Anarchic Initiate: Why bother?

[Endarire]

I looked at this and noticed I could increase my damage output about half the time.  As a Psion, I also would become much like a Wilder with the threat of enervation (daze for 1 turn and lose half my Initiate level in power points).

Even for a blaster, why not just go Psion instead?

[Phaenix]

It has a d6 hit die over Psion's d4, and the rounds you are dazed for from enervation are explicity based on your Wilder level. If you enter as a Psion, all you lose is bonus feats. You also get more skill points.

EDIT: Sorry, just actually looked it up. Chance for daze is based on ML, and it only lasts one round. Number of PP lost, however, is based on Wilder level. So you can use Chaotic Surge for all-day buffs, when dazing doesn't matter much.

[Samb]

Wild surge is better than overchannel. Do some math and it should be clear. A psion with 3 wild surge is just plain awesome.  Your psion has a dinky d4 HD and overchannel deals 1d8-5d8 of damage 100% of the time.  Wild surge provides the PP and only has a chance (a low one that you can control) to become dazed. And even the  there are ways around it. 

It's amazing how little people know about statistics and propability. 

Chance of dazing is NOT dependant on ML or wilder level, it is dependant on the level of wild surge you choose to use. So as a level 17 wilder I could just select to surge for +3 and risk a 15% chance of ennervation.

[Endarire]

As a Dragonborn Kalashtar, how can I avoid dazing?

What other downsides are there to Psion/Anarchic?

[Anklebite]

Wild surge is better than overchannel. Do some math and it should be clear. A psion with 3 wild surge is just plain awesome.  Your psion has a dinky d4 HD and overchannel deals 1d8-5d8 of damage 100% of the time.  Wild surge provides the PP and only has a chance (a low one that you can control) to become dazed. And even the  there are ways around it. 

It's amazing how little people know about statistics and propability. 

Chance of dazing is NOT dependant on ML or wilder level, it is dependant on the level of wild surge you choose to use. So as a level 17 wilder I could just select to surge for +3 and risk a 15% chance of ennervation.

partially true. for one thing, the anarchistic initiate is awesome. wild surge's enervation is based off of wilder level, which you do not have. therefore, wilders can suck it.

but still, you underestimate overchannel. you can use it at will. add on talented, and you take no damage from level 1-3 powers(which, since this is psionics, is always useful).  this means you get to always ramp up that energy ray, crystal shot, energy stun or swarm of crystals. very handy.

secondly, when you get to the higher levels, minor amounts of hp damage tend to be irrelevant. if you have someone in the party with infinite healing, or persisting vigorous circle, it boosts your buffing capabilties. plus, a few d8's don't matter if it means the battle is over quicker. that +1 to the save DC of a death urge can turn the tide of a battle.

really though, what is the excuse for not having both?   

[Surreal]

As a Dragonborn Kalashtar...

Is there a mechanical reason for this? or just flavour?

[Endarire]

Dragonborn Kalashtar: Magic of Eberron 115 has Power Link shards which each give +6PP in augments per day.  Only Kalashtar and Inspired may use them.

I must be Dragonborn for story reasons.  Besides, wings are spiffy.

[PhaedrusXY]

As a Dragonborn Kalashtar, how can I avoid dazing?

Well... that feat from Lords of Madness lets you recover as a move action (Quick Recovery, IIRC).

[Endarire]

Quick Recovery it is, though what happens if there's no save like with Psychic Enervation?  There's only a chance this will happen.

[Agita]

Quick Recovery it is, though what happens if there's no save like with Psychic Enervation?  There's only a chance this will happen.

The additional save that the feat allows isn't linked to the original effect that dazed you in any way other than through the ability modifier used for the save. Thus, you'd default to 1/2 HD+Cha (most likely your own).

[skydragonknight]

Quick Recovery it is, though what happens if there's no save like with Psychic Enervation?  There's only a chance this will happen.

The additional save that the feat allows isn't linked to the original effect that dazed you in any way other than through the ability modifier used for the save. Thus, you'd default to 1/2 HD+Cha (most likely your own).

Which is ironically better for a Psion than a Wilder.

[carnivore]

Anarchic Initiate is a Medium BAB class that is also a Full Manifesting Progressing class ... best way to use it ....

Psi-Gish .... and Dont Overchannel


 

[awaken DM golem]

Quick Recovery it is, though what happens if there's no save like with Psychic Enervation?  There's only a chance this will happen.

The additional save that the feat allows isn't linked to the original effect that dazed you in any way other than through the ability modifier used for the save. Thus, you'd default to 1/2 HD+Cha (most likely your own).

It doesn't look like A.i./Wilder daze causes a save of any sort, so how does Quick Recovery interact ??
And in any case, the various means of being immune to dazing ...

A.i. 3 plus the original Torc = the 2pp discount wing of a recharge set-up, for two. Still need a 3pp discount build along side.
Easy enough.

A.i. seems to me, a way for non-Wilder classes to get a semi-gestalt with Wilder going, and some feel of 2e psi.

[Sinfire Titan]

I looked at this and noticed I could increase my damage output about half the time.  As a Psion, I also would become much like a Wilder with the threat of enervation (daze for 1 turn and lose half my Initiate level in power points).

Even for a blaster, why not just go Psion instead?

Remember that you're getting a 50% chance for an increase, a 25% chance for a decrease, and a 25% chance for the normal effects. That last 25% may have been intended as a 25% chance of the power doing nothing, but as written it still lets the power through.

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Dragonborn Kalashtar: Magic of Eberron 115 has Power Link shards which each give +6PP in augments per day.  Only Kalashtar and Inspired may use them.

I must be Dragonborn for story reasons.  Besides, wings are spiffy.

UMD is pretty easy to get for those, though.

[Endarire]

What's the UMD DC to implant and activate them?

[Echoes]

What's the UMD DC to implant and activate them?

DC 25 to Emulate Race.