Here's my objective: I want to build a character that functions as the party toolbox without overshadowing the other players and without spreading myself too thin. I've been itching to play a Shaper Psion for awhile, and the class and discipline seem to fit the first part of the objective. What I need help with is balancing the last two parts.
The campaign in which this character will be taking part will have two other PCs. The first is a Gnome Rogue/Cleric and the second is a Dwarf Fighter. An experienced player, but one who is hostile to optimization, is playing the Rogue/Cleric. The Fighter is being played by someone who is relatively new to gaming and who has poor math skills. I'm actually designing the character for him so he can worry less about the next time he has to add numbers together and focus more on getting into the role and having fun. The intent is to ease him into the game.
In any event, the DM hasn't put any explicit limits on books, but she has stated her preference that we try to stick Core and SRD-based material. I'm going to stick with her preferences at least initially. She's indicated that the campaign will start at level 1. As a DM she's not too familiar with how psionics works and I don't want to overwhelm her. Also, she is likewise somewhat hostile to optimization. Therefore, as far as an overall build goes, I'm thinking 20 levels of pure Psion is probably best. I've poured over the various guides,
especially this one, but I'm still left with the feeling that there may be better choices out there.
This is the build I've worked out so far:
[spoiler]
Gray Elf Psion (Shaper) 20Stats:Str 12
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 20 (all ability score increases will be added here)
Wis 14
Cha 14
Feats:Level 1: Psicrystal Affinity, Boost Construct (psion bonus)
Level 3: Craft Universal Item
Level 5: Scribe Tattoo (psion bonus)
Level 6: Craft Dorje
Level 9: EK: Metamorphosis
Level 10: Metamorphic Transfer (psion bonus)
Level 12: Extend Power
Level 15: Craft Psionic Arms and Armor, Split Psionic Ray (psion bonus)
Level 18: EK: Schism
Level 20: Psionic Meditation
Skills:This is, honestly, where I'm having the greatest difficulty. I get a good helping of skill points a level, but I'm not sure if it's best to spread them out or to focus on a select few. As a Shaper, I'd get a lot of mileage out of Craft skills, but I really don't know what Craft skills are most useful. Any suggestions here would be VERY appreciated.
In general, though, I plan to max out Concentration, Knowledge (Psionics) and Psicraft. Also, I plan to put at least 1 point in every other Knowledge skill.
Powers:(> denotes a power swapped using Psychic Reformation)
Level 1: Minor Creation, Vigor, Astral Construct
Level 2: Inertial Armor, Entangling Ectoplasm
Level 3: Levitate > Detect Hostile Intent, Ego Whip > Defensive Precognition
Level 4: Energy Stun > Tongues, Share Pain
Level 5: Dispel Psionics, Time Hop > Telekinetic Thrust
Level 6: Concussion Blast > Energy Wall, Identify > Touchsight
Level 7: Wall of Ectoplasm, Intellect Fortress
Level 8: Fabricate > Mental Barrier, Divination
Level 9: Hail of Crystals, Major Creation
Level 10: Plane Shift, True Seeing
Level 11: Temporal Acceleration
Level 12: Greater Fabricate, Disintegrate
Level 13: Personal Mind Blank
Level 14: Energy Conversion, Mass Ectoplasmic Cocoon
Level 15: Bend Reality
Level 16: Astral Seed > Greater Teleport, True Metabolism
Level 17: Assimilate
Level 18: Genesis, Reality Revision
Level 19: Affinity Field
Level 20: True Creation, Recall Death
[/spoiler]
So, aside from the question about Skills that I ask in the Spoiler content, here are a few other specifics. Do the Feats look good for the objective I've set out or am I dabbling too widely? Ditto for the powers; how do they stack up? Please note that I don't want to overuse Psychic Reformation since the DM, as I mentioned, has some anti-optimization tendencies. Finally, would I gain or lose utility if I chose to go Ranger 2/Psion 8/Slayer 10, instead? That build has the stamp of approval from many different sources, but I don't know if it would actually be a superior choice.