Author Topic: Help Me Make a Utility Psion  (Read 3682 times)

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Saeomon

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Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« on: June 04, 2010, 08:32:02 PM »
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) 20

Stats:
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.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 06:36:38 PM by Saeomon »

Phoenix00

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2010, 09:13:55 PM »
You need Linked Power as your level 9, 10, or 12th level feat, (you want this after level 8 when you gain fabricate).

With Linked Power your normal psionic manifesting is reduced to the next round, thus you use Linked Power to manifest fabricate and then think like you are full metal alchemist.  In the woods, well you just created a wooded cage that appeared 1 round later.

Remember you can simulate these skills with fabricate as long as you make the appoperiate craft check
Basketweaving
Blacksmithing
Carpentry
Poisonmaking
Pottery
Sculpture
Stonecarving
Stonemasonry
Trap Making
Weaponsmithing
Woodcarving

----------

I am unsure you want to do it with the cleric/rogue and the DM but synchronicityis very good and it doesn't have to get abusive.

You need Schism

snakeman830

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2010, 10:16:47 PM »
I would recommend getting Quintessence as well, either via Expanded Knowledge or by researching it.  You can apply that to items you create via Minor/Major Creation to effectively make them permanant (note: only a good idea on small items).
I am constantly amazed by how many DM's ban Tomb of Battle.  The book doesn't even exist!

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Lycanthromancer

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2010, 05:26:53 PM »
You're doing pretty well, but watch how you use astral construct and psionic minor creation. They're incredibly versatile, and with versatility comes power.

You also should rethink swapping out time hop. It's only initially a semi-offensive power; it's much more useful as a defensive power (manifest it on an ally when they need to disappear for a few rounds, such as when knocked unconscious or stunned), and as a utility and indirectly-offensive power (hop out traps, doors, treasure chests, and other things that are in the way, as well as that mounted lancer's low-Wis mount, the chain links holding up that 2000 lb human-bone chandelier hanging over the dread necromancer's head, and the brackets holding the bridge up beneath the raging horde of barbarians); it's incredibly useful.
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shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
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Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2010, 06:14:11 PM »
You're doing pretty well, but watch how you use astral construct and psionic minor creation. They're incredibly versatile, and with versatility comes power.

Yeah, I'm gonna try not to overdo it. I've already told the DM that I want to be the party toolbox and she thinks that's a cool idea. At the same time I think I'm gonna avoid going into Constructor for the AC power boost or Crystal Master for the poison immunity + psionic minor creation + poison bath route until such time as she's a little more used to psionics and I'm convinced that I won't overshadow the rest of the party.

You also should rethink swapping out time hop....

Oh, that's a planned HIGH level swap. Only after I get disintegrate, and even then I'll probably hold on to time hop until close to Epic.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Item Creation feats in my build? Should I pick just one or two instead of four? Ultimately I'll have to talk to the DM about how she plans to pace the campaign. No free time for the PCs makes Item Creation feats worthless. Ditto for any researched powers I might wish to take instead of the ones I've planned out....
« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 06:18:59 PM by Saeomon »

veekie

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2010, 07:01:08 PM »
Other fun things you can do with the Hop, if your opponent is an idiot and assumes you teleported, you've bought some time while he goes hunting/relaxes and then you enter from the past ready to prod buttock.
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Lycanthromancer

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2010, 07:16:42 PM »
The earlier you get Linked Power the better. It won't be useful before level 2, however, unless you also manage to get Overchannel (and you'd better get Talented if you don't want to knock yourself unconscious and dying every time). Psionic minor creation and astral construct both are usable with it and it makes for a great PseudoQuicken (in some ways better than the real thing).
[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.
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Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
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shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2010, 11:14:15 PM »
I'll see if she'll allow Linked Power. I've been hesitant to bring in CPsi material for fear that she'll ask to see the book, will notice that it nerfs AC and will insist on using the nerf in her campaign.

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2010, 11:30:48 PM »
You could just get an excerpt, and not give her access to the book. :p



« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 11:32:38 PM by Lycanthromancer »
[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]

Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2010, 12:42:06 AM »
You could just get an excerpt, and not give her access to the book. :p

Thank you. :) I'd been looking around for one but had given up.

If I lose the Item Creation feats I can make this my feat progression:

[spoiler]
Level 1: Psicrystal Affinity, Boost Construct (psion bonus)
Level 3: Linked Power
Level 5: Psionic Meditation (psion bonus)
Level 6: Extend Power
Level 9: EK: Metamorphosis
Level 10: Metamorphic Transfer (psion bonus)
Level 12: EK: Schism
Level 15: Psicrystal Containment, Split Psionic Ray (psion bonus)
Level 18: Open
Level 20: Open[/spoiler]

Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2010, 11:43:22 AM »
Alternate progression:

[spoiler]Psion 6/Anarchic Initiate 3/Psionic Mindbender 1/Crystal Master 10
(Psion 1-5/Anarchic Initiate 1-3/Psionic Mindbender 1/Psion 6/Crystal Master 1-10)

Key class features:
Wild Surge +1
Chaotic Surge
Telepathy 100'
5 embeded shards (ones definitely to take: poison immunity, Touchsight while focused, bonus to AC and Saves, and bonus to Intelligence)
16 levels that count toward Psicrystal special abilities
9th level powers
Saves = +6/+6/+17

Feats to take:
Mindsight
Linked power
Boost Construct
Metamorphic Transfer

Pros to this build:
18/20 ML
Versatile
Can act as an early warning system with no Listen/Spot check required
Very good blasting capability if needed

Cons to this build:
Requires obscure reference material
Requires DM approval to adapt Mindbender to psionics, even though Complete Arcane suggests that is a possible adaptation[/spoiler]

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #11 on: June 23, 2010, 11:52:43 AM »
There are really, really big advantages to going with a warforged for a shaper. For one, you can efficiently heal yourself and your psicrystal via Psionic Repair Damage (and get double benefits when you manifest it on yourself and share it with the psicrystal). Secondly, you're immune to poison, which you can create by the bucketful with Psionic Minor Creation. Thirdly, you can take the adamantine body feat for plate mail that you don't take non-proficiency penalties for.

I have built and played several low to mid level warforged shapers, and have made several threads and posts on them. Here are links to a couple, if you're interested.
[spoiler]
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Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2010, 12:09:40 PM »
There are really, really big advantages to going with a warforged for a shaper.

Alas, the DM says no Warforged. She said, and I quote, "This isn't Eberron," adding that Warforged, as a race, require a lot of adaptations to a non-Ebberon world in order to fit them in.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2010, 12:12:32 PM »
There are really, really big advantages to going with a warforged for a shaper.

Alas, the DM says no Warforged. She said, and I quote, "This isn't Eberron," adding that Warforged, as a race, require a lot of adaptations to a non-Ebberon world in order to fit them in.
Not really. They're intelligent golems. Golems are in pretty much every D&D world. I've played them in non-Eberron worlds plenty of times. Sometimes the DM treated them as unique creations. Other times they made up story elements to support larger numbers of them. They're also in one of the monster manuals (MM3, I think). So you don't really need Eberron books at all to play them.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Agita

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2010, 12:13:30 PM »
There are really, really big advantages to going with a warforged for a shaper.

Alas, the DM says no Warforged. She said, and I quote, "This isn't Eberron," adding that Warforged, as a race, require a lot of adaptations to a non-Ebberon world in order to fit them in.
Point out the existence of iron golems? The entire extent of adaptations Warforged require is "The elemental spirit bound to this one golem has a greater degree of control over the mechanical body, making it sentient and free-willed, but also exposing the spirit itself to attacks that other golems are immune to" or something similar.
And yes, they and most relevant racial feats were reprinted in MM 3, making them practically free for all settings.
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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #15 on: June 23, 2010, 12:14:06 PM »
Aren't Warforged in the MM III?

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Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2010, 12:29:08 PM »
I'll bring all this up. Maybe she'll change her mind.

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2010, 12:29:33 PM »
Aren't Warforged in the MM III?
They are, as are shifters and changlings. So warforged are setting neutral.

Saeomon

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #18 on: July 07, 2010, 12:10:26 AM »
DM says the following:

No Warforged.
1 flaw.
No selecting traits (she may have us roll randomly).
As per CPsi, Metacreativity powers like Crystal Shard are subject to DR, other than DR/magic.  :(
Unlike CPsi, I can have more than one Astral Construct in existence at a time.  :D She says to use 1/caster level as a rule of thumb, which I think is reasonable.
Transparency is *MOSTLY* in effect. She says there may be some differences, but that's for her to know.

Any advice from here?

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Help Me Make a Utility Psion
« Reply #19 on: July 07, 2010, 12:33:43 AM »
Don't take warforged?
[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]