parasite reminds me of the WW Ghost mechanism where the Spectre wakes up and takes over, destroying all the things your character cares about. Schism is great for action economy, but Parasite gives the GM an opportunity to shine on his acting skills. Instead of blindly copying Rage from the arcane lists, WotC gives us a unique AoE which incites all creatures in a 15 foot burst to attack the nearest creature. I choose to put the burst over where the bad guys are... Fuse Flesh is great for nitemare sequences involving the phrase 'I have no mouth and I must scream.' Some Ardents are more ruthless or less stable than others."
Uses: out of the book it is of limited use unless you plan to be encountering a lot of mindscrews. If you can sub in schism then this mantle is a must have but even then should not be primary mantle.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 8
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 0
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 1
Total:13
COMMUNICATIONS
When psionically focused, gain +2 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks
Focused or not, when making a rushed Diplomacy check as a full-round action, take only –5 penalty on the check.
1 AttractionA: Subject has an attraction you specify.
ACF: Mindlink
1 Charm, PsionicA: Makes one person your friend.
1 MissiveA: Send one-way telepathic message to subject.
ACF: Missive w/ Augment: For every 2 additional power points you spend, this power can affect an additional target. Any additional target cannot be more than 15 feet from another target of the power.
1 Telempathic Projection: Alter the subject's mood.
2 Missive, MassA: You send a one-way telepathic message to an area.
ACF: 2:Control Sound
2 Suggestion, PsionicA: Compels subject to follow stated course of action.
2 Tongues, Psionic: You can communicate with intelligent creatures.
+3 BeaconDS3.5 - bright light, pick its color. great for signalling, especially at night
4 Correspond: Hold mental conversation with another creature at any distance.
ACF: Remote ViewingX if you're in a campaign where Telepathy is banned.
5 MetaconcertA: Mental concert of two or more increases the total power of the participants.
9 MetafacultyX: You learn details about any one creature.
Ability: +2 diplo, expend focus for +5 on rushed diplo. An ok backup for charm, assuming you exhaust PP.
Powers: 10 powers before ACF.
For a campaign that bans telepathy, add Beacon,Control Sound, and Remote Viewing. Drop Missive, Attraction, and Correspondence.
For a witch of Ethshar, Correspond does not traverse planes. Range: (Witch/Ardent level - 6) in miles. Still incredibly powerful.
Uses: With utility powers for RP'ing and metaconcert, this is a solid choice throughout your career for any build.
If charm is all you want, see Deception mantle.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 1
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 4
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:12
ELEMENTS
...gain one of four benefits, which you pick when gaining focus
Granted Ability: When you become psionically focused, choose one of the four primary elements with which to align yourself (air, earth, fire, or water).
As long as you remain focused, you gain an associated benefit, as given below.
Air: You treat any fall as if the distance were 20 feet less.
Earth: You gain a +4 bonus on Balance checks and checksto resist bull rush attempts.
Fire: Your melee attacks deal an extra 1 point of fire damage.
Water: You gain a swim speed equal to your base land speed.
1 Control FlamesA: Take control of nearby open flame.
ACF Endure ElementsSoS - Augment: Each additional PP allows you to affect one additional creature.
1 Elemental Steward*A: Summon a small psionic elemental to protect and serve you.
2 Control AirA: You have control over wind speed and direction.
2 Earth Walk*A: Move easily in all directions while on earthen surfaces.
ACF: Levitate, Psionic
3 Breathless*A: You don't need to breathe.
ACF Breath BarrierRotD127 blocks fog, foglike effects, and gases created by spells such as fog cloud or cloudkill or by breath weapons that are poison gas
+4 Energy Ball*A
5 Adapt Body: Your body automatically adapts to hostile environments.
6 Blackstone Hammer*A: Target weapon petrifies those it strikes.
ACF: Disintegrate, Psionic
+7 Control Weather,Psionic SoS
9 Tornado BlastA: Vortex of air subjects your foes to 17d6damage and moves them
ACF: Earthquake, Psionic
Abilities: All are good, and the ability to pick when you focus adds versatility.
Powers: 8 powers before ACF. Add Energy Ball for combat and Control Weather, Psionic for utility.
From Samb:"the abilities are nice but the powers just don't have anything to really make an impression."
That may be a failure of imagination. For battlefield control, animated fire, elemental stewards,controlled air(counter missiles,fog,cloud), and tornado blast all work.
For damage, Flames, Elemental Stewards, and tornados all work. Adding Energy Ball puts a pointy end on this mantle's damage dealing stick.
Breathless is pretty good for defense. Blackstone Hammer is a buff that produces a save or lose to round things out.
If Blackstone Hammer does not work for you, sub Disintegrate. Thematically, Disintegrate reduces a creature or object to dust, or its component elements.
If Earth Walk does not work for you, consider Levitate, Psionic. Thematically, a localized wind blows you upwards.
Adding Control Weather gives the Ardent a quick and easy cash source during downtime, or a service to trade. This could fetch free passage at sea, fresh veggies, or a favor from a lord.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 1
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 6
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:13
PHYSICAL POWER
As a free action, expend psionic focus to gain a +2 bonus to Str, Dex, or Con for 1 round.
1 Adrenaline Boost*A: Receive a temporary Str and Dexboost.
ACF Expansion - get reach and more melee weapon damage. Remember to tell people you're all out of bubble gum.
1 VigorA: Gain 5 temporary hit points.
2 Animal AffinityA: Gain +4 enhancement to one ability.
3 Graft Weapon: Your hand is replaced seamlessly by your weapon.
ACF Hustle: Instantly gain a move action
ACF Lighten LoadDS3.5 increase carrying capacity as if STR+10 for hours
+4 ImmovabilityA: You are almost impossible to move and gain damage reduction 15/–.
5 Psychofeedback: Boost Str, Dex. or Con at the expenseof one or more other scores.
+6 Dispelling Buffer: You are buffered from one dispel psionics effect.
7 Oak Body
ACF Energy Conversion: Offensively channel energy you've absorbed.
8 True MetabolismA: You regenerate 10 hit points/round.
9 Timeless Body
Ability: Expend focus and gain +2 to STR, CON, or DEX. Not too bad especially since it can indirectly boost Reflex and Fort saves.
Powers: 7 powers so room for improvement. I have no idea what to put here, maybe some powers from the Life mantle like mend wounds and restoration. Vigor is the main go to power here, the rest are...... just not that widely useful IMO. Adrenaline Boost is a popular choice for Linked power thanks to its cheat cost and being a swift action but generally not all that useful, especially at higher levels.
Uses: If your DM doesn't allow for Vigor in another mantle then this maybe the only way to not spend a feat on it as physical power is the only mantle vigor can be found in without ACFs.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:13
DEATH
Expend psionic focus to kill a dying creature, as the death knell spell (PH 217).
1 Stygian Discernment: Gain insight to act against detected undead and negative energy auras.
2 Stygian Ray: Bestow a negative level on foe for 1 round.
3 Speak with Dead, PsionicA: Speak or mindlink with a corpse to ask it questions.
ACF Stygian WeaponA
4 Death UrgeA: Implant a self-destructive compulsion.
5 Stygian DominionA: Assume control over the body of a mindless undead creature.
ACF Fiendish ConduitA
+6 Stygian Bolt
ACF Stygian TouchA
7 Crisis of LifeA: Stop subject's heart.
8 Recall Death: Subject dies or takes 5d6 damage.
8 Stygian Veil: You take on traits of the undead type
+9 Stygian Conflagration
Ability: expend death knell as a swift (free?) action might have its uses? Maybe?
Powers: 8 powers pre ACF
Samb, pre ACF: "2 save or dies, one debuff that sucks, and powers that specifically deal with undead. The best power here is speak with dead which is a cheat way to get clues when you don't want to spend money on diamond dust."
ACF Plan1: stick with utility/sneak, add combat options
Add Stygian Conflagration and Stygian Bolt
ACF Plan2: more melee focus
Add Stygian Conflagration and Stygian Touch
Sub Fiendish Conduit for Stygian Dominion
Sub Stygian Weapon for Speak With Dead
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "At first, I didnt really get this mantle. This mantle gives an Ardent power over death. Not power to cheat death, but the power to cause death directly through a death effect, or heart attack, or suicide. It gives power to hand out negative levels in bulk. It has undead manipulation and emulation. You could be temporarily undead and walk past skeletons ordered not to let any living past. Discernment is more powerful than Detect Undead, in that it also detects Negative Plane inhabitants or negative level effects in place on a character. You may need Psicraft or other Knowledge rolls to make sense of it, but you get more info."
Uses: ACF dramatically adds value. Plan2 could be promoted to dominant mantle status if you love giving things negative levels.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:11
LAW
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to nonlawful creatures.
+1d6 points of damage with a melee/ranged attack or a spell that deals damage.
-1 Grip of IronA: You gain +4 bonus on grapple checks.
-1 HammerA: Melee touch deals 1d8/round.
ACF: CryokinesisDS3.5
2 Psionic Lock: Secure a door, chest, or portal.
ACF Constrictor's TouchSoS130: FORT save each turn or 1d4hp, cumulative -1 to attack, cumulative 5% arcane spell fail
ACF 2 Call Armor*A: Transfer chosen type of armor to your hand.
3 Heavy Earth*A: Alter gravity locally.
4 ImmovabilityA: You are almost impossible to move and gain damage reduction 15/–.
4 Steadfast Perception: Gain immunity to illusory effects, +6 bonus on Spot and Search checks.
5 Tower of Iron WillA: Grant PR 19 against mindaffecting powers to all creatures within 10 ft. until your next turn.
+6 Null Psionics Field
+7 Ectoplasmic Coccoon, Mass
8 Iron Body, Psionic: Your body becomes living iron.
9 Timeless Body: Ignore all harmful, and helpful, effects for 1 round.
Ability: aligned strike (good) which is meh at higher levels.
Powers: 9 powers before ACF.
bgatesvoodoodoll: Powers have almost nothing to do with law, unless you're thinking "how can I make a riot cop with psionics?". If you wonder where actual aligned LAW is, look at the Cleric domain in PHB. We can run with the riot cop concept, though.
Add Null Psionics Field and Ectoplasmic Coccoon, Mass.
Drop Hammer and Grip of Iron. Our riot cop suppresses crowds.
Sub in Cryokinesis. Cryokinesis was an original power of psionics back in 2e, and DarkSun 3.5 re-wrote it with minimal changes. Since Chaos mantle has Matter Agitation, the original opposite of Cryokinesis, and we're building a psychic riot cop anyways, letting our riot cop put out fires seems like a good plan.
samb: Defense has grip of iron, immovability, tower of iron will, iron body, steadfast Perception and the awesome Timeless Body. Debuffing comes in the form of Heavy earth which should be used with Immovability since you are stuck anyway.
Uses: this mantle has several powers that would be welcome for tanks, but hardly dominant mantle material.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 3
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 1
Total:10
EVIL
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to a non-evil creature.
+1d6 points of damage with a melee/ranged attack or a spell that deals damage and targets a single creature.
1 Protection from Good, Psionic*: +2 to AC and saves, counter mind control, hedge out summoned creatures.
2 Death Knell, Psionic*: Kills dying creature; you gain 1d8 temporary hp, +2 to Str, and +1 level.
ACF Larval FlayersA,CPsi091: summon 1d3 larval flayers, augment up to another 8 larval flayers.
ACF Suggestion, PsionicXPH133: suggest a course of activity that sounds reasonable
+3 Mindfire gives target a disease which inflicts 1d4 INT damage each day they fail to resist
4 Planar Apotheosis*A: Temporarily become celestial or fiendish (fiendish only).
ACF Shadow EftA,CPsi096: Summon a shadow eft. Augment to summon 4 total.
ACF Control BodyXPH086: FORT save or you control subject's body.
ACF Dominate,PsionicA,XPH096: WILL save or you control subject's body.
5 Fiendish Conduit*A: Launch a bolt of ectoplasm-mediated negative energy from your fingertips.
6 Planar Embrace*: Temporarily become a half-celestial or half-fiend (half-fiend only).
ACF: Stygian touch - one negative level
+7 Planar Champion*A (summons a cerebrilith to fight for you)
8 Dark Despair*: You gain a dark aura that harms good creatures.
+9 Stygian Conflagration*A: AoE 1d4 negative levels, 1d4x5 temp hp for undead
Ability: aligned strike (evil)
Powers: 6 powers pre ACF
For ACF, add Stygian Conflagration, Planar Champion, and Mindfire. Buffing undead while handing out negative levels like party treats, summoning a psionic demon, and killing puppies with a psionic disease are all evil acts worthy of Book of Vile Darkness. Remember to laugh or cackle. If you want something more immediate, take Stygian Bane to show those punk necromancers who is boss.
Re: original powers, Planar Apotheosis allows you to metamorph into a Nalfeshnee or some other evil outsider if you feel like it. Dark despair would be great for a Halloween or Ravenloft campaign where you fight a lot of good guys.
Uses: Thematically, adding Mindfire sells it. It just seems more evil to sit around for days watching prisoners slowly get dumber until they die. This mantle just doesn't seem to measure up to an evil cleric or warlock. Maybe a psychic theurge build would find some synergy?
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 0
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:11
LIGHT&DARKNESS
When you gain this mantle, choose to gain low-light vision OR darkvision out to 60feet. Already have both?
Double range of LLV OR add 30 feet to range of DV.
(click to show/hide)
1 Control LightA: Adjust ambient light levels. You also gain an augmentation option unavailable to other manifesters of this power.
Augment: If you spend 4 additional power points, you can create the effect of a daylight or darkness spell.
1 ElfsightXPH098: Gain low-light vision, +2 bonus on Search and Spot checks, and notice secret doors.
ACF Sensory GloomCPsi098: FORT save or override subject's nervous system to diminish senses
ACF SynestheteXPH134: Feel light or feel sound to work around blindness/deafness or +4 circumstance to Listen or +4 circumstance to Spot and Search with immunity to gaze attacks.
1 My LightA: Your eyes emit 20-ft. cone of light.
2 Claws of DarknessA,CPsi081: Gain claw attacks and slow grappled targets.
+3 Secret Page, PsionicSoS
ACF: Ubiquitous VisionCPsi139
4 Light BeamA,CPsi092: Deal 5d6-18d6 damage in 120-ft. line as a light, shadow, or darkness beam w/ additional effects.
ACF Shadow EftA,CPsi096: Summon a shadow eft. Augment to summon 4 total.
ACF Mind's EyeSoS133 - Augment: 6 additional power points allows the mind's eye to hear as well as see.
5 Shadow Walk, PsionicCPsi098: Step into shadow to travel rapidly.
+6 Form of DoomA,XPH108: transform into a generic tentacled nitemare beast, gain +5 nat AC, DR5/-, STR+4, 4 additional attacks, frightful presence(CHA!!!). just the thing for bumping into others in the dark.
+7 Blackwater MindSto126 targets using Telepathy on you must Will save or be blind,dazed, and shaken for 2d6 rounds (bet they wished they had Synesthete)
8 Light BurstA,CPsi092: As SunburstPHB285. 80-burst AoE REF save or blinded and 6d6-11d6 hp damage, MLd6 for undead, fungi,mold,oozes, & slimes. half damage on successful save.
+9 Stygian ConflagrationA,CPsi100: Pillar of black flame bestows negative levels on those in its path.
Ability: Gain low-light or dark vision if you don't have it or double your vision in said conditions if you already had it. Great ability for humans.
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
ACF: Add Stygian Conflagration, Blackwater Mind, and Form of Doom.
Do one of the following:
add Secret Page and drop Elflight, or
sub Sensory Gloom for Elflight. or
sub Synesthete for Elflight
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "Now some feasible choices are available. Between Light Beam and Shadow Walk, even the original power list seems like a natural foil for the Force mantle. Blackwater Mind seems like a stiff caution for mental pickpockets... 'stay out or while yer dazed and can't see us, we'll visit you in our nifty new Form of Doom with Claws of Shadow'. Unlike pre-ACF, this mantle starts to feel like a mantle.
Light Burst is a nice AoE blind.
Shadow walk is good utility for fast travel, rather than combat. It's also a way to escape Ectoplasmic Cocoons/Wall of Force.
Use My Light to create a light and therefore shadows to step into for Shadow Walk."
Uses: Samb had a negative opinion of this mantle. He found that the granted ability was great, but the original power list to be under-powered. This mantle seems usable as more than just Dorje bait now.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:17
CHAOS
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to nonchaotic creatures.
+1d6 points of damage with a melee/ranged attack or a spell that deals damage.
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1 Destiny Dissonance: Your dissonant touch sickens a foe.
1 Matter Agitation: You heat a creature or object.
2 Distracting Shout*A: Distract opponents with your powerful shout.
ACF Id Insinuation
+3 Eradicate Invisibility
4 Personality Parasite: Subject's mind calves self antagonistic splinter personality for 1 round/level.
5 Catapsi: Psychic static inhibits power manifestation.
6 Inconstant Location*A: Make swift instantaneous moves in combat.
+7 Planar Champion*A (summons a cerebrilith to fight for you)
ACF Decerebrate
8 Chaos Fissure*: Wild surge and wild magicMotP014 apply to psionic powers and spells.
+9 Metamorphosis, Greater
Ability: aligned strike (chaos) which is meh at higher levels.
Powers: 7 powers before ACF
samb: "The powers in general are okay (catapsi and matter agitation), but gish players should pay attention to inconstant location. For 11 PP you can teleport anywhere you can see as a free action for 10 rounds. So you blink in full attack, blink to the next guy. Or blink out of danger and not provoke AoOs. Pretty darn good IMO. Then there's chaos fissure which gives you wild surge. It doesn't say how much wild surge it gives you but the thought that you can get wild surge as a power is intriguing."
bgatesvoodoodoll: Chaos Fissure for the win. The wild magic planar trait is defined on Manual of the Planes p14. Summon Planar Champion gets you a CE Cerebrilith. Otherwise, adding "chaotic" powers means adding spells that break/disrupt or at least add to chaos. Thus, Eradicate Invisibility, Decerebrate, and Gr Metamorphosis. These alignment mantles aren't very good in comparison to their brothers, the cleric domains. I would only take these as secondary mantles.
Uses: samb: "This mantle has potential at higher levels for gish builds, but even in early and mid levels powers like matter agitation and catapsi have their uses. Never a dominant mantle since not very many powers benefit from augments or metapower. Not enough good powers to really make it a primary either."
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 4
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:14
NATURAL WORLD
Gain the wild empathy class feature(PHB35), except the result is determined by 1d20 + ML + your CHA modifier.
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1 Chameleon: Gain +10 enhancement bonus on Hide checks.
ACF Endure ElementsSoS - Augment: Each additional PP allows you to affect one additional creature.
ACF Psychic TrackingDS3.5 - use Psicraft rolls to track
1 Metaphysical ClawA: Your natural weapon gains +1bonus.
ACF:Claws of the Beast (if you don't get claws some other way.)
-1 Stone Mind*A: Gain bonuses on Search checks while standing on stone or earth.
2 Animal AffinityA: Gain +4 enhancement to one ability.
2 Psionic Scent: Gain the scent ability.
ACF Concentrate WaterDS3.5
+3 Dispel Psionics
ACF Water BornSto127 - aquatic subtype, amphibious, breathe water, swim speed
4 Metamorphosis: Assume shape of creature or object.
5 Oak BodyA: Your body becomes as hard as oak.
ACF: Crystallize: Turn subject permanently to crystal - FORT save or lose
ACF Neutralize Outsider PSc
ACF: Ethshar: Adapt Body
+6 Suspend Life or Overland Flight, Psionic
7 Animate Plants, Psionic*: One or more plants animate and fight for you.
ACF Neutralize Area PSc
+8 Recall death - Will save or die. 5d6 damage on successful save.
9 Earthquake, Psionic*: Intense tremor shakes 5-ft./levelradius.
Ability: Gain Wild empathy - needs a CHA build to make it work well. Remember, for a -4 modifier, you can also roll against magical beasts with INT1 or INT2.
Powers: 9 powers pre ACF.
Add Recall Death (definitely part of the natural world). Add either Suspend Life (hibernate like a bear) or Overland Flight, Psionic (fly like a bird). Add Dispel Psionics (protect the natural world from psionicists).
Samb: "The main power here that you really want is metamorphosis. Animal affinity is nice also. The other powers are of limited value."
Uses: Just metamorphosis. That's what makes this mantle a blue instead of red.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 1
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:14
CONSUMPTION
Expend focus as an immediate action to gain 5 temporary hit points when someone within 10 feet is wounded.
These temporary hit points last for up to 1 minute.
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1 Hungry Touch*A: Your touch deals 1d6-10d6 damage while you heal. FORT save for half.
2 Feat LeechA: Borrow another's psionic or metapsionic feat
ACF Strength of My enemyXPH133 - steal 1 STR for ea successful melee hit from a foe. gain up to +8 to STR
ACF Stygian Weapon - melee attack inflicts 1d4 negative levels for 1 round, no save
ACF Larval FlayersA,CPsi091: summon 1d3 larval flayers, augment up to another 8 larval flayers.
+3 Empathic Transfer, HostileXPH099 - 50 - 200 hp
4 Power Leech: Drain 1d6 power points/round while you maintain concentration; you gain 1/round.
ACF Psychic Vampire - FORT save or drain 2PP/ML or deal 2 points WIS/INT/CHA damage (your choice)
ACF Shadow EftA,CPsi096: Summon a shadow eft. Augment to summon 4 total.
+5 Detain Ectoplasm - dispel ectoplasmic powers, such as AC. Re-use material for +1ML on metacreativity power
+6 Stygian TouchA - touch to bestow one negative level and earn 5 temp hp for an hour.
7 Power Thief*A: Steal and quickly use one power from a target.
7 DecerebrateXPH090: Remove portion of subject's brain stem.
ACF Energy Conversion
+8 ---
9 ApopsiX: You delete target's psionic powers
ACF AssimilateXPH076
Ability: expend focus to gain 5 temp hp when someone takes 10 damage near you. stacks with vigor since it is of a different source. May be a real life saver in certain conditions.
Power: 6 powers pre ACF
samb, pre ACF: "Many powers here are too situational, since they are primarily against psi users."
ACF: Add Stygian Touch, Detain Ectoplasm, and Empathic Transfer, Hostile
Sub Assimilate for Apopsi.
Sub Energy Conversion for Decerebrate, unless your view of Consumption mantle includes cannabalism.
Sub Psychic Vampire for Power Leech
Sub either Strength of My Enemy or Stygian Weapon for Feat Leech.
bgatesvoodoodoll: ERH picks up right where Hungry Touch would only provide 3d6 damage. Psychic vampire hits for 14PP-40PP, making it way more effective time-wise in eliminating PP reserves than Power Leech. At the top end, PV one shot disables psionics for the following: Ardent/Psion/WilderL6, Psychic Rogue 14, Divine Mind L16, Lurk/PsyWarL20. Detain Ectoplasm is thematically the way Consumption can handle dispelling Ectoplasm powers. Stygian Touch is how to hand out a single negative level to everyone in reach, assuming you have 5 foot reach from Expansion. Power Thief is a way to take powers away from psionics that know how to use them to hurt you. As a bonus, you get to use them, briefly. Energy Conversion is great for absorbing energy blasts and returning them to their previous owners. Assimilate lets you "eat" opponents in combat for temporary access to their powers and temp hp.
Uses: thrallherd, aberration races, evil half giant, or had leadership. 4 touch powers in one mantle makes this a good place for Reach Power metapsionic feat and a Dominant Mantle. Despite no good power to include at 8, this mantle seems to not miss it much. I think a flayerspawn might take straight Ardent for the post ACF version of Consumption. These are not the sort of beings that win fights by bluffing. They use as many of their foe's resources against them as they can.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:14
GUARDIAN
Expend your psionic focus as an immediate action to take the damage dealt to an adjacent ally by a single melee attack. Declare use of this ability after you know the result of the attack roll against your ally, but before damage is rolled.
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1 Deaden Blow*A: A weapon deals nonlethal damage rather than lethal.
1 Thicken SkinA: Gain +1 enhancement bonus to your AC for 10 min./level.
ACF AlarmSoS - Augment: Each additional PP increases duration by 1 hour/level.
2 Damp Power*A: Variable numeric effects of enemy powers are minimized against you.
ACF Zone of AlertnessCPsi104
3 Dispel PsionicsA: Cancels psionic powers and effects.
ACF Glyph of WardingCPsi090
4 Wall of Ectoplasm: You create a protective barrier.
5 Protection from Psionics*A: Gain +3 insight bonus on saves against powers and psi-like abilities.
6 Mind over Energy*: Gain brief immunity to chosen energy type.
+7 Psionic SequesterX
ACF Phase Door, PsionicXPH124
8 Iron Body, Psionic: Your body becomes living iron
+9 ApopsiX
ACF Teleportation Circle, PsionicXPH136: Psionic teleport trap
Ability: immediate action to expend focus and take the hit for neighboring ally. This is fine and all but no "while focused" ability sucks.
Powers: 8 powers before ACF.
Samb: "Suggested additions are protection from evil, force screen, defensive precognition."
bgatesvoodoodoll: "Really? I'm thinking more high end bodyguard-like. Psionic sequester gives you someplace to stash the squishy person you're guarding while knives and spells are flying. During cleanup, use Apopsi to neuter a tricky psionic prisoner, or if you also took Magic mantle, a tricky spellcaster prisoner. Taking a hit for a person you guard also pairs well with Empathic Feedback from PAIN&SUFFERING mantle."
Uses: obvious choice for tanking ardents. Still not really dominant mantle good as only 1-3 powers really shine with augments/metapsionics. Could very well be a primary mantle since you could be taking many powers in here.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 8
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 1
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:14
REPOSE
While psionically focused, you gain a +2bonus on Concentration checks.
Expend your focus as a free action to gain a +5 bonus on a single Concentration check.
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1 Empty MindA: You gain +2 on Will saves until your next action.
ACF Protection from (Chaos/Evil/Good/Law), Psionic
2 Serenity*A: Pacify a creature and stop it from fighting. ? Just one?
2 Empathic TransferA: Transfer another's wounds to yourself.
3 Solicit PsicrystalA: Your psicrystal takes over your concentration power.
ACF Speak with Dead, Psionic
ACF ThoughtsootheFoE153 +4 save vs Fear, or end early to purge fear, confusion, and fascinated debuffs
4 Steadfast Perception: Gain immunity to illusory effects, +6 bonus on Spot and Search checks.
+5 Power Resistance: Grant PR equal to 12 + level.
6 Suspend Life: Put yourself into a state akin to suspended animation.
7 Mind Blank, Personal: You are immune to scrying and mental effects.
+8 Stygian Veil
+9 Psychic ChirurgyX
Ability: +2 on concentration checks or expend it for +5 instead. So you can't use for regaining focus (or you can but it would be pointless) but you can use it for things like combat casting.
Powers: 7 powers before ACF. Repose means to rest, or to lie dead. Empathic transfer and solicit psicrystal are good powers if you had a specific build in mind. Mind blank is okay for defense against remote viewing and mental effects include all fear effects. Psychic Chirurgy adds some high end zip, and Stygian Veil fits the theme, letting you have Undead type temporarily. Power Resistance is good for preventing other psionics or spellcasters from disturbing your mental peace with crazy spells or powers. If you don't like Solicit Psicrystal,
sub in either Speak with Dead or Thoughtsoothe, which both fit the theme and add utility.
Uses:
Samb: "If you just have to have solicit psicrystal or mind blank then take this, but this is one mantle I can't find a use for when other powers do things better."
bgatesvoodoodoll: "I hate concentration powers. However, if I lost my mind and built a concentration focused Ardent build, I would take Repose for Solicit Psicrystal, then go for Force mantle and leave Deflection Field on that power list. Instead, I would take Speak with Dead... do you know how many dead guys are around at the end of most of the fights my party goes through? Repose might not be my first choice, but it certainly would not be my last, especially after adding Psychich Chirurgy to remove debuffs. That alone moves it up a category from Black to Green."
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 1
Total:13
CORRUPTION&MADNESS
While psionically focused, you cannot be confused.
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1 Daze, PsionicA: Humanoid creature of 4 HD or lower loses next action.
-1 Primal Fear*A: Target is shaken for 1 round.
2 Brain LockA: Subject cannot move or take any mental actions.
ACF Ego Whip - 1d4 cha damage
ACF Id Insinuation - confusion
ACF Waking DreamsA,MoE either +1 morale bonus to attack/save or will save vs shaken
3 Mental Turmoil*A: Prevent target from using abilities that require mental calm.
ACF Mindfire
4 MindwipeA: Subject's recent experiences are wiped away, bestowing negative levels.
ACF Personality Parasite - Will or hostile schism
ACF Schism - secondary mind of ML-6 can perform one stabdard mental only action per round
+5 Psychotic Break- all creature in a 15 foot burst attack the nearest creature for rounds/level
+6 Fuse Flesh - FORT or immobile, then FORT or blind and deaf
7 Decerebrate: Remove portion of subject's brain stem.
7 InsanityA: Subject is permanently confused.
+8 Mind Seed
9 MicrocosmA: Creature or creatures live forevermore in a world of their own imaginations.
Ability: aligned strike (good), as per the other aligned strikes
Powers: 8 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre ACF: "Lots of save-or-die/suck/lose powers in here. Too bad most of them are mind affecting."
ACF: Add Mind Seed, Fuse Flesh, Psychotic Break.
Keep Mindwipe, or sub in either Schism or Personality Parasite.
Keep Mental Turmoil, or sub in Mindfire, depending on where you see the Corruption/Madness balance.
Pick one: Brain Lock, Ego Whip, Id Insinuation, or Waking Dreams
Drop Primal Fear.
bgatesvoodoodoll: "This mantle is 'Corruption and Madness', not just Madness. Fuse Flesh and Mindfire add in more nitemare-ish physical corruption. Decerebrate is great for this mantle. Parasite reminds me of the WW Ghost mechanism where the Spectre wakes up and takes over, destroying all the things your character cares about. Schism is great for action economy, but Parasite gives the GM an opportunity to shine on his acting skills. Instead of blindly copying Rage from the arcane lists, WotC gives us a unique AoE which incites all creatures in a 15 foot burst to attack the nearest creature. I choose to put the burst over where the bad guys are... Fuse Flesh is great for nitemare sequences involving the phrase 'I have no mouth and I must scream.' Some Ardents are more ruthless or less stable than others."
Uses: out of the book it is of limited use unless you plan to be encountering a lot of mindscrews. If you can sub in schism then this mantle is a must have but even then should not be primary mantle.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 8
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 0
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 1
Total:13
COMMUNICATIONS
When psionically focused, gain +2 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks
Focused or not, when making a rushed Diplomacy check as a full-round action, take only –5 penalty on the check.
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1 AttractionA: Subject has an attraction you specify.
ACF: Mindlink
1 Charm, PsionicA: Makes one person your friend.
1 MissiveA: Send one-way telepathic message to subject.
ACF: Missive w/ Augment: For every 2 additional power points you spend, this power can affect an additional target. Any additional target cannot be more than 15 feet from another target of the power.
1 Telempathic Projection: Alter the subject's mood.
2 Missive, MassA: You send a one-way telepathic message to an area.
ACF: 2:Control Sound
2 Suggestion, PsionicA: Compels subject to follow stated course of action.
2 Tongues, Psionic: You can communicate with intelligent creatures.
+3 BeaconDS3.5 - bright light, pick its color. great for signalling, especially at night
4 Correspond: Hold mental conversation with another creature at any distance.
ACF: Remote ViewingX if you're in a campaign where Telepathy is banned.
5 MetaconcertA: Mental concert of two or more increases the total power of the participants.
9 MetafacultyX: You learn details about any one creature.
Ability: +2 diplo, expend focus for +5 on rushed diplo. An ok backup for charm, assuming you exhaust PP.
Powers: 10 powers before ACF.
For a campaign that bans telepathy, add Beacon,Control Sound, and Remote Viewing. Drop Missive, Attraction, and Correspondence.
For a witch of Ethshar, Correspond does not traverse planes. Range: (Witch/Ardent level - 6) in miles. Still incredibly powerful.
Uses: With utility powers for RP'ing and metaconcert, this is a solid choice throughout your career for any build.
If charm is all you want, see Deception mantle.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 1
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 4
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:12
ELEMENTS
...gain one of four benefits, which you pick when gaining focus
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Granted Ability: When you become psionically focused, choose one of the four primary elements with which to align yourself (air, earth, fire, or water).
As long as you remain focused, you gain an associated benefit, as given below.
Air: You treat any fall as if the distance were 20 feet less.
Earth: You gain a +4 bonus on Balance checks and checksto resist bull rush attempts.
Fire: Your melee attacks deal an extra 1 point of fire damage.
Water: You gain a swim speed equal to your base land speed.
1 Control FlamesA: Take control of nearby open flame.
ACF Endure ElementsSoS - Augment: Each additional PP allows you to affect one additional creature.
1 Elemental Steward*A: Summon a small psionic elemental to protect and serve you.
2 Control AirA: You have control over wind speed and direction.
2 Earth Walk*A: Move easily in all directions while on earthen surfaces.
ACF: Levitate, Psionic
3 Breathless*A: You don't need to breathe.
ACF Breath BarrierRotD127 blocks fog, foglike effects, and gases created by spells such as fog cloud or cloudkill or by breath weapons that are poison gas
+4 Energy Ball*A
5 Adapt Body: Your body automatically adapts to hostile environments.
6 Blackstone Hammer*A: Target weapon petrifies those it strikes.
ACF: Disintegrate, Psionic
+7 Control Weather,Psionic SoS
9 Tornado BlastA: Vortex of air subjects your foes to 17d6damage and moves them
ACF: Earthquake, Psionic
Abilities: All are good, and the ability to pick when you focus adds versatility.
Powers: 8 powers before ACF. Add Energy Ball for combat and Control Weather, Psionic for utility.
From Samb:"the abilities are nice but the powers just don't have anything to really make an impression."
That may be a failure of imagination. For battlefield control, animated fire, elemental stewards,controlled air(counter missiles,fog,cloud), and tornado blast all work.
For damage, Flames, Elemental Stewards, and tornados all work. Adding Energy Ball puts a pointy end on this mantle's damage dealing stick.
Breathless is pretty good for defense. Blackstone Hammer is a buff that produces a save or lose to round things out.
If Blackstone Hammer does not work for you, sub Disintegrate. Thematically, Disintegrate reduces a creature or object to dust, or its component elements.
If Earth Walk does not work for you, consider Levitate, Psionic. Thematically, a localized wind blows you upwards.
Adding Control Weather gives the Ardent a quick and easy cash source during downtime, or a service to trade. This could fetch free passage at sea, fresh veggies, or a favor from a lord.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 1
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 6
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:13
PHYSICAL POWER
As a free action, expend psionic focus to gain a +2 bonus to Str, Dex, or Con for 1 round.
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1 Adrenaline Boost*A: Receive a temporary Str and Dexboost.
ACF Expansion - get reach and more melee weapon damage. Remember to tell people you're all out of bubble gum.
1 VigorA: Gain 5 temporary hit points.
2 Animal AffinityA: Gain +4 enhancement to one ability.
3 Graft Weapon: Your hand is replaced seamlessly by your weapon.
ACF Hustle: Instantly gain a move action
ACF Lighten LoadDS3.5 increase carrying capacity as if STR+10 for hours
+4 ImmovabilityA: You are almost impossible to move and gain damage reduction 15/–.
5 Psychofeedback: Boost Str, Dex. or Con at the expenseof one or more other scores.
+6 Dispelling Buffer: You are buffered from one dispel psionics effect.
7 Oak Body
ACF Energy Conversion: Offensively channel energy you've absorbed.
8 True MetabolismA: You regenerate 10 hit points/round.
9 Timeless Body
Ability: Expend focus and gain +2 to STR, CON, or DEX. Not too bad especially since it can indirectly boost Reflex and Fort saves.
Powers: 7 powers so room for improvement. I have no idea what to put here, maybe some powers from the Life mantle like mend wounds and restoration. Vigor is the main go to power here, the rest are...... just not that widely useful IMO. Adrenaline Boost is a popular choice for Linked power thanks to its cheat cost and being a swift action but generally not all that useful, especially at higher levels.
Uses: If your DM doesn't allow for Vigor in another mantle then this maybe the only way to not spend a feat on it as physical power is the only mantle vigor can be found in without ACFs.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:13
DEATH
Expend psionic focus to kill a dying creature, as the death knell spell (PH 217).
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1 Stygian Discernment: Gain insight to act against detected undead and negative energy auras.
2 Stygian Ray: Bestow a negative level on foe for 1 round.
3 Speak with Dead, PsionicA: Speak or mindlink with a corpse to ask it questions.
ACF Stygian WeaponA
4 Death UrgeA: Implant a self-destructive compulsion.
5 Stygian DominionA: Assume control over the body of a mindless undead creature.
ACF Fiendish ConduitA
+6 Stygian Bolt
ACF Stygian TouchA
7 Crisis of LifeA: Stop subject's heart.
8 Recall Death: Subject dies or takes 5d6 damage.
8 Stygian Veil: You take on traits of the undead type
+9 Stygian Conflagration
Ability: expend death knell as a swift (free?) action might have its uses? Maybe?
Powers: 8 powers pre ACF
Samb, pre ACF: "2 save or dies, one debuff that sucks, and powers that specifically deal with undead. The best power here is speak with dead which is a cheat way to get clues when you don't want to spend money on diamond dust."
ACF Plan1: stick with utility/sneak, add combat options
Add Stygian Conflagration and Stygian Bolt
ACF Plan2: more melee focus
Add Stygian Conflagration and Stygian Touch
Sub Fiendish Conduit for Stygian Dominion
Sub Stygian Weapon for Speak With Dead
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "At first, I didnt really get this mantle. This mantle gives an Ardent power over death. Not power to cheat death, but the power to cause death directly through a death effect, or heart attack, or suicide. It gives power to hand out negative levels in bulk. It has undead manipulation and emulation. You could be temporarily undead and walk past skeletons ordered not to let any living past. Discernment is more powerful than Detect Undead, in that it also detects Negative Plane inhabitants or negative level effects in place on a character. You may need Psicraft or other Knowledge rolls to make sense of it, but you get more info."
Uses: ACF dramatically adds value. Plan2 could be promoted to dominant mantle status if you love giving things negative levels.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:11
LAW
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to nonlawful creatures.
+1d6 points of damage with a melee/ranged attack or a spell that deals damage.
(click to show/hide)
-1 Grip of IronA: You gain +4 bonus on grapple checks.
-1 HammerA: Melee touch deals 1d8/round.
ACF: CryokinesisDS3.5
2 Psionic Lock: Secure a door, chest, or portal.
ACF Constrictor's TouchSoS130: FORT save each turn or 1d4hp, cumulative -1 to attack, cumulative 5% arcane spell fail
ACF 2 Call Armor*A: Transfer chosen type of armor to your hand.
3 Heavy Earth*A: Alter gravity locally.
4 ImmovabilityA: You are almost impossible to move and gain damage reduction 15/–.
4 Steadfast Perception: Gain immunity to illusory effects, +6 bonus on Spot and Search checks.
5 Tower of Iron WillA: Grant PR 19 against mindaffecting powers to all creatures within 10 ft. until your next turn.
+6 Null Psionics Field
+7 Ectoplasmic Coccoon, Mass
8 Iron Body, Psionic: Your body becomes living iron.
9 Timeless Body: Ignore all harmful, and helpful, effects for 1 round.
Ability: aligned strike (good) which is meh at higher levels.
Powers: 9 powers before ACF.
bgatesvoodoodoll: Powers have almost nothing to do with law, unless you're thinking "how can I make a riot cop with psionics?". If you wonder where actual aligned LAW is, look at the Cleric domain in PHB. We can run with the riot cop concept, though.
Add Null Psionics Field and Ectoplasmic Coccoon, Mass.
Drop Hammer and Grip of Iron. Our riot cop suppresses crowds.
Sub in Cryokinesis. Cryokinesis was an original power of psionics back in 2e, and DarkSun 3.5 re-wrote it with minimal changes. Since Chaos mantle has Matter Agitation, the original opposite of Cryokinesis, and we're building a psychic riot cop anyways, letting our riot cop put out fires seems like a good plan.
samb: Defense has grip of iron, immovability, tower of iron will, iron body, steadfast Perception and the awesome Timeless Body. Debuffing comes in the form of Heavy earth which should be used with Immovability since you are stuck anyway.
Uses: this mantle has several powers that would be welcome for tanks, but hardly dominant mantle material.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 3
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 1
Total:10
EVIL
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to a non-evil creature.
+1d6 points of damage with a melee/ranged attack or a spell that deals damage and targets a single creature.
(click to show/hide)
1 Protection from Good, Psionic*: +2 to AC and saves, counter mind control, hedge out summoned creatures.
2 Death Knell, Psionic*: Kills dying creature; you gain 1d8 temporary hp, +2 to Str, and +1 level.
ACF Larval FlayersA,CPsi091: summon 1d3 larval flayers, augment up to another 8 larval flayers.
ACF Suggestion, PsionicXPH133: suggest a course of activity that sounds reasonable
+3 Mindfire gives target a disease which inflicts 1d4 INT damage each day they fail to resist
4 Planar Apotheosis*A: Temporarily become celestial or fiendish (fiendish only).
ACF Shadow EftA,CPsi096: Summon a shadow eft. Augment to summon 4 total.
ACF Control BodyXPH086: FORT save or you control subject's body.
ACF Dominate,PsionicA,XPH096: WILL save or you control subject's body.
5 Fiendish Conduit*A: Launch a bolt of ectoplasm-mediated negative energy from your fingertips.
6 Planar Embrace*: Temporarily become a half-celestial or half-fiend (half-fiend only).
ACF: Stygian touch - one negative level
+7 Planar Champion*A (summons a cerebrilith to fight for you)
8 Dark Despair*: You gain a dark aura that harms good creatures.
+9 Stygian Conflagration*A: AoE 1d4 negative levels, 1d4x5 temp hp for undead
Ability: aligned strike (evil)
Powers: 6 powers pre ACF
For ACF, add Stygian Conflagration, Planar Champion, and Mindfire. Buffing undead while handing out negative levels like party treats, summoning a psionic demon, and killing puppies with a psionic disease are all evil acts worthy of Book of Vile Darkness. Remember to laugh or cackle. If you want something more immediate, take Stygian Bane to show those punk necromancers who is boss.
Re: original powers, Planar Apotheosis allows you to metamorph into a Nalfeshnee or some other evil outsider if you feel like it. Dark despair would be great for a Halloween or Ravenloft campaign where you fight a lot of good guys.
Uses: Thematically, adding Mindfire sells it. It just seems more evil to sit around for days watching prisoners slowly get dumber until they die. This mantle just doesn't seem to measure up to an evil cleric or warlock. Maybe a psychic theurge build would find some synergy?
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 0
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 0
Total:11
15
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Mantles
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:49:53 PM »
MANTLES
samb: "Your life as an ardent and your builds all depend on these. They are what makes you and gives you your powers."
There are no bad mantles. Each represents a philosophy with a granted ability and a power list. Pre-ACF, there are some mantles that are good only for their granted ability or to use as Dorje powers. Of these, samb classified several of the least useful as red, or "avoid". Post-ACF, the lowest rating any mantle gets is black, which is the equivalent of "boring".
There are several ways to reinterpret each mantle with ACF, but suggestions here should help cut research time. '+ x' indicates a power added for that level. 'ACF' indicates a possible substitution after all adds. '- x' indicates a recommendation to drop a power, to keep the mantle power list at 10. Where lists are long/confusing, example ACF plans are provided.
Mantles below are roughly in descending order of usefulness with versatility weighted heavily.
JUSTICE
expend psionic focus as an immediate action to make an attack of opportunity against a foe that attacks one of your allies.
-1 Call WeaponryA: Create temporary weapon.
ACF 1:Erase, psionicSoS133
-2 Call Armor*A: Transfer chosen type of armor to your hand.
2 Incite Bravery*A: You and allies near you become immune to fear effects for 1 round/level.
ACF Knock, PsionicXPH114
ACF TonguesXPH138
ACF Read thoughts - telepath2
ACF Brain lock - telepath2 - WILL save or dazed, cannot take mental actions
2 Zone of Truth, Psionic*: Subjects within range cannot lie.
ACF See Invisibility, Psionic
ACF Psionic lockXPH125
ACF Sense DangerMoE106
ACF 1:Urban striderCPsi
ACF 1:Aura readingDS3.5
ACF 1:Animate ropeSoS133
ACF 1:Psychic trackingDS3.5
ACF 1:Tattoo animationDS3.5
ACF 1:Charm, PsionicXPH082: as charm personPHB209
+3 Glyph of Warding
ACF Touchsight
ACF Ectoplasmic CoccoonXPH097
ACF Psychic ContainmentCPsi096
4 Aura Sight*: Reveals creatures, objects, powers, or spells of selected alignment axis.
ACF Control BodyXPH086
4 Discern Lies, Psionic*: Reveals deliberate falsehoods.
5 True Seeing, Psionic: See all things as they really are.
6 Perfect Riposte*A: Make an attack of opportunity against a creature who just missed you.
ACF Rage of the RemorhazCPSi
7 Reddopsi: Powers targeting you rebound on the manifester.
ACF Eyes of the BasiliskCPsi089 - FORT save or subject turns to stone
+8 Bend reality
ACF Recall DeathXPH129
+9 Reality revision
ACF ApopsiX,XPH076 - FORT save or delete 1d4 power from mind of subject
ACF Psychic ChirurgyX,XPH126
ACF Plan1: muddle through
ADD Reality Revision, Bend Reality
SUB Touchsight for Glyph of Warding
SUB See Invisibility for Zone of Truth
DROP Call Armor, Call Weaponry
ACF Plan2: bring a fugitive to... (deputy/bounty hunter/thieftaker)
ADD Apopsi, Bend Reality, Ectoplasmic Coccoon
SUB Knock and Lock for Incite Bravery and Zone of Truth
-OR-
SUB Tongues for Incite Bravery and pick -one- of the following for Zone of Truth:
Urban strider, Aura reading, Animate rope, Psychic tracking, Tattoo animation, Charm
DROP Call Armor, Call Weaponry
ACF Plan3: Justice=Judge/Elder
ADD Psychic Chirurgy, Recall Death
SUB Rage of the Remorhaz for Perfect Riposte
SUB Read Thoughts or Brain Lock for Incite Bravery
SUB Erase for Call Weaponry
DROP Call Armor
Ability: expend focus to make an AoO on anyone that attacks your ally. Meh, I just can't think of any builds to base this off.
Powers: 9 pre ACF
Uses: Original power list could go well with GUARDIAN and FORCE for a tanking ardent.
FREEDOM
While psionically focused, gain +10-foot bonus to your speed.
Expend your focus to add your ML to a roll made to resist/escape grapple.
1 Dimension HopA,CPsi083: Swiftly teleport a short distance.
2 HustleXPH111: Trade a swift action for an additional move action in the current round.
ACF Knock, PsionicXPH114: open locks, locked doors. good for getting in or out
ACF Levitate, PsionicXPH114: float in the air
ACF Body EquilibriumXPH081: walk on water, half damage from falling
ACF Earth WalkCPsi084: walk on any earth/stone surfaces at current base speed
ACF Wall WalkerXPH140: walk on walls or ceiling... slowly
+3 Evade BurstA,XPH105: almost like having Evasion and Improved Evasion
ACF Escape DetectionXPH105: casters/manifesters must roll DC13+yourML(max10) to scry/detect you
ACF Faint MemoryA,MoE104: +5 bonus to Hide,MoveSilently,Disguise,&Bluff. WILL save to remember you
4 Fly, PsionicXPH108: You fly at a speed of 60 ft.
ACF Freedom of Movement, PsionicXPH109: You cannot be held or otherwise rendered immobile. (PsyWar list)
5 Freedom of Movement, PsionicXPH109: You cannot be held or otherwise rendered immobile.
ACF Temporal ReiterationCPsi104: The round does not count as time spent for duration of ongoing effects on you
ACF Adapt BodyXPH075: Your body adapts to hostile environments
5 Teleport, PsionicXPH136: Instantly transports you as far as 100 miles/level.
ACF Temporal ReiterationCPsi104: The round does not count as time spent for duration of ongoing effects on you
ACF Adapt BodyXPH075: Your body adapts to hostile environments
6 Evade BurstA,XPH105: You take no damage from a burst on a successful Reflex save.
ACF Dispelling BufferXPH095 add +5 to DC of the dispel check for each ongoing effect subject to being dispelled
+7 Ethereal Jaunt, PsionicXPH105: short duration trip to ethereal plane
8 Teleport, Psionic GreaterXPH136: As psionic teleport, but with no range limit and no off-target arrival.
+9 Teleportation Circle, PsionicXPH136: Psionic teleport trip
Ability: +10 feet to movement, which stacks with speed of thought for a nice +20 movement bonus. If using heavy armor, this is great bonus.
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "All are solid, only two I can think of adding is overland flight and inconstant location."
bgatesvoodoodoll, pre-ACF: "This is the Freedom mantle... why do powers cost more than they should?"
Add Teleportation Circle, Psionic for a dispellable psionic trap. Add Ethereal Jaunt for a different movement method.
To fix power pricing, Add 3:Evade Burst from PsyWar. Drop 4:Fly for 4:Freedom of Movement from PsyWar. Ignore 5:Freedom of Movement for now. Sub Dispelling Buffer in for 6:Evade Burst. Your fly mode is part of Ethereal Jaunt, so you are insubstantial and can fly to your desired destination in straight 3-d lines.
Net change: Evade Burst is 6 PP cheaper, FOM is 2 PP cheaper, and flying is 5 PP more expensive, but goes through solids.
After fixing pricing, sub in one of the following for 5:Freedom of Movement... Temporal Reiteration or Adapt Body
If your build will get Greater Teleport later, you might also sub 5:Teleport for... Temporal Reiteration or Adapt Body
If you'll get FOM as a divine spell via PsyTheurge build, while fixing pricing, keep Fly.
Dimension hop is a unique ardent power that gives +10 feet/PP as a swift action, who needs spring attack?
As a power, Hustle is amazing. If Freedom is your dominant ideal, you use linked power and psionic meditation to regain your psionic focus. If you get Hustle from another mantle, consider Knock or Levitate.
If you have another way to get Evade Burst or Evasion feat, you might drop Evade Burst entirely for Escape Detection or Faint Memory.
Uses: Great choice for any build but especially for gish builds. The Hustle/Linked power/psi meditation/dominant ideal combo may seem overly complex but it has win written all over it. This is easily the best mantle in the game, even without ACF tricks. This is the Mantle which Substitute Powers ACF helps the most.
FATE
Once/day, expend psionic focus to add a bonus on one d20 roll equal to your level in the class that allowed you to access this ability.
1 Precognition, DefensiveA,XPH091: Gain +1 insight bonus to AC and saving throws.
ACF Prescience, OffensiveA,XPH091: +2 insight bonus to damage rolls
1 Precognition, OffensiveA,XPH091: Gain +1 insight bonus on your attack rolls.
ACF Destiny DissonanceXPH091: touch attack to sicken foe
2 Clairvoyant SenseXPH083: See and hear a distant location on same plane.
ACF ForetellingA,MoE105: grant recipient choice of +1 insight bonus to attack,AC, or saves
+3 Danger SenseA,XPH090: +4 insight bonus v traps. Augment for Uncanny Dodge.
ACF Destiny's TrailPSc: Determine the people that were involved in certain moments in time.
ACF Fate LinkXPH107: Target two creatures within 30 feet of each other and Close range to you. Both must FORT save or when one loses hp, the other loses the same amount. Pro tip: you can be one of the two creatures and use Fate Link as a sacrifice variant of Share Pain, Forced.
4 Remote ViewingX,XPH130: See, hear, and potentially interact with subjects at a distance.
+5 Second ChanceXPH131: pay 9PP for a re-roll
ACF Clairtangent HandA: Emulate clairvoyant sense and far hand at a distance.
6 Precognition, GreaterXPH124: Gain +4 insight bonus on one roll.
7 Fate of OneA,XPH107: Reroll any roll you just failed. You also gain an augmentation option unavailable to other manifesters of this power.
Augment: If you spend 3 additional PP, you can reroll a third time. You need not decide to spend PP for this augmentation until after you decide to roll the third time, but you must spend the power points before you know the result of your roll.
+8 Recall DeathXPH129: Subject dies or takes 5d6 damage
9 MetafacultyX,XPH116: You learn details about any one creature
Ability: Expend focus to add your class level to one d20 roll 1/day. This is the only mantle ability that scales with your level. It's like an action point but 1/day and adds a lot more. This is a great mantle ability.
Powers: 7 powers before ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "This mantle turns the odds in your favor, and even when it doesn't work out it lets you try again with fate of one. It also has the always useful remote viewing and Clairvoyant Sense for extra utility."
bgatesvoodoodoll, post-ACF: "Comparing this to the cleric Fate domain, this mantle feels more in tune with Fate. Many duration spells, so making it Dominant Ideal and throwing around Extend Power seems like a good idea. Fate Link is good for Please Hit Me builds, but I prefer the Uncanny Dodge from Danger Sense. DS also helps tie the mantle to Fate domain, which has Uncanny Dodge as its granted ability. Fate domain has debuffs, so adding Recall Death seems to fit. Clairvoyant Sense didn't seem right, so subbing Foretelling then swapping the L1 powers seemed OP."
Uses: great applications both in combat and out of combat make this mantle a great choice for any build. The mantle ability could win encounters even with just 6 levels of ardent to boost it. This could be taken at any level but should not be a dominant mantle since most don't benefit from (that much) metapsionics or augments.
DECEPTION
As an immediate action, expend psionic focus to displace yourself until your next action.
While displaced, attacks that target you have a 50% miss chance.
ENERGY
Expend psionic focus to gain resistance 5 against one energy type for rounds =3+Wis modifier.
At 10th level, you gain resistance to energy 10 instead.
1 Energy RayA,XPH103: Deal 1d6-20d6 energy (cold, electricity, fire, or sonic) damage.
2 Energy PushA,XPH102: Deal 2d6-10d6 damage and knock subject back.
ACF Energy EmanationCPsi086 - 1d6-6d6 to each adjacent square
3 Energy BoltA,XPH100: Deal 5d6 energy damage in 120-ft. line.
3 Energy BurstA,XPH101: Deal 5d6 energy damage in 40-ft. burst.
3 Energy WallXPH104: Create wall of your chosen energy type.
+4 Energy BallA,XPH100: FORT save or 5-12d6
ACF Energy FlashA,CPsi087: touch attack for 5d6-10d6 energy damage and FORT save or dazed
5 Energy ManipulationA,CPsi087: You manipulate a source of energy within 1 round.
ACF Energy Nullification FieldA,CPsi088 - as null psionics field but only for powers w/ energy type you specify at manifest
+6 Energy trapSoS
ACF Rage of the RemorhazCPsi097: anything touching your body takes 4d6-8d6 hp fire damage. PLEASE HIT ME
ACF Energy BarrageA,XPH086: create 3 explosions of chosen energy type. Each deals 5d6-7d6 hp damage to every creature or object in 10 foot spread
ACF Mind over energyCPsi093: Gain immunity to one type of energy.
7 Energy WaveA,XPH104: Deal 13d6-20d6 damage of your chosen energy type in 120-ft. cone.
ACF Energy ConversionXPH101: ER/10, then discharge as one or more rays with one ray doing up to 3xMLd6 damage. PLEASE HIT ME
+8 Bend RealityX,XPH080: psi equivalent of limited wish
+9 ApopsiX,XPH076: Permanently delete 1d4 psi powers from subject.
ability: 5 or 10 energy resistance for 3+WIS mod rounds if you expend focus. Not too shabby.
powers: 7 powers pre ACF
ACF plan1: battlefield control
Add Apopsi,Bend Reality,Energy Trap,Energy Ball
Keep Manipulation or Sub in Nullification Field
Keep Energy Push
Combos: knockback into either wall or trap
ACF plan2: please hit me
Add Apopsi,Bend Reality,Rage of the Remorhaz,Energy Flash
Keep Manipulation or Sub in Nullification Field
Sub Energy Emanation for Energy Push
Combos: adjacent foes take damage from emanation, foe touching you takes damage from rage, touch with Flash for 12-18d6
bgatesvoodoodoll:
Uses: out of the box this mantle is for dealing damage with decent control. It is a must have for blasting ardents who should make it their dominant mantle and add the "cooler" energy powers into this mantle. ACF plans show a couple of options for damage or debuff stacking.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 11
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:22
TIME
+2 bonus on initiative checks.
1/day, expend focus as an immediate action to delay onset of one damaging attack or effect by one round. If, in the intervening turn, you gain immunity that would protect you from the delayed damage, you still take the delayed damage.
1 DecelerationA: Target's speed is halved.
ACF SynchronicityA,CPsi103: ready a standard action (without spending an action to do so) and use it whenever you choose before your next turn. No need to specify which action you are readying.
2 SustenanceXPH134: Go without food and water for one day.
ACF HustleXPH111: Trade a swift action for an additional move action in the current round.
ACF ForetellingA,MoE105: grant recipient choice of +1 insight bonus to attack,AC, or saves
3 Time HopA,XPH137: Subject hops forward in time 1 round/level.
+4 QuintessenceXPH128 - collapse a bit of time into a physical substance.
5 Anticipatory StrikeA: Take your action out of initiative order.
ACF IncarnateX,XPH112 - make some powers permanent
6 Temporal AccelerationA,XPH136: Your time frame accelerates for 1 round.
+7 Sequester, PsionicX,XPH132 Hide one willing creature or object. Also see PHB276.
8 Time Hop, MassA,XPH137: Willing subjects hop forward in time.
9 Time RegressionX,XPH138: Relive the last round.
ACF Timeless BodyXPH138
Ability: +2 on init rolls or expend focus to delay all damage and negative effects till next round. It's like Timeless body, but costs no PP and can be used at level 1. Impressive indeed.
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "Even out of the book this is a great mantle for Anticipatory Strike, Time Hop, and Temporal Acceleration."
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "This mantle is on par with the Time cleric domain, without duplicating it. Considering that clerics get more splat book attention, that's pretty good. The original L1 power, Deceleration, isn't really a Time effect. It warps space, which makes Samb's pick of Synchronicity a better fit for both flavor and function. Sustenance is also not a Time effect. Samb's pick here, Hustle, is op, but if you get Hustle from another mantle, Foretelling fits well."
Uses: Great for all builds and could very well be a dominant mantle for the sheer utility both on and off the battlefield.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 3
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:21
CREATION
Bonus feat: Ectopic FormCPsi50 and learn the form of your choice. You must meet all the feat's prerequisites for the form.
1 Astral ConstructA,XPH077: Creates astral construct to fight for you.
1 Minor Creation, PsionicXPH121: Creates one cloth/wood object.
+2 CrystalstormA,CPsi081: 2d4hp ray w/FORT save vs 1d4 Con damage
ACF Amethyst BurstA,DM076: 2d6hp force damage in a 20'burst. no PR,maxes at 10d6
ACF Psychic WhipA,SoS131: Manifest and wield a 1d6 whip of ectoplasm with proficiency and Improved Trip.
+3 Dream Spirit, PsionicA,SoS130: Incorporeal manifestation attacks your opponents.
ACF Concealing Amorpha, GreaterXPH085: Total concealment (50% miss chance)
ACF Ectoplasmic CoccoonXPH097 - REFLEX Save or lose
4 Fabricate, PsionicXPH106: Transforms raw goods to finished items.
ACF QuintessenceXPH128: Create gooey globs of congealed time.
5 Major Creation, PsionicXPH114: As psionic minor creation, plus stone and metal.
ACF Hail of CrystalsXPH111: maxes at 100hp, PR-free
ACF Crystal BodyDM077: your body turns into crystal. Gain DR5/adamantine, immunities, and some vulns
6 Fabricate, Greater PsionicXPH106: Transforms a lot of raw goods to finished items.
ACF Living MemoryPSc - create recordings of memories.
+7 Ectoplasmic Coccoon, MassXPH097
ACF Soul CrystalMoI107: create a temp crystal shard containing a power w/ PP reserve which anyone can use
+8 Bend RealityX,XPH080 - similar to limited wish, but 300+XP cost when duplicating a spell or power with an XP or material component.
9 True CreationX: As psionic major creation, except items are completely real.
Ability: With this mantle as a dominant, Creation mantle may be better with AC than Shaper discipline.
Amber tunneler and Emerald gyre are good ground fighters with abilities not on the standard list and better stats than regular ACs.
Powers: 6 powers pre ACF. AC and minor creation makes this a great mantle. The proposed adds and subs up the power meter.
If ray was taken as a Weapon Focus, take Crystalstorm to help lock down enemy manifesters.
Also, note that if you took Craft (weaponsmithing) then with time to prepare, you can use Major Creation to produce siege weapons.
Why would Creation Ardents put in the effort for Dream Spirit? After ACF, Destruction mantle may have Detonate to snipe astral Constructs. One way Creation Ardents can respond is with an incorporeal summons. With Dream Spirit, there's no body for Destruction Ardents to detonate. Same holds for clerics with DestructionSpC272 mantle, which has a lot of touch attacks, including Harm.
Uses: Good for most builds. A blasting ardent could use a bodyguard, a gish could use a flanking buddy, anyone could use the extra actions AC provides. This mantle can prep for constructor PrC. As a dominant mantle you can have ACs that are better than most shapers, or encase enemies in cages that you made with quickened/linked major creations. Powers like these permit creative crafted solutions.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 3
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 2
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 8
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:20
PAIN&SUFFERING
As an immediate action, expend psionic focus to share pain of the next melee attack that damages you. The attacker takes damage equal to half damage it deals you.
-1 DisableA,XPH095: AoE Will save or convinces 1/+ creatures of 4-22 Hit Dice or less that they are disabled
ACF VigorA,XPH140: Gain 5-100 temp hp
2 Inflict PainA,XPH113: Telepathic stab gives your foe –4 on attack rolls, or –2 if he makes the save.
2 Recall AgonyA,XPH129: Foe takes 2d6 damage.
ACF Animal AffinityXPH075: gain +4 enhancement to an ability(pick CON)
3 Empathic Transfer, HostileA,CPsi085: Your touch transfers your hurt to another.
3 Share Pain, ForcedA,XPH132: FORT save or unwilling subject takes some of your damage.
4 Empathic FeedbackA,XPH098: When you are hit in melee, your attacker takes up to 5 hp. (augment up to 11hp)
ACF 3:Empathic Feedback (from PsyWar list, 2 PP savings per manifest, augment up to 12hp) PLEASE HIT ME
5 Psychotic BreakA,CPsi097: AoE WILL save or targets viciously attack closest creature. PLEASE HIT ME
ACF: 2:Empathic TransferA,XPH099: transfer wounds from willing subject to yourself
6 Fuse FleshA,XPH109: FORT save or fuse subject's flesh, creating a helpless mass.
+7 Crisis of LifeA,XPH089: FORT save or heart attack(death). If successful save, 7d6 damage.
+8 Mind Blank, PsionicXPH119: protect one creature from all effects that detect, influence, or read emotions or thoughts
9 Affinity Field, PainCPsi078: FORT save for all you choose within 20 feet or they take all damage (including ability damage) and negative effects that you take, but they gain no healing, benefits or bonuses that you receive.
Ability: Expend focus to make the guy who hit you suffer half the damage took.
Power: 9 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "So it should be safe to add emp transfer. If you could add vigor (need to be vigorous to enjoy S&M right?) you can make one of the coolest healbot builds around. Affinity field or pain rocks when you have PSV and emp transfer.
bgatesvoodoodoll, post-ACF: "Add Crisis of Life. In the words of comedian Drew Carey, '...heart attacks hurt.'
Add Mind Blank, Psionic to prevent hits by a bunch of pain/Mind-Affecting powers, until you and your teammates are ready for them.
Fuse Flesh is a Will save or lose. Drop this and sub Vigor for Disable, or keep it and drop Disable, depending on how you and your DM view the theme of the mantle.
Psychotic Break sounds more like a candidate for Corruption and Insanity to me. Let's sub 3:Empathic Transfer.
Uses: Great for making enemies not want to hit you. With Vigor, a Candidate for a dominant mantle.
This mantle should be on your shopping list when creating a "Please hit me" build.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 2
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 4
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:20
MENTAL POWER
To determine bonus PP for the class that gives you this mantle, treat your WIS score as 2 points higher than its actual value
1 Mind ThrustA,XPH120: Deal 1d10 damage. Augment maxes to 20d10, with +10DC.
2 Id InsinuationA,XPH112: Swift tendrils of thought disrupt/confuse your target. Confused
2 Mental DisruptionA,XPH115: Daze creatures within 10 feet for 1 round. > Will save vs dazed
ACF Ego WhipXPH098: 1d4 CHA damage, Will save for half, minimum 1.
3 Mind TrapA,XPH120: immediate action to counterattack telepathy for 1d6 PP
ACF Psychic ContainmentCPsi096: prevent a psionic from using powers for 1 round/level
4 Intellect FortressA,XPH113: Those inside fortress take only half damage from powers and psi-like abilities until your next action.
ACF Dominate, PsionicA,XPH096: Dominate Person that works only as long as you concentrate, but can be buffed to Dominate Monster and multiple targets.
5 Psychic CrushA,XPH127: Brutally crush target's mental essence, reducing subject to –1 hp. scales up to 8d6 hp on successful Will save
ACF Cranial DelugeA,CPsi081 - FORT save or take 18d6 points of damage from cranial swelling
ACF Psychotic BreakCPsi097 - Area Will save or foes attack each other. Augment pumps DC
6 Cranial DelugeA,CPsi081 - FORT save or take 18d6 points of damage from cranial swelling
ACF Cloud Mind, MassXPH084: Erase knowledge of your presence from the minds of one creature/level.
ACF Co-opt ConcentrationXPH088: steal an effect that another manifester is concentrating to maintain.
+7 Crisis of LifeA,XPH089: Stop subject's heart.
8 HypercognitionXPH111: You can deduce almost anything.
+9 Urge ExterminationCPsi104: Kill one creature of 90 hp or less. Augments to 110 hp.
Ability: +2 on WIS to determine bonus PP... so, a total of 20PP across a standard build/career.
Powers: 8 powers before ACF. The MENTAL POWER mantle is one which can be reinterpreted in a couple of significant ways.
First, if you take MAGIC mantle too, then Intellect Fortress, Psychic Containment, and Co-opt Concentration all explicitly affect spells/spellcasters. Would you like to take 50% damage from all incoming spells, steal a concentration duration buff spell, and then lock down a spellcaster's ability to cast?
Second, Samb would have liked to see this mantle include ego whip and dominate, so they are included as possible ACF substitutions.
Ego Whip does not seem like a good trade for Mental Disruption, which is an area affect.
Dominate is awesome. However, not sure I would take Intellect Fortress to get it.
Third, If you give up Psychic Crush, you can take Cranial Deluge one level earlier from the Psion list.
Giving up either Psychic Crush or Cranial Deluge opens the way for either "Cloud Mind, Mass" or "Co-Opt Concentration".
Crisis of Life adds another FORT save or die which augments up to creatures of 18HD.
Hypercognition makes the DM reveal everything about anyone to save you the effort of using your brain to solve anything.
Uses: Offensive mantle that can make enemies/DMs cry.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 2
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:19
DESTRUCTION
You have the Improved Sunder feat as long as you are psionically focused.
If you expend your focus as part of a sunder attempt, the hardness of the object you are sundering is treated as 4 less.
1 Dissipating TouchA,XPH095: Touch deals qd6 damage.
2 Dissolving TouchA,XPH095: Your touch deals 4d6 acid damage.
2 Dissolving WeaponA,XPH095: Your weapon deals 4d6 acid damage.
3 Dispel PsionicsA,XPH094: Cancels psionic powers and effects.
ACF Exhalation of the Black DragonA,XPH105: breathe a ray of 3d6-10d6 acid damage
+4 DetonateA,DS3.5: destroy object or mindless (astral) construct/undead, splash damage
ACF Energy FlashA,CPsi087: touch attack for 5d6-10d6 energy damage and FORT save or dazed
+5 Baleful TeleportA,XPH079: FORT for half or 9d6-20d6 hp damage
6 Disintegrate, PsionicA.XPH093: Ray of 22d6 damage which turns one creature or object to dust.
ACF Breath of the Black DragonA,XPH081: Close cone-shaped burst of 11d6-20d6 acid damage
7 UltrablastA,XPH140: Deal 13d6 damage in 15-ft. radius.
+8 Matter ManipulationX,XPH115 250XP per point of hardness increased/decreased!
9 Intellect BombCPsi091: Causes your target's head to explode.
Ability: It's like improved sunder and a mini-focused sunder all in one. Great if you like to break stuff, otherwise not that great. Hydra hunting, anyone?
Powers:7 powers pre ACF
Samb, pre ACF: "All the powers here are pretty decent if dealing damage is your thing. Dispel is of course always good to have, and intellect bomb is one of the funniest save-or-dies around. Unlike cranial deluge, this is a will save and it deals no damage. If the initial target fails its will save it turns into a bomb that deals xd6 of damage (where x is the targets INT score) or reflex save for half. Not the best save-or-die but oh so fun"
ACF: Add Matter Manipulation, Baleful Teleport, and Energy Flash. Drop either Dissolving Weapon or Dissolving Touch. If you get Dispel and Disintegrate from other mantles, sub in Exhalation and/or Breath of the Black Dragon.
bgatesvoodoodoll: "Matter manipulation lets you buy off object hardness by 1point for each 250xp spent, which also lowers object hp by 2 for each point of hardness. Um, what? Mundane and magical inanimate material? I could buy a rank in Knowledge (architecture) to sabotage walls and dams and bridges? Wait, does this open up that achievement req for the Doomguard PrC?
Baleful Teleport is touch for FORT save or 9d6-20d6 damage. ok, destructive enough.
If your DM allows, Detonate is great. It's like a Destruction Ardent kept saying to himself 'wah, I keep getting my arse kicked by Irwin the Creation Ardent and his Astral Construct or by Steve the evil cleric and his undead minions' then did his homework to create this power. It's... elegant. If Detonate is not allowed, Energy Flash will fill the slot, but not with the same flavor or style.
When you combine these additions with the Black Dragon powers, this mantle feels original and fresh, not like a mantle that re-hashed powers from the wizard list. Instead you have the psionic equivalent of an anarchist bomber from the 1920s."
Uses: This mantle has save-or-dies that often deal damage at the same time so it is quite a very good mantle to kill stuff with (either outright or via damage). As a dominant mantle this could lead to massive damage.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:18
KNOWLEDGE
While psionically focused, make Knowledge checks as if trained.
Expend your psionic focus to gain a +5 bonus on one Knowledge check.
-1 Call to Mind: Gain additional Knowledge check with +4 competence bonus.
1 Detect Psionics: You detect the presence of psionics.
-1 Detect TeleportationA: Know when teleportation powers are used in close range.
ACF Ethshar: substitute Precognition, Defensive
-1 Know Direction and Location: You discover where you are and what direction you face.
2 Detect Hostile Intent: You can detect hostile creatures within 30 ft. of you.
-2 Identify, Psionic: Learn the properties of a psionic item.
-2 Object ReadingA: Learn details about an object's previous owner.
3 TouchsightA: Your telekinetic field tells you where everything is.
4 Detect Remote Viewing: You know when others spy on you remotely.
ACF Psionic Divination
4 Trace TeleportA: Learn destination of subject's teleport,
ACF (Ethshar) Read Thoughts
+5 Clairtangent Hand*A or Mind Probe
6 Psychometry*A: Read psychic impressions from a given location
ACF Living Memory PSc
+7 Moment of Prescience,Psionic
+8 Mind Blank,Psionic
+9 Cosmic AwarenessDS3.5
Ability: Samb: "make any knowledge check as if trained or expend it to gain +5 on said check. Not too bad since knowledge checks are by in large out of combat so lose of focus shouldn't be too big a deal."
While originally true, a common tank platform uses Cloistered Cleric with Knowledge DevotionCCh060 to get up to +5 on attack rolls. For tank builds, you may need a quick way to recover focus after a quick Knowledge check at the beginning of combat.
Powers: 11 before ACF... WotC broke it's own rule that each mantle has a max of 10 powers.
Samb: "This is the "know it all" mantle, which lends itself more out of combat."
Using the substitute powers ACF with this mantle is complex, but rewarding.
PATH#1:Combat load for 19 level straight Ardent build with CC/Knowledge Devotion frontloading...
Add: Cosmic Awareness from Dark Sun3.5, Mind Blank,Psionic, and Moment of Prescience, Psionic.
If your build will use the FORCE mantle, add Clairtangent Hand. Else, add Mind Probe.
Drop: Identify, Object Reading, Detect Hostile Intent(let your buddy the bard use Sense Motive),
Know Direction and Location(let your buddy the ranger deal with navigating),
Detect Teleportation(usually it's obvious when the bad guy gets away), and Call to Mind (Get these drops back as Power Stones)
PATH#2:Campaign specific (using a divination focused witch of Ethshar as an example)
Drop Know Direction and Location
Sub Precognition, Defensive for Detect Teleportation (Teleportation is almost unknown in Ethshar)
Sub Psionic Divination for Detect Remote Viewing
Sub Read Thoughts for Trace Teleport (Again, almost no Teleports in Ethshar)
Uses: Great for intel gathering. Following PATH#1 produces a counterintelligence expert. After ACF, Seers or well equipped rogues have competition.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:17
THE PLANES
Expend your focus to gain a +4 bonus on ML checks made to overcome an outsider's power resistance. Stacks with Power Penetration or Greater Power Penetration
1 Astral Traveler: Enable yourself or another to join anastral caravan-enabled trip.
+2 Psychoportive Shelter: Rope Trick's slightly bigger brother
3 Astral CaravanA: You lead an astral traveler-enabled group to a planar destination.
4 Dimensional Anchor, Psionic: Bars extradimensional movement.
4: Planar Apotheosis
4 Dismissal, Psionic: Forces a creature to return to its native plane.
5 Plane Shift, Psionic: Travel to other planes.
6 Planar Champion*A: Call a good or evil creature to do your bidding.
ACF 5:Force SubstantiationPSc
7 Ethereal Jaunt, Psionic: Become ethereal for 1 round/level.
ACF Planar Bubble, PsionicPSc
+8 Planar Embrace
9 Etherealness, Psionic: Become ethereal for 1 min./level.
Ability: +4 on manifester level checks against outsiders.
Powers: Dimensional Anchor or "Where you think you going?" is the original crown jewel of this mantle, but this mantle is the only way to the planes and that alone is worthwhile.
Dismissal or "Hey, you! Leave!" is a nice power to have since almost all campaigns will involve outsiders.
Planar Embrace is a cheesy way to add cleric spells as Spell-Like Abilities... Protection from evil 3/day, bless, Aid, detect evil, Cure serious wounds, neutralize poison, Holy smite, remove disease, Dispel evil. Each time you case Planar Embrace, your counts reset. Also, by taking at L8, its slightly harder to dispel.
Planar Champion is already discounted.
Instead of Ethereal Jaunt, sub in Planar Bubble from Planescape3.5. When you cast this on an inhabitant from another plane, their plane's traits become effective for 10 feet around
the recipient. So a Githyanki from the Astral would suddenly have a 10 feet radius shell of weightlessness. Or an Elemental Envoy of Air would have 10 feet radius where Air spells
and SLAs (like psionics) automatically receive the Empower Spell and Enlarge Spell feat for free, but Earth spells/SLAs have to pass a DC15+level of spell/effect for the caster
or manifester to succeed, else the spell/power/SLA is expended for no effect. It's messy, powerful and a multi-use buff/debuff/utility.
You can also substitute the 5th level Force Substantiation spell in the place of the 6th level spell Planar Champion. You would lose access to one outsider type in exchange
for a beefed up version of Dimensional Anchor, which lets you draw a target on a coexistent plan onto the plane you are on. Common use for this is countering Ethereal Jaunt.
Less common is getting ethereal, then using Force Substantiation to pull somebody into the ethereal with you. You could then trade Dimensional Anchor for Planar Apotheosis.
Uses: D-Hop like Skeeve and MYTH,Inc. Uninvite demons that visit you at home. Call in psionic outsiders as backup. Drag a person across the border into the Ethereal of Plane of Shadow.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 0
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:16
LIFE
Expend psionic focus as swift action when you manifest a power from this mantle, your manifester level for that power is considered 1 higher (thus increasing the number of power points you can spend on manifesting the power, among other benefits).
CONFLICT
Bonus feat: Weapon Focus, with a weapon of your choice... pick RAY or SPEAR
1 Metaphysical WeaponA: Weapon gains +1 bonus.
ACF Cast MissileDS3.5 ranged attacks without ranged weapons.
1 Prescience, OffensiveA: Gain +2 insight bonus on your damage rolls.
2 Psionic Lion's ChargeA: You can make a full attack in the same round you charge. <- how Ardents pounce without feats.
3 Dimension SlideA: Teleports you a very short distance.
4 ImmovabilityA: You are almost impossible to move and gain DR 15/–.
ACF Faceted AttackPSc exist in a # of additional places equal to the # of extra attacks granted by your BAB, with each aspect gaining one of these attacks. PLEASE HIT ME!
5 Psychic CrushA: Brutally crush subject's mental essence,reducing subject to –1 hit points.
5 Graft Weapon: Your hand is replaced seamlessly by your weapon.
+6 Rage of the RemorhazCPsi097 - Your body becomes searing hot,damaging those who touch you for 4d6 fire damage
+7 FissionXPH107 - You briefly duplicate yourself
8 Spirit of War*: Confer +4 on attack rolls and damage rolls, +10 to one save, and confirm one critical threat.
Ability: free weapon focus feat. Nifty
Powers: 8 powers pre ACF. Keen edge feels like a reasonable addition. Has powers that increase mobility, attack and damage, defense and even group buffing. Spirit of war is really sweet self buff that also applies to your allies.
Uses: key mantle in any frontline build. I can't say this is a dominant mantle, but certainly primary given how many cool powers are here.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 3
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 2
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total: 16
MAGIC
Gain Use Magic Device as a class skill. Convert cross-class UMD or Use Psionic Device ranks to class rate,
as if it had always been a class skill for you. Always treat magic and psionics as identical.
This mantle is most useful in campaigns where "Psionics is different".
1 Metaphysical WeaponA: Weapon gains +1 bonus.
ACF Detect Psionics
+2 Bestow Power CPsi
ACF: Psychic Scimitar CPsi
3 Dispel PsionicsA: Cancels psionic powers and effects.
+4 Energy Adaptation CPsi
5 Power Resistance: Grant power resistance equal to 12+ level.
6 Analyze Dweomer, Psionic*A: Reveals magical aspects of subject. You also gain an augmentation option unavailable to other manifesters of this power. Augment: For every additional power point you spend,you can analyze an additional object or creature, requiring an additional round per target.
6 Null Psionics Field: Create a field where psionic power does not function.
+7 Neutralize Area PSc
8 Protection from Spells, Psionic*A: Gain +3 on saves against spells and spell-like abilities.
+9 Apopsi - permanently delete powers known (or spells known from a spontaneous caster)
Ability: Gain UMD if you are not using transparency. If only you had more skill points to spend on it....
Powers: 6 powers before ACF, mostly defensive buffs.
Bestow Power: Due to the explicit magic/psionics transparency of the Magic mantle, you can also bestow a spell to a spontaneous caster.
The spontaneous caster receives a spell with a level equal to half the PP a psychic class would receive.
If you send a spell of higher level than the spontaneous caster knows, then the spontaneous caster only receives the highest level spell they know and the PP is still spent.
This turns Ardent into a psychic battery for psychic teammates and sorcerors, bards, duskblades, beguilers, spellthieves, warmages, favored souls, shugenjas and spirit shamans.
Dispel Psionics: In this mantle, also affects spells.
Energy Adaptation gives ER and then a counterstrike.
Neutralize Area can shut down a number of alignment effects.
Apopsi can permanently delete a power or spell known. To get it back, the target can get it restored through Psychic Surgery, Psychic Reformation, or PHBII retraining.
Uses: Shut down casters. No mantle does it better. Getting UMD is a bonus.
GOOD
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to a non-good creature.
+1d6 points of damage with melee/ranged attack, or a spell that deals damage and targets a single creature.
1 Protection from Evil, Psionic*: +2 to AC and saves, counter mind control, hedge out summoned creatures.
2 Empathic TransferA: Transfer another's wounds to yourself.
ACF: Stygian Erasure
+3 Stygian Bane
4 Planar Apotheosis*A: Temporarily become celestial or fiendish (celestial only).
ACF: Stygian Disruption
5 Celestial Conduit*A: Launch a line of ectoplasm-mediated positive energy from your fingertips.
6 Planar Embrace*: Temporarily become a half-celestial or half-fiend (half-celestial only).
+7 Planar Champion
8 Greater Glory*: Good creatures near you gain benefits.
+9 Psychic Chirurgy
ACF: Reality Revision?
Ability: aligned strike (good), as per the other aligned strikes
Powers: 6 powers pre ACF.
Empathic transfer is a key ability for ardent healbots, allowing for 1d10 HP/PP to be transferred to you, this is combined with the old PSV combo to offset the damage done to you. Maximize this (with dominant mantle and metapower) to gain more consistent control of you and your teammate's, since it now scales at the same rate as PSV combo. Planar apotheosis allows for metamorphosis into a plantar, just like evil mantle.
Uses: Empathic transfer is found in Repose mantle as well but this mantle is plain better thanks to the buffs PfE provides. Still, this mantle lacks powers and rationale for share pain, vigor or HET. If your DM allows them, then this mantle maybe for the would be healers.
FORCE
While psionically focused, gain +1 deflection bonus to your Armor Class.
1 Force ScreenA: Invisible disc provides +4 shield bonus to AC.
ACF Floating DiskSoS As Tenser's. Augment: 2 additional PP increases diameter of disc to 6 ft. and doubles weight/volume carried.
-1 Deflection Field*: Provides +4 deflection bonus to AC.
2 Concussion BlastA: Deal 1d6 force damage to target.
ACF Levitate,Psionic
ACF Knock, Psionic
ACF Power ClawsRoS164 - enclose natural weapons in Force
ACF Power WeaponRoS164 - enclose held weapon in Force
3 Telekinetic ForceA: Move an object with the sustained force of your mind.
3 Ethereal Volley*: Imbue your missiles with force energy, making them ghost touch weapons.
4 Telekinetic ManeuverA: Telekinetically bull rush, disarm, grapple, or trip your target.
+5 Telekinetic Buffer: +4 unnamed bonus to AC
6 Concussive Detonation*A: Burst of force damages targets in area.
+7 Decerebrate: Remove portion of subject's brain stem. - FORT save or cripple
8 Telekinetic Sphere, Psionic: Mobile force globe encapsulates creature and moves it.
+9 Tornado Blast - Reflex save for partial damage
Ability: +1 deflection AC. doesn't stack with Deflection Field
Powers: 8 powers before ACF.
If you view force as "telekinetic effects that are not energy" instead of "only force effects", you can add Decerebrate,Tornado Blast, and TK Buffer thematically.
An alternate arrangement takes Inertial Armor instead of TK Buffer.
Drop Deflection Field to keep under 10 powers for the ACF requirement. Deflection Field has a duration of Concentration, which is bad news.
Concussion Blast is valuable for its pinpoint accuracy and its non-lethal damage.
If Concussion Blast does not work for you, consider Levitate or Knock
Samb:"I just love Telekinetic maneuver, it does all the cool things that fighters do but at a distance! Also I feel like Sylar when I pin people on a wall"
Uses: Decent defensive and damage dealing powers making it ideal for a tank. Could be dominant mantle but your mileage may vary.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 1
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3&
samb: "Your life as an ardent and your builds all depend on these. They are what makes you and gives you your powers."
There are no bad mantles. Each represents a philosophy with a granted ability and a power list. Pre-ACF, there are some mantles that are good only for their granted ability or to use as Dorje powers. Of these, samb classified several of the least useful as red, or "avoid". Post-ACF, the lowest rating any mantle gets is black, which is the equivalent of "boring".
There are several ways to reinterpret each mantle with ACF, but suggestions here should help cut research time. '+ x' indicates a power added for that level. 'ACF' indicates a possible substitution after all adds. '- x' indicates a recommendation to drop a power, to keep the mantle power list at 10. Where lists are long/confusing, example ACF plans are provided.
Mantles below are roughly in descending order of usefulness with versatility weighted heavily.
JUSTICE
expend psionic focus as an immediate action to make an attack of opportunity against a foe that attacks one of your allies.
(click to show/hide)
-1 Call WeaponryA: Create temporary weapon.
ACF 1:Erase, psionicSoS133
-2 Call Armor*A: Transfer chosen type of armor to your hand.
2 Incite Bravery*A: You and allies near you become immune to fear effects for 1 round/level.
ACF Knock, PsionicXPH114
ACF TonguesXPH138
ACF Read thoughts - telepath2
ACF Brain lock - telepath2 - WILL save or dazed, cannot take mental actions
2 Zone of Truth, Psionic*: Subjects within range cannot lie.
ACF See Invisibility, Psionic
ACF Psionic lockXPH125
ACF Sense DangerMoE106
ACF 1:Urban striderCPsi
ACF 1:Aura readingDS3.5
ACF 1:Animate ropeSoS133
ACF 1:Psychic trackingDS3.5
ACF 1:Tattoo animationDS3.5
ACF 1:Charm, PsionicXPH082: as charm personPHB209
+3 Glyph of Warding
ACF Touchsight
ACF Ectoplasmic CoccoonXPH097
ACF Psychic ContainmentCPsi096
4 Aura Sight*: Reveals creatures, objects, powers, or spells of selected alignment axis.
ACF Control BodyXPH086
4 Discern Lies, Psionic*: Reveals deliberate falsehoods.
5 True Seeing, Psionic: See all things as they really are.
6 Perfect Riposte*A: Make an attack of opportunity against a creature who just missed you.
ACF Rage of the RemorhazCPSi
7 Reddopsi: Powers targeting you rebound on the manifester.
ACF Eyes of the BasiliskCPsi089 - FORT save or subject turns to stone
+8 Bend reality
ACF Recall DeathXPH129
+9 Reality revision
ACF ApopsiX,XPH076 - FORT save or delete 1d4 power from mind of subject
ACF Psychic ChirurgyX,XPH126
ACF Plan1: muddle through
ADD Reality Revision, Bend Reality
SUB Touchsight for Glyph of Warding
SUB See Invisibility for Zone of Truth
DROP Call Armor, Call Weaponry
ACF Plan2: bring a fugitive to... (deputy/bounty hunter/thieftaker)
ADD Apopsi, Bend Reality, Ectoplasmic Coccoon
SUB Knock and Lock for Incite Bravery and Zone of Truth
-OR-
SUB Tongues for Incite Bravery and pick -one- of the following for Zone of Truth:
Urban strider, Aura reading, Animate rope, Psychic tracking, Tattoo animation, Charm
DROP Call Armor, Call Weaponry
ACF Plan3: Justice=Judge/Elder
ADD Psychic Chirurgy, Recall Death
SUB Rage of the Remorhaz for Perfect Riposte
SUB Read Thoughts or Brain Lock for Incite Bravery
SUB Erase for Call Weaponry
DROP Call Armor
Ability: expend focus to make an AoO on anyone that attacks your ally. Meh, I just can't think of any builds to base this off.
Powers: 9 pre ACF
Uses: Original power list could go well with GUARDIAN and FORCE for a tanking ardent.
FREEDOM
While psionically focused, gain +10-foot bonus to your speed.
Expend your focus to add your ML to a roll made to resist/escape grapple.
(click to show/hide)
1 Dimension HopA,CPsi083: Swiftly teleport a short distance.
2 HustleXPH111: Trade a swift action for an additional move action in the current round.
ACF Knock, PsionicXPH114: open locks, locked doors. good for getting in or out
ACF Levitate, PsionicXPH114: float in the air
ACF Body EquilibriumXPH081: walk on water, half damage from falling
ACF Earth WalkCPsi084: walk on any earth/stone surfaces at current base speed
ACF Wall WalkerXPH140: walk on walls or ceiling... slowly
+3 Evade BurstA,XPH105: almost like having Evasion and Improved Evasion
ACF Escape DetectionXPH105: casters/manifesters must roll DC13+yourML(max10) to scry/detect you
ACF Faint MemoryA,MoE104: +5 bonus to Hide,MoveSilently,Disguise,&Bluff. WILL save to remember you
4 Fly, PsionicXPH108: You fly at a speed of 60 ft.
ACF Freedom of Movement, PsionicXPH109: You cannot be held or otherwise rendered immobile. (PsyWar list)
5 Freedom of Movement, PsionicXPH109: You cannot be held or otherwise rendered immobile.
ACF Temporal ReiterationCPsi104: The round does not count as time spent for duration of ongoing effects on you
ACF Adapt BodyXPH075: Your body adapts to hostile environments
5 Teleport, PsionicXPH136: Instantly transports you as far as 100 miles/level.
ACF Temporal ReiterationCPsi104: The round does not count as time spent for duration of ongoing effects on you
ACF Adapt BodyXPH075: Your body adapts to hostile environments
6 Evade BurstA,XPH105: You take no damage from a burst on a successful Reflex save.
ACF Dispelling BufferXPH095 add +5 to DC of the dispel check for each ongoing effect subject to being dispelled
+7 Ethereal Jaunt, PsionicXPH105: short duration trip to ethereal plane
8 Teleport, Psionic GreaterXPH136: As psionic teleport, but with no range limit and no off-target arrival.
+9 Teleportation Circle, PsionicXPH136: Psionic teleport trip
Ability: +10 feet to movement, which stacks with speed of thought for a nice +20 movement bonus. If using heavy armor, this is great bonus.
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "All are solid, only two I can think of adding is overland flight and inconstant location."
bgatesvoodoodoll, pre-ACF: "This is the Freedom mantle... why do powers cost more than they should?"
Add Teleportation Circle, Psionic for a dispellable psionic trap. Add Ethereal Jaunt for a different movement method.
To fix power pricing, Add 3:Evade Burst from PsyWar. Drop 4:Fly for 4:Freedom of Movement from PsyWar. Ignore 5:Freedom of Movement for now. Sub Dispelling Buffer in for 6:Evade Burst. Your fly mode is part of Ethereal Jaunt, so you are insubstantial and can fly to your desired destination in straight 3-d lines.
Net change: Evade Burst is 6 PP cheaper, FOM is 2 PP cheaper, and flying is 5 PP more expensive, but goes through solids.
After fixing pricing, sub in one of the following for 5:Freedom of Movement... Temporal Reiteration or Adapt Body
If your build will get Greater Teleport later, you might also sub 5:Teleport for... Temporal Reiteration or Adapt Body
If you'll get FOM as a divine spell via PsyTheurge build, while fixing pricing, keep Fly.
Dimension hop is a unique ardent power that gives +10 feet/PP as a swift action, who needs spring attack?
As a power, Hustle is amazing. If Freedom is your dominant ideal, you use linked power and psionic meditation to regain your psionic focus. If you get Hustle from another mantle, consider Knock or Levitate.
If you have another way to get Evade Burst or Evasion feat, you might drop Evade Burst entirely for Escape Detection or Faint Memory.
Uses: Great choice for any build but especially for gish builds. The Hustle/Linked power/psi meditation/dominant ideal combo may seem overly complex but it has win written all over it. This is easily the best mantle in the game, even without ACF tricks. This is the Mantle which Substitute Powers ACF helps the most.
FATE
Once/day, expend psionic focus to add a bonus on one d20 roll equal to your level in the class that allowed you to access this ability.
(click to show/hide)
1 Precognition, DefensiveA,XPH091: Gain +1 insight bonus to AC and saving throws.
ACF Prescience, OffensiveA,XPH091: +2 insight bonus to damage rolls
1 Precognition, OffensiveA,XPH091: Gain +1 insight bonus on your attack rolls.
ACF Destiny DissonanceXPH091: touch attack to sicken foe
2 Clairvoyant SenseXPH083: See and hear a distant location on same plane.
ACF ForetellingA,MoE105: grant recipient choice of +1 insight bonus to attack,AC, or saves
+3 Danger SenseA,XPH090: +4 insight bonus v traps. Augment for Uncanny Dodge.
ACF Destiny's TrailPSc: Determine the people that were involved in certain moments in time.
ACF Fate LinkXPH107: Target two creatures within 30 feet of each other and Close range to you. Both must FORT save or when one loses hp, the other loses the same amount. Pro tip: you can be one of the two creatures and use Fate Link as a sacrifice variant of Share Pain, Forced.
4 Remote ViewingX,XPH130: See, hear, and potentially interact with subjects at a distance.
+5 Second ChanceXPH131: pay 9PP for a re-roll
ACF Clairtangent HandA: Emulate clairvoyant sense and far hand at a distance.
6 Precognition, GreaterXPH124: Gain +4 insight bonus on one roll.
7 Fate of OneA,XPH107: Reroll any roll you just failed. You also gain an augmentation option unavailable to other manifesters of this power.
Augment: If you spend 3 additional PP, you can reroll a third time. You need not decide to spend PP for this augmentation until after you decide to roll the third time, but you must spend the power points before you know the result of your roll.
+8 Recall DeathXPH129: Subject dies or takes 5d6 damage
9 MetafacultyX,XPH116: You learn details about any one creature
Ability: Expend focus to add your class level to one d20 roll 1/day. This is the only mantle ability that scales with your level. It's like an action point but 1/day and adds a lot more. This is a great mantle ability.
Powers: 7 powers before ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "This mantle turns the odds in your favor, and even when it doesn't work out it lets you try again with fate of one. It also has the always useful remote viewing and Clairvoyant Sense for extra utility."
bgatesvoodoodoll, post-ACF: "Comparing this to the cleric Fate domain, this mantle feels more in tune with Fate. Many duration spells, so making it Dominant Ideal and throwing around Extend Power seems like a good idea. Fate Link is good for Please Hit Me builds, but I prefer the Uncanny Dodge from Danger Sense. DS also helps tie the mantle to Fate domain, which has Uncanny Dodge as its granted ability. Fate domain has debuffs, so adding Recall Death seems to fit. Clairvoyant Sense didn't seem right, so subbing Foretelling then swapping the L1 powers seemed OP."
Uses: great applications both in combat and out of combat make this mantle a great choice for any build. The mantle ability could win encounters even with just 6 levels of ardent to boost it. This could be taken at any level but should not be a dominant mantle since most don't benefit from (that much) metapsionics or augments.
DECEPTION
As an immediate action, expend psionic focus to displace yourself until your next action.
While displaced, attacks that target you have a 50% miss chance.
(click to show/hide)
1 Charm, PsionicA,XPH082: Makes one person your friend.
ACF ChameleonXPH082: Gain +10 enhancement bonus on Hide checks.
ACF Conceal ThoughtsXPH085 +10 circumstance bonus v Sense Motive, +4 save against reading thoughts
ACF Dimensional PocketCPsi083: place one unattended object into a dimensional space
ACF DistractXPH096: WILL save or -4 to Listen,Search,Spot, and Sense Motive
2 Cloud MindXPH084: erase knowledge of your presence from target's mind.
ACF Alter Self, PsionicDS3.5: change shape enough for a disguise
2 Concealing AmorphaXPH085: Quasi-real membrane grants you concealment.
3 False Sensory InputA,XPH106: Subject sees what isn't there.
ACF Faint MemoryA,MoE104 +5 bonus to Hide,MoveSilently,Disguise,&Bluff. Will save to remember you
3 Escape DetectionXPH105: become difficult to detect with clairsentience powers.
ACF Glibness, PsionicSoS133: +30 bonus on Bluff checks made to convince another of the truth of your words.
+4 Detect Remote ViewingXPH092: Know location of all magic sensors within 40 feet. Trace divinations back to their caster.
+5 Psychic ReformationX,XPH127: Subject can choose skills, feats, and powers anew for previous levels. NOTE: XP costs.
6 Cloud Mind, MassXPH084: Erase knowledge of your presence from the minds of one creature/level.
ACF Aura AlterationA,XPH078: disguise the subject’s alignment and level or remove a compulsion or charm effect
+7 Mind Blank, PersonalXPH118: Become immune to scrying and mental effects.
8 Bend RealityX,XPH080: Alters reality within power limit
+9 Reality RevisionX,XPH128: As bend reality, but fewer limits
Ability: wait till a boss targets me then make the bad guy roll a 50-50 to hit me? good for tanks
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
Before ACF, samb: "...this is a good mantle for charm, bend reality, and false sensory input."
After ACF, bgatesvoodoodoll:
"Reality revision to pay 3000XP to get a party member back... Or don't pay, and watch the party cleric go down.
Together, Reality revision, Mind Blank, and Psychic Reformation turn 'Deception' into 'Infiltration'
Mind Blank means nobody can use a spell or power to see what you're thinking.
With Psychic reformation, if you multiclass into some SP, you can get into anywhere by retraining as low level help.
Charm can replace CHA based skills you didnt take. Take this mantle early to get charm, or if multiclassing psychic rogue. For charm without being sneaky, see Communications. Yes, this makes your Ardent not a people person, and arguably a terrible person as well. Stacks well against the cleric domain Trickery. Trickery domain has more focus on anti-scry, Deception on anti-thought reading and anti-guard deception."
Other suggestions from Samb: Conceal thoughts, dimensional pocket, suggestion, aura alteration, distract, chameleon.
Uses: good primary, but maybe not dominant. Sneaky builds need Deception. Others could benefit from bend reality, which can open possibilities and get rid of debuffs.
ACF ChameleonXPH082: Gain +10 enhancement bonus on Hide checks.
ACF Conceal ThoughtsXPH085 +10 circumstance bonus v Sense Motive, +4 save against reading thoughts
ACF Dimensional PocketCPsi083: place one unattended object into a dimensional space
ACF DistractXPH096: WILL save or -4 to Listen,Search,Spot, and Sense Motive
2 Cloud MindXPH084: erase knowledge of your presence from target's mind.
ACF Alter Self, PsionicDS3.5: change shape enough for a disguise
2 Concealing AmorphaXPH085: Quasi-real membrane grants you concealment.
3 False Sensory InputA,XPH106: Subject sees what isn't there.
ACF Faint MemoryA,MoE104 +5 bonus to Hide,MoveSilently,Disguise,&Bluff. Will save to remember you
3 Escape DetectionXPH105: become difficult to detect with clairsentience powers.
ACF Glibness, PsionicSoS133: +30 bonus on Bluff checks made to convince another of the truth of your words.
+4 Detect Remote ViewingXPH092: Know location of all magic sensors within 40 feet. Trace divinations back to their caster.
+5 Psychic ReformationX,XPH127: Subject can choose skills, feats, and powers anew for previous levels. NOTE: XP costs.
6 Cloud Mind, MassXPH084: Erase knowledge of your presence from the minds of one creature/level.
ACF Aura AlterationA,XPH078: disguise the subject’s alignment and level or remove a compulsion or charm effect
+7 Mind Blank, PersonalXPH118: Become immune to scrying and mental effects.
8 Bend RealityX,XPH080: Alters reality within power limit
+9 Reality RevisionX,XPH128: As bend reality, but fewer limits
Ability: wait till a boss targets me then make the bad guy roll a 50-50 to hit me? good for tanks
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
Before ACF, samb: "...this is a good mantle for charm, bend reality, and false sensory input."
After ACF, bgatesvoodoodoll:
"Reality revision to pay 3000XP to get a party member back... Or don't pay, and watch the party cleric go down.
Together, Reality revision, Mind Blank, and Psychic Reformation turn 'Deception' into 'Infiltration'
Mind Blank means nobody can use a spell or power to see what you're thinking.
With Psychic reformation, if you multiclass into some SP, you can get into anywhere by retraining as low level help.
Charm can replace CHA based skills you didnt take. Take this mantle early to get charm, or if multiclassing psychic rogue. For charm without being sneaky, see Communications. Yes, this makes your Ardent not a people person, and arguably a terrible person as well. Stacks well against the cleric domain Trickery. Trickery domain has more focus on anti-scry, Deception on anti-thought reading and anti-guard deception."
Other suggestions from Samb: Conceal thoughts, dimensional pocket, suggestion, aura alteration, distract, chameleon.
Uses: good primary, but maybe not dominant. Sneaky builds need Deception. Others could benefit from bend reality, which can open possibilities and get rid of debuffs.
ENERGY
Expend psionic focus to gain resistance 5 against one energy type for rounds =3+Wis modifier.
At 10th level, you gain resistance to energy 10 instead.
(click to show/hide)
1 Energy RayA,XPH103: Deal 1d6-20d6 energy (cold, electricity, fire, or sonic) damage.
2 Energy PushA,XPH102: Deal 2d6-10d6 damage and knock subject back.
ACF Energy EmanationCPsi086 - 1d6-6d6 to each adjacent square
3 Energy BoltA,XPH100: Deal 5d6 energy damage in 120-ft. line.
3 Energy BurstA,XPH101: Deal 5d6 energy damage in 40-ft. burst.
3 Energy WallXPH104: Create wall of your chosen energy type.
+4 Energy BallA,XPH100: FORT save or 5-12d6
ACF Energy FlashA,CPsi087: touch attack for 5d6-10d6 energy damage and FORT save or dazed
5 Energy ManipulationA,CPsi087: You manipulate a source of energy within 1 round.
ACF Energy Nullification FieldA,CPsi088 - as null psionics field but only for powers w/ energy type you specify at manifest
+6 Energy trapSoS
ACF Rage of the RemorhazCPsi097: anything touching your body takes 4d6-8d6 hp fire damage. PLEASE HIT ME
ACF Energy BarrageA,XPH086: create 3 explosions of chosen energy type. Each deals 5d6-7d6 hp damage to every creature or object in 10 foot spread
ACF Mind over energyCPsi093: Gain immunity to one type of energy.
7 Energy WaveA,XPH104: Deal 13d6-20d6 damage of your chosen energy type in 120-ft. cone.
ACF Energy ConversionXPH101: ER/10, then discharge as one or more rays with one ray doing up to 3xMLd6 damage. PLEASE HIT ME
+8 Bend RealityX,XPH080: psi equivalent of limited wish
+9 ApopsiX,XPH076: Permanently delete 1d4 psi powers from subject.
ability: 5 or 10 energy resistance for 3+WIS mod rounds if you expend focus. Not too shabby.
powers: 7 powers pre ACF
ACF plan1: battlefield control
Add Apopsi,Bend Reality,Energy Trap,Energy Ball
Keep Manipulation or Sub in Nullification Field
Keep Energy Push
Combos: knockback into either wall or trap
ACF plan2: please hit me
Add Apopsi,Bend Reality,Rage of the Remorhaz,Energy Flash
Keep Manipulation or Sub in Nullification Field
Sub Energy Emanation for Energy Push
Combos: adjacent foes take damage from emanation, foe touching you takes damage from rage, touch with Flash for 12-18d6
bgatesvoodoodoll:
Uses: out of the box this mantle is for dealing damage with decent control. It is a must have for blasting ardents who should make it their dominant mantle and add the "cooler" energy powers into this mantle. ACF plans show a couple of options for damage or debuff stacking.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 11
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:22
TIME
+2 bonus on initiative checks.
1/day, expend focus as an immediate action to delay onset of one damaging attack or effect by one round. If, in the intervening turn, you gain immunity that would protect you from the delayed damage, you still take the delayed damage.
(click to show/hide)
1 DecelerationA: Target's speed is halved.
ACF SynchronicityA,CPsi103: ready a standard action (without spending an action to do so) and use it whenever you choose before your next turn. No need to specify which action you are readying.
2 SustenanceXPH134: Go without food and water for one day.
ACF HustleXPH111: Trade a swift action for an additional move action in the current round.
ACF ForetellingA,MoE105: grant recipient choice of +1 insight bonus to attack,AC, or saves
3 Time HopA,XPH137: Subject hops forward in time 1 round/level.
+4 QuintessenceXPH128 - collapse a bit of time into a physical substance.
5 Anticipatory StrikeA: Take your action out of initiative order.
ACF IncarnateX,XPH112 - make some powers permanent
6 Temporal AccelerationA,XPH136: Your time frame accelerates for 1 round.
+7 Sequester, PsionicX,XPH132 Hide one willing creature or object. Also see PHB276.
8 Time Hop, MassA,XPH137: Willing subjects hop forward in time.
9 Time RegressionX,XPH138: Relive the last round.
ACF Timeless BodyXPH138
Ability: +2 on init rolls or expend focus to delay all damage and negative effects till next round. It's like Timeless body, but costs no PP and can be used at level 1. Impressive indeed.
Powers: 7 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "Even out of the book this is a great mantle for Anticipatory Strike, Time Hop, and Temporal Acceleration."
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "This mantle is on par with the Time cleric domain, without duplicating it. Considering that clerics get more splat book attention, that's pretty good. The original L1 power, Deceleration, isn't really a Time effect. It warps space, which makes Samb's pick of Synchronicity a better fit for both flavor and function. Sustenance is also not a Time effect. Samb's pick here, Hustle, is op, but if you get Hustle from another mantle, Foretelling fits well."
Uses: Great for all builds and could very well be a dominant mantle for the sheer utility both on and off the battlefield.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 3
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:21
CREATION
Bonus feat: Ectopic FormCPsi50 and learn the form of your choice. You must meet all the feat's prerequisites for the form.
(click to show/hide)
1 Astral ConstructA,XPH077: Creates astral construct to fight for you.
1 Minor Creation, PsionicXPH121: Creates one cloth/wood object.
+2 CrystalstormA,CPsi081: 2d4hp ray w/FORT save vs 1d4 Con damage
ACF Amethyst BurstA,DM076: 2d6hp force damage in a 20'burst. no PR,maxes at 10d6
ACF Psychic WhipA,SoS131: Manifest and wield a 1d6 whip of ectoplasm with proficiency and Improved Trip.
+3 Dream Spirit, PsionicA,SoS130: Incorporeal manifestation attacks your opponents.
ACF Concealing Amorpha, GreaterXPH085: Total concealment (50% miss chance)
ACF Ectoplasmic CoccoonXPH097 - REFLEX Save or lose
4 Fabricate, PsionicXPH106: Transforms raw goods to finished items.
ACF QuintessenceXPH128: Create gooey globs of congealed time.
5 Major Creation, PsionicXPH114: As psionic minor creation, plus stone and metal.
ACF Hail of CrystalsXPH111: maxes at 100hp, PR-free
ACF Crystal BodyDM077: your body turns into crystal. Gain DR5/adamantine, immunities, and some vulns
6 Fabricate, Greater PsionicXPH106: Transforms a lot of raw goods to finished items.
ACF Living MemoryPSc - create recordings of memories.
+7 Ectoplasmic Coccoon, MassXPH097
ACF Soul CrystalMoI107: create a temp crystal shard containing a power w/ PP reserve which anyone can use
+8 Bend RealityX,XPH080 - similar to limited wish, but 300+XP cost when duplicating a spell or power with an XP or material component.
9 True CreationX: As psionic major creation, except items are completely real.
Ability: With this mantle as a dominant, Creation mantle may be better with AC than Shaper discipline.
Amber tunneler and Emerald gyre are good ground fighters with abilities not on the standard list and better stats than regular ACs.
Powers: 6 powers pre ACF. AC and minor creation makes this a great mantle. The proposed adds and subs up the power meter.
If ray was taken as a Weapon Focus, take Crystalstorm to help lock down enemy manifesters.
Also, note that if you took Craft (weaponsmithing) then with time to prepare, you can use Major Creation to produce siege weapons.
Why would Creation Ardents put in the effort for Dream Spirit? After ACF, Destruction mantle may have Detonate to snipe astral Constructs. One way Creation Ardents can respond is with an incorporeal summons. With Dream Spirit, there's no body for Destruction Ardents to detonate. Same holds for clerics with DestructionSpC272 mantle, which has a lot of touch attacks, including Harm.
Uses: Good for most builds. A blasting ardent could use a bodyguard, a gish could use a flanking buddy, anyone could use the extra actions AC provides. This mantle can prep for constructor PrC. As a dominant mantle you can have ACs that are better than most shapers, or encase enemies in cages that you made with quickened/linked major creations. Powers like these permit creative crafted solutions.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 3
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 2
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 8
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:20
PAIN&SUFFERING
As an immediate action, expend psionic focus to share pain of the next melee attack that damages you. The attacker takes damage equal to half damage it deals you.
(click to show/hide)
-1 DisableA,XPH095: AoE Will save or convinces 1/+ creatures of 4-22 Hit Dice or less that they are disabled
ACF VigorA,XPH140: Gain 5-100 temp hp
2 Inflict PainA,XPH113: Telepathic stab gives your foe –4 on attack rolls, or –2 if he makes the save.
2 Recall AgonyA,XPH129: Foe takes 2d6 damage.
ACF Animal AffinityXPH075: gain +4 enhancement to an ability(pick CON)
3 Empathic Transfer, HostileA,CPsi085: Your touch transfers your hurt to another.
3 Share Pain, ForcedA,XPH132: FORT save or unwilling subject takes some of your damage.
4 Empathic FeedbackA,XPH098: When you are hit in melee, your attacker takes up to 5 hp. (augment up to 11hp)
ACF 3:Empathic Feedback (from PsyWar list, 2 PP savings per manifest, augment up to 12hp) PLEASE HIT ME
5 Psychotic BreakA,CPsi097: AoE WILL save or targets viciously attack closest creature. PLEASE HIT ME
ACF: 2:Empathic TransferA,XPH099: transfer wounds from willing subject to yourself
6 Fuse FleshA,XPH109: FORT save or fuse subject's flesh, creating a helpless mass.
+7 Crisis of LifeA,XPH089: FORT save or heart attack(death). If successful save, 7d6 damage.
+8 Mind Blank, PsionicXPH119: protect one creature from all effects that detect, influence, or read emotions or thoughts
9 Affinity Field, PainCPsi078: FORT save for all you choose within 20 feet or they take all damage (including ability damage) and negative effects that you take, but they gain no healing, benefits or bonuses that you receive.
Ability: Expend focus to make the guy who hit you suffer half the damage took.
Power: 9 powers pre ACF.
Samb, pre-ACF: "So it should be safe to add emp transfer. If you could add vigor (need to be vigorous to enjoy S&M right?) you can make one of the coolest healbot builds around. Affinity field or pain rocks when you have PSV and emp transfer.
bgatesvoodoodoll, post-ACF: "Add Crisis of Life. In the words of comedian Drew Carey, '...heart attacks hurt.'
Add Mind Blank, Psionic to prevent hits by a bunch of pain/Mind-Affecting powers, until you and your teammates are ready for them.
Fuse Flesh is a Will save or lose. Drop this and sub Vigor for Disable, or keep it and drop Disable, depending on how you and your DM view the theme of the mantle.
Psychotic Break sounds more like a candidate for Corruption and Insanity to me. Let's sub 3:Empathic Transfer.
Uses: Great for making enemies not want to hit you. With Vigor, a Candidate for a dominant mantle.
This mantle should be on your shopping list when creating a "Please hit me" build.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 2
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 4
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 4
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:20
MENTAL POWER
To determine bonus PP for the class that gives you this mantle, treat your WIS score as 2 points higher than its actual value
(click to show/hide)
1 Mind ThrustA,XPH120: Deal 1d10 damage. Augment maxes to 20d10, with +10DC.
2 Id InsinuationA,XPH112: Swift tendrils of thought disrupt/confuse your target. Confused
2 Mental DisruptionA,XPH115: Daze creatures within 10 feet for 1 round. > Will save vs dazed
ACF Ego WhipXPH098: 1d4 CHA damage, Will save for half, minimum 1.
3 Mind TrapA,XPH120: immediate action to counterattack telepathy for 1d6 PP
ACF Psychic ContainmentCPsi096: prevent a psionic from using powers for 1 round/level
4 Intellect FortressA,XPH113: Those inside fortress take only half damage from powers and psi-like abilities until your next action.
ACF Dominate, PsionicA,XPH096: Dominate Person that works only as long as you concentrate, but can be buffed to Dominate Monster and multiple targets.
5 Psychic CrushA,XPH127: Brutally crush target's mental essence, reducing subject to –1 hp. scales up to 8d6 hp on successful Will save
ACF Cranial DelugeA,CPsi081 - FORT save or take 18d6 points of damage from cranial swelling
ACF Psychotic BreakCPsi097 - Area Will save or foes attack each other. Augment pumps DC
6 Cranial DelugeA,CPsi081 - FORT save or take 18d6 points of damage from cranial swelling
ACF Cloud Mind, MassXPH084: Erase knowledge of your presence from the minds of one creature/level.
ACF Co-opt ConcentrationXPH088: steal an effect that another manifester is concentrating to maintain.
+7 Crisis of LifeA,XPH089: Stop subject's heart.
8 HypercognitionXPH111: You can deduce almost anything.
+9 Urge ExterminationCPsi104: Kill one creature of 90 hp or less. Augments to 110 hp.
Ability: +2 on WIS to determine bonus PP... so, a total of 20PP across a standard build/career.
Powers: 8 powers before ACF. The MENTAL POWER mantle is one which can be reinterpreted in a couple of significant ways.
First, if you take MAGIC mantle too, then Intellect Fortress, Psychic Containment, and Co-opt Concentration all explicitly affect spells/spellcasters. Would you like to take 50% damage from all incoming spells, steal a concentration duration buff spell, and then lock down a spellcaster's ability to cast?
Second, Samb would have liked to see this mantle include ego whip and dominate, so they are included as possible ACF substitutions.
Ego Whip does not seem like a good trade for Mental Disruption, which is an area affect.
Dominate is awesome. However, not sure I would take Intellect Fortress to get it.
Third, If you give up Psychic Crush, you can take Cranial Deluge one level earlier from the Psion list.
Giving up either Psychic Crush or Cranial Deluge opens the way for either "Cloud Mind, Mass" or "Co-Opt Concentration".
Crisis of Life adds another FORT save or die which augments up to creatures of 18HD.
Hypercognition makes the DM reveal everything about anyone to save you the effort of using your brain to solve anything.
Uses: Offensive mantle that can make enemies/DMs cry.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 2
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:19
DESTRUCTION
You have the Improved Sunder feat as long as you are psionically focused.
If you expend your focus as part of a sunder attempt, the hardness of the object you are sundering is treated as 4 less.
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1 Dissipating TouchA,XPH095: Touch deals qd6 damage.
2 Dissolving TouchA,XPH095: Your touch deals 4d6 acid damage.
2 Dissolving WeaponA,XPH095: Your weapon deals 4d6 acid damage.
3 Dispel PsionicsA,XPH094: Cancels psionic powers and effects.
ACF Exhalation of the Black DragonA,XPH105: breathe a ray of 3d6-10d6 acid damage
+4 DetonateA,DS3.5: destroy object or mindless (astral) construct/undead, splash damage
ACF Energy FlashA,CPsi087: touch attack for 5d6-10d6 energy damage and FORT save or dazed
+5 Baleful TeleportA,XPH079: FORT for half or 9d6-20d6 hp damage
6 Disintegrate, PsionicA.XPH093: Ray of 22d6 damage which turns one creature or object to dust.
ACF Breath of the Black DragonA,XPH081: Close cone-shaped burst of 11d6-20d6 acid damage
7 UltrablastA,XPH140: Deal 13d6 damage in 15-ft. radius.
+8 Matter ManipulationX,XPH115 250XP per point of hardness increased/decreased!
9 Intellect BombCPsi091: Causes your target's head to explode.
Ability: It's like improved sunder and a mini-focused sunder all in one. Great if you like to break stuff, otherwise not that great. Hydra hunting, anyone?
Powers:7 powers pre ACF
Samb, pre ACF: "All the powers here are pretty decent if dealing damage is your thing. Dispel is of course always good to have, and intellect bomb is one of the funniest save-or-dies around. Unlike cranial deluge, this is a will save and it deals no damage. If the initial target fails its will save it turns into a bomb that deals xd6 of damage (where x is the targets INT score) or reflex save for half. Not the best save-or-die but oh so fun"
ACF: Add Matter Manipulation, Baleful Teleport, and Energy Flash. Drop either Dissolving Weapon or Dissolving Touch. If you get Dispel and Disintegrate from other mantles, sub in Exhalation and/or Breath of the Black Dragon.
bgatesvoodoodoll: "Matter manipulation lets you buy off object hardness by 1point for each 250xp spent, which also lowers object hp by 2 for each point of hardness. Um, what? Mundane and magical inanimate material? I could buy a rank in Knowledge (architecture) to sabotage walls and dams and bridges? Wait, does this open up that achievement req for the Doomguard PrC?
Baleful Teleport is touch for FORT save or 9d6-20d6 damage. ok, destructive enough.
If your DM allows, Detonate is great. It's like a Destruction Ardent kept saying to himself 'wah, I keep getting my arse kicked by Irwin the Creation Ardent and his Astral Construct or by Steve the evil cleric and his undead minions' then did his homework to create this power. It's... elegant. If Detonate is not allowed, Energy Flash will fill the slot, but not with the same flavor or style.
When you combine these additions with the Black Dragon powers, this mantle feels original and fresh, not like a mantle that re-hashed powers from the wizard list. Instead you have the psionic equivalent of an anarchist bomber from the 1920s."
Uses: This mantle has save-or-dies that often deal damage at the same time so it is quite a very good mantle to kill stuff with (either outright or via damage). As a dominant mantle this could lead to massive damage.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:18
KNOWLEDGE
While psionically focused, make Knowledge checks as if trained.
Expend your psionic focus to gain a +5 bonus on one Knowledge check.
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-1 Call to Mind: Gain additional Knowledge check with +4 competence bonus.
1 Detect Psionics: You detect the presence of psionics.
-1 Detect TeleportationA: Know when teleportation powers are used in close range.
ACF Ethshar: substitute Precognition, Defensive
-1 Know Direction and Location: You discover where you are and what direction you face.
2 Detect Hostile Intent: You can detect hostile creatures within 30 ft. of you.
-2 Identify, Psionic: Learn the properties of a psionic item.
-2 Object ReadingA: Learn details about an object's previous owner.
3 TouchsightA: Your telekinetic field tells you where everything is.
4 Detect Remote Viewing: You know when others spy on you remotely.
ACF Psionic Divination
4 Trace TeleportA: Learn destination of subject's teleport,
ACF (Ethshar) Read Thoughts
+5 Clairtangent Hand*A or Mind Probe
6 Psychometry*A: Read psychic impressions from a given location
ACF Living Memory PSc
+7 Moment of Prescience,Psionic
+8 Mind Blank,Psionic
+9 Cosmic AwarenessDS3.5
Ability: Samb: "make any knowledge check as if trained or expend it to gain +5 on said check. Not too bad since knowledge checks are by in large out of combat so lose of focus shouldn't be too big a deal."
While originally true, a common tank platform uses Cloistered Cleric with Knowledge DevotionCCh060 to get up to +5 on attack rolls. For tank builds, you may need a quick way to recover focus after a quick Knowledge check at the beginning of combat.
Powers: 11 before ACF... WotC broke it's own rule that each mantle has a max of 10 powers.
Samb: "This is the "know it all" mantle, which lends itself more out of combat."
Using the substitute powers ACF with this mantle is complex, but rewarding.
PATH#1:Combat load for 19 level straight Ardent build with CC/Knowledge Devotion frontloading...
Add: Cosmic Awareness from Dark Sun3.5, Mind Blank,Psionic, and Moment of Prescience, Psionic.
If your build will use the FORCE mantle, add Clairtangent Hand. Else, add Mind Probe.
Drop: Identify, Object Reading, Detect Hostile Intent(let your buddy the bard use Sense Motive),
Know Direction and Location(let your buddy the ranger deal with navigating),
Detect Teleportation(usually it's obvious when the bad guy gets away), and Call to Mind (Get these drops back as Power Stones)
PATH#2:Campaign specific (using a divination focused witch of Ethshar as an example)
Drop Know Direction and Location
Sub Precognition, Defensive for Detect Teleportation (Teleportation is almost unknown in Ethshar)
Sub Psionic Divination for Detect Remote Viewing
Sub Read Thoughts for Trace Teleport (Again, almost no Teleports in Ethshar)
Uses: Great for intel gathering. Following PATH#1 produces a counterintelligence expert. After ACF, Seers or well equipped rogues have competition.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 2
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 0
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 3
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:17
THE PLANES
Expend your focus to gain a +4 bonus on ML checks made to overcome an outsider's power resistance. Stacks with Power Penetration or Greater Power Penetration
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1 Astral Traveler: Enable yourself or another to join anastral caravan-enabled trip.
+2 Psychoportive Shelter: Rope Trick's slightly bigger brother
3 Astral CaravanA: You lead an astral traveler-enabled group to a planar destination.
4 Dimensional Anchor, Psionic: Bars extradimensional movement.
4: Planar Apotheosis
4 Dismissal, Psionic: Forces a creature to return to its native plane.
5 Plane Shift, Psionic: Travel to other planes.
6 Planar Champion*A: Call a good or evil creature to do your bidding.
ACF 5:Force SubstantiationPSc
7 Ethereal Jaunt, Psionic: Become ethereal for 1 round/level.
ACF Planar Bubble, PsionicPSc
+8 Planar Embrace
9 Etherealness, Psionic: Become ethereal for 1 min./level.
Ability: +4 on manifester level checks against outsiders.
Powers: Dimensional Anchor or "Where you think you going?" is the original crown jewel of this mantle, but this mantle is the only way to the planes and that alone is worthwhile.
Dismissal or "Hey, you! Leave!" is a nice power to have since almost all campaigns will involve outsiders.
Planar Embrace is a cheesy way to add cleric spells as Spell-Like Abilities... Protection from evil 3/day, bless, Aid, detect evil, Cure serious wounds, neutralize poison, Holy smite, remove disease, Dispel evil. Each time you case Planar Embrace, your counts reset. Also, by taking at L8, its slightly harder to dispel.
Planar Champion is already discounted.
Instead of Ethereal Jaunt, sub in Planar Bubble from Planescape3.5. When you cast this on an inhabitant from another plane, their plane's traits become effective for 10 feet around
the recipient. So a Githyanki from the Astral would suddenly have a 10 feet radius shell of weightlessness. Or an Elemental Envoy of Air would have 10 feet radius where Air spells
and SLAs (like psionics) automatically receive the Empower Spell and Enlarge Spell feat for free, but Earth spells/SLAs have to pass a DC15+level of spell/effect for the caster
or manifester to succeed, else the spell/power/SLA is expended for no effect. It's messy, powerful and a multi-use buff/debuff/utility.
You can also substitute the 5th level Force Substantiation spell in the place of the 6th level spell Planar Champion. You would lose access to one outsider type in exchange
for a beefed up version of Dimensional Anchor, which lets you draw a target on a coexistent plan onto the plane you are on. Common use for this is countering Ethereal Jaunt.
Less common is getting ethereal, then using Force Substantiation to pull somebody into the ethereal with you. You could then trade Dimensional Anchor for Planar Apotheosis.
Uses: D-Hop like Skeeve and MYTH,Inc. Uninvite demons that visit you at home. Call in psionic outsiders as backup. Drag a person across the border into the Ethereal of Plane of Shadow.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 0
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 5
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 4
Total:16
LIFE
Expend psionic focus as swift action when you manifest a power from this mantle, your manifester level for that power is considered 1 higher (thus increasing the number of power points you can spend on manifesting the power, among other benefits).
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1 Touch of Health*A: Channel positive energy to cure damage or deal damage to undead. 1PP=2hp
2 From the Brink*A: stabilize a dying target. 3PP to stabilize + 1PP=1hp
ACF Body Adjustment You heal yourself of 1d12 points of damage.Augments to 9d12/108hp.
ACF Antidote SimulationDS3.5
ACF Stygian Erasure
3 Body PurificationA: restore 2 points damage to one of your ability scores. maxes to 9 points ability damage.
ACF Stygian Bane
4 Stygian Ward*: Grant immunity to death spells and negative energy effects.
ACF Stygian Disruption
5 Psionic RevivifyAX: Return the dead to life before the psyche leaves the corpse.
6 Mend Wounds*A: Cure nonundead of 55 damage, or deal 55 damage to undead. Augments to 100hp or 80hp for each creature in 20 feet
6 Restoration, Psionic: Restores level and ability score drains. 11PP to restore all damage to a single ability score.
+7 Oak Body
8 True MetabolismA: You regenerate 10 hit points/round. Unlike other manifesters of this power, you gain a new augmentation option.
Augment: If you spend 5 additional power points, you can affect one additional willing creature touched with this power.
+9 Timeless Body
ACF Psychic Chirurgy
ACF Reality Revision
Ability: expend focus to gain +1 ML to manifest powers from this mantle. Not too bad in the beginning when this is your only means of healing.
powers: 8 powers pre ACF
Samb, pre ACF: "Touch of health is a very gimped way of healing others, but it is all you have from levels 1-3, until you get PSV with empathic transfer. This mantle more to do with restoring and reviving than healing. Having Revivify and Restoration, are really what makes this blue mantle. True metabolism has an interesting augmentation exclusive to this mantle where you can give another the +10 HP/round. At 5HP/PP healed, mend wounds is a reasonable price but its other augmentation which heals all within 20 gives it potential to save actions. From the brink will shore up an ardent healer's lack of Healing skill."
ACF Plan1: focus on countering DEATH mantle
Add Timeless Body and Oak Body
Sub Stygian Disruption for Stygian Ward
Sub Stygian Bane for Body Purification
Sub Stygian Erasure for From the Brink
ACF Plan 2: Continue Healer toolkit focus
Add Psychic Chirurgy and Oak Body
Sub Antidote Simulation for From the Brink
Take ranks in Heal, preferably with Healing Hands skill trick. over your career, you get 40SP, but only 21 powers known.
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "Plan 1 is more combat focused, based on Samb's suggested powers notes. Not sure he would have traded Erasure for From the Brink, but I think he planned on getting Empathic Transfer from another mantle. Plan 2 is more utility and less 'lets go destroy some undead'. Both approaches can have their place in preventing a DEATH Ardent from having his way with the locals. For instance, Psionic Revivify is a great counter to Death Urge. Death Urge compels someone to kills themselves, but Revivify brings em right back. Touch of Health is a two-fer that heals people and/or harms undead. PHB says any magical healing stabilizes, and Touch of Health scales between a Cleric's Cure Minor Wounds and Cure Light Wounds. I have no use for From the Brink, as that power charges 3PP to stabilize. For 1PP, touch of Health gives 2hp and stabilizes. Instead, let's sub in Antidote Stimulation to fix poisons.
Stygian Ward prevents negative energy effects (death and/or negative levels), a great counter for half the DEATH mantle. True metabolism is awesome with its list specific augment. Either Chirugy or Reality Revision for high end utility. "
uses: Has ways to prevent death or reverse it, but for healing it lacks the cost efficiency of PSV/emp transfer. This mantle doesn't gain too much from dominant mantle status but could make for a good primary or at the very least secondary if your party has no way to revive people.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 1
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 0
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:16
2 From the Brink*A: stabilize a dying target. 3PP to stabilize + 1PP=1hp
ACF Body Adjustment You heal yourself of 1d12 points of damage.Augments to 9d12/108hp.
ACF Antidote SimulationDS3.5
ACF Stygian Erasure
3 Body PurificationA: restore 2 points damage to one of your ability scores. maxes to 9 points ability damage.
ACF Stygian Bane
4 Stygian Ward*: Grant immunity to death spells and negative energy effects.
ACF Stygian Disruption
5 Psionic RevivifyAX: Return the dead to life before the psyche leaves the corpse.
6 Mend Wounds*A: Cure nonundead of 55 damage, or deal 55 damage to undead. Augments to 100hp or 80hp for each creature in 20 feet
6 Restoration, Psionic: Restores level and ability score drains. 11PP to restore all damage to a single ability score.
+7 Oak Body
8 True MetabolismA: You regenerate 10 hit points/round. Unlike other manifesters of this power, you gain a new augmentation option.
Augment: If you spend 5 additional power points, you can affect one additional willing creature touched with this power.
+9 Timeless Body
ACF Psychic Chirurgy
ACF Reality Revision
Ability: expend focus to gain +1 ML to manifest powers from this mantle. Not too bad in the beginning when this is your only means of healing.
powers: 8 powers pre ACF
Samb, pre ACF: "Touch of health is a very gimped way of healing others, but it is all you have from levels 1-3, until you get PSV with empathic transfer. This mantle more to do with restoring and reviving than healing. Having Revivify and Restoration, are really what makes this blue mantle. True metabolism has an interesting augmentation exclusive to this mantle where you can give another the +10 HP/round. At 5HP/PP healed, mend wounds is a reasonable price but its other augmentation which heals all within 20 gives it potential to save actions. From the brink will shore up an ardent healer's lack of Healing skill."
ACF Plan1: focus on countering DEATH mantle
Add Timeless Body and Oak Body
Sub Stygian Disruption for Stygian Ward
Sub Stygian Bane for Body Purification
Sub Stygian Erasure for From the Brink
ACF Plan 2: Continue Healer toolkit focus
Add Psychic Chirurgy and Oak Body
Sub Antidote Simulation for From the Brink
Take ranks in Heal, preferably with Healing Hands skill trick. over your career, you get 40SP, but only 21 powers known.
bgatesvoodoodoll, post ACF: "Plan 1 is more combat focused, based on Samb's suggested powers notes. Not sure he would have traded Erasure for From the Brink, but I think he planned on getting Empathic Transfer from another mantle. Plan 2 is more utility and less 'lets go destroy some undead'. Both approaches can have their place in preventing a DEATH Ardent from having his way with the locals. For instance, Psionic Revivify is a great counter to Death Urge. Death Urge compels someone to kills themselves, but Revivify brings em right back. Touch of Health is a two-fer that heals people and/or harms undead. PHB says any magical healing stabilizes, and Touch of Health scales between a Cleric's Cure Minor Wounds and Cure Light Wounds. I have no use for From the Brink, as that power charges 3PP to stabilize. For 1PP, touch of Health gives 2hp and stabilizes. Instead, let's sub in Antidote Stimulation to fix poisons.
Stygian Ward prevents negative energy effects (death and/or negative levels), a great counter for half the DEATH mantle. True metabolism is awesome with its list specific augment. Either Chirugy or Reality Revision for high end utility. "
uses: Has ways to prevent death or reverse it, but for healing it lacks the cost efficiency of PSV/emp transfer. This mantle doesn't gain too much from dominant mantle status but could make for a good primary or at the very least secondary if your party has no way to revive people.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 0
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 1
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 9
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 0
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total:16
CONFLICT
Bonus feat: Weapon Focus, with a weapon of your choice... pick RAY or SPEAR
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1 Metaphysical WeaponA: Weapon gains +1 bonus.
ACF Cast MissileDS3.5 ranged attacks without ranged weapons.
1 Prescience, OffensiveA: Gain +2 insight bonus on your damage rolls.
2 Psionic Lion's ChargeA: You can make a full attack in the same round you charge. <- how Ardents pounce without feats.
3 Dimension SlideA: Teleports you a very short distance.
4 ImmovabilityA: You are almost impossible to move and gain DR 15/–.
ACF Faceted AttackPSc exist in a # of additional places equal to the # of extra attacks granted by your BAB, with each aspect gaining one of these attacks. PLEASE HIT ME!
5 Psychic CrushA: Brutally crush subject's mental essence,reducing subject to –1 hit points.
5 Graft Weapon: Your hand is replaced seamlessly by your weapon.
+6 Rage of the RemorhazCPsi097 - Your body becomes searing hot,damaging those who touch you for 4d6 fire damage
+7 FissionXPH107 - You briefly duplicate yourself
8 Spirit of War*: Confer +4 on attack rolls and damage rolls, +10 to one save, and confirm one critical threat.
Ability: free weapon focus feat. Nifty
Powers: 8 powers pre ACF. Keen edge feels like a reasonable addition. Has powers that increase mobility, attack and damage, defense and even group buffing. Spirit of war is really sweet self buff that also applies to your allies.
Uses: key mantle in any frontline build. I can't say this is a dominant mantle, but certainly primary given how many cool powers are here.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 3
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 2
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 5
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3
Total: 16
MAGIC
Gain Use Magic Device as a class skill. Convert cross-class UMD or Use Psionic Device ranks to class rate,
as if it had always been a class skill for you. Always treat magic and psionics as identical.
This mantle is most useful in campaigns where "Psionics is different".
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1 Metaphysical WeaponA: Weapon gains +1 bonus.
ACF Detect Psionics
+2 Bestow Power CPsi
ACF: Psychic Scimitar CPsi
3 Dispel PsionicsA: Cancels psionic powers and effects.
+4 Energy Adaptation CPsi
5 Power Resistance: Grant power resistance equal to 12+ level.
6 Analyze Dweomer, Psionic*A: Reveals magical aspects of subject. You also gain an augmentation option unavailable to other manifesters of this power. Augment: For every additional power point you spend,you can analyze an additional object or creature, requiring an additional round per target.
6 Null Psionics Field: Create a field where psionic power does not function.
+7 Neutralize Area PSc
8 Protection from Spells, Psionic*A: Gain +3 on saves against spells and spell-like abilities.
+9 Apopsi - permanently delete powers known (or spells known from a spontaneous caster)
Ability: Gain UMD if you are not using transparency. If only you had more skill points to spend on it....
Powers: 6 powers before ACF, mostly defensive buffs.
Bestow Power: Due to the explicit magic/psionics transparency of the Magic mantle, you can also bestow a spell to a spontaneous caster.
The spontaneous caster receives a spell with a level equal to half the PP a psychic class would receive.
If you send a spell of higher level than the spontaneous caster knows, then the spontaneous caster only receives the highest level spell they know and the PP is still spent.
This turns Ardent into a psychic battery for psychic teammates and sorcerors, bards, duskblades, beguilers, spellthieves, warmages, favored souls, shugenjas and spirit shamans.
Dispel Psionics: In this mantle, also affects spells.
Energy Adaptation gives ER and then a counterstrike.
Neutralize Area can shut down a number of alignment effects.
Apopsi can permanently delete a power or spell known. To get it back, the target can get it restored through Psychic Surgery, Psychic Reformation, or PHBII retraining.
Uses: Shut down casters. No mantle does it better. Getting UMD is a bonus.
GOOD
Expend psionic focus to deal additional damage to a non-good creature.
+1d6 points of damage with melee/ranged attack, or a spell that deals damage and targets a single creature.
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1 Protection from Evil, Psionic*: +2 to AC and saves, counter mind control, hedge out summoned creatures.
2 Empathic TransferA: Transfer another's wounds to yourself.
ACF: Stygian Erasure
+3 Stygian Bane
4 Planar Apotheosis*A: Temporarily become celestial or fiendish (celestial only).
ACF: Stygian Disruption
5 Celestial Conduit*A: Launch a line of ectoplasm-mediated positive energy from your fingertips.
6 Planar Embrace*: Temporarily become a half-celestial or half-fiend (half-celestial only).
+7 Planar Champion
8 Greater Glory*: Good creatures near you gain benefits.
+9 Psychic Chirurgy
ACF: Reality Revision?
Ability: aligned strike (good), as per the other aligned strikes
Powers: 6 powers pre ACF.
Empathic transfer is a key ability for ardent healbots, allowing for 1d10 HP/PP to be transferred to you, this is combined with the old PSV combo to offset the damage done to you. Maximize this (with dominant mantle and metapower) to gain more consistent control of you and your teammate's, since it now scales at the same rate as PSV combo. Planar apotheosis allows for metamorphosis into a plantar, just like evil mantle.
Uses: Empathic transfer is found in Repose mantle as well but this mantle is plain better thanks to the buffs PfE provides. Still, this mantle lacks powers and rationale for share pain, vigor or HET. If your DM allows them, then this mantle maybe for the would be healers.
FORCE
While psionically focused, gain +1 deflection bonus to your Armor Class.
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1 Force ScreenA: Invisible disc provides +4 shield bonus to AC.
ACF Floating DiskSoS As Tenser's. Augment: 2 additional PP increases diameter of disc to 6 ft. and doubles weight/volume carried.
-1 Deflection Field*: Provides +4 deflection bonus to AC.
2 Concussion BlastA: Deal 1d6 force damage to target.
ACF Levitate,Psionic
ACF Knock, Psionic
ACF Power ClawsRoS164 - enclose natural weapons in Force
ACF Power WeaponRoS164 - enclose held weapon in Force
3 Telekinetic ForceA: Move an object with the sustained force of your mind.
3 Ethereal Volley*: Imbue your missiles with force energy, making them ghost touch weapons.
4 Telekinetic ManeuverA: Telekinetically bull rush, disarm, grapple, or trip your target.
+5 Telekinetic Buffer: +4 unnamed bonus to AC
6 Concussive Detonation*A: Burst of force damages targets in area.
+7 Decerebrate: Remove portion of subject's brain stem. - FORT save or cripple
8 Telekinetic Sphere, Psionic: Mobile force globe encapsulates creature and moves it.
+9 Tornado Blast - Reflex save for partial damage
Ability: +1 deflection AC. doesn't stack with Deflection Field
Powers: 8 powers before ACF.
If you view force as "telekinetic effects that are not energy" instead of "only force effects", you can add Decerebrate,Tornado Blast, and TK Buffer thematically.
An alternate arrangement takes Inertial Armor instead of TK Buffer.
Drop Deflection Field to keep under 10 powers for the ACF requirement. Deflection Field has a duration of Concentration, which is bad news.
Concussion Blast is valuable for its pinpoint accuracy and its non-lethal damage.
If Concussion Blast does not work for you, consider Levitate or Knock
Samb:"I just love Telekinetic maneuver, it does all the cool things that fighters do but at a distance! Also I feel like Sylar when I pin people on a wall"
Uses: Decent defensive and damage dealing powers making it ideal for a tank. Could be dominant mantle but your mileage may vary.
1. Is the granted ability free of psi focus? expend=0,sustain=1,free=2,feat=3 - 1
2. Is the granted ability useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
3. Is the L1 power spammable? yes=1,no=0 - 1
4. Is the original power list useful? yes=1,no=0 - 1
5. How many PP can ACF save? 0
6. How many thematically sane options does ACF open up? 7
7. How many combos exist in the power list? 2
8. What rating did Samb give? red=0,black=1,green=2,blue=3,purple=4 - 3&
16
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Feats
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:48:18 PM »
*FEATS
samb: "The key thing to remember when optimizing an Ardent's feats is make the most of your metapsionics. All the other stuff can be done by other classes (and often better) with the same feats. This means getting the best metapsionic feats, increasing ML, and decreasing cost. All the other 'gishy' type feats take a back burner, because the true meaning of optimizing means to make the most of what is unique to that class while minimizing/overcoming its weaknesses. Not losing focus on metapsionics is very unique (and powerful) and one should focus on that aspect."
This view of feats is loosely arranged around the attribute to which the feats relate. Within each Attribute, feats are in descending order of usefulness based on the entry feat for each feat family. For a comparison of how feats interact with psionic focus, see Appendix II, Action Economy.
NO ATTRIBUTE
WISDOM
CONSTITUTION
INTELLIGENCE
Inlindl School(DotU):(INT13, Combat Expertise, Weapon Finesse)sac shield bonus to AC for a bonus on melee attack rolls equal to one-half that bonus.
STRENGTH - includes melee attack options
DEXTERITY - includes ranged attack options
CHARISMA
Goad(CAd,CHA13,BAB+1) - taunt
samb: "The key thing to remember when optimizing an Ardent's feats is make the most of your metapsionics. All the other stuff can be done by other classes (and often better) with the same feats. This means getting the best metapsionic feats, increasing ML, and decreasing cost. All the other 'gishy' type feats take a back burner, because the true meaning of optimizing means to make the most of what is unique to that class while minimizing/overcoming its weaknesses. Not losing focus on metapsionics is very unique (and powerful) and one should focus on that aspect."
This view of feats is loosely arranged around the attribute to which the feats relate. Within each Attribute, feats are in descending order of usefulness based on the entry feat for each feat family. For a comparison of how feats interact with psionic focus, see Appendix II, Action Economy.
NO ATTRIBUTE
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More resources
Multi-classing
Crafting
Shieldwork
Summons
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Lucky StartCSc - +1 Luck reroll. Reroll initiative check. Because rolling a natural "1" on initiative in a solo fight is bad for you.
Psychic LuckCSc:ML3 - +1Luck reroll. Expend luck reroll to reroll damage dealt by power, or two luck rerolls to reroll manifester level check. Because rolling all ones on a 20d6hp damage roll is bad for the party.
OverchannelXPH049 - Blue with Share Pain, Forced. Sac hp for +1ML-+3ML
Talented - Expend psi focus to not take damage from overchannel when manifesting a power of 3rd level or lower
Body Fuel - Take ability burn to gain PP
Expanded Knowledge:ML3rd - Blue w/ Substitute Powers ACF banned. Add one new power to powers known. Hidden talent can be taken at level 1 and a fine way to get more PP and Astral construct without ectopic form on it.
Power PenetrationXPH049 - expend psi focus for bonus on ML checks to overcome a creature’s power resistance.
Greater Power PenetrationCPsi - double bonus for Power Penetration
Tap MantleCPsi:Access to a mantle - Add powers from mantle power list to Ardent class power list for Dorje access or late Powers Known access for multiclassing
Don MantleCPsi - Gain mantle ability
Extra AuraCPsi:psychic aura class feature - a 1 level dip then 3 feats for 5 feet of a Divine Mind add-on? er?
Psychic LuckCSc:ML3 - +1Luck reroll. Expend luck reroll to reroll damage dealt by power, or two luck rerolls to reroll manifester level check. Because rolling all ones on a 20d6hp damage roll is bad for the party.
OverchannelXPH049 - Blue with Share Pain, Forced. Sac hp for +1ML-+3ML
Talented - Expend psi focus to not take damage from overchannel when manifesting a power of 3rd level or lower
Body Fuel - Take ability burn to gain PP
Expanded Knowledge:ML3rd - Blue w/ Substitute Powers ACF banned. Add one new power to powers known. Hidden talent can be taken at level 1 and a fine way to get more PP and Astral construct without ectopic form on it.
Power PenetrationXPH049 - expend psi focus for bonus on ML checks to overcome a creature’s power resistance.
Greater Power PenetrationCPsi - double bonus for Power Penetration
Tap MantleCPsi:Access to a mantle - Add powers from mantle power list to Ardent class power list for Dorje access or late Powers Known access for multiclassing
Don MantleCPsi - Gain mantle ability
Extra AuraCPsi:psychic aura class feature - a 1 level dip then 3 feats for 5 feet of a Divine Mind add-on? er?
Multi-classing
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Practiced ManifesterXPH - #1 use for this feat is to alternate between ardent and some other class early in a build.
Additional Favored ClassUA100 - This feat is the only way to take Ardent as a Favored Class.
Monastic TrainingECS057 - Pick one class(maybe, Ardent?). Taking levels in this class does not prevent you from taking monk levels.
Instant ClarityToB031 - 3/day, regain focus right after you use a martial strike maneuver. If this was 3/encounter, it would easily be one of the best feats around. 3/hr would be comedically great... Ardent to party: "keep running another ten minutes and I'll have my mojo back!!!"
Psychic RenewalToB032 - as a swift action, expend focus to regain a maneuver. See multi-classing section or Appendix II - Action Economy more.
Psionic BodyXPH,SRD - Required for Psion Uncarnate PrC. Gain +2hp for each psionic feat you have, including this one. If we buy 6 psionic (not metapsionic) feats, we'll get +12hp? Seems like PB is more for erudite, sion, or psywar, who get bonus feats.
Psionic TalentXPH, SRD - Not for Ardents. This is for PsyWars/other classes starved for PP. Gets you two extra PP the first time you take it, then 3 extra PP the next time you take it, then 4, then 5, etc. Two extra PP is great at L1, but a flash-in-the-pan by L5.
Additional Favored ClassUA100 - This feat is the only way to take Ardent as a Favored Class.
Monastic TrainingECS057 - Pick one class(maybe, Ardent?). Taking levels in this class does not prevent you from taking monk levels.
Instant ClarityToB031 - 3/day, regain focus right after you use a martial strike maneuver. If this was 3/encounter, it would easily be one of the best feats around. 3/hr would be comedically great... Ardent to party: "keep running another ten minutes and I'll have my mojo back!!!"
Psychic RenewalToB032 - as a swift action, expend focus to regain a maneuver. See multi-classing section or Appendix II - Action Economy more.
Psionic BodyXPH,SRD - Required for Psion Uncarnate PrC. Gain +2hp for each psionic feat you have, including this one. If we buy 6 psionic (not metapsionic) feats, we'll get +12hp? Seems like PB is more for erudite, sion, or psywar, who get bonus feats.
Psionic TalentXPH, SRD - Not for Ardents. This is for PsyWars/other classes starved for PP. Gets you two extra PP the first time you take it, then 3 extra PP the next time you take it, then 4, then 5, etc. Two extra PP is great at L1, but a flash-in-the-pan by L5.
Crafting
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Craft DorjeXPH044:ML5 - From crystal, craft the psionic equivalent of wands/staffs, which have 50 charges each
Dorje MasteryMoE046:ML9 - Manifest power from Dorje as if augmented with 4 PP. If power has no augment, +2 to save DC
Scribe TattooXPH051:ML3 - Every character can have up to 20 psionic tattoos. This feat lets you craft tattoos of powers of up to third level, assuming you can manifest the power.
Craft Universal ItemXPH045:ML3 - A standalone crafting feat that lets you craft psychoactive skins and other psionic knick-knacks. If you also have Scribe Tattoo, CUI lets you make Crawling Tattoos, which chase people down and deliver damaging powers as touch attacks. What's that? Suddenly psi tattoos look a little stronger?
Psionic Tattoo MasteryM'sE:Scribe Tattoo - Um,no. The Mind's Eye site specifically stated that Mind's Eye material from 04/02/2004 or later is compatible with XPH. The article for Psionic Tattoo Mastery was published on 12/25/2003 and therefore is not blessed for 3.5e use.
Dorje MasteryMoE046:ML9 - Manifest power from Dorje as if augmented with 4 PP. If power has no augment, +2 to save DC
Scribe TattooXPH051:ML3 - Every character can have up to 20 psionic tattoos. This feat lets you craft tattoos of powers of up to third level, assuming you can manifest the power.
Craft Universal ItemXPH045:ML3 - A standalone crafting feat that lets you craft psychoactive skins and other psionic knick-knacks. If you also have Scribe Tattoo, CUI lets you make Crawling Tattoos, which chase people down and deliver damaging powers as touch attacks. What's that? Suddenly psi tattoos look a little stronger?
Psionic Tattoo MasteryM'sE:Scribe Tattoo - Um,no. The Mind's Eye site specifically stated that Mind's Eye material from 04/02/2004 or later is compatible with XPH. The article for Psionic Tattoo Mastery was published on 12/25/2003 and therefore is not blessed for 3.5e use.
Shieldwork
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Constant GuardianDotU - take –2 penalty on your attack rolls, grant an ally in 10 feet a +2 dodge bonus to AC
Shield Proficiency (already got this as an Ardent class feature)
Parrying ShieldLoM181 - add your shield bonus to your touch AC. Next nearest to this is the Ghost WardMIC011 property, which only adds the enhancement bonus from a magic shield or armor to your touch ac as a +1 equivalent.
Shield WallHoB - Shield bonus increases by +2 when adjacent to shield wielder
Phalanx FightingCW103 - heavy shield + light weapon -> +1 to AC. get another +2 to AC and +1 to REFLEX saves if adjacent to an ally with Phalanx Fighting. Flavorwise, this is a big plus for a shortspear user -- you benefit more from the shield. Phalanx fighting tends to be used only in historical campaigns, which don't usually allow magic or psionics. If you can get the rest of your party to take this feat, this could work well in DS3.5 or other limited resource campaigns.
Shield Proficiency (already got this as an Ardent class feature)
Parrying ShieldLoM181 - add your shield bonus to your touch AC. Next nearest to this is the Ghost WardMIC011 property, which only adds the enhancement bonus from a magic shield or armor to your touch ac as a +1 equivalent.
Shield WallHoB - Shield bonus increases by +2 when adjacent to shield wielder
Phalanx FightingCW103 - heavy shield + light weapon -> +1 to AC. get another +2 to AC and +1 to REFLEX saves if adjacent to an ally with Phalanx Fighting. Flavorwise, this is a big plus for a shortspear user -- you benefit more from the shield. Phalanx fighting tends to be used only in historical campaigns, which don't usually allow magic or psionics. If you can get the rest of your party to take this feat, this could work well in DS3.5 or other limited resource campaigns.
Summons
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Skin of the ConstructCPsi:Know astral construct - Blue w/ Constructor PrC or CREATION as Dominant Ideal and Extend. Absorb construct aspects you'd otherwise manifest... Provides fly or swim speeds, trip, etc.
Boost ConstructXPH047,SRD Blue w/ Astral Construct power. Astral construct gains additional ability. preq for constructor PrC
Ectopic Form-EmeraldGyreCPsi:Know astral construct - Construct gains improved grab, keeps up with regular AC until level 6.
Ectopic Form-AstralAquanCPsi:Know astral construct - Construct can swim, keeps up in water w/ regular AC until level 6.
Ectopic Form-AlabasterAerialCPsi:Know astral construct - Construct can fly
Ectopic Form-(others)CPsi - does not keep up with regular AC past level 3.
Psicrystal AffinityXPH049,021,207 - Notice in the Psicrystal creature description " Its Hit Dice are equal to its master’s Hit Dice (counting only levels in psion or wilder)". 0 HD = 1hp, ever. Just consider the Psicrystal feat tree dead to Ardents and move on.
Boost ConstructXPH047,SRD Blue w/ Astral Construct power. Astral construct gains additional ability. preq for constructor PrC
Ectopic Form-EmeraldGyreCPsi:Know astral construct - Construct gains improved grab, keeps up with regular AC until level 6.
Ectopic Form-AstralAquanCPsi:Know astral construct - Construct can swim, keeps up in water w/ regular AC until level 6.
Ectopic Form-AlabasterAerialCPsi:Know astral construct - Construct can fly
Ectopic Form-(others)CPsi - does not keep up with regular AC past level 3.
Psicrystal AffinityXPH049,021,207 - Notice in the Psicrystal creature description " Its Hit Dice are equal to its master’s Hit Dice (counting only levels in psion or wilder)". 0 HD = 1hp, ever. Just consider the Psicrystal feat tree dead to Ardents and move on.
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Psicrystal Affinity ML1 obtain a psicrystal
Improved Psicrystal Enhance your psicrystal
Psicrystal Containment ML3 Your psicrystal can hold a psionic focus
Elemental Envoy Kn(the planes):1r,Psicrystal AffinityGain an elemental steward instead of a psicrystal
Envoy Cognizance Kn(the planes):1r,Psicrystal Affinity, Elemental EnvoyElemental steward enhances your energy powers
Improved Psicrystal Enhance your psicrystal
Psicrystal Containment ML3 Your psicrystal can hold a psionic focus
Elemental Envoy Kn(the planes):1r,Psicrystal AffinityGain an elemental steward instead of a psicrystal
Envoy Cognizance Kn(the planes):1r,Psicrystal Affinity, Elemental EnvoyElemental steward enhances your energy powers
WISDOM
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Zen ArcheryCW:WIS13,BAB+1 - Use WIS modifier, not DEX for ranged attack rolls - rays, crossbow bolts, and any thrown weapon, such as spears. Most of the time, DEX is a dump stat, and this feat reduces MAD.
Psionic MeditationXPH050:WIS13,Concentration-7r - Become psionically focused as a move action. Even though Dominant Domain can apply metapsionics without loss of focus to one mantle, PM is still useful for a number of feats and mantle abilities, including metapsioncs for your other mantles. If you dip into a ToB class and select psychic renewal, you can spam that one maneuver over and over (even without hustle).
Intuitive FightingEXALTED,BoED: BAB+1 - While using simple or natural weapons, use your WIS bonus in place of STR bonus for attack rolls.
Nymph's KissEXALTED,BoED: Fey creatures regard you as fey (not always a bonus, as fey have complex social rules). +2 circumstance bonus on CHA-related checks, +1 bonus on all saves vs spells/SLAs (like psionics). 1 extra SP/level starting with the level you take this feat.
Ancestral KnowledgeRoS:WIS15,Dwarf - You can make any Knowledge check untrained, even if DC is over 10. Also, use your Wisdom modifier for any Knowledge check in place of your Intelligence modifier. Consider KNOWLEDGE mantle.
Yondalla’s SenseRotW:Halfling - Add Wisdom bonus on initiative checks. This and Zen Archery make Goldheart Halfling thrower credible threats at L1.
Metamorphic Transfer:WIS13,ML5 - 3/day use one supernatural ability of an alternate form. These Su's tend to be CHA-based, so this feat tends to be part of a CHA/NATURAL WORLD mantle build.
Up the WallsXPH052,SRD:WIS13 - Red with FREEDOM mantle. While focused, run on walls and ceilings. Best when combined with FREEDOM mantle or Speed of Thought.
Speed of ThoughtXPH051:WIS13 - while focused, gain +10 feet insight bonus to speed in light or medium armor. FREEDOM mantle bonus is an un-typed bonus, permits heavy armor, and stacks with this feat.
Psionic ChargeXPH050,SRD:WIS13 - Green for gish. Expend psi focus to make one turn <=90 degrees during your movement. Other charge restrictions still apply. You must have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn.
InquisitorXPH048: Expend psi focus for +10 bonus to Sense Motive to tell whether someone told a lie. Useful for RP/utility. Prereq for cognition thief, thrallherd, and DS3.5's Royal Inquisitor PrC.
Psionic EndowmentXPH,SRD Add +1 to power’s save DC - for no-augment powers with saves.
Greater Psionic EndowmentXPH,SRD:Psionic Endowment Add +2 to power’s save DC - more of same
Psionic MeditationXPH050:WIS13,Concentration-7r - Become psionically focused as a move action. Even though Dominant Domain can apply metapsionics without loss of focus to one mantle, PM is still useful for a number of feats and mantle abilities, including metapsioncs for your other mantles. If you dip into a ToB class and select psychic renewal, you can spam that one maneuver over and over (even without hustle).
Intuitive FightingEXALTED,BoED: BAB+1 - While using simple or natural weapons, use your WIS bonus in place of STR bonus for attack rolls.
Nymph's KissEXALTED,BoED: Fey creatures regard you as fey (not always a bonus, as fey have complex social rules). +2 circumstance bonus on CHA-related checks, +1 bonus on all saves vs spells/SLAs (like psionics). 1 extra SP/level starting with the level you take this feat.
Ancestral KnowledgeRoS:WIS15,Dwarf - You can make any Knowledge check untrained, even if DC is over 10. Also, use your Wisdom modifier for any Knowledge check in place of your Intelligence modifier. Consider KNOWLEDGE mantle.
Yondalla’s SenseRotW:Halfling - Add Wisdom bonus on initiative checks. This and Zen Archery make Goldheart Halfling thrower credible threats at L1.
Metamorphic Transfer:WIS13,ML5 - 3/day use one supernatural ability of an alternate form. These Su's tend to be CHA-based, so this feat tends to be part of a CHA/NATURAL WORLD mantle build.
Up the WallsXPH052,SRD:WIS13 - Red with FREEDOM mantle. While focused, run on walls and ceilings. Best when combined with FREEDOM mantle or Speed of Thought.
Speed of ThoughtXPH051:WIS13 - while focused, gain +10 feet insight bonus to speed in light or medium armor. FREEDOM mantle bonus is an un-typed bonus, permits heavy armor, and stacks with this feat.
Psionic ChargeXPH050,SRD:WIS13 - Green for gish. Expend psi focus to make one turn <=90 degrees during your movement. Other charge restrictions still apply. You must have line of sight to the opponent at the start of your turn.
InquisitorXPH048: Expend psi focus for +10 bonus to Sense Motive to tell whether someone told a lie. Useful for RP/utility. Prereq for cognition thief, thrallherd, and DS3.5's Royal Inquisitor PrC.
Psionic EndowmentXPH,SRD Add +1 to power’s save DC - for no-augment powers with saves.
Greater Psionic EndowmentXPH,SRD:Psionic Endowment Add +2 to power’s save DC - more of same
CONSTITUTION
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Skill Focus-ConcentrationPHB100 +3 unnamed bonus on all checks with Concentration
Focused Skill User - Pick three skills when you take the feat. While focused, gain +2 competence bonus on each chosen skill. Pick Concentration for defensive manifest, Knowledge(psionics), and a third skill that fits your build. With Psionic Body, get +2hp, as this feat is Psionic.
Steady ConcentrationRoS:Concentration/8r - Take 10 on Concentration when you normally could not.
Combat Manifestation - gain +4 bonus on Concentration checks for defensive manifestation
Narrow MindXPH,SRD - gain +4 bonus on Concentration checks for gaining psi focus
Focused Skill User - Pick three skills when you take the feat. While focused, gain +2 competence bonus on each chosen skill. Pick Concentration for defensive manifest, Knowledge(psionics), and a third skill that fits your build. With Psionic Body, get +2hp, as this feat is Psionic.
Steady ConcentrationRoS:Concentration/8r - Take 10 on Concentration when you normally could not.
Combat Manifestation - gain +4 bonus on Concentration checks for defensive manifestation
Narrow MindXPH,SRD - gain +4 bonus on Concentration checks for gaining psi focus
INTELLIGENCE
Inlindl School(DotU):(INT13, Combat Expertise, Weapon Finesse)sac shield bonus to AC for a bonus on melee attack rolls equal to one-half that bonus.
STRENGTH - includes melee attack options
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Power AttackPHB:STR13 - you may choose to subtract a number from all melee attack rolls and add the same number to all melee damage rolls. For a two-handed weapon, like SPEAR, instead add twice the number subtracted from your attack rolls.
CleavePHB:STR13 - 1/round, when dropping a foe to 0hp, get an immediate,extra melee attack against another opponent in reach w/o a 5'step
Great CleavePHB:STR13,BAB+4 - as Cleave, but repeat with no limit other than the number of foes in reach
Leap AttackCAd: 8r/Jump: Another flavor choice. Works with any size spear. Pairs well with the feats Powerful Charge and Greater Powerful Charge from the Miniatures Handbook or Eberron Campaign Setting.
Brutal ThrowCAd106 - base throwing completely on Strength. reduces MAD for a spear user interested in throwing. Use WIS based Zen Archery unless you have an STR focused multiclass build.
Power ThrowCAd111 - as Power Attack for thrown weapons. Green with dips for bonus feats.
Weapon Focus-SpearPHB:BAB+1,proficiency with selected weapon - +1 on attack rolls with selected weapon
Power CriticalCW:BAB+4 - gain +4 bonus on the roll to confirm a threat
Short HaftPHBII - get around the longspear's "no adjacent attacks" downside
Weapon Specialization
Melee Weapon Mastery (PHBII,BAB+8): to be good with all types of spears rather than specializing in one, this is a must-have. It's still worth consideration even if not.
Lunging Strike (PHBII,BAB+6): use a full-round action for a reach attack. if already a reach weapon, +5feet.
Phalanx Fighting (CW): Flavorwise, this is a big plus for a shortspear user -- you benefit more from the shield. It works better if you have others on board, though.
Constant Guardian(DotU):take a –2 penalty on your attack rolls to grant a single ally within 10 feet a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class
Weapon and Torch Style(DSc):If the melee attack hits, you also sweep your torch across your foe’s eyes, dealing 1d6 points of fire damage and dazzling him for 1d4 rounds.
Wounding AttackXPH052,SRD: BAB+8. Expend psionic focus to add 1 point CON damage to damage dealt. Must choose whether to use before rolling attack. The first time a straight Ardent can access this feat is at L11. Each time you deal CON damage, you have 50% chance of removing 8%(barbarian)-25%(wizard) of the foe's hp and reducing his FORT save bonus by 1, getting him closer to that FORT save or lose. Math for the win! For tanks, this either draws aggro or causes fleeing. Also, none of this 'has to be a weapon' or 'has to be a natural weapon', just 'smack him a good one and win a prize!'
Psionic FistXPH050:STR13 - expend focus to add +2d6 damage on Unarmed attack or natural weapon
Greater Psionic FistXPH047:BAB+5 - Psionic fist damage increases to +4d6 damage
Unavoidable StrikeXPH050:BAB+5 - Resolve unarmed or natural weapon attack as touch attack
Psionic WeaponXPH050:STR13 - expend focus to add +2d6 damage on Melee weapon attack
Greater Psionic WeaponXPH047:BAB+5 - Psionic weapon damage increases to +4d6 damage
Deep ImpactXPH045:BAB+5 - Resolve melee weapon attack as touch attack
Improved Unarmed Strike1 — Considered armed even when unarmed
Hammer Fist Req's: Str 13, Improved Unarmed Strike, dwarf. Add 1.5xSTR bonus on damage with unarmed strike.
CleavePHB:STR13 - 1/round, when dropping a foe to 0hp, get an immediate,extra melee attack against another opponent in reach w/o a 5'step
Great CleavePHB:STR13,BAB+4 - as Cleave, but repeat with no limit other than the number of foes in reach
Leap AttackCAd: 8r/Jump: Another flavor choice. Works with any size spear. Pairs well with the feats Powerful Charge and Greater Powerful Charge from the Miniatures Handbook or Eberron Campaign Setting.
Brutal ThrowCAd106 - base throwing completely on Strength. reduces MAD for a spear user interested in throwing. Use WIS based Zen Archery unless you have an STR focused multiclass build.
Power ThrowCAd111 - as Power Attack for thrown weapons. Green with dips for bonus feats.
Weapon Focus-SpearPHB:BAB+1,proficiency with selected weapon - +1 on attack rolls with selected weapon
Power CriticalCW:BAB+4 - gain +4 bonus on the roll to confirm a threat
Short HaftPHBII - get around the longspear's "no adjacent attacks" downside
Weapon Specialization
Melee Weapon Mastery (PHBII,BAB+8): to be good with all types of spears rather than specializing in one, this is a must-have. It's still worth consideration even if not.
Lunging Strike (PHBII,BAB+6): use a full-round action for a reach attack. if already a reach weapon, +5feet.
Phalanx Fighting (CW): Flavorwise, this is a big plus for a shortspear user -- you benefit more from the shield. It works better if you have others on board, though.
Constant Guardian(DotU):take a –2 penalty on your attack rolls to grant a single ally within 10 feet a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class
Weapon and Torch Style(DSc):If the melee attack hits, you also sweep your torch across your foe’s eyes, dealing 1d6 points of fire damage and dazzling him for 1d4 rounds.
Wounding AttackXPH052,SRD: BAB+8. Expend psionic focus to add 1 point CON damage to damage dealt. Must choose whether to use before rolling attack. The first time a straight Ardent can access this feat is at L11. Each time you deal CON damage, you have 50% chance of removing 8%(barbarian)-25%(wizard) of the foe's hp and reducing his FORT save bonus by 1, getting him closer to that FORT save or lose. Math for the win! For tanks, this either draws aggro or causes fleeing. Also, none of this 'has to be a weapon' or 'has to be a natural weapon', just 'smack him a good one and win a prize!'
Psionic FistXPH050:STR13 - expend focus to add +2d6 damage on Unarmed attack or natural weapon
Greater Psionic FistXPH047:BAB+5 - Psionic fist damage increases to +4d6 damage
Unavoidable StrikeXPH050:BAB+5 - Resolve unarmed or natural weapon attack as touch attack
Psionic WeaponXPH050:STR13 - expend focus to add +2d6 damage on Melee weapon attack
Greater Psionic WeaponXPH047:BAB+5 - Psionic weapon damage increases to +4d6 damage
Deep ImpactXPH045:BAB+5 - Resolve melee weapon attack as touch attack
Improved Unarmed Strike1 — Considered armed even when unarmed
Hammer Fist Req's: Str 13, Improved Unarmed Strike, dwarf. Add 1.5xSTR bonus on damage with unarmed strike.
DEXTERITY - includes ranged attack options
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Weapon Focus-RayPHB,CAr:BAB+1 - +1 on attack rolls with rays
Power SpecializationXPH049:ML4th,Weapon Focus (ray) - gain +2 bonus damage to damaging powers
Greater Power SpecializationXPH047:ML12th - gain +2 total bonus damage to damaging powers. stacks with bonus from Power Specialization. target must be within 30 feet.
Combat Reflexes - Green,Blue for a high DEX build Ardent, such as a Psychic Rogue/Shadow Mind build. take up to DEX bonus as number of AoO per round. Normal: 1AoO/round.
more useful with a Reach weapon.
Deft Opportunist(CAd,DEX15)- +4 bonus on attack rolls for AoO
Expert Tactician(CAd,DEX13,BAB+2)- +2 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls and damage rolls against that creature for 1 round
Hold the Line (CW): This feat allows AoO against charging foes who enter a space you threaten, not just foes that leave one. Good for spears, better still for longspears. Pairs well with Deft Opportunist(CAd).
Dodge(PHB:DEX13)
Mobility(PHB:DEX13) - +4 dodge bonus against AoOs
Spring Attack(PHB:DEX13,BAB+4): With this feat and longspear's reach, you can pull off spring attacks without provoking attacks of opportunity from nearly as many foes. Is this ability worth three feats?
Throw Anything (CW): Another flavor choice. If you want to be able to throw a longspear, this is how.
Block Arrow(HoB:DEX13)- Black- block one ranged weapon attack
Point Blank ShotPHB: +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet. includes rays and spears.
Far ShotPHB: This lets you throw your shortspear or spear twice as far and shoot crossbow bolts x1.5 range.
Precise ShotPHB - No -4 penalty for shooting into melee.
Improved Precise Shot - Ignore less than total cover/concealment on ranged attack
Shot on the RunPHB:DEX13,Mobility,BAB+4 - Move before and after ranged attack
Xaniqos SchoolDotU:If you moved >10 feet toward your target since the start of your turn, your crossbow attacks deal an extra 1d6 points of damage against that target in this round. Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility, BAB+6
Ready ShotHoB - counterattack charging foe with ranged weapon, attack deals +3d6 damage
Sharp-ShootingCW - Halve opponent’s cover bonus
Psionic Shot - sac psionic focus for Ranged weapon to deal +2d6 damage
Greater Psionic Shot:BAB+5 - Psionic shot damage increases to +4d6 damage
Fell Shot:DEX13 - Resolve ranged attack as touch attack
Return Shot:BAB+3,Psionic Shot - Deflect ranged attacks back at attacker
Power SpecializationXPH049:ML4th,Weapon Focus (ray) - gain +2 bonus damage to damaging powers
Greater Power SpecializationXPH047:ML12th - gain +2 total bonus damage to damaging powers. stacks with bonus from Power Specialization. target must be within 30 feet.
Combat Reflexes - Green,Blue for a high DEX build Ardent, such as a Psychic Rogue/Shadow Mind build. take up to DEX bonus as number of AoO per round. Normal: 1AoO/round.
more useful with a Reach weapon.
Deft Opportunist(CAd,DEX15)- +4 bonus on attack rolls for AoO
Expert Tactician(CAd,DEX13,BAB+2)- +2 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls and damage rolls against that creature for 1 round
Hold the Line (CW): This feat allows AoO against charging foes who enter a space you threaten, not just foes that leave one. Good for spears, better still for longspears. Pairs well with Deft Opportunist(CAd).
Dodge(PHB:DEX13)
Mobility(PHB:DEX13) - +4 dodge bonus against AoOs
Spring Attack(PHB:DEX13,BAB+4): With this feat and longspear's reach, you can pull off spring attacks without provoking attacks of opportunity from nearly as many foes. Is this ability worth three feats?
Throw Anything (CW): Another flavor choice. If you want to be able to throw a longspear, this is how.
Block Arrow(HoB:DEX13)- Black- block one ranged weapon attack
Point Blank ShotPHB: +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet. includes rays and spears.
Far ShotPHB: This lets you throw your shortspear or spear twice as far and shoot crossbow bolts x1.5 range.
Precise ShotPHB - No -4 penalty for shooting into melee.
Improved Precise Shot - Ignore less than total cover/concealment on ranged attack
Shot on the RunPHB:DEX13,Mobility,BAB+4 - Move before and after ranged attack
Xaniqos SchoolDotU:If you moved >10 feet toward your target since the start of your turn, your crossbow attacks deal an extra 1d6 points of damage against that target in this round. Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility, BAB+6
Ready ShotHoB - counterattack charging foe with ranged weapon, attack deals +3d6 damage
Sharp-ShootingCW - Halve opponent’s cover bonus
Psionic Shot - sac psionic focus for Ranged weapon to deal +2d6 damage
Greater Psionic Shot:BAB+5 - Psionic shot damage increases to +4d6 damage
Fell Shot:DEX13 - Resolve ranged attack as touch attack
Return Shot:BAB+3,Psionic Shot - Deflect ranged attacks back at attacker
CHARISMA
Goad(CAd,CHA13,BAB+1) - taunt
(click to show/hide)
Psionic Dodge Dex 13, Dodge +1 dodge bonus to AC - Dodge sucks. This sucks harder.
Deep Vision DarkvisionNatural darkvision range increases by 30 feet
Enervation Endurance Psychic enervation Suffer half power point loss when enervated
Euphoric Reduction Surging euphoria +1Gain alternate surging euphoria ability
Focused Perception Blind-FightGain blindsense 60 feet for 1 round.
Gestalt Anchor Any host feat or kalashtar,base Will save +3+2 bonus on init checks and Ref saves whilewithin 60 ft. of hosting allies
Instinctive Consummator Str 13, Power Attack, CleaveExpend focus to confirm critical
Invest Armor Armor proficiency+3 armor bonus against one attack
Energize Armor Invest ArmorEnergy resistance 10 against next energy attack
Mental Juggernaut Ability to gain psionic focusGain a bonus to saves against daze or stun effects
Postpone Enervation Psychic enervation, wild surge +2Delay psychic enervation up to 3 rounds
Privileged Energy Ability to manifest energy missileDeal +1 damage per die with chosen energy
Dazzling Energy Ability to manifest energy missile,Privileged EnergyDazzle foe affected by your privileged energy
Psymbiot Knowledge (psionics) 8 ranks,manifester level 3rdGain +2 bonus on ability checks, skill checks, andsaving throws while within 10 feet of psionic entities
Stygian Archon Know two negative energy powersManifest negative energy powers at +1 ML
Volatile Escalation Volatile mindForce enemy to pay extra 1d4 power points
Volatile Leech Volatile mindAbsorb extra power points from victim
Azure Talent (MoI)
Bonus PP is always nice.
Dazzling Energy (CPsi)
Harsh prerequisites, but the effect lasts a good length of time.
Deep Psychic Meditation (M’sE)
Gives more uses Psychic Meditation effects and lets you have more Psychic Energy Centers awake at a time. You need to take this feat three times to enter the Meditant PrC.
Deep Vision (CPsi)
Purely average.
Energize Armor (CPsi)
There are better uses for your psionic focus. Exception: this feat is black for gishes.
Enervation Endurance (CPsi)
No need. Note: PP loss from Psychic Enervation is tied to Wilder levels, so Psion/Anarchic Initiates don’t need it.
Focused Body (M’sE)
You can avoid Balancing and Climbing, and Tumble isn’t a class skill.
Focused Perception (CPsi)
Bad prerequisites. Use your powers, instead.
Focused Sunder (XPH, SRD)
Strength is your dump stat, you’re not a melee-er, sundering means less loot for the party, less loot means pissed off companions. Bad.
Gestalt Anchor (CPsi)
Nice if everyone uses Host feats or is Kalashtar.
Ghost Attack (XPH, SRD)
Take a Force power or the Transdimensional Power feat instead.
Instinctive Consummator (CPsi)
Crit-centric builds are not optimal, though in such a build this feat has its place.
Invest Armor (CPsi)
There are better uses for your psionic focus. Exception: this is green for gish-type builds.
Mental Juggernaut (CPsi)
Being dazed or stunned is bad. This can help. Note: not usable to avoid the daze from Psychic Enervation, because Psychic Enervation is an Extraordinary effect, not a power, psi-like ability, or other psionic or magical effect.
Midnight Augmentation (MoI)
Reducing the augmentation cost for powers is always nice.
Postpone Enervation (CPsi)
You don’t need it. Exception: green for Psion/Anarchic Initiates, who get it for free.
Privileged Energy (CPsi)
If it worked with all of the energy types then it’d be great. It doesn’t, so it’s not.
Psionic Feint (M’sE)
A feat intended for Psychic Rogues. A typical Psion has no use for it.
Psionic Tumble (M’sE)
Tumble isn’t a class skill for Psions.
Psycarnum Crystal (MoI)
More essentia just for having a Psicrystal. Nice.
Psycarnum Infusion (MoI)
An instant power boost when you expend focus. Very nice. Psionics and Incarnum really do go great together.
Psychic Meditation (M’sE)
Opens up many options for your character. It’s like getting seven feats in one. Note: this is a prerequisite for the Meditant PrC.
Psymbiot (CPsi)
Lots of bonuses, but you’ll probably be the only Psionic character in your party. Oddly, this feat works if you’re within 10 feat of a psionic enemy that meets the prerequisites. Exception: if you are not the only Psionic character in your party, this is a blue feat.
Stygian Archon (CPsi)
Makes the Stygian powers a stronger choice. Requires you to be psionically focused.
Deep Vision DarkvisionNatural darkvision range increases by 30 feet
Enervation Endurance Psychic enervation Suffer half power point loss when enervated
Euphoric Reduction Surging euphoria +1Gain alternate surging euphoria ability
Focused Perception Blind-FightGain blindsense 60 feet for 1 round.
Gestalt Anchor Any host feat or kalashtar,base Will save +3+2 bonus on init checks and Ref saves whilewithin 60 ft. of hosting allies
Instinctive Consummator Str 13, Power Attack, CleaveExpend focus to confirm critical
Invest Armor Armor proficiency+3 armor bonus against one attack
Energize Armor Invest ArmorEnergy resistance 10 against next energy attack
Mental Juggernaut Ability to gain psionic focusGain a bonus to saves against daze or stun effects
Postpone Enervation Psychic enervation, wild surge +2Delay psychic enervation up to 3 rounds
Privileged Energy Ability to manifest energy missileDeal +1 damage per die with chosen energy
Dazzling Energy Ability to manifest energy missile,Privileged EnergyDazzle foe affected by your privileged energy
Psymbiot Knowledge (psionics) 8 ranks,manifester level 3rdGain +2 bonus on ability checks, skill checks, andsaving throws while within 10 feet of psionic entities
Stygian Archon Know two negative energy powersManifest negative energy powers at +1 ML
Volatile Escalation Volatile mindForce enemy to pay extra 1d4 power points
Volatile Leech Volatile mindAbsorb extra power points from victim
Azure Talent (MoI)
Bonus PP is always nice.
Dazzling Energy (CPsi)
Harsh prerequisites, but the effect lasts a good length of time.
Deep Psychic Meditation (M’sE)
Gives more uses Psychic Meditation effects and lets you have more Psychic Energy Centers awake at a time. You need to take this feat three times to enter the Meditant PrC.
Deep Vision (CPsi)
Purely average.
Energize Armor (CPsi)
There are better uses for your psionic focus. Exception: this feat is black for gishes.
Enervation Endurance (CPsi)
No need. Note: PP loss from Psychic Enervation is tied to Wilder levels, so Psion/Anarchic Initiates don’t need it.
Focused Body (M’sE)
You can avoid Balancing and Climbing, and Tumble isn’t a class skill.
Focused Perception (CPsi)
Bad prerequisites. Use your powers, instead.
Focused Sunder (XPH, SRD)
Strength is your dump stat, you’re not a melee-er, sundering means less loot for the party, less loot means pissed off companions. Bad.
Gestalt Anchor (CPsi)
Nice if everyone uses Host feats or is Kalashtar.
Ghost Attack (XPH, SRD)
Take a Force power or the Transdimensional Power feat instead.
Instinctive Consummator (CPsi)
Crit-centric builds are not optimal, though in such a build this feat has its place.
Invest Armor (CPsi)
There are better uses for your psionic focus. Exception: this is green for gish-type builds.
Mental Juggernaut (CPsi)
Being dazed or stunned is bad. This can help. Note: not usable to avoid the daze from Psychic Enervation, because Psychic Enervation is an Extraordinary effect, not a power, psi-like ability, or other psionic or magical effect.
Midnight Augmentation (MoI)
Reducing the augmentation cost for powers is always nice.
Postpone Enervation (CPsi)
You don’t need it. Exception: green for Psion/Anarchic Initiates, who get it for free.
Privileged Energy (CPsi)
If it worked with all of the energy types then it’d be great. It doesn’t, so it’s not.
Psionic Feint (M’sE)
A feat intended for Psychic Rogues. A typical Psion has no use for it.
Psionic Tumble (M’sE)
Tumble isn’t a class skill for Psions.
Psycarnum Crystal (MoI)
More essentia just for having a Psicrystal. Nice.
Psycarnum Infusion (MoI)
An instant power boost when you expend focus. Very nice. Psionics and Incarnum really do go great together.
Psychic Meditation (M’sE)
Opens up many options for your character. It’s like getting seven feats in one. Note: this is a prerequisite for the Meditant PrC.
Psymbiot (CPsi)
Lots of bonuses, but you’ll probably be the only Psionic character in your party. Oddly, this feat works if you’re within 10 feat of a psionic enemy that meets the prerequisites. Exception: if you are not the only Psionic character in your party, this is a blue feat.
Stygian Archon (CPsi)
Makes the Stygian powers a stronger choice. Requires you to be psionically focused.
17
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Skills
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:46:32 PM »
SKILLS
"I learn from my mistakes. It's a painful way to learn, but without pain, the old saying is, there's no gain."
- Johnny Cash
Across a 20 level build, a straight Ardent receives 40 SP before INT bonus. Make the most of what SP you get. For that reason, you have to know EXACTLY what each skill does. The following four skills will be in almost every build of a straight Ardent:
Concentration (CON) -- MAX IT. You need to beat a DC 20 concentration check regularly for regaining your psionic focus.
Psicraft (INT) -- MAX IT. Identify psionic powers as they are cast or as they hit you.
Autohypnosis (WIS) is Trained. Buy at least one rank to get a roll. It can save your Ardent's life.
Knowledge:Psionics (INT) is Trained. Buy at least one rank to get a roll. This lets an Ardent identify astral constructs, psionic races, and their special powers or vulnerabilities. Usually, an Ardent is the only psionic in a party, so nobody else will have this skill.
Mantle support skills
Heal (WIS) - Extra SP here can stabilize dying party members. Buy enough ranks for a DC 15 check when taking 10.
Blue with LIFE mantle and/or Healing HandsCSc skill trick.
Craft (INT) - Useful backup skill for creating/maintaining personal equipment or earning some coin.
Green with CREATION mantle.
Speak Language - knowing the right language can sometimes save your life or otherwise open up opportunities to direct summoned creatures
Knowledge:the planes (INT) is Trained. If you take THE PLANES or ELEMENTS mantle, buy at least one rank for a roll to identify outsiders and elementals and their strengths and weaknesses. Know when to use that Dismissal power.
Green with THE PLANES or ELEMENTS mantle.
Use Magic Device (CHA) is Trained. If you have Magic mantle, and no CHA penalties, consider buying at least one rank so you can roll.
Black with Magic mantle.
Other build support skills
Skill Tricks
The following skill tricks help in some, but not all, builds of straight Ardents.
Healing Hands Heal 5r Heal damage when you stabilize a dying character
Collector of Stories Knowledge (any) 5r Gain large bonus on Knowledge checks to identify monsters
Swift Concentration Concentration 12r Maintain concentration on spell as swift action
Buy ranks of the following skills only to qualify for a Prestige Class (PrC). If not to qualify for PrC, these are all Red.
Knowledge - (anything not listed above) is Trained.
Profession - (anything other than Sailor) is Trained.
Diplomacy - This may be the best skill in the game, but not for Ardents. Most Ardent builds are CHA-dumps.
"I learn from my mistakes. It's a painful way to learn, but without pain, the old saying is, there's no gain."
- Johnny Cash
Across a 20 level build, a straight Ardent receives 40 SP before INT bonus. Make the most of what SP you get. For that reason, you have to know EXACTLY what each skill does. The following four skills will be in almost every build of a straight Ardent:
Concentration (CON) -- MAX IT. You need to beat a DC 20 concentration check regularly for regaining your psionic focus.
(click to show/hide)
Your Ardent needs this skill to manifest powers after you just took a hit by stepping in front of the attack meant for (insert name of high value teammate or escort target with no armor).
Your Ardent also uses this skill to not show any sort of display when using a power.
1r -> partly qualify for Blade MeditationToB feat, another cheesy way to get an untyped +2 bonus to Concentration
5r -> synergy bonus to Autohypnosis (=+10% to auto-stabilize between -1 and -9hp)
7r -> qualify for Psionic Meditation or Instant ClarityToB feat
10r -> take 10 to gain psionic focus
12r -> qualify for the Swift Concentration skill trick
Your Ardent also uses this skill to not show any sort of display when using a power.
1r -> partly qualify for Blade MeditationToB feat, another cheesy way to get an untyped +2 bonus to Concentration
5r -> synergy bonus to Autohypnosis (=+10% to auto-stabilize between -1 and -9hp)
7r -> qualify for Psionic Meditation or Instant ClarityToB feat
10r -> take 10 to gain psionic focus
12r -> qualify for the Swift Concentration skill trick
Psicraft (INT) -- MAX IT. Identify psionic powers as they are cast or as they hit you.
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DC15+power level - use detect psionics to determine the psionic discipline of an effect on an aura
DC15+power level - address power stone to identify the power(s) it contains
DC15+power level - manifest a power from a power stoneCPsi105, using it up
Conduct research to create new powers
DC25 - identify a psionic tattoo
(various) - see Survival for Tracking DCs if using the Psychic Tracking power from DarkSun3.5
DC15+power level - address power stone to identify the power(s) it contains
DC15+power level - manifest a power from a power stoneCPsi105, using it up
Conduct research to create new powers
DC25 - identify a psionic tattoo
(various) - see Survival for Tracking DCs if using the Psychic Tracking power from DarkSun3.5
Autohypnosis (WIS) is Trained. Buy at least one rank to get a roll. It can save your Ardent's life.
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1r -> get to roll. your chance to recover on your own between -1 and -9hp jumps from 10% to 30% (40% with synergy from Concentration)
5r -> synergy bonus to Knowledge(psionics). Enough ranks to take 10 to stabilize between -1 and -9hp.
partially qualify for Tashalatora feat
10r -> enough ranks to take 10 to take a normal action at 0hp
The Memorize option can be useful for forcing the DM to resupply you with the details about certain things you may have forgotten.
5r -> synergy bonus to Knowledge(psionics). Enough ranks to take 10 to stabilize between -1 and -9hp.
partially qualify for Tashalatora feat
10r -> enough ranks to take 10 to take a normal action at 0hp
The Memorize option can be useful for forcing the DM to resupply you with the details about certain things you may have forgotten.
Knowledge:Psionics (INT) is Trained. Buy at least one rank to get a roll. This lets an Ardent identify astral constructs, psionic races, and their special powers or vulnerabilities. Usually, an Ardent is the only psionic in a party, so nobody else will have this skill.
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1r -> get to roll
5r -> synergy bonus to Use Psionic Device, qualify for Collector of Stories skill trick
5r -> synergy bonus to Use Psionic Device, qualify for Collector of Stories skill trick
Mantle support skills
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Heal (WIS) - Extra SP here can stabilize dying party members. Buy enough ranks for a DC 15 check when taking 10.
Blue with LIFE mantle and/or Healing HandsCSc skill trick.
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2r -> 50% chance Makeshift bandage succeeds,35% chance First Aid succeeds
5r -> taking 10 succeeds for most uses
qualify for Healing HandsCSc skill trick, which heals hp on successful stabilize check
First aid 15
Long-term care 15
Treat wound from caltrop, spike growth, or spike stones 15
Treat poison Poison’s save DC
Treat disease Disease’s save DC
HoB- Makeshift Bandage: 12
CAd:ID cause of death-
Physical wounds 0
Environmental (fire, suffocation, etc.) 5
Spell with visible effects 10
Poison 15
Spell with no visible effects 20
5r -> taking 10 succeeds for most uses
qualify for Healing HandsCSc skill trick, which heals hp on successful stabilize check
First aid 15
Long-term care 15
Treat wound from caltrop, spike growth, or spike stones 15
Treat poison Poison’s save DC
Treat disease Disease’s save DC
HoB- Makeshift Bandage: 12
CAd:ID cause of death-
Physical wounds 0
Environmental (fire, suffocation, etc.) 5
Spell with visible effects 10
Poison 15
Spell with no visible effects 20
Craft (INT) - Useful backup skill for creating/maintaining personal equipment or earning some coin.
Green with CREATION mantle.
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Outside of qualifying for PrC's, the following Crafts may be useful as backup skills or if you take the Creation mantle:
Craft:Trapmaking - with the Craft Universal Item feat, you can craft psionic traps. See Dungeonscape.
Craft:Sculpture - With Craft Construct feat, create a pet Psion-Killer.
Craft:Armorsmithing - useful for repairs in the field, including restoring hp to Warforged allies(ECS049).
Craft:Weaponsmithing - includes crossbow and all other weapons where Ardents are proficient
HoB: You can use Craft (blacksmithing) or Craft (weaponsmithing) to construct or repair siege weapons with a –5 penalty
Craft:Ropemaking
Craft:Trapmaking - with the Craft Universal Item feat, you can craft psionic traps. See Dungeonscape.
Craft:Sculpture - With Craft Construct feat, create a pet Psion-Killer.
Craft:Armorsmithing - useful for repairs in the field, including restoring hp to Warforged allies(ECS049).
Craft:Weaponsmithing - includes crossbow and all other weapons where Ardents are proficient
HoB: You can use Craft (blacksmithing) or Craft (weaponsmithing) to construct or repair siege weapons with a –5 penalty
Craft:Ropemaking
Speak Language - knowing the right language can sometimes save your life or otherwise open up opportunities to direct summoned creatures
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Most psionicists are humans, human lookalikes, dwarves, or halflings. You get Common by default.
For a Half-Giant, Dwarven is Blue.
Undercommon is used by Drow, Illithid(mind flayers), and psurlonsDS3.5. Six other races of aberrations use Undercommon, including neogi. Blue for Slayer or Thrallherd builds, and tends to need Knowledge(dungeoneering) to recognize the races that speak it.
If you use the Elemental Mantles ACF, take the language(s) that matches the elemental mantle(s) you took or maybe the language for the opposed element, in descending order of usefulness...
Water - Aquan
Air - Auran
Fire - Ignan
Earth - Terran
If you took GOOD, EVIL, or THE PLANES, then the following languages may be helpful in descending order: Draconic,Celestial,Infernal, and Abyssal.
For a Half-Giant, Dwarven is Blue.
Undercommon is used by Drow, Illithid(mind flayers), and psurlonsDS3.5. Six other races of aberrations use Undercommon, including neogi. Blue for Slayer or Thrallherd builds, and tends to need Knowledge(dungeoneering) to recognize the races that speak it.
If you use the Elemental Mantles ACF, take the language(s) that matches the elemental mantle(s) you took or maybe the language for the opposed element, in descending order of usefulness...
Water - Aquan
Air - Auran
Fire - Ignan
Earth - Terran
If you took GOOD, EVIL, or THE PLANES, then the following languages may be helpful in descending order: Draconic,Celestial,Infernal, and Abyssal.
Knowledge:the planes (INT) is Trained. If you take THE PLANES or ELEMENTS mantle, buy at least one rank for a roll to identify outsiders and elementals and their strengths and weaknesses. Know when to use that Dismissal power.
Green with THE PLANES or ELEMENTS mantle.
Use Magic Device (CHA) is Trained. If you have Magic mantle, and no CHA penalties, consider buying at least one rank so you can roll.
Black with Magic mantle.
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Remember that UMD and Use Psionic Device are both trained and both based on CHA, a dump stat for most builds
Other build support skills
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Profession:Sailor (WIS) is Trained. Buy at least one rank to roll a check that permits tying/untying knots in ropes.
Knowledge:Spirits (INT) is Trained. One rank lets you roll to identify Spirits(incorporeal or manifested, but not alcohol), their strengths, and weaknesses.
Blue with Dream Dwarves, multiclassing with ShamanOA, and Quori Mindhunter builds.
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By the Profession description in the PHB, characters without Use Rope can buy one or more ranks to tie knots. Plus you can work passage on a ship if your adventure goes wrong or to make money while travelling. The Old Salt feat lets you use Profession:Sailor to predict the weather in the next 24 hours.
Knowledge:Spirits (INT) is Trained. One rank lets you roll to identify Spirits(incorporeal or manifested, but not alcohol), their strengths, and weaknesses.
Blue with Dream Dwarves, multiclassing with ShamanOA, and Quori Mindhunter builds.
(click to show/hide)
Originated with ShamanOA and Spirits was redefined in Complete Divine. Includes fey, elementals, incorporeal undead, creatures of the spirit subtype, Spirit folk and telthors, creatures in astral form or with astral bodies (but not a creature physically present on the Astral Plane), and Spirit creatures created by spells such as dream sight or wood wose. Few take this knowledge. However, it gives Ardent a flavor different from Wizards who usually take Knowledge (arcana), clerics with Knowledge(religion) or Druids with Knowledge (nature).
Skill Tricks
(click to show/hide)
The following skill tricks help in some, but not all, builds of straight Ardents.
Healing Hands Heal 5r Heal damage when you stabilize a dying character
Collector of Stories Knowledge (any) 5r Gain large bonus on Knowledge checks to identify monsters
Swift Concentration Concentration 12r Maintain concentration on spell as swift action
Buy ranks of the following skills only to qualify for a Prestige Class (PrC). If not to qualify for PrC, these are all Red.
Knowledge - (anything not listed above) is Trained.
Profession - (anything other than Sailor) is Trained.
Diplomacy - This may be the best skill in the game, but not for Ardents. Most Ardent builds are CHA-dumps.
18
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Alternate Class Features
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:42:30 PM »
ALTERNATE CLASS FEATURES
Ed Grubermann: "...just show me all those nifty moves so I can start trashing bozos..."
- Tae Kwon Leap by the Frantics
ACF Original descriptions here:http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a
The ACFs of the ardent fix a lot of the class's inherent weaknesses. Between them, two of these ACFs make playing a straight Ardent possible. Without them, most players will view Ardent as an attractive dip. See the Appendix on Action Economy, later. In theory, splitting the Elements mantle into four separate mantles should pay off, but like most of the existing power lists, these need to be re-tooled.
Unfortunately, these are ACF's. Substitute Powers is a separate ACF from Elemental Mantles, meaning you cannot edit the power list of the Air, Earth, Fire, and Water mantles.
Substitute powers ACFM'sE: With DM agreement that new powers meet the mantle theme, re-interpret existing mantles.
Add and/or substitute powers from any power list, to a maximum of 10 powers per mantle.
Dominant ideal ACFM'sE: Pick a mantle. For powers in that mantle, never expend psionic focus when applying metapsionics on powers of that mantle AND reduce costs of metapsionics by 2 (to free)!!!!
Dominant ideal replaces the mantle an Ardent receives at Ardent level 10.
Linked power to Hustle may result in multiple uses of psionic focus in the subsequent round.
Elemental Mantles ACFM'sE: Breaks the Elements mantle into 4 separate individual mantles, Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. This weakens the Granted ability, as each of the four mantles permanently gets its own part of the Elements granted ability. The powers lists for each of the new individual mantles likewise weaken.
Dragonscale HuskDrM012: For most campaigns, enchanting armor leads to better bonuses across a 20-level career. If you're in a low magic or "metal is rare" campaign, this might be useful.
Ed Grubermann: "...just show me all those nifty moves so I can start trashing bozos..."
- Tae Kwon Leap by the Frantics
ACF Original descriptions here:http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a
The ACFs of the ardent fix a lot of the class's inherent weaknesses. Between them, two of these ACFs make playing a straight Ardent possible. Without them, most players will view Ardent as an attractive dip. See the Appendix on Action Economy, later. In theory, splitting the Elements mantle into four separate mantles should pay off, but like most of the existing power lists, these need to be re-tooled.
Unfortunately, these are ACF's. Substitute Powers is a separate ACF from Elemental Mantles, meaning you cannot edit the power list of the Air, Earth, Fire, and Water mantles.
Substitute powers ACFM'sE: With DM agreement that new powers meet the mantle theme, re-interpret existing mantles.
Add and/or substitute powers from any power list, to a maximum of 10 powers per mantle.
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The original mantles as shown in CPsi have holes at some levels. Most of those holes (~90%) can be filled.
Some powers appear in more than one mantle. Subbing in another power eliminates duplicates.
This ACF does not say you can create new mantles. You can only add or swap out powers to a maximum of 10 for a particular mantle.
Together, the power lists of every mantle your Ardent takes constitute an individual Ardent's class list of powers. Therefore, these lists, once finalized with your DM, become every power your Ardent can use on a Dorje (psionic equivalent of a wand) without a Use Psionic Device roll. While a level 20 straight Ardent can only know 21 powers, this ACF jumps the number of Dorje powers an L20 ardent could use from ~48 to ~60. Careful power list planning and a trip to the local bazaar can get you backup utility powers, or prepare for specific encounters.
What happens if Substitute Powers ACF or a specific power is disallowed?
I like to customize
I use off the rack
Some powers appear in more than one mantle. Subbing in another power eliminates duplicates.
This ACF does not say you can create new mantles. You can only add or swap out powers to a maximum of 10 for a particular mantle.
Together, the power lists of every mantle your Ardent takes constitute an individual Ardent's class list of powers. Therefore, these lists, once finalized with your DM, become every power your Ardent can use on a Dorje (psionic equivalent of a wand) without a Use Psionic Device roll. While a level 20 straight Ardent can only know 21 powers, this ACF jumps the number of Dorje powers an L20 ardent could use from ~48 to ~60. Careful power list planning and a trip to the local bazaar can get you backup utility powers, or prepare for specific encounters.
What happens if Substitute Powers ACF or a specific power is disallowed?
I like to customize
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Ask the GM if he would allow the power under the Independent ResearchXPH064 rules, and save up XP. If you're willing to research, consider trolling through Arcane spells for spells to convert, then either tack on small augments or only ask to convert powers with save DCs. Also, Independent Research does not increase your powers known. GMs will rightfully insist that you sac an existing power or that you don't get a power on your next level. Ask to know which up front before creating a 20 level build, so you can plan research every other level. Research is also a good way to bring in individual powers when a GM bans an entire source, without the GM worrying about the rest of the content in the source.
I use off the rack
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Read through samb's original guide, which is more focused on Ardent mantles as they exist without ACFs, here:
http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=1319.0
Consider using Extra Knowledge feat to get a single additional power known.
http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=1319.0
Consider using Extra Knowledge feat to get a single additional power known.
Dominant ideal ACFM'sE: Pick a mantle. For powers in that mantle, never expend psionic focus when applying metapsionics on powers of that mantle AND reduce costs of metapsionics by 2 (to free)!!!!
Dominant ideal replaces the mantle an Ardent receives at Ardent level 10.
Linked power to Hustle may result in multiple uses of psionic focus in the subsequent round.
Elemental Mantles ACFM'sE: Breaks the Elements mantle into 4 separate individual mantles, Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. This weakens the Granted ability, as each of the four mantles permanently gets its own part of the Elements granted ability. The powers lists for each of the new individual mantles likewise weaken.
Dragonscale HuskDrM012: For most campaigns, enchanting armor leads to better bonuses across a 20-level career. If you're in a low magic or "metal is rare" campaign, this might be useful.
19
Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Races
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:41:41 PM »
RACES
samb: "In general, any race that penalizes WIS should be avoided... Thanks to ardent's funky way of selecting powers LA is not as big of an issue. No race has favored class as ardent although humans and Synad can select their first class as a favored class."
Due to complexity of building Ardents, this list focuses on races up to and including +2LA. Other races could work, but these are high speed low drag. Listed races are sorted in order of +cost and -benefit.
+0LA
HUMANPHB -- +/-0 FC:Any -- The extra feat and extra SP/level help. It's really hard to pass up.
ILLUMIANSRoD -- +/-0 FC:Any -- Human lookalike with glowing symbols around its head.
SYNADSCPsi -- +/-0 FC:Any -- Human lookalike, Aberration type. Purple for a Primary Manifester role.
ELANSXPH -- –2Cha FC:Psion -- Human lookalike, Aberration type. Purple for a Tank role.
VANARAOA -- +2WIS,+2INT,–2STR FC:Shaman -- Blue-furred monkey-like humanoid, Purple for PsyTheurge/Shaman builds.
HALFLING, STRONGHEARTFRCS -- -2STR,+2DEX FC:Rogue -- Small human look-alike. Blue for Shadowmind and Thrower builds.
DWARF, DREAMRoS -- +2CON,-2DEX FC:Druid -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Blue for PsyTheurge/Druid or Quori Mindhunter builds.
EARTH DWARVESUA -- +2CON,+2STR,-2DEX,-2CHA FC:Fighter -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Blue for STR Gish builds, CREATION mantle.
SHIFTERSECS - –2INT,+2DEX,–2CHA, FC:Ranger -- Human lookalikes. DreamsightRoE shifters are Blue for PsyTheurge/Druid and ranged Gish builds.
KALASHTARECS -- +/-0 FC:Psion -- Tall human look-alikes. Blue for Thrallherd builds
DWARVESPHB -- +2CON,-2CHA FC:Fighter -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Green for Iron Mind builds.
Darkvision opens up targeting options for powers in the dark. stability, Stonecunning, various resistances and dodge AC bonus vs giants. Dwarves! built to wear a tin can and take a charge attack. All dwarf variants races with FC:Fighter should consider the Dwarf Fighter L1 ACFRoS for Axe Focus, a virtual feat granting Weapon Focus +1 attack bonus to 6 weapons. This includes greataxe, trading off longspear's reach and set for charge for 1d12 damage.
DWARF, GOLDFRCS - +2CON,-2DEX FC:Fighter -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Green for Slayer or Sanctified Mind builds. as Dwarves, except +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against aberrations instead of against orcs and goblinoids.
+1LA
+2LA
TEMPLATES
samb: "In general, any race that penalizes WIS should be avoided... Thanks to ardent's funky way of selecting powers LA is not as big of an issue. No race has favored class as ardent although humans and Synad can select their first class as a favored class."
Due to complexity of building Ardents, this list focuses on races up to and including +2LA. Other races could work, but these are high speed low drag. Listed races are sorted in order of +cost and -benefit.
+0LA
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HUMANPHB -- +/-0 FC:Any -- The extra feat and extra SP/level help. It's really hard to pass up.
ILLUMIANSRoD -- +/-0 FC:Any -- Human lookalike with glowing symbols around its head.
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With the right choices you can have a +2 manifester level ("krau") and for Psychic Theurge builds, "Hoonkrau" to sac a turn/rebuke for +1d8 on cure/inflict. At first level, krau is the difference between 10' and 15' Dimension Hop at first level, and 2 rounds instead of 1 round for powers with durations, such as Astral Construct or Elemental Steward. In PsyTheurge builds, you get Cure Minor Wounds to heal 1 + 1d8 hp and Cure Light Wounds to heal 2d8 + 4 at second level.
SYNADSCPsi -- +/-0 FC:Any -- Human lookalike, Aberration type. Purple for a Primary Manifester role.
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Darkvision (cant cast at it if you cant see it), some bonus PP at CL1, bonus on Will saves, 1/day apply a minor insight bonus to initiative, attack roll, or saving throw. spend 1PP to add minor unnamed bonus to any Psicraft or Knowledge check. 1/day, spend 1PP to gain a swift action to perform any strictly mental action.
ELANSXPH -- –2Cha FC:Psion -- Human lookalike, Aberration type. Purple for a Tank role.
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Elans’ racial abilities allow them to endure injuries. Repletion is like an additional power (sustenance) and resilience SU comes in handy. Resistance SU is an unmatched power/spell. May take the rapidstrike and improved rapidstrike feats. There are two racial feats to improve the resilience and resistance SUs. First seen in Dragon update of Dark Sun for 3.5 for those looking for production backstory.
VANARAOA -- +2WIS,+2INT,–2STR FC:Shaman -- Blue-furred monkey-like humanoid, Purple for PsyTheurge/Shaman builds.
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Low light vision increases your spell targeting options. Base climb speed of 20 feet helps with Ardent's lack of Climb skill. Racial bonuses null the armor check penalty from scaled mail to Jump and Climb, and half nullify for hide and move silently. Effectively gains +1 SP/level from INT bonus, and WIS bonus is good for Ardent's manifesting. Consider FERAL template, below.
HALFLING, STRONGHEARTFRCS -- -2STR,+2DEX FC:Rogue -- Small human look-alike. Blue for Shadowmind and Thrower builds.
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Lose minor racial bonus to all saves to gain a bonus 1st level feat. Strongly consider Zen Archery as the bonus feat. Consider adding FERAL template(see below). Consider adding the feat Yondalla’s Sense(RotW:Halfling) for Initiative bonus fueled by WIS. Consider 2-level Rogue front-end to fuel Shadowmind PrC.
DWARF, DREAMRoS -- +2CON,-2DEX FC:Druid -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Blue for PsyTheurge/Druid or Quori Mindhunter builds.
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Always-on see ethereal increases targeting options for spells/powers, but beware light effects, gaze attacks, Symbols, or Hypnotic Pattern from the ethereal. When in contact with the earth, +1CL to Divination spells and spells with Earth descriptor. If you're on an asteroid in a Spelljammer campaign, is that enough earth for this ability? becomes a GM call. Check writeup for losses from PHB Dwarf abilities.
EARTH DWARVESUA -- +2CON,+2STR,-2DEX,-2CHA FC:Fighter -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Blue for STR Gish builds, CREATION mantle.
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Gain minor racial bonus on attack roll against AIR creatures, and a slightly larger penalty on all saves vs spells, SLAs, and supernatural abilities with air subtype. Gain Stability, stacks with Stability from base Dwarf race for a LARGE total bonus to resist charge attacks. Improved Stonecunning doubles what PHB Dwarf gets. Lose racial bonus on saves vs spells and SLAs. Lose racial bonus on attacks vs orcs/goblinoids. Gain significant racial bonus on Appraise / Craft checks related to stone or metal items. Consider Ancestral Knowledge feat. Consider L1 Dwarf Fighter substitution level to gain virtual Weapon Focus feat with a variety of axes, including Greataxe.
SHIFTERSECS - –2INT,+2DEX,–2CHA, FC:Ranger -- Human lookalikes. DreamsightRoE shifters are Blue for PsyTheurge/Druid and ranged Gish builds.
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Since this race has penalties for INT and CHA, the only primary manifester class they should take is Ardent. This suggestion goes against the racial notes in RoE, which points to Wilder, despite the penalty to CHA. Shifter traits to consider: Beasthide, DreamsightRoE, Razorclaws, Wildhunt. Shifters love tattoos. Consider Tattooist. Consider Extra Shifter TraitRoE and Longtooth EliteRoE. Consider Shifter Druid L1 Racial substitution level to extend your shift and gain Alertness as a virtual bonus feat. Consider Shifter Ranger L1 Racial substitution Level to reduce MAD by getting your WIS bonus for wild empathy and animal handling.
KALASHTARECS -- +/-0 FC:Psion -- Tall human look-alikes. Blue for Thrallherd builds
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-- One additional PP/character level makes this race an ok choice for ardents. Their once per day Mindlink PLA is handy for various situations, and is a pre-req for thrallherd. A feat can improve the Mindlink ML and get 3 uses per day. As a kalashtar you qualify for implanting incredibly rare quori shards. An ectoplasmic fist shard gives an effective size increase of one category when determining unarmed strike damage. Power link shards can overchannel powers. Quori shards take up no magic item slots. Kalashtar like tattoos. Consider Tattooist. Consider Kalashtar Monk L1,L2 substitution levels.
DWARVESPHB -- +2CON,-2CHA FC:Fighter -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Green for Iron Mind builds.
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Darkvision opens up targeting options for powers in the dark. stability, Stonecunning, various resistances and dodge AC bonus vs giants. Dwarves! built to wear a tin can and take a charge attack. All dwarf variants races with FC:Fighter should consider the Dwarf Fighter L1 ACFRoS for Axe Focus, a virtual feat granting Weapon Focus +1 attack bonus to 6 weapons. This includes greataxe, trading off longspear's reach and set for charge for 1d12 damage.
DWARF, GOLDFRCS - +2CON,-2DEX FC:Fighter -- Medium sized tin cans with arms, legs, and a beard. Green for Slayer or Sanctified Mind builds. as Dwarves, except +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against aberrations instead of against orcs and goblinoids.
+1LA
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ORC, GRAYRoF -- +2WIS,-2INT,+2STR,-2CHA FC:Cleric -- Blue for Dead Heart Interrogator or Psychic Theurge/Cleric builds.
ORC, SCROSJ.org -- +2CON,+4STR,+2DEX,-2CHA FC:Fighter -- Tall, muscled medium-sized humanoids with greenish to grayish skin, sloping forehead, jutting jaw, prominent teeth, vulpine ears, reddish eyes, and coarse black body hair.Blue for melee Gish builds
ULDRAFro -- +2WIS,+2CON,–2STR, FC:Druid -- Small thin humanoids with black hair blue skin and a hat. Fey type. Blue for Psychic Theurge/Druid builds.
AASIMARFRCS,MM,RoD - +2WIS,+2CHA FC:Paladin -- tall, good-looking human lookalike with various eye colors: Pupil-less pale white, gold, gray, or topaz. Outsider type. Blue for CHA builds.
HALF-GIANTSXPH -- +2CON,+2STR,–2DEX FC:PsyWar -- These medium-size human lookalikes with powerful builds have tightly braided black hair and deep coppery complexions, often wearing conspicuous clothing.Blue for PsyWar multiclass PrCs.
DUERGARXPH -- +2CON,–4CHA FC:Fighter -- Tin cans with legs and large, black, cold eyes and short, wiry beards of iron-gray or black.
DWARF, FROSTPlH -- +4CON,–4 CHA FC:Fighter. A medium-sized tincan with legs, pale blue skin, hollow eyes that glow with a strange white light, and icicles hanging from its blue hair and beard. Type: Humanoid (Dwarf,extraplaner)
HOBGOBLIN, SUNSCORCHDrM -- +2WIS,+2CON,FC:Fighter -- Tall, muscular, medium-sized humanoid with dark red-orange skin, hair ranging from auburn to dark grey in color, and brilliant sky blue eyes.
LIZARDFOLK, POISONDUSKMMIII - +2CON,+2DEX,+2CHA FC:Ranger A small-sized reptilian humanoid covered head to toe in green, grey, or brown scales which can sometimes get lighter or darker with its emotions, a 2-3 foot long tail, large slitted eyes, and males have a crest running down the back of the head that can lie flat or extend based on mood. Type: Humanoid(reptilian).
WILDRENPlB -- +4CON,-2DEX,-2CHA, FC:Barbarian -- A stinky, slightly taller medium sized tincan with short, grizzled dark fur, a broad white stripe of fur running from the bridge of the nose over the top of the head and down to the base of the skull, and unnaturally large and well-muscled arms, with fingers that end in hard claws 2 to 3 inches long. Type:
Outsider (extraplanar)
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Land speed is 40 feet. WPs with the greataxe and longbow help Ardent's ranged rate of fire and melee damage, but remember that Gruumsh's favored weapon is LONGSPEAR. Light Sensitivity, Scent, and Orc blood provide magic item options. Consider the feat Initiate of GruumshCoR024 for 3+ level dips into Cleric. Consider Head Long RushRoF for a PLEASE HIT ME build. Consider PHRENIC template to smoothe out penalties and add PLAs and PR.
ORC, SCROSJ.org -- +2CON,+4STR,+2DEX,-2CHA FC:Fighter -- Tall, muscled medium-sized humanoids with greenish to grayish skin, sloping forehead, jutting jaw, prominent teeth, vulpine ears, reddish eyes, and coarse black body hair.Blue for melee Gish builds
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Darkvision opens up targeting options for powers in darkness. Scro use STR modifier for Intimidate skill instead of CHA, reducing MAD slightly. Scro have a Bite attack and Orc Blood, providing access to some magic items.
ULDRAFro -- +2WIS,+2CON,–2STR, FC:Druid -- Small thin humanoids with black hair blue skin and a hat. Fey type. Blue for Psychic Theurge/Druid builds.
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Small size makes Compression and ray powers more attractive. Darkvision and Low-light vision opening up targeting options for rays and other powers. Fey Blood is both a blessing and a curse. You gain access to fey feats, magic items, etc, but you're the target of Ranger's Favored Enemy feature. Fey politics is pretty inescapable and makes the Hatfields and McCoys look like a bunch of well-behaved toddlers. SLAs let you put out campfires 3/day, talk to animals 1/day, or make a foe feel fatigued 1/day, all as Wiz or Dr of level equal to the Uldra's HD, save DCs based on Wis.
AASIMARFRCS,MM,RoD - +2WIS,+2CHA FC:Paladin -- tall, good-looking human lookalike with various eye colors: Pupil-less pale white, gold, gray, or topaz. Outsider type. Blue for CHA builds.
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For any Ardent planning to take the Metamorphosis power and Metamorphic Transfer feat, despite the LA. The Charisma bonus will help with the Supernatural Abilities gained through that feat, and the other racial abilities will help with survivability. Exception: for Ardents without those abilities, this choice is black. Unlike other Ardents, Diplomacy is on the menu for this race, as is Use Psionic Device and Use Magic Device. MAGIC mantle or NATURAL WORLD mantles would both fit.
HALF-GIANTSXPH -- +2CON,+2STR,–2DEX FC:PsyWar -- These medium-size human lookalikes with powerful builds have tightly braided black hair and deep coppery complexions, often wearing conspicuous clothing.Blue for PsyWar multiclass PrCs.
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Powerful build, 2 bonus PP, favored class psychic warrior and great ability score adjustments make this a great race for melee Gish builds. LA+1 hurts, so make sure you can buy it off via Unearthed Arcana. If you can't, this race is still a viable option. Consider the FERAL or Multi-headed,LERNEAN templates.
DUERGARXPH -- +2CON,–4CHA FC:Fighter -- Tin cans with legs and large, black, cold eyes and short, wiry beards of iron-gray or black.
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Greater darkvision opens up targeting options for casting. immunities, stability, stonecunning, 3 bonus PP at 1st level, and 2 very useful 1/d SLAs. racial bonus to saves vs spells/SLAs (psionics is spell-like). If you cannot buy off the level adjustment, it's still good.
DWARF, FROSTPlH -- +4CON,–4 CHA FC:Fighter. A medium-sized tincan with legs, pale blue skin, hollow eyes that glow with a strange white light, and icicles hanging from its blue hair and beard. Type: Humanoid (Dwarf,extraplaner)
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Darkvision opens up targeting in the dark. Stability, bonus to saves vs spells/SLAs, Immunities and dodge bonus against giants, and Resistance to cold all support a Tank role. Gish support includes attack bonus against giant type, bonus to Move Silently, and chill touch and obscuring mist as SLAs. Remember to get shaders for Light Sensitivity.
HOBGOBLIN, SUNSCORCHDrM -- +2WIS,+2CON,FC:Fighter -- Tall, muscular, medium-sized humanoid with dark red-orange skin, hair ranging from auburn to dark grey in color, and brilliant sky blue eyes.
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Darkvision opens up targeting options. Dragonblood subtype opens up additional magic item options, racial bonus to Move Silently,minor racial bonus to Bluff.
LIZARDFOLK, POISONDUSKMMIII - +2CON,+2DEX,+2CHA FC:Ranger A small-sized reptilian humanoid covered head to toe in green, grey, or brown scales which can sometimes get lighter or darker with its emotions, a 2-3 foot long tail, large slitted eyes, and males have a crest running down the back of the head that can lie flat or extend based on mood. Type: Humanoid(reptilian).
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Lowlight Vision helps with targeting powers and ranged attacks. Racial bonuses on Balance, Jump, and Swim checks help Ardent mobility. The ability to apply poison without endangering itself dovetails with early trapmaking, which will progress to psionic traps with Craft Universal Item. Chameleon skin allows it a racial bonus on Hide checks, which stacks with the Chameleon power. Natural armor bonus helps protect when not in armor.
Consider these Mantle: NATURAL WORLD(for Metaphysical Claw and Chameleon or maybe Pre-Envenom), DECEPTION, ELEMENTS, MAGIC, CREATION, DESTRUCTION, LIFE, GUARDIAN, COMMUNICATIONS, FREEDOM
A Cleric dip would likely result in PLANT, ANIMAL, or WATER domains.
Consider these Mantle: NATURAL WORLD(for Metaphysical Claw and Chameleon or maybe Pre-Envenom), DECEPTION, ELEMENTS, MAGIC, CREATION, DESTRUCTION, LIFE, GUARDIAN, COMMUNICATIONS, FREEDOM
A Cleric dip would likely result in PLANT, ANIMAL, or WATER domains.
WILDRENPlB -- +4CON,-2DEX,-2CHA, FC:Barbarian -- A stinky, slightly taller medium sized tincan with short, grizzled dark fur, a broad white stripe of fur running from the bridge of the nose over the top of the head and down to the base of the skull, and unnaturally large and well-muscled arms, with fingers that end in hard claws 2 to 3 inches long. Type:
Outsider (extraplanar)
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20 foot base move, DV60', burrow speed 10',scent, claws, stability
+2LA
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LUMIMMIII -- +4WIS,+4CON,+2STR,-2DEX, FC:Cleric -- White glowing Human lookalike, except its head floats above its body with no apparent neck. Outsider type. Blue for PsyTheurge and melee Gish builds.
DOMOVOIFro -- +6WIS,+2CON,+4INT,–2STR,+4DEX,+6CHA, FC: Rogue. 2 foot tall Human lookalike with dark, sooty skin and hairy arms, a thick beard, and furry legs, chest, and back. Domovoi wear rags. Fey type. Blue for Shadowmind and ray specialists.
GITHZERAIXPH -- +2WIS,-2INT,+6DEX FC: Monk -- Tall, gaunt, Medium-sized humanoids with roughened yellow skin, short-cropped russet hair, flattish noses, pointed ears, and dull yellow or grey eyes. When unarmored, Zerai favor drab robes. Subtypes: Extraplanar and Psionic.
THRI-KREEN, ATHASIANDS3.5 -- +2WIS,–2INT,+2STR,+4DEX,–4CHA FC:PsyWar -- no PLAs, but no HD racial levels, either. Having FC as PsyWar helps with frontloading for feats.
DWARF, ARCTICRoF -- +2CON,+4STR,-2DEX,-2CHA, FC:Ranger -- Small-sized tin cans almost as wide as they are tall, with wide legs and wide bare feet, bright blue eyes, white skin with slight blue hue and bright red cheeks, short beards and twisting mustaches. Curly white hair tumbles down their backs nearly to their waists. Polar bear hide when out of can and not sunbathing. No change to Type.
THRI-KREENCPsi,XPH -- +2WIS,–2INT,+2STR,+4DEX,–4CHA FC:Ranger -- Bipedal insectoid with sandy yellow exoskeleton, compound eyes,large mandibles, antennae at the top of its head, and four arms ending in four-fingered, clawlike hands. They wear simple harnesses for carrying weapons and equipment. Type: Monstrous Humanoid.
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Darkvision provides additional target options for casting/manifesting. Lumi's Outsider HD provides 40+ SP and a bonus feat, ImpInit. Lumi's worship Light as an abstract concept related to truth. Deceit is a capital offense in a Lumi settlement, and Lumi clerics access the following domains: Law, Sun, War. For Mantles, consider: LIGHT&DARKNESS, KNOWLEDGE, LAW, CONFLICT, THE PLANES, and FATE.
DOMOVOIFro -- +6WIS,+2CON,+4INT,–2STR,+4DEX,+6CHA, FC: Rogue. 2 foot tall Human lookalike with dark, sooty skin and hairy arms, a thick beard, and furry legs, chest, and back. Domovoi wear rags. Fey type. Blue for Shadowmind and ray specialists.
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Low light vision opens targeting options for rays. Bonus feat, natural armor, fire subtype, and SLAs come together for a consistent package. If Domovoi takes cleric levels, domains are: Chaos, Fire, Luck. For Mantles, consider: CHAOS, ELEMENTS, FATE, ENERGY, CREATION, DESTRUCTION, CONFLICT.
GITHZERAIXPH -- +2WIS,-2INT,+6DEX FC: Monk -- Tall, gaunt, Medium-sized humanoids with roughened yellow skin, short-cropped russet hair, flattish noses, pointed ears, and dull yellow or grey eyes. When unarmored, Zerai favor drab robes. Subtypes: Extraplanar and Psionic.
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Gith Ardent builds should always be Zerai and never Yanki, which gimps WIS. as one of their PLAs, Zerai get inertial armor. Multiple PrC paths are open to Zerai. The Githzerai Link feat helps to qualify for Thrallherd. 3 levels in Monk qualify you for Zerth Cenobite, which is a flavor favorite for this race. Ardents may side-step the Zerth Cenobite PrC by taking the Time mantle. If your DM lets you adapt Abjurant Champion PrC, the Intertial Armor PLA helps meet requirements.
THRI-KREEN, ATHASIANDS3.5 -- +2WIS,–2INT,+2STR,+4DEX,–4CHA FC:PsyWar -- no PLAs, but no HD racial levels, either. Having FC as PsyWar helps with frontloading for feats.
DWARF, ARCTICRoF -- +2CON,+4STR,-2DEX,-2CHA, FC:Ranger -- Small-sized tin cans almost as wide as they are tall, with wide legs and wide bare feet, bright blue eyes, white skin with slight blue hue and bright red cheeks, short beards and twisting mustaches. Curly white hair tumbles down their backs nearly to their waists. Polar bear hide when out of can and not sunbathing. No change to Type.
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Immune to cold. Good to frontload MWPs and tracking. Access to Dwarven racial feats and L1 Dwarf Fighter ACF for crazy axe weapon focus action. Access to Hammer FistRoF164 and Ancestral Knowledge.
THRI-KREENCPsi,XPH -- +2WIS,–2INT,+2STR,+4DEX,–4CHA FC:Ranger -- Bipedal insectoid with sandy yellow exoskeleton, compound eyes,large mandibles, antennae at the top of its head, and four arms ending in four-fingered, clawlike hands. They wear simple harnesses for carrying weapons and equipment. Type: Monstrous Humanoid.
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40'speed,DV60',Immune to sleep,+3NatArmor,4arms,natural attack,poison,leap,1bonus PP at 1st level,PLAs: 3/day—chameleon, know direction; 1/day—psionic displacement, metaphysical claw. Deflect Arrows and one other bonus feat.RCC skills: Balance, Climb, Hide, Jump, Listen, and Spot
TEMPLATES
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+1LA
FERALSS -- +2WIS,+2CON,+4STR,–2DEX,–4INT(min.2), FC:same. Appear larger, tougher, and meaner with pronounced fangs and claws. Type changes to monstrous humanoid. Blue for melee Gish
DRACONICRotD - +2CON,+2STR,+2CHA, FC:same. Small changes to appearance may include patches of scaly skin, slight change of skin color, and/or slitted pupils. Adds Dragonblood subtype.
DARKToM - +/-0 FC:same. Coloration becomes duller, with more gray and black skin tones and hair highlights. Subtype: extraplanar subtype, except on Plane of Shadow.
BLOODED ONEUE061 - +4CON,+2STR,-2INT, FC:same. No change to appearance or type. Green for Gish melee.
+2LA
SAINTBoED -- +2WIS,+2CON,+4CHA FC:same. No change in appearance. Type changes to Outsider(native). Purple for Tank, Blue for Primary Manifester and CHA builds.
PHRENICXPH -- +2WIS,+2INT(if INT>2),+4CHA FC:same. No change to appearance. Subtype adds Psionic. -- Blue for CHA builds(CHA multiclass or metamorphic transfer/animal empathy/thrallherd builds).
SHADOW CREATURELoM -- +/-0 FC:same. Coloration becomes much, much duller, with way more gray and black skin tones and hair highlights. Subtype: extraplanar subtype, except on Plane of Shadow. Blue for Tanks.
+4LA (assuming medium size)
MULTI-HEADED, LERNAEANSS -- +2CON/added head, FC:change to Fighter. At any given time, a medium has 2-4 heads. Type: same. Blue for Tank role or PLEASEHITME builds.
FERALSS -- +2WIS,+2CON,+4STR,–2DEX,–4INT(min.2), FC:same. Appear larger, tougher, and meaner with pronounced fangs and claws. Type changes to monstrous humanoid. Blue for melee Gish
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Darkvision opens up targeting for manifesting and melee. Bonus to land speed and pounce as a bonus feat further fuels the gish. A good bonus to natural AC and fast healing feed the Tank. Consider these Mantles: NATURAL WORLD, CONFLICT, PHYSICAL POWER, FREEDOM, and LIGHT&DARKNESS.
DRACONICRotD - +2CON,+2STR,+2CHA, FC:same. Small changes to appearance may include patches of scaly skin, slight change of skin color, and/or slitted pupils. Adds Dragonblood subtype.
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Darkvision opens up targets for manifesting, minor racial bonus on Intimidate checks and Spot checks, racial bonus on saves against magic sleep effects and paralysis, gain claw attacks and +1nat AC.
DARKToM - +/-0 FC:same. Coloration becomes duller, with more gray and black skin tones and hair highlights. Subtype: extraplanar subtype, except on Plane of Shadow.
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Speed: minor bonus to all modes of movement. Darkvision and Superior low-light vision open up manifesting targets. Hide in Plain Sight supports Shadowmind builds, DECEPTION and LIGHT&DARKNESS mantles. Resistance to cold supports ELEMENTS, ENERGY, or THE PLANES mantles. Large racial bonuses to Hide and Move Silently tack on stealth that is missing from an Ardent. The Ardent becomes native to Plane of Shadow.
BLOODED ONEUE061 - +4CON,+2STR,-2INT, FC:same. No change to appearance or type. Green for Gish melee.
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gains Combat Reflexes without requirements, Natural armor improves by +2. 1/day, a blooded one can scream a special war cry. all blooded ones within 30 feet (including itself) gain a +1 morale bonus on all attack and damage rolls for 2d4 rounds.
+2LA
SAINTBoED -- +2WIS,+2CON,+4CHA FC:same. No change in appearance. Type changes to Outsider(native). Purple for Tank, Blue for Primary Manifester and CHA builds.
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Banbait. Low-light vision and darkvision open up targeting options for manifesting. WIS fueled insight bonus to AC protect Ardents both in and out of armor. Immunities, resistances, DR, and fast healing and evil creatures take damage if they touch a Saint, all fuel Tank role of Ardent, but make PLEASEHITME builds harder. Ardent's Primary Manifester role sees a +2DC to all its powers/spells/SLAs/PLAs. Always-on Tongues boosts the chance of negotiating out of conflict. Comes with other minor SLAs. Buy down LA via UA roles if you can.
PHRENICXPH -- +2WIS,+2INT(if INT>2),+4CHA FC:same. No change to appearance. Subtype adds Psionic. -- Blue for CHA builds(CHA multiclass or metamorphic transfer/animal empathy/thrallherd builds).
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Power Resistance and up to 16 PLAs!!! The PLAs are CHA-based, so this is like bolting on Wilder as a simultaneous second manifesting class, with no choice on which powers you're taking. Your mileage may vary, but using Substitute Powers ACF to re-work your mantle power lists will prevent duplicates.
SHADOW CREATURELoM -- +/-0 FC:same. Coloration becomes much, much duller, with way more gray and black skin tones and hair highlights. Subtype: extraplanar subtype, except on Plane of Shadow. Blue for Tanks.
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Darkvision, and lowlight vision open up targeting options for manifesting. Speed improves which helps Ardent mobility in armor and out. cold resistance, good racial bonus to Move Silently checksand total concealment support tanking. Pick among several options: For PLEASEHITME support: fast healing, For tank support: minor luck bonus to all saves, evasion, dr, and a Mirror Image SLA.
+4LA (assuming medium size)
MULTI-HEADED, LERNAEANSS -- +2CON/added head, FC:change to Fighter. At any given time, a medium has 2-4 heads. Type: same. Blue for Tank role or PLEASEHITME builds.
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Banbait. To slay a Lernaean creature, use spells or sever all its heads. oh yeah, this makes hella good tank value. The additional HD helps when taking disintegrate spell damage. This template brings bonus feats "Superior Two/Multi-Weapon Fighting", Improved Initiative and Combat Reflexes. Since DEX is usually a dump stat for Ardents, templates are one of the few ways to get Combat Reflexes. Note that when using Expansion to become one size larger, max number of heads raises to 6 for duration of the power.
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Handbook Submission / (Continued) 3.5e Ardent - Abilities
« on: April 11, 2020, 03:36:49 PM »
ABILITIES
samb: "The stats an ardent needs are similar to a cleric with the exception that CHR is not that important unless you are going to be using metamorphic transfer that requires DCs. DEX could be more important if you are going for a blasty type of ardent using lots of touch attacks... CON is always important but even more so for concentration"
In typical order of importance for a 20-level plain vanilla ardent:
WIS. Wisdom determines what powers you can learn, how many bonus Power Points (PP) you get, and the Difficulty Check (DC) on your powers. Max WIS if you can.
CON. Constitution is for hp and concentration checks, especially at early levels. Max CON if you can.
INT. Ardents are starved for skills. Bonus Skill Points from Intelligence would help make up for 2 SP/level.
For melee builds, combat expertise and its follow-ups (improved trip) demand a score of 13.
STR. Need enough Strength to wear heavy armor and carry big weapons.
At L1, you need 13 for the Power Attack feat tree and to call scale armor, longspear, and club a light load.
DEX. Dexterity is a dump for most builds. REFLEX saves are not your good ones.
CHA. Charisma is a dump for most builds. Ignore Hidden talent feat, unless the DM disallows Substitute Power ACF.
samb: "The stats an ardent needs are similar to a cleric with the exception that CHR is not that important unless you are going to be using metamorphic transfer that requires DCs. DEX could be more important if you are going for a blasty type of ardent using lots of touch attacks... CON is always important but even more so for concentration"
In typical order of importance for a 20-level plain vanilla ardent:
WIS. Wisdom determines what powers you can learn, how many bonus Power Points (PP) you get, and the Difficulty Check (DC) on your powers. Max WIS if you can.
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You will continue to need your WIS bonus for WILL saves, as bud guys cast spells / manifest powers at you.
If possible, take Zen Archery to apply WIS, not DEX, as your ranged attacks modifier.
Do not take a race that cuts WIS, not matter how tempting the other features.
For a gish build, expect to be MAD with focus on CON, STR, DEX (in that order).
If possible, take Zen Archery to apply WIS, not DEX, as your ranged attacks modifier.
Do not take a race that cuts WIS, not matter how tempting the other features.
For a gish build, expect to be MAD with focus on CON, STR, DEX (in that order).
CON. Constitution is for hp and concentration checks, especially at early levels. Max CON if you can.
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You will continue to need it for FORT saves, which are not good ones for you.
Do not take a race that cuts CON, no matter how tempting the other benefits.
In many builds, you are a tin can with legs. You will get hit. In some builds, you WANT to get hit to trigger retribution damage or other effects.
Do not take a race that cuts CON, no matter how tempting the other benefits.
In many builds, you are a tin can with legs. You will get hit. In some builds, you WANT to get hit to trigger retribution damage or other effects.
INT. Ardents are starved for skills. Bonus Skill Points from Intelligence would help make up for 2 SP/level.
For melee builds, combat expertise and its follow-ups (improved trip) demand a score of 13.
STR. Need enough Strength to wear heavy armor and carry big weapons.
At L1, you need 13 for the Power Attack feat tree and to call scale armor, longspear, and club a light load.
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Adding a full backpack means more STR or start to accept medium load penalties.
DEX. Dexterity is a dump for most builds. REFLEX saves are not your good ones.
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Iron Mind or multiclassing Swordsage for Diamond Mind counters can help bypass bad REFLEX saves.
If you rely on the Expansion power, you can live with a 10 in dexterity since you get a -2 dex-penalty for every size increase anyway.
A DEX build would avoid Zen archery and the Expansion power for the Compression power,two-weapon fighting, or combat reflexes.
Consider also picking up ranged sneak attacks and evasion somehow.
While DEX builds can be done, it's better to do this sort of thing with Psychic Rogue or Lurk. Tin can with legs, remember?
If you rely on the Expansion power, you can live with a 10 in dexterity since you get a -2 dex-penalty for every size increase anyway.
A DEX build would avoid Zen archery and the Expansion power for the Compression power,two-weapon fighting, or combat reflexes.
Consider also picking up ranged sneak attacks and evasion somehow.
While DEX builds can be done, it's better to do this sort of thing with Psychic Rogue or Lurk. Tin can with legs, remember?
CHA. Charisma is a dump for most builds. Ignore Hidden talent feat, unless the DM disallows Substitute Power ACF.
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Diplomacy skill.
Leadership feat.
Supernatural abilities from Metamorphosis+Metamorphic Transfer feat or Metamorphosis, Greater.
Mantle features which use CHA:
NATURAL WORLD: granted ability: Animal Empathy, does not stack with same feature from other classes.
Builds which optimize for CHA are mainly multiclass builds and include features like:
Optimize potency for...
Marshal(MHB) dip for minor aura(Motivate WIS/CON/DEX/CHA/Init) as a front end for a Thrallherd PrC build
Optimizing CHA save DCs, as for
a Sorceror ramp into Cerebromancer PrC
Optimizing x/day you can use features from other classes
turn/rebuke from Cleric to fuel divine feats
Leadership feat.
Supernatural abilities from Metamorphosis+Metamorphic Transfer feat or Metamorphosis, Greater.
Mantle features which use CHA:
NATURAL WORLD: granted ability: Animal Empathy, does not stack with same feature from other classes.
Builds which optimize for CHA are mainly multiclass builds and include features like:
Optimize potency for...
Marshal(MHB) dip for minor aura(Motivate WIS/CON/DEX/CHA/Init) as a front end for a Thrallherd PrC build
Optimizing CHA save DCs, as for
a Sorceror ramp into Cerebromancer PrC
Optimizing x/day you can use features from other classes
turn/rebuke from Cleric to fuel divine feats
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