In all the many, many threads about 3.5 Psionics, I've never seen one specifically devoted to the optimal use of the Psionic Focus. This is an attempt at doing just that.
This thread is centered on designing a character that will get the most out of its Psionic Focus. The ideas presented here may not be the strongest. The goal is simply to discuss a strategy for optimizing a specific feature that is universal to all Psionic characters.
Psionic Focus? What's That?
Every creature with the [Psionic] subtype is capable of becoming Psionically Focused. Taking a level in a Psionic class is the most common way for a PC to gain the [Psionic] subtype, though there are other options.
What benefit does this provide Psionic creatures compared to their non-Psionic peers? By default, there is only one thing a Psionic creature can do with its Psionic Focus: it can expend the focus in conjunction with a Concentration check. I'll cover what expending focus means, below. Expending the focus in this way lets the creature "Take 15" on that check. In other words, it can act as if it rolled a 15 on the check.
Overall, this is a rather small benefit. There is also an indirect drawback to being able to become Psionically Focused: by default, it requires a full-round action combined with a DC 20 Concentration check to become focused. Doing so provokes an attack of opportunity.
Analyzing cost vs. benefit, if the "Take 15" option was the only thing a Psionic creature could do with its focus then the ability would hardly ever come up in play.
But that is not the only thing a Psionic creature can do with its focus. As any player interested in Psionics quickly learns, the Psionic Focus is an integral part of the system, because the focus is a key component to activating many Psionic feats and even some class abilities.
Why Optimize for Psionic Focus?
It is possible to build a Psionic character who never bothers with its Psionic Focus. To overlook the ability is a shame, however. As mentioned, the ability to become Psionically Focused is a trait shared by ALL Psionic creatures. You get the ability for free. To never use it would be like never using your character's off hand to do anything.
Since you have the ability, you will want to get the most bang for your buck. So let's look at how to do that.
The Three Psionic Focus "States" and the Three Flavors of Psionic Focus-Related Feats
A Psionic creature will always be in one of the following states of being:
1) Psionically Focused, i.e. capable of using its focus for some purpose
2) Unfocused, i.e. uncapable of using its focus at all
3) In the process of becoming Psionically Focused, i.e. spending an action to make the check to become focused
Many feats specific to Psionic characters involve one or more of these three states of being. They come in three flavors:
1) Feats that require the creature to maintain its focus to receive a benefit
2) Feats that require the creature to expend its focus, i.e. go from focused to unfocused, to receive a benefit
3) Feats that require the creature to gain its focus, i.e. go from unfocused to focused, to receive a benefit
Most Psionic Focus-related feats fall into the 2nd category. This category includes all Metapsionic feats. Comparatively, the first category of focus-related feats is smaller and the benefits of the feats not as flashy.
The third category of focus-related feats really only includes a single feat, but that feat is key to any build that wants to get the most out of its Psionic Focus.
How to Optimize a Character's Psionic Focus
In a nutshell, to optimize a character's Psionic Focus means to maximize the amount of time that character is focused and minimize the time that character is unfocused.
Ideally, a character built to optimize its Psionic Focus would have at least one feat from each of the three categories referenced above. In practice, however, most Psionic builds will forgo the first category entirely. While I wouldn't call this a mistake, per se, it does mean the Psionic Focus aspect of one's character is not optimal.
Here's why: except in a set of very limited circumstances, most Psionic characters will only ever have one Psionic Focus. This means that all of those feats that fall into the second category listed above can only be used one at a time. The Psionic Focus, though it gives a character options, also limits the character in the use of those options.
Therefore, any character who wants to get the most out of its Psionic Focus will ideally have at least one of each of the following kinds of feats:
1) A feat that requires the character to maintain focus, but which doesn't hamstring the character when the character expends its focus
2) A focus expenditure feat that the character can and will want to use frequently
3) A focus expenditure feat that the character can make use of infrequently, but which provides a substantial benefit
4) A feat that minimizes the amount of time that the character is unfocused
So now let's turn to the real meat of this discussion:
Feat Selection for Psionic Focus Optimization
Relying on the four categories of feats that I've laid out in the preceding section, let's explore choices for a Psionic Focus-optimized character.
Feats that Require the Maintenance of Focus
As noted above, these feats are weaker than their focus-expenditure-requiring counterparts. Nevertheless, there are some very interesting and useful feats to be had, here.
From the Expanded Psionics Handbook we get the following: Ghost Attack, Psionic Dodge, Speed of Thought, and Up the Walls. Complete Psionic more than doubles that number: Deep Vision, Focused Shield, Focused Skill User, Gestalt Anchor, Mental Juggernaut, Psymbiot, Volatile Escalation, Volatile Leech, and Strength of Two. Last, but most definitely not least, there is Earth Power from Races of Stone.
Of all of these feats, Earth Power is far and away the strongest. There are two downsides to it, however. First, it has a sub-par prerequisite feat. Second, the benefit is so good that a character with this feat will be reluctant to ever expend its focus. To truly optimize a build with Earth Power requires two additional feats: Psionic Meditation and Psicrystal Containment. This is hard to pull off in most builds.
Out of the remainder, the real standouts are Speed of Thought, Up the Walls, and Mental Juggernaut. Each of these feats provides a fair benefit to any Psionic character, but not so much so that the player will never want to expend focus. In my opinion, Mental Juggernaut is the strongest choice out of the three, because it provides a benefit even when your character is unfocused, plus it comes with a bonus focus expenditure option that lets you completely avoid two very nasty status effects. The feat can benefit any build. On the other hand, a melee-focused Psionic character will likely get the most benefit out of Speed of Thought.
Best Choices: Mental Juggernaut, Speed of Thought, Up the Walls
Frequent-Use Focus Expenditure Feats
Basically, what you're looking for here is a reason to pop off you Psionic Focus every chance you get. A feat of this type should not have any additional costs, such as requiring additional Power Points. Ideally, it should help PRESERVE Power Points.
Aligned Attack, Enlarge Power, Fell Shot, Power Specialization, Psionic Endowment, Psionic Fist, Psionic Shot, Psionic Weapon, and Wounding Attack from the Expanded Psionics Handbook all fall into this category. From Complete Psionic we get a few more choices: Link Power, Transdimensional Power, and, in a roundabout way, Metapower.
Out of the above, the following feats are all very similar: Aligned Attack, Power Specialization, and Psionic Fist/Shot/Weapon. Each deals additional direct damage. A melee build will want to take Psionic Weapon and never look back. For non-melee types, the choice is a bit harder.
Psionic characters who attack from range and who are looking for a good default use for their Psionic Focus will find Aligned Attack, Power Specialization, and Psionic Shot attractive. Each comes with some troubling prerequisites, however. Psionic Shot has the highest damage potential out of the three, especially when combined with its Greater Psionic Shot counterpart, but it requires Point Blank Shot. Psionic characters that aren't also archers will get little use out of that prerequisite. Power Specialization takes the randomness out of the additional potential damage, but requires Weapon Focus: Ray and only works with powers, unlike the other two options, which also work with weapon attacks. Aligned Attack has a prerequisite of +5 Base Attack Bonus, but doesn't require any other feats.
Psionic Endowment takes the same idea but goes in a different direction, instead increasing the DC of any save when used. Making sure your powers actually take effect on their targets can help you save PP.
Interestingly, you get a few Metapsionic choices here. Enlarge Power is the only one from the XPH. It's probably only worthwhile if you have a lot of powers with a range of Close and your DM likes long-distance encounters. Link Power is an attractive choice. While it doesn't save on PP, it does help with the action economy. Transdimensional Power can do some interesting things, but it's probably not a feat you'd use all that frequently.
The Metapower feat is an intriguing, if more limited, option. Interesting applications include Empower Power, Extend Power, and Link Power.
Finally, there's Wounding Attack. Dealing a point of no-save Constitution damage every round is quite attractive, but the prerequisite of +8 BAB is a high bar to taking this feat.
Best Choices: Deciding which to choose is a toughie, and really comes down to personal preference. If you want to blast, either Aligned Attack, a Metapower Empower combined with a low-level power or the Psionic Shot feat tree are your best options. Only go down the latter road if you have the feats to spare. Psionic Endowment and Greater Psionic Endowment are frequently overlooked, probably because they only provide a +1 bonus, each. But consider them with a 3 PP Crystalstorm. That power has no Augmentation that aids its save DC, but the effect of a failed save is enormous. Link Power adds some interesting options, but you might find yourself burning through PP even more quickly. It's a very tough call.
Infrequent Use Focus Expenditure Feats
Here we're looking for a feat to keep in your character's back pocket. Something that you'll want to pull out when it really counts.
In this case, I'm inclined to say that the hands-down best all-around choice is Extend Power. It is useful in ANY build. It can help save PP by making your buffs last for more than one encounter, and during an encounter that you know will last for quite some time, this can help with those short-term buffs or multi-round effects to ensure that they don't end prematurely.
Feats That Help You Get/Stay Focused
Again, this is a pretty easy choice, as the best two options are in Core. Those options are Psionic Meditation and Psicrystal Containment. Psionic Meditation, which reduces the time it takes for a Psionic character to gain focus from a full-round action to a move-equivalent action, is such a great feat that it's considered by many to be mandatory for any Psionic character. Psicrystal Containment is also a great feat. It is the only way to gain a second Psionic Focus, or at least the only way that has been published in a book. Combined with Psionic Meditation, your character may never be unfocused ever again.
Putting it All Together
So, what should a character that is optimized for its Psionic Focus look like? In my opinion, there are a few key options here, all of which combine the goals spelled out in the preceding sections. As I stated in the opening section, these aren't the strongest options available, but rather some of the better options for a build based around using its Psionic Focus to the fullest extent.
That being said, here are a few "builds."
The Melee-er
Feats: Speed of Thought, Psionic Weapon, Extend Power, Psionic Meditation
Analysis: Speed of Thought lets the character close to melee range more quickly, and is certainly a boon to any build that uses Medium or Heavy Armor. Psionic Weapon helps the character bring the pain, and is even better if combined with the Greater version. Extended buffs make the character a powerhouse, and Psionic Meditation helps the character regain focus when there's a lull in the combat.
The Direct Blaster
Feats: Mental Juggernaut, Psionic Shot, Extend Power, Psionic Meditation
Analysis: Mental Juggernaut keeps the character up and running, while Psionic Shot helps the character deal adequate damage while preserving PP. For reference purposes, an Anarchic Initiate with Greater Psionic Shot could deal as much as 7d6+3 damage with an Energy Ray all for the cost of 1 PP and his/her focus. If the Anarchic Initiate uses Chaotic Surge, that could instead turn into either (1.5*3d6)+4d6+3 damage or 4d6+21 damage. All said, not too bad for a single PP and one's focus.
The Indirect Blaster/Battlefield Controller
Feats: Mental Juggernaut, Psionic Endowment, Extend Power, Psionic Meditation
Analysis: The concept is simple. Boost the save DCs of your powers and lock down foes, or hit them with Save-or-Die/Suck powers. Can make some low-level powers quite nasty. Again, consider an Anarchic Initiate with Greater Psionic Endowment and Crystalstorm. In the right circumstances, the damage done for just 3 PP could be as much as 5d4+1d4 Con, 1.5(5d4)+1.5(1d4 Con), 1.5(2d4)+1.5(1d4+1 Con), (20)+(4 Con) or (12)+(5 Con), all at a save DC of 12+Int Bonus+2.
The "Summoner"
Feats: Mental Juggernaut, Metapower Extend (Astral Construct), Extend Power, Psionic Meditation
Analysis: Tosses out its biggest, nastiest constructs to put the hurt on others.
Conclusion
The foregoing is perhaps more of an experiment with a concept than anything else. As I've said several times, the ideas presented here aren't the most powerful, but rather try to get the most out of a feature shared by all Psionic characters regardless of class. Most people, myself included, shy away from quite a few of the feats mentioned when building a typical character. Therefore, please consider this to be a suggestion that perhaps certain "underpowered" feats do have their place, if you think outside box a bit.
