Author Topic: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4  (Read 4836 times)

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Nemo

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[Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« on: January 06, 2011, 11:02:31 AM »
So, finally I am able to play DnD game. Our GM is fan of Pathfinder, but he also is going for full compatibility Which means that if I understand correctly, as long as I don't go for non magical classes, I'm ok?
Anyway. At first, I was going to play that Pathfindery Artificer, but as my gm is also a big fan of psionics, he bought Psionics Unleashed and is really happy about me playing psionic, which with I'm really ok, because I also love psi (well, he likes it for telepathy mostly, I for Astral Constructs  :p).

We start at level 4. Everything from 3.5 and most of 3rd party is avaiable. Don't know how much levels we will gain, but GM is promising heroic campaign with lots and lots of levels. Can take one flaw. 2 traits. 5400 gold. Still, I'm not really sure what to play.
I'm considering Elan for a race, because I can take that juicy aberrant manifesting from Untapped Potential, which is simply awesome.
But I'm not sure what path should I take. I'm thinking about playing Shaper3\[Beguiler or Warmage or Summoner]1\Cerebremancer x, but thanks to fact that I can't take both Midnight Augumentation and Psionic Meditation is pretty annoying. Well, maybe I should Chaos Feat Shuffle some of weapon proficiencies into one of them? Because If I want to take Cerebremancer next level, I need that freakin Versatile Spellcaster. I can take Midnight Augumentation next level, sure, but its quite annoying to not use it from beginning.

I was also considering going straight shaper and entering either Astral Zealot, or Phenotype Impressionist. Anyone played with them? Anyone knows how good they fare in actual play? I always loved idea of Impressionist.
Also, http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7686.0 made me quite curious. I imagine that Elan Diamond Heart Ardent might become quite tanky (especially if somehow I can Midnight Augument Psionic Agression  :p), but...
1.) How do I shot web with Ardent?
2.) They converted Soulknife instead of Ardent, which is lol wut wtf bbq. Any idea how Pathfinder-Upgraded Ardent would look like?

http://dsp-d20-srd.wikidot.com/formbound-spiritist also looks not that bad, but Shaper is probably better. Not sure how to pathfinder-upgrade it.


As for team.
I have no idea. One guy is unoptimized human rogue, one guy is Human Marshal 1\Summoner3 with Art of War, and one guy is probably making something either cleric or fighter oriented. I can influence only Summoner guy, others wont listen to me, wahaha.
As you see, we will probably fight mostly with summons.

carnivore

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2011, 11:16:15 AM »
try this:

Silverbrow Human
Beguiler 1/ Ardent 2/ Cerebremancer 1

Feats:
Versatile Spellcaster(Flaw)
Practiced Caster (Beguiler)(Human)
Practiced Manifetser(Ardent)
Knowledge Devotion

 :D
« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 02:07:11 PM by carnivore »

Lycanthromancer

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2011, 12:20:21 PM »
So, finally I am able to play DnD game. Our GM is fan of Pathfinder, but he also is going for full compatibility Which means that if I understand correctly, as long as I don't go for non magical classes, I'm ok?
Anyway. At first, I was going to play that Pathfindery Artificer, but as my gm is also a big fan of psionics, he bought Psionics Unleashed and is really happy about me playing psionic, which with I'm really ok, because I also love psi (well, he likes it for telepathy mostly, I for Astral Constructs  :p).

We start at level 4. Everything from 3.5 and most of 3rd party is avaiable. Don't know how much levels we will gain, but GM is promising heroic campaign with lots and lots of levels. Can take one flaw. 2 traits. 5400 gold. Still, I'm not really sure what to play.
I'm considering Elan for a race, because I can take that juicy aberrant manifesting from Untapped Potential, which is simply awesome.
But I'm not sure what path should I take. I'm thinking about playing Shaper3\[Beguiler or Warmage or Summoner]1\Cerebremancer x, but thanks to fact that I can't take both Midnight Augumentation and Psionic Meditation is pretty annoying. Well, maybe I should Chaos Feat Shuffle some of weapon proficiencies into one of them? Because If I want to take Cerebremancer next level, I need that freakin Versatile Spellcaster. I can take Midnight Augumentation next level, sure, but its quite annoying to not use it from beginning.

I was also considering going straight shaper and entering either Astral Zealot, or Phenotype Impressionist. Anyone played with them? Anyone knows how good they fare in actual play? I always loved idea of Impressionist.
Also, http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7686.0 made me quite curious. I imagine that Elan Diamond Heart Ardent might become quite tanky (especially if somehow I can Midnight Augument Psionic Agression  :p), but...
1.) How do I shot web with Ardent?
2.) They converted Soulknife instead of Ardent, which is lol wut wtf bbq. Any idea how Pathfinder-Upgraded Ardent would look like?

http://dsp-d20-srd.wikidot.com/formbound-spiritist also looks not that bad, but Shaper is probably better. Not sure how to pathfinder-upgrade it.


As for team.
I have no idea. One guy is unoptimized human rogue, one guy is Human Marshal 1\Summoner3 with Art of War, and one guy is probably making something either cleric or fighter oriented. I can influence only Summoner guy, others wont listen to me, wahaha.
As you see, we will probably fight mostly with summons.
How about a shaper 4, heading toward 2 levels of totemist then soul manifester?

Psionics and incarnum work SO WELL together. Use those psi powers in the back of MoI, and play yourself up as an escaped illithid experiment (Good-aligned, but Chaotic-crazy too).
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
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+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Nemo

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2011, 04:48:33 PM »
Thanks for feedback!
Ardent build surely looks cool, but problem is, I don't think he will let me take practiced manifester at first level, when I don't have any manifesting class yet.
Soul Manifester looks interesting, but I never played Incarnum before (only used some juicy feats), but I could give it a try. As long as I can still be pretty loli psionic princess while using my soul melds  :lol Tentacles, for example...
But I think I would stay in Shaper at least one level longer. Why? Free quickened constructs.
So, what do you guys suggest? Pathfinder Shaper basically has free Boost Construct that stacks with Boost Construct, as long as you are focused while manifesting power (so its not going to work with Midnight Construct, isnt it?). Hmm...Soulshaper route lets me manifest while being pretty tanky thanks to elan abilities, does it?

EDIT
I phrased it wrong. Tentacles *are* in aesthetics that fits.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 05:00:10 PM by Nemo »

carnivore

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2011, 05:38:20 PM »
then just adjust like this:

Silverbrow Human
Beguiler 1/ Ardent 2/ Cerebremancer 1

Feats:
Versatile Spellcaster(Flaw)
Practiced Caster (Beguiler)(Human)
1st lvl: Improved Initiative
3rd lvl: Practiced Manifester(Ardent)

still works fine

 :D

Lycanthromancer

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2011, 07:32:45 PM »
Thanks for feedback!
Ardent build surely looks cool, but problem is, I don't think he will let me take practiced manifester at first level, when I don't have any manifesting class yet.
Soul Manifester looks interesting, but I never played Incarnum before (only used some juicy feats), but I could give it a try. As long as I can still be pretty loli psionic princess while using my soul melds  :lol Tentacles, for example...
But I think I would stay in Shaper at least one level longer. Why? Free quickened constructs.
So, what do you guys suggest? Pathfinder Shaper basically has free Boost Construct that stacks with Boost Construct, as long as you are focused while manifesting power (so its not going to work with Midnight Construct, isnt it?). Hmm...Soulshaper route lets me manifest while being pretty tanky thanks to elan abilities, does it?

EDIT
I phrased it wrong. Tentacles *are* in aesthetics that fits.
You don't technically need tentacles. Just ghostly psychic appendages that overlay your normal body.

And have you considered shaper 5/3.5 constructor 9, followed by some other constructing classes? Note that there's a feat (in FR, I think) that lets you get an extra skill rank, so you won't need 6 levels of shaper. You can psiref it out later once you have more ranks in your Craft skill.

Shaper/constructors are insanely fun.
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Nemo

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2011, 08:42:03 PM »
So Ardent indeed is possible. Still, isn't it making me little mad? Will think about it. Can end pretty cute, if I go zen archery route and start gatling gunning dissolving crossbow bolts.

As I said, I phrased it wrong, I like tentacles, but some if I remember correctly, most of totemist's visual effects are not fitting image of character I want to play this time. Because usually, Im all for abominational body horrors as protagonists  :p
For Shaper. We are playing in Faerun and that skillpoint feat makes me really curious, it might help a lot! Constructor...not sure if I want. Normally, without access to Untapped Potentia\Hyperconcious I would take it without second thought, but Astral Zealot also gives me upgrades for constructs, and ectosuit looks really nice, at worst is free flying or fast healing. Phenotype Impressionist...having gargantuan 38hd x-headed hydra constructs with menu abilities sounds pretty inspiring. But that after gaining all levels of it, before it, other options looks better. Dammit, I'm too indecisive.

veekie

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2011, 10:32:41 AM »
As I said, I phrased it wrong, I like tentacles, but some if I remember correctly, most of totemist's visual effects are not fitting image of character I want to play this time. Because usually, Im all for abominational body horrors as protagonists  :p
Actually, now that I look at it, a lot of the soulmelds actually look rather pimpin. The Incarnate ones are pretty great for magical princesses. Heh.
Magical catdoggirl with Blink Shirt. Displacer Cloak and Phase Cloak isn't bad either when you're not fusing it to totem, it's visually quite nice. Great Raptor Mask, Heart of Fire, Hunter's Circlet. Kruthik Claws, Lammasu Mantle, Manticore Belt, Pegasus Cloak, Rageclaws, Shadow Mantle and Shedu Crown can be made to visually work.
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Nemo

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Re: [Pathfinder] Psionic Character for new campaign, lvl 4
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2011, 03:31:03 PM »
After presenting cute tentacled psionic dog girl to my GM, he said that I should go Super Constructs Route instead. Damn, and I began to like the concept. ;P
While he gives me ok for cerebremancer shaenigans, he is still pressing me to go WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE CONSTRUCTS instead, so I will stick to it.
But I'm probably going to play Totemist Egoist in next game  :D. For now, I think that I should decide on my prc. Or prcs. Wahaha.
Options I'm considering now are:
1.) Astral Zealot. Can get as quickly as Shaper5\AZ1. Gives me KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU, ability to give myself construct menu choices (levels 4, 6, 8) stackable boost construct (lvl3). Loses manifester level on 1 and 10, but I don't think staying for 10 levels is worth it.
2.) Phenotype Impressionist. Can get as quickly as Shaper7\PI1. 3/5 manifesting class, lose level on 1st and last level. Ability to polymorph constructs, ability to manifest "self only" powers on them without actually knowing them, and on last level, ability to fuse them for massive goodness.
3.) Constructor.
GM says that campaign should last for at least 12 more levels. What PRC should I pick? Or maybe I should mix two of them? I don't really care about lost manifesters levels, because AConstructs are going to be my main tool anyway.

My biggest problem with both AZ and PI is fact, that I need to wait at least 4 or 5 levels to get anything really shiny. Greatest offender here by far is Impresionist, who is really end loaded. I mean, right, I gain abilities on every level, but practically all of them gain huge boost at level 5.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 03:58:56 PM by Nemo »