[3.P] Need some help - Psicrystal-focused Psion

[psly4mne]

In an upcoming game, I'm going to play a psion who only participates in combat through his psicrystal. My DM likes the concept, and he's willing to give me some leeway on the rules to make it work - he'll be ok with extending the range of Share Powers and Deliver Touch Power to something more practical, and I'll probably be allowed to take some cross-class powers in exchange for not taking any powers with range other than personal or touch. The campaign will be using mostly Pathfinder rules (which means more feats for Improved Psicrystal and I don't have to worry about class skills, but Metamorphosis is nerfed), but I'll be allowed to use almost any source as long as it's not too cheesy. I have no idea what the starting level is going to be, but the plan is to go to at least level 20.

I've reread the original The Big Guy Is With Me thread for ideas. I couldn't find blingy anywhere, and I seem to remember there being a psicrystal build in the 100^10 challenge, but that also seems to have been lost to the Wizards forum black hole. Any other reference threads would be appreciated.

I'm thinking the psion's feats will just be Psicrystal Affinity, Item Familiar (if allowed), and a bunch of Improved Psicrystal. All the psicrystal personalities will be Friendly, and I'll be the diplomacy monkey outside of combat.

For the psicrystal's feats, I have:

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Weapon Finesse
Martial Study (Shadow Blade Technique)
Shadow Blade
Deadly Defense
Giantbane
Martial Stance (Assassin's Stance)
Underfoot Combat
Confound the Big Folk
Combat Expertise
Improved TripThat takes me up to level 19 under pathfinder rules, so I can fit in 7 more feats pre-epic if I don't change the psion's feats. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe another Martial Study at the end (could get an 8th level maneuver). Are there any epic feats worth taking?

For the psion's powers, I was thinking about these:

(click to show/hide)

Vigor
Metamorphosis, Minor
Claws of the Beast
Biofeedback
Prescience, Offensive
Painful Strike
Reconstruction
P. Lion's Charge
Hustle
Metamorphosis
Empathic Transfer, Hostile
Animal Affinity
Prowess
Claw of Energy
Broker
Truevenom
Compression
Psychofeedback
Form of Doom
Temporal Acceleration
Metamorphosis, Major
Fission
Combat Transformation
Cleanse Spirit
Trigger Power
Metamorphosis, True
Timeless Body
Assimilate

That still leaves me with a few power slots open - am I missing any useful powers?

With this setup, my psicrystal would be using his tactical feats to trip the enemy and getting a good number of attacks per round, but his damage output wouldn't be that impressive.

[sirpercival]

You should put the part about PF rules somewhere clearer near the top -- maybe even [PF] in the subject.

I'm thinking the psion's feats will just be Psicrystal Affinity, Item Familiar (if allowed), and a bunch of Improved Psicrystal. All the psicrystal personalities will be Friendly, and I'll be the diplomacy monkey outside of combat.

Untyped bonuses from the same source don't stack, so I don't think you'll get any additional benefit besides improved manifester level (which is itself quite nice for this build... but anyway).

[psly4mne]

You should put the part about PF rules somewhere clearer near the top -- maybe even [PF] in the subject.

Does Pathfind normally allow non-PF books? I'm allowed any PF and non-PF books.

Untyped bonuses from the same source don't stack, so I don't think you'll get any additional benefit besides improved manifester level (which is itself quite nice for this build... but anyway).

Too bad about that. Maybe the DM will allow it if I don't abuse it, or maybe Item Familiar and a possible Marshal dip would make up for it.

[sirpercival]

You should put the part about PF rules somewhere clearer near the top -- maybe even [PF] in the subject.

Does Pathfind normally allow non-PF books? I'm allowed any PF and non-PF books.

I think it's usually denoted 3.P.

Untyped bonuses from the same source don't stack, so I don't think you'll get any additional benefit besides improved manifester level (which is itself quite nice for this build... but anyway).

Too bad about that. Maybe the DM will allow it if I don't abuse it, or maybe Item Familiar and a possible Marshal dip would make up for it.

Sure! 

Actually, I have a question here.  Improved Psicrystal increases your ML by one for your psicrystal.  However, psicrystals don't care about ML, they only care about your levels in psionic classes.  So, what does Improved Psicrystal actually do?

If your DM rules that it's based on ML, then you can be a Kalashtar with the Kalashtar Mindlink feat and have auto-scaling ML so you can do other stuff with your class levels.  If your DM rules the other way, then Improved Psicrystal is extremely useless.

[psly4mne]

Actually, I have a question here.  Improved Psicrystal increases your ML by one for your psicrystal.  However, psicrystals don't care about ML, they only care about your levels in psionic classes.  So, what does Improved Psicrystal actually do?

The only reasonably reading, I think, is that "manifester level" should be read as "manifesting class level" and it increases psicrystal abilities, HC, etc.

If your DM rules that it's based on ML, then you can be a Kalashtar with the Kalashtar Mindlink feat and have auto-scaling ML so you can do other stuff with your class levels.  If your DM rules the other way, then Improved Psicrystal is extremely useless.

I doubt he would approve that, but if he did, what class would help more than psion? In combat, I only care about abilities that enhance my psicrystal, which basically means just powers.

[sirpercival]

I thought I had seen somewhere a feat or prc to let you stack psicrystal and familiar, but I can't find it anywhere.    So nevermind...

[phaedrusxy]

If you haven't, you should check out Eddie. He was a combo of the Flying Box and Big Guy is with Me builds, with some Thrallherd thrown in for good measure.

There is a very high amount of synergy between those things. Never actually having the PC move outside of your "base" means you're free to use a Metaconcert with your believers and thralls whenever you want, giving you access to a boatload of powers, feats, and power points. You don't need to limit yourself to touch range powers, as past effective15th level (achievable much sooner with all of your feats going to Improved Psicrystal) you get Channel Power, allowing you to treat your psicrystal as the point of origin for anything you manifest as long as the psicrystal is within 1 mile. If your DM lets a Ring Gate count for line of effect, that distance can be extended to anywhere on the same plane.

[psly4mne]

If you haven't, you should check out Eddie. He was a combo of the Flying Box and Big Guy is with Me builds, with some Thrallherd thrown in for good measure.

There is a very high amount of synergy between those things. Never actually having the PC move outside of your "base" means you're free to use a Metaconcert with your believers and thralls whenever you want, giving you access to a boatload of powers, feats, and power points. You don't need to limit yourself to touch range powers, as past effective15th level (achievable much sooner with all of your feats going to Improved Psicrystal) you get Channel Power, allowing you to treat your psicrystal as the point of origin for anything you manifest as long as the psicrystal is within 1 mile. If your DM lets a Ring Gate count for line of effect, that distance can be extended to anywhere on the same plane.

That give me so many ideas. I had seen Eddie, but never thought about it too much. I'll probably try to stay away from Metaconcert craziness, but I'll definitely use a Ring Gate and maybe go for Thrallherd

I'd still prefer to use my psicrystal to fight rather than just channeling powers. Eddie's build uses Metamorphosis, which is kind of nerfed in pathfinder. Does my setup for the psicrystal look good?