A Psionic Gish challenge [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Psionic Gish challenge [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dauntless
05-18-04, 12:58 AM If you've seen my recent posts, you know I've been fooling around with psionics a lot recently. My newest goal is to make the best warrior psion I can. NOT a psychic warrior, but instead something more in the Gish mold. Specifically, I want to maintain my manifesting powers as much as possible, while still cranking up my BAB.

3.5, Core, XPH, Complete Warrior all acceptable.

No Dragon Magazine
No Campaign Setting Specific (DL, FR, OA, etc)
No UA

Requirements:

Must finish with at LEAST 8th level powers available at 20th level, but 9th is prefered
Must have armor proficiency and martial weapons. ( type of armor proficiency can vary depending on the build, but I'd prefer heavy )
Must have at least +15 BAB at level 20, but the higher the better.
Must be non-evil

My goal is to be a primary caster who is still capable of wading into melee. A couple things I had already considered:

Pal2/Wilder18: +15 BAB, using d6 HD throughout kinda hurts. Charisma serves double duty though. Probably the simplest build simply because of the Wilder's 3/4 BAB progression. Might try to sneak in Illithid Slayer, but that would cause loss of 9th level powers.

Ranger1/Psion6/Illithid Slayer10/Psion3: +15 BAB (I can get a bit higher if I drop the last few levels of Psion in favor of a more war-like class). When going over the PrC's available in the XPH, the Illithid Slayer is the most straight forward to what I want. Full BAB and 9/10's +Manifester level.

Ranger1/Wilder4/IllithidSlayer10/Wilder5: +17 BAB, 9th level powers. Fewer powers known than the Psion version, but marginally better HP and BAB.

Ideally, I'd like a high-strength, high-con, high-manifesting stat character. My group has a fairly overpowering stat generation system which I won't bother explaining, but mathematically it averages out to 84 total stat points, divided as you see fit (no stat should ever be below 8 however).

Of the few that I've listed, I'm leaning towards the Ranger1/Psion6/Illithid Slayer10/Psion3, but I'm looking for options to tweak it, especially the last few levels of Psion which I'd like to replace with something more "useful". At the expense of one level of Psion at the end, I had considered a level of Warmind, so at 20th level it'd be Ranger1/Psion8/Illithid Slayer10/Warmind1. It cuts back on my top end powers, but it boosts my saves more, and gives +1 to BAB which the Psion9 wouldn't.

Probably a Dwarven Illithid hunter, with a big honkin' dwarven waraxe. :)

Anyways, enough of my babbling, anyone have any good ideas? (I'll also accept mediocre ideas, crazy ideas, and flat out BAD ideas, if you have a convincing argument)
Dauntless
05-18-04, 02:07 PM No responses yet?

Well I guess I'll bump this a bit by adding my starting set up right now. 4th level, but low magic/wealth world, so only 500gp or so of starting gear will likely be available.

I considered a Nomad simply to get survival as a class skill (so I can increase my tracking abilities), but I decided to go with Egoist to get Animal Affinity.

Dwarf Ranger1/Nomad3
s18 d12 c18 i18 wis13 c8 ( 84 points +1 from level 4)

Skills:

Survival 7 (3 ranks taken cross class)
Spot 4
Search 4
Listen 4
Concentration 7
Knowledge(Dun) 4
Climb 4
Move Silently 4
Hide 4
Jump 4
Psicraft 2
Autohypnosis 7

Feats:

Power Attack
Cleave
Psionic Weapon

Powers:
1- Energy Ray
1- Force Screen
1- Precognition, Offensive
1- Thicken Skin
1- Vigor
2- Detect Hostile Intent
2- Animal Affinity

Progression future: At 6th level, I'll be getting my 5th level psion bonus feat at the same time. I'll be taking Expanded Knowledge (Expansion) and Psionic Meditation. Level 9 feat will be Deep Impact (so I can power attack for a ton and still hit)

Any one else have thoughts?

[EDIT: I am also planning on using a reach weapon with this character, with a spare greataxe if people close.]
Enki
05-18-04, 02:43 PM Why not:

Psion 6\Elocator 4\Illithid Slayer 10?
BAB 16: 3/3/10
Base Saves:
Fort 6: 2/1/3
Reflex 9:2/4/3
Will 16:5/4/7

Hit Dice: 6d4 + 4d6 + 10d8
Manifester Level 18 (9nth level Powers Known)

Taking Elocator 4 instead of Ranger 1 and 3 Psion levels, balances the skill point total.

Get some nice combat abilities such as Opportunistic Strike and Flanker, which in general should give you a +4 to attack and a +2 to damage in most situations.

Martial Weapons, Heavy Armor, and Light Shield proficiency.

Feats:
1st Dodge,
3rd Mobility,
6th Spring Attack,
9th Track
12th
15th
18th

- Minor Problem - Elocator has a Bab requirement of +3, and requires Spring Attack which requires a bab of +4. Psion 6 will only give you a bab of 3.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dauntless 05-18-04, 12:58 AM	If you've seen my recent posts, you know I've been fooling around with psionics a lot recently. My newest goal is to make the best warrior psion I can. NOT a psychic warrior, but instead something more in the Gish mold. Specifically, I want to maintain my manifesting powers as much as possible, while still cranking up my BAB. 3.5, Core, XPH, Complete Warrior all acceptable. No Dragon Magazine No Campaign Setting Specific (DL, FR, OA, etc) No UA Requirements: Must finish with at LEAST 8th level powers available at 20th level, but 9th is prefered Must have armor proficiency and martial weapons. ( type of armor proficiency can vary depending on the build, but I'd prefer heavy ) Must have at least +15 BAB at level 20, but the higher the better. Must be non-evil My goal is to be a primary caster who is still capable of wading into melee. A couple things I had already considered: Pal2/Wilder18: +15 BAB, using d6 HD throughout kinda hurts. Charisma serves double duty though. Probably the simplest build simply because of the Wilder's 3/4 BAB progression. Might try to sneak in Illithid Slayer, but that would cause loss of 9th level powers. Ranger1/Psion6/Illithid Slayer10/Psion3: +15 BAB (I can get a bit higher if I drop the last few levels of Psion in favor of a more war-like class). When going over the PrC's available in the XPH, the Illithid Slayer is the most straight forward to what I want. Full BAB and 9/10's +Manifester level. Ranger1/Wilder4/IllithidSlayer10/Wilder5: +17 BAB, 9th level powers. Fewer powers known than the Psion version, but marginally better HP and BAB. Ideally, I'd like a high-strength, high-con, high-manifesting stat character. My group has a fairly overpowering stat generation system which I won't bother explaining, but mathematically it averages out to 84 total stat points, divided as you see fit (no stat should ever be below 8 however). Of the few that I've listed, I'm leaning towards the Ranger1/Psion6/Illithid Slayer10/Psion3, but I'm looking for options to tweak it, especially the last few levels of Psion which I'd like to replace with something more "useful". At the expense of one level of Psion at the end, I had considered a level of Warmind, so at 20th level it'd be Ranger1/Psion8/Illithid Slayer10/Warmind1. It cuts back on my top end powers, but it boosts my saves more, and gives +1 to BAB which the Psion9 wouldn't. Probably a Dwarven Illithid hunter, with a big honkin' dwarven waraxe. :) Anyways, enough of my babbling, anyone have any good ideas? (I'll also accept mediocre ideas, crazy ideas, and flat out BAD ideas, if you have a convincing argument)
Dauntless 05-18-04, 02:07 PM	No responses yet? Well I guess I'll bump this a bit by adding my starting set up right now. 4th level, but low magic/wealth world, so only 500gp or so of starting gear will likely be available. I considered a Nomad simply to get survival as a class skill (so I can increase my tracking abilities), but I decided to go with Egoist to get Animal Affinity. Dwarf Ranger1/Nomad3 s18 d12 c18 i18 wis13 c8 ( 84 points +1 from level 4) Skills: Survival 7 (3 ranks taken cross class) Spot 4 Search 4 Listen 4 Concentration 7 Knowledge(Dun) 4 Climb 4 Move Silently 4 Hide 4 Jump 4 Psicraft 2 Autohypnosis 7 Feats: Power Attack Cleave Psionic Weapon Powers: 1- Energy Ray 1- Force Screen 1- Precognition, Offensive 1- Thicken Skin 1- Vigor 2- Detect Hostile Intent 2- Animal Affinity Progression future: At 6th level, I'll be getting my 5th level psion bonus feat at the same time. I'll be taking Expanded Knowledge (Expansion) and Psionic Meditation. Level 9 feat will be Deep Impact (so I can power attack for a ton and still hit) Any one else have thoughts? [EDIT: I am also planning on using a reach weapon with this character, with a spare greataxe if people close.]
Enki 05-18-04, 02:43 PM	Why not: Psion 6\Elocator 4\Illithid Slayer 10? BAB 16: 3/3/10 Base Saves: Fort 6: 2/1/3 Reflex 9:2/4/3 Will 16:5/4/7 Hit Dice: 6d4 + 4d6 + 10d8 Manifester Level 18 (9nth level Powers Known) Taking Elocator 4 instead of Ranger 1 and 3 Psion levels, balances the skill point total. Get some nice combat abilities such as Opportunistic Strike and Flanker, which in general should give you a +4 to attack and a +2 to damage in most situations. Martial Weapons, Heavy Armor, and Light Shield proficiency. Feats: 1st Dodge, 3rd Mobility, 6th Spring Attack, 9th Track 12th 15th 18th - Minor Problem - Elocator has a Bab requirement of +3, and requires Spring Attack which requires a bab of +4. Psion 6 will only give you a bab of 3.