Building a Psychic Warrior:

[Generic_PC]

Hey there CO,

So, I'm looking at building a 10th level hero using the Psychic Warrior as a chassis. The biggest problem is that I have no real experience with Psionics at all, but I'd also like to have some good alternate combat techniques. Specifically, I'm liking the idea of Expansion -> Grappling. Any book is available, but I'd prefer to keep it simple.

So, with that in mind, my current questions:

Monk 2? Worthwhile dip for this kind of character? Monk as a class is pretty heavily houseruled, with things like full BAB.

Swordsage worth a dip? It loses me some BAB, but gives me Setting Sun. Throws are awesome. Stuff like Child of Shadows for some extra defense can't hurt either. I just need to have Adaptive Style.

Similarly, getting out of Psychic Warrior and into Slayer as quickly as possible? Good idea?

Good power choices?

For those of you who are curious, my current build is:

Monk 2/Psychic Warrior 2/Slayer 6 (Yeah, thats pretty much it)

I've got a homebrew race that can become an animal a couple times a day, becoming large size, gaining 3 natural attacks and getting a few other bonuses, which is why I like the idea of grappling. I've also got Powerful Build when I'm not in beast mode.

Until I figure out what direction is actually good for this kind of hero, I'm not assigning feats yet. I have a couple fighter feats and basically every other feat barring 1 (for entrance into Slayer) is open. So... min/max!

If you need any additional info, feel free to ask.

[sirpercival]

If you want to grapple, may I refer you to this?

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Also the PsyWar guide in the handbooks section.

Monk + psi anything = Tashalatora feat ... usually.

Slayer can go to 9 or 10. 
ToB dips also work, but you start to gimp any -festing.
Gimp festing much more, and the Ardent class looks a lot better.
Some of the basic Lock build components fit in.

You could of course fit in some psi recharge.
Limited access to level 4 powers at the very next level.
This would let you keep up with the full casters,
rather easily, and that's with a non-specific build.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Monk 2/Psychic Warrior 2/Slayer 6 (Yeah, thats pretty much it)

I've got a homebrew race that can become an animal a couple times a day, becoming large size, gaining 3 natural attacks and getting a few other bonuses, which is why I like the idea of grappling. I've also got Powerful Build when I'm not in beast mode.

... or you could go Monk 1 / Druid X and just take some psi flavor.

[Generic_PC]

... or you could go Monk 1 / Druid X and just take some psi flavor.

No, I'd really prefer to stick to Psychic Warrior: part of this is playing a system I've never used. Which is why I really want the power advice, other than Grip of Iron and Expansion...

[emaNsdrawkcaB]

What exactly, and I do mean exactly, is the idea you have of what you want your character to be? What do you want him to do? Psionic grappler is still pretty vague.

I personally am not a huge fan of sticking around in Psychic Warrior for too long, I find they're a bit lackluster toward the end. I prefer the War Mind Prestige class unless you're extremely feat starved.

Also, not sure what race you had in mind, but Kalashtar were made for psionics (+1 pp/level...), especially Tashalatora.

Finally, how set on Slayer are you?

I submit the idea of a Kalashtar Monk 4/ Barbarian 1/ War Mind 10/ XYZ ...

Use the Kalashtar Monk racial sub. level at 2, to grab Knowledge (Psionics).

I always grab the Invisible Fist alternative class feature for options. Invisibilty is nice for a ton of reasons.

Switch Flurry of Blows for Decisive Strike if your DM allows Tashalatora to progress it instead. If not, Strength of my Enemy makes you stronger, AND your enemy weaker.

Complete Champion Bear Totem Barbarian for Improved Grab means you can use a Decisive Strike to start your grapple and do that damage every round on top of your other damage. So, that's nice.

Not to mention at level 10 of War Mind you can use that 1/day +10d6 attack (As well as the Xd6 from your unarmed strike) to start a grapple, which will carry over.

Pick up the Ectoplasmic Fist embedded shards and get bigger hands, and/or pick up some Mighty Arms graft (Warforged arms), and slap on a couple of Battlefists.

Finish with whatever 5 levels you'd like, and you're only lost 1 BAB.