First Psionic character help.

[dna1]

Hey guys, I have never made a psion  and need a little advice.

Im playing in Phaedrus' Exiled PbP and need a level 3 character. So I am considering taking PW-1, getting force screen, druid-2(since i love druids) and going a summoner/back-up melee character. Im playing a Minotaur from the dragonlance campain setting with a ecl-0. +4 str, -2 dex/int/chr.
So Im thinking some sort of psion/druid gish type character? Any suggestions for good psionic stuffs?

[Garryl]

I thought that traditional spellcasting wasn't allowed in Phaedrus's game.

Dragon Magazine had a whole host of feats in one issue that melded powers and spells. Many of them were just combining your CL and ML for one school/discipline. I think there was one that let you add Astral Construct abilities to your summoned creatures. Unfortunately, there isn't much that melds psionics and magic into a form that a gish would really enjoy; it's all focused on the spellcasting/manifesting.

Psionics does gishing pretty well on its own. Psychic Warrior is the iconic form of that, but at higher levels, Psions (especially going into the Slayer PrC) do it as well or better. IIRC, Phaedrus was also allowing a lot of homebrew psionic material, so you might want to look at some of the things here. You might get the feel you want with this psionic adaptation of PF's Summoner (especially if you can get some of the Summoner archetypes converted, Synthesist is a bit gishier).

[phaedrusxy]

I thought that traditional spellcasting wasn't allowed in Phaedrus's game.

Dragon Magazine had a whole host of feats in one issue that melded powers and spells. Many of them were just combining your CL and ML for one school/discipline. I think there was one that let you add Astral Construct abilities to your summoned creatures. Unfortunately, there isn't much that melds psionics and magic into a form that a gish would really enjoy; it's all focused on the spellcasting/manifesting.

Psionics does gishing pretty well on its own. Psychic Warrior is the iconic form of that, but at higher levels, Psions (especially going into the Slayer PrC) do it as well or better. IIRC, Phaedrus was also allowing a lot of homebrew psionic material, so you might want to look at some of the things here. You might get the feel you want with this psionic adaptation of PF's Summoner (especially if you can get some of the Summoner archetypes converted, Synthesist is a bit gishier).

That's right. Traditional spellcasting doesn't work, without a specific focus/token, which is basically only handed out by the government... and they won't be giving them to exiles. So it won't be likely you'll be able to cast spells for a while... if ever.

One of the original PCs who dropped out (Nick) was actually playing a PF summoner. Psiwarrior would do fine on its own, though, or multiclassed a bit, due to how I'm dealing with that (basically all progressions work like ToB initiator levels).

[Garryl]

Is that TOB-like progression for all class features or just casting/manifesting stuff?

Psychic Warrior 1/Psionic Summoner 1/Anything 1 is a good basis for a summoning gish under those rules. Maybe Ardent for more Wisdom-based manifesting power? It would also let you catch up to full max power level with Practiced Manifester. Ardent powers can be tailored to whichever side you want to focus on more. Add the Synthesist archetype to Summoner (assuming it's compatible with the psionic version) if you want to go with a greater gish focus.

[dna1]

Hmm interesting. Well Im looking for a summoner that would be nice. Or possibly a animal companion thats also why I choose druid. Any good ACF's for a druid replacing the spellcasting entirely?

Also since Im so newb at Psionics(literaly havent even cracked the book ) Im hoping to get a nice simple psionic build if possible. So I may just go PW 3 to stay basic...

thoughts for powers or feats?

[Lycanthromancer]

Hmm interesting. Well Im looking for a summoner that would be nice. Or possibly a animal companion thats also why I choose druid. Any good ACF's for a druid replacing the spellcasting entirely?

Also since Im so newb at Psionics(literaly havent even cracked the book ) Im hoping to get a nice simple psionic build if possible. So I may just go PW 3 to stay basic...

thoughts for powers or feats?

The feat that's almost a requirement for any psionic gish is Linked Power, from Complete Psionic. It allows you to manifest two powers at once by expending your psionic focus and spending enough power points to manifest both powers in tandem. One goes off this round, the second goes off next round regardless of manifesting time of the second power.

Also, I'd suggest you read up on psionics before trying to make a character, then coming back with any questions you have. It's not horribly difficult; just pay attention to how psionic focus works, the limitations you have on spending power points, and augmentation, and it's basically the same as spellcasting.

[dna1]

Ya Im going to take a peek soon I hope    I just figured I would come here first so I can get a general plan of action going. That way Im not just browsing at random.
Thanks for the input!

[phaedrusxy]

Here is a level four dragonborn warforged psi-warrior I made a while back, and never really used (it was for a PbP that died right after I joined...). I didn't have Linked Power, but all it would take to add it is another flaw (I only had one). Here is the rationale for my choices.

This was also for a game with other psionic characters. One of the nicest things about being in a party with other psionicists is that you can use each other as a source of known powers for buffs. It's odd, but really nice once you get a grasp on it. For example, really only one guy in the group needs to know Inertial Armor. The rest of the group can just touch him for a couple of minutes and manifest it using their own power points as if they knew it.

[Lycanthromancer]

FYI, the rules on psionic focus are found under the Concentration skill entry in the XPH.

Just remember that psywars are severely power-point starved, so choose your equipment, tactics, feats, and powers known with that in mind.

[dna1]

Wow thanks for the help guys. Great info, Im going to try and crank this bad boy out tonight. What stat array should I go with for a PW?

edit: sry for the delay phae!

[phaedrusxy]

Wow thanks for the help guys. Great info, Im going to try and crank this bad boy out tonight. What stat array should I go with for a PW?

edit: sry for the delay phae!

No problem, man. I have been kind of grappling with where to go with this game, anyway... Don't worry though. I'll come up with something. I really like the idea of the gameworld/game. Just trying to figure out what to do with it. 

[awaken_D_M_golem]

You can heal psionic virginity ... ... with a Bend Reality.

[Lycanthromancer]

What stat array should I go with for a PW?

I tend to focus on Con and Wis, followed up by Str, with a bit of Int and Dex, using powers to enhance my scores as I go along (see: the Strength of My Enemy power). Only bother with Cha if your build has some use for it, such as with Metamorphosis and the Metamorphic Transfer feat (for supernatural abilities).

Do yourself a favor and find some +1 manifester arrows ASAP (that grant +5 pp apiece each day, for cheap), assuming they're allowed. They're not for firing, but for use as a separate pp pool. That, and go for manifester level boosters, when possible.

[dna1]

K guys, I have some builds worked out here. First is two of the Minotaur's from dragonlance. Next are some Elan builds since they seem to be made for the PW. I did what my friend and I ended up calling a ThinkTank build. Where they use PP's to soak dmg etc.
Although these are only 32pt buy not 36 so some minor stat tweaking will be made.
Thoughts?

(click to show/hide)

Minotaur psychic warrior 3 (ranged)
HP 3d8+12
PP 7
str 14
dex 14
con 14
int 10
wis 16
cha 6
fort 5
reflex 3
will 4
gore attack +4 (1d6+2 or 2d6+3 on charge)
+2 natural armor
Feats: point blank shot, psionic body, up the walls, psionic shot
Skills: climb 3 ranks, concentration 6 ranks, jump 3 ranks
Powers: extend range, prevenom weapon, skate

Minotaur psychic warrior 3 (melee)
HP 3d8+15
PP 7
str 18
dex 12
con 16
int 8
wis 16
cha 6
fort 6
reflex 4
will 4
gore attack +6 (1d6+4 or 2d6+6 on charge)
+2 natural armor
Feats: lightning reflexes, psionic body, combat manifestation, psionic weapon
Skills: concentration 6 ranks
Powers: biofeedback, call armor, vigor

Elan psychic warrior 3 (think tank, good aligned melee)
HP 3d8+3
PP 9
str 14
dex 12
con 12
int 10
wis 18
cha 6
fort 4
reflex 2
will 5
Feats: enhanced elan resilience, enhanced elan resistance, psionic weapon, intuitive attack
Skills: concentration 6 ranks, listen 1 rank, spot 2 ranks
Powers: biofeedback, synesthete, vigor

Elan psychic warrior 3 (think tank, melee)
HP 3d8+3
PP 7
str 16
dex 12
con 14
int 10
wis 16
cha 6
fort 4
reflex 2
will 5
Feats: enhanced elan resilience, enhanced elan resistance, combat manifestation, psionic weapon
Skills: concentration 6 ranks, listen 1 rank, spot 2 ranks
Powers: biofeedback, synesthete, vigor

Elan psychic warrior 3 (think tank, ranged)
HP 3d8+3
PP 9
str 12
dex 14
con 12
int 10
wis 18
cha 6
fort 4
reflex 3
will 5
Feats: enhanced elan resilience, enhanced elan resistance, zen archery, point blank shot
Skills: concentration 6 ranks, spot 3 ranks
Powers: extend range, prevenom weapon, skate

[phaedrusxy]

Will look over your builds more carefully later, but IMO the kalashtar is the race that's "built to be a psi-warrior". The biggest handicap of the class is the low amount of power points, so the 1 power point per level really helps out.

Another strategy which seems insane at 1st, but actually can work pretty well, is taking Psionic Body and then Psionic Talent with most/all of the rest of your feats. You wind up with a lot more power points than typical, and quite a few extra hit points as well.

The best "think tank" (IMO) is using Vigor in combination with a psicrystal and Share Pain. You use Share Pain to send half your damage to the psicrystal. Then you "share" a Vigor with it. This effectively results in you gaining 10 temporary hit points per power point invested into Vigor (minus the 3 points spent on Share Pain). With a Linked Power setup, you can even refresh those hit points every round, making it incredibly hard to drop you via hit point damage (kind of like a Crusader with Stone Power, but you are limited by power points; however you can soak a lot more damage per round).

Using my houserule about other classes adding half advancement, I'd seriously advocate considering something like an ardent/psiwarrior multiclass, instead of just straight psiwarrior. Unlike with spellcasting classes, your power points from one class can be used for powers from the other. So adding some ardent levels can boost the power points available for psiwarrior powers by quite a bit. It also lets you pick up some powers that would be otherwise difficult.

Of course... once you start thinking about adding ardent levels at all, the temptation will be to replace most of your psiwarrior levels with them. Then you wind up with something like this. That build would work even better in my game, due to the "half-progression" house rule.

[Lycanthromancer]

Another strategy which seems insane at 1st, but actually can work pretty well, is taking Psionic Body and then Psionic Talent with most/all of the rest of your feats. You wind up with a lot more power points than typical, and quite a few extra hit points as well.

That's good for stamina, but it kills your power and flexibility, which is why I never do it.

[littha]

Is there a particular reason to be using psiwarrior rather than ardent?

[Lycanthromancer]

Is there a particular reason to be using psiwarrior rather than ardent?

Ardents get a worse power list (and only one additional power), restricted list access, and get no actual class features beyond their mantles (which are more 'you suck' than anything else).

[littha]

Worse power list than psychic warrior? how do they manage that considering they have about 90% of the Psychic warriors powers plus a pile of Dicipline only psion ones and a couple unique ones.

The argument against the mantles is rather like trying to say the same of a cleric's domains too.

Restricted list access is their thing of course but eventually a single classed ardent will have 6 mantles and thus about 66 powers to choose from which is about half of a psychic warriors (it totals slightly more than all the first and second level Psiwarrior powers in the SRD) selection but then you usually take account what powers you actually want to take when picking mantles in the first place so the range is actually larger than that.
Admittedly however most ardents wont get more than 4 mantles as they will want to multiclass out at 5 or take Dominant Ideal at 10.

Basically in exchange for bonus feats you gain a pile more pp and faster power progression. For example, an ardent can manifest Psychofeedback at level 9 but it takes the psychic warrior until level 13.

This is without mentioning that ardents get 9th level powers...

[Lycanthromancer]

Worse power list than psychic warrior? how do they manage that considering they have about 90% of the Psychic warriors powers plus a pile of Dicipline only psion ones and a couple unique ones.

The argument against the mantles is rather like trying to say the same of a cleric's domains too.

Restricted list access is their thing of course but eventually a single classed ardent will have 6 mantles and thus about 66 powers to choose from which is about half of a psychic warriors (it totals slightly more than all the first and second level Psiwarrior powers in the SRD) selection but then you usually take account what powers you actually want to take when picking mantles in the first place so the range is actually larger than that.
Admittedly however most ardents wont get more than 4 mantles as they will want to multiclass out at 5 or take Dominant Ideal at 10.

Basically in exchange for bonus feats you gain a pile more pp and faster power progression. For example, an ardent can manifest Psychofeedback at level 9 but it takes the psychic warrior until level 13.

This is without mentioning that ardents get 9th level powers...

Have you looked at the mantles available to ardents? I found like 3 that I'd EVER bother taking, and even then only a few powers from each.

Yeah it has some of the psywar powers, but they're generally the worst ones.

Unless you can make your own mantles, I wouldn't bother.

I'd rather have more feats than more pp any day.