Simple Psionic Trick

[Shadeseraph]

Looking at some metapsionic feats to get with a psywar I'm planning, I found two I liked in the Complete Psionic. I was wondering if someone has found this little trick using them, if it works, and if anyone knows if it's worth something in actual gameplay.

The trick isn't broken, but looks nice to me. The feats are Linked Power and Metapower.

The trick: According to my reading of linked power, the second power doesn't change the parameters of the first one, so any power chosen to be cast on the second turn would be casted as a... no-action, independently of the original casting time of the power. So, if you manifest, for example, a linked adrenaline boost + Claws of the Vampire, you would be manifesting both for 6 points as a swift action, with the condition of Claws of the vampire being effective on your next turn. Or you could manifest Psionic Grease and Psionic Identify for 3 pp in order to get the item identified ASAP.

The second works well with this. According to Linked Power, the cost from the second power is paid as a metapsionic cost, so you could use metapower to reduce it. So, if you get metapower (Adrenaline Boost) and Linked power, any power you manifest on yourself would be cast as a swift action and for 1 pp less than his original cost.

Not broken, I think, but this is the cheapest "unlimited" quicken i've found ever. That said, it costs 2 feats, and you have to find a 1st level power with a manifesting time of a swift action that targets your intended target. Nice for psychic warriors, who usually are starved for both PPs and actions, but not so much for feats.

Opinions?

[Ubernoob]

Hustle is a better option IMO because it grants a move action to regain focus with psionic meditation.

[Shadeseraph]

Hey, Adrenaline Boost was just an idea. That said, I agree on hustle. It would change the text on linked power to "For 3 extra power points (1 if you have Metapower), manifest any power you know which has you as a target as a swift action. You get the benefits of the power on your next round. This feat doesn't spend your psionic focus"

[Omen of Peace]

Yes, it's been known for a long time. Link Power one of the "broken" things in CPsi, not because it's overpowered (though it can be) but because of its weird unintended consequences - like the Identify trick you mention.
Unresolved questions involve whether you chain-link powers (the linked power links to another one - with Psicrystal Containment of course)... and some others I've forgotten. I'd actually recommend posting on the WotC Psionics board - most of the experts hang out there.

Note that you can combine it with Catfall (an otherwise terrible power) to get a really cheap "Psionic Celerity" effect... with only loss of focus - no daze.

[Shadeseraph]

I was sure that it should be known by now - CPsi has been on the shelves for a lot of time now.

That said, any PsyWar I build will have this trick. I don't think that anyone would disapprove if I use it on a psywar, and quick buffing is always nice. And that catfall trick is also very nice.

[anomalousman]

It's a lovely trick, but there's a limitation that most people overlook, including most of the explicit tricks here.  The Linked powers both have to have the same target.  So you'd have to target the object with the quick power before identifying it in a single round.

[Omen of Peace]

Which makes it hilarious when you combine it with Time Hop (not PP-efficient, I know). "By making this item disappear I know what it does !"

My calling the Catfall+Linked Power trick a "Psionic Celerity" effect was also wildly inaccurate since it doesn't allow to actually use a power out-of-turn - I spoke without thinking. It does enable faster buffing : your buffs take effect 1 round earlier than with a swift action linked power.

Linking Synchronicity (CPsi) could be interesting for extra actions...

[Cyrocloud]

Isn't catfall an immediate action so you could cast is whenever you fell like it, as long as your not flatfooted of course.

It may make bite of the wolf kinda usefull too for low level stuff (1 PP for 1d6-4d8 extra dmg for 1min/level sounds like a good deal).

[ZeroSum]

The linked power still only applies in your next round, not at the time of manifesting the initiating power.

[Ubernoob]

It's a lovely trick, but there's a limitation that most people overlook, including most of the explicit tricks here.  The Linked powers both have to have the same target.  So you'd have to target the object with the quick power before identifying it in a single round.

That's why it's primarily good for psychic warriors.

[anomalousman]

It's a lovely trick, but there's a limitation that most people overlook, including most of the explicit tricks here.  The Linked powers both have to have the same target.  So you'd have to target the object with the quick power before identifying it in a single round.

That's why it's primarily good for psychic warriors.

Oh, I'd disagree with that.  I got a lot of mileage using AoE blasts to recast my Astral Construct in a recent arena game.

And synchronicity is great, obviously, if your DM isn't awake enough to ban it.

[Ubernoob]

It's a lovely trick, but there's a limitation that most people overlook, including most of the explicit tricks here.  The Linked powers both have to have the same target.  So you'd have to target the object with the quick power before identifying it in a single round.

That's why it's primarily good for psychic warriors.

Oh, I'd disagree with that.  I got a lot of mileage using AoE blasts to recast my Astral Construct in a recent arena game.

And synchronicity is great, obviously, if your DM isn't awake enough to ban it.

Let me be more clear:
Because most of psychic warrior powers are personal link power is more likely to get used on any given turn than on a psion because a psion has more options.  Also, psychic warriors get cheaper hustle for quicken lite.

Link power is by no means a bad feat for a psion to take though.  I almost always manage to squeeze it in.