Around The Wall In One Round - Help With Psionic Warrior Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Around The Wall In One Round - Help With Psionic Warrior Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Neo_Leviathan
10-16-04, 11:12 AM Hey, I'm trying to come up with a highly mobile character, probably a Greatsword wielder (though not definitely), with massive speed and 'up the walls', etc.

Think the enemy is on the other side of the room, so you charge up the walls, around the room and take his head off.

I'm not exactly sure what feats to take (beyond the obvious), or how many times to take Speed of Thought, and not sure how I'd keep my AC nice and high.

Any advice/ideas?
malaegoth
10-16-04, 12:36 PM I wouldnt take speed of thought more than once. You can manifest hustle, and rely on items and spells from other party members to increase your speed.
catharz
10-16-04, 12:47 PM Think the enemy is on the other side of the room, so you charge up the walls, around the room and take his head off
....
Any advice/ideas?

Improved sunder might come in handy: You'll still have to get through the roof.
Tempest Stormwind
10-16-04, 01:48 PM Speed of Thought cannot be taken more than once, so that answers that. On the upside, it's an INSIGHT bonus (stacks with enhancements from things like Haste), and it applies to every form of movement you've got (says simply "your speed"). An interesting power to combine with this is Skate -- all the bonus types to your speed stack, plus I just love the idea of a wild psionic character skating everywhere. (You might just want boots of Skate instead, given your limited selection of powers, and since the second version of Skate (on an object) is of far less utility to you).

The main reason why you won't be using Hustle all the time, though, is the sheer number of other "swift" powers available, and using Hustle will shut you down if you try to use them. I mailed CustServ on this (examples being Claws of the Beast and Truevenom, or Psionic Lion's Charge and Hustle), asking if any set standard existed for slowing down these powers, and I got this back:

It does prove restrictive since you are limited to only one swift action in a turn. There are no rules for slowing down the casting of a spell, so it would be up to the DM if they wish to allow this or not, and if they do want to allow it what sort of action would be used up for it. Thanks.

Steve
Customer Service Department
Wizards of the Coast
1-800-324-6496
*Please quote this e-mail in any reply.*

And one of those examples, by the way, is a power you can't do without in a build like this -- Psionic Lion's Charge. Check that baby out -- it's the epic feat Dire Charge, in an AUGMENTABLE power (you get a bonus to all damage rolls that round equal to the number of extra PP you spend). Because you'll use this a fair bit, hustle becomes less critical (but still a wonderful power and there's almost no reason why you wouldn't take it). Your DM might not like the idea of you charging along walls, though (there's a feat-intensive way around it, involving psicrystal confinement and psionic charge, or psionic charge and the Hyperconcious feat Permanant Focus, but then you're eating up a lot of your options).

As for AC, there's a large number of normal ways to boost this, so you're probably stuck using conventional methods. Psywars (and to a lesser extent, psions) use a somewhat different method of signature defense than most other characters do -- I mean, the rogues and monks evade everything, the fighters rely on their armor, the wizards use not being around (flying, invisibility, or through-the-roof AC)... while the psywar gets hit and doesn't care (biofeedback, vigor, inertial barrier, etc.). Hopefully, using conventional tricks (and/or feats like Spring Attack, see below) will be enough to avoid most hits, while these powers can help negate the few that do hit you.

Another option if you like the "go anywhere" idea is the Elocator prestige class. Be CERTAIN to read the Clarifications thread on the psi forum, though -- Scorn Earth seems like a penalty otherwise, when effectively it's a permanant psionic levitate. Elocator is also a great dip PrC, so you don't need to commit to it for very long. The prerequisites include Spring Attack, which for a highly mobile character is often a necessity (plus you get Mobility out of the deal, and in 2 levels of elocator, you get Sidestep Charge, so you're also a pain to hit. Elusive Target from Complete Warrior completes this suite of "Whoop! Missed me!" as well as fitting the always-moving idea.)

That's long-winded, yes, but I hope it was helpful.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Neo_Leviathan 10-16-04, 11:12 AM	Hey, I'm trying to come up with a highly mobile character, probably a Greatsword wielder (though not definitely), with massive speed and 'up the walls', etc. Think the enemy is on the other side of the room, so you charge up the walls, around the room and take his head off. I'm not exactly sure what feats to take (beyond the obvious), or how many times to take Speed of Thought, and not sure how I'd keep my AC nice and high. Any advice/ideas?
malaegoth 10-16-04, 12:36 PM	I wouldnt take speed of thought more than once. You can manifest hustle, and rely on items and spells from other party members to increase your speed.
catharz 10-16-04, 12:47 PM	Think the enemy is on the other side of the room, so you charge up the walls, around the room and take his head off .... Any advice/ideas? Improved sunder might come in handy: You'll still have to get through the roof.
Tempest Stormwind 10-16-04, 01:48 PM	Speed of Thought cannot be taken more than once, so that answers that. On the upside, it's an INSIGHT bonus (stacks with enhancements from things like Haste), and it applies to every form of movement you've got (says simply "your speed"). An interesting power to combine with this is Skate -- all the bonus types to your speed stack, plus I just love the idea of a wild psionic character skating everywhere. (You might just want boots of Skate instead, given your limited selection of powers, and since the second version of Skate (on an object) is of far less utility to you). The main reason why you won't be using Hustle all the time, though, is the sheer number of other "swift" powers available, and using Hustle will shut you down if you try to use them. I mailed CustServ on this (examples being Claws of the Beast and Truevenom, or Psionic Lion's Charge and Hustle), asking if any set standard existed for slowing down these powers, and I got this back: It does prove restrictive since you are limited to only one swift action in a turn. There are no rules for slowing down the casting of a spell, so it would be up to the DM if they wish to allow this or not, and if they do want to allow it what sort of action would be used up for it. Thanks. Steve Customer Service Department Wizards of the Coast 1-800-324-6496 Please quote this e-mail in any reply. And one of those examples, by the way, is a power you can't do without in a build like this -- Psionic Lion's Charge. Check that baby out -- it's the epic feat Dire Charge, in an AUGMENTABLE power (you get a bonus to all damage rolls that round equal to the number of extra PP you spend). Because you'll use this a fair bit, hustle becomes less critical (but still a wonderful power and there's almost no reason why you wouldn't take it). Your DM might not like the idea of you charging along walls, though (there's a feat-intensive way around it, involving psicrystal confinement and psionic charge, or psionic charge and the Hyperconcious feat Permanant Focus, but then you're eating up a lot of your options). As for AC, there's a large number of normal ways to boost this, so you're probably stuck using conventional methods. Psywars (and to a lesser extent, psions) use a somewhat different method of signature defense than most other characters do -- I mean, the rogues and monks evade everything, the fighters rely on their armor, the wizards use not being around (flying, invisibility, or through-the-roof AC)... while the psywar gets hit and doesn't care (biofeedback, vigor, inertial barrier, etc.). Hopefully, using conventional tricks (and/or feats like Spring Attack, see below) will be enough to avoid most hits, while these powers can help negate the few that do hit you. Another option if you like the "go anywhere" idea is the Elocator prestige class. Be CERTAIN to read the Clarifications thread on the psi forum, though -- Scorn Earth seems like a penalty otherwise, when effectively it's a permanant psionic levitate. Elocator is also a great dip PrC, so you don't need to commit to it for very long. The prerequisites include Spring Attack, which for a highly mobile character is often a necessity (plus you get Mobility out of the deal, and in 2 levels of elocator, you get Sidestep Charge, so you're also a pain to hit. Elusive Target from Complete Warrior completes this suite of "Whoop! Missed me!" as well as fitting the always-moving idea.) That's long-winded, yes, but I hope it was helpful.