2 metapsionic combo questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

2 metapsionic combo questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DracoPhoenix
11-08-07, 06:31 AM Ok "2" questions :

1) I was thinking how viable was a maximised Energy missile if done like:

Feats: Maximise, Metamagic (Maximised Energy Missile), Psionic Meditation.
Items: Torc of power preservation.
Items: Eye of Concentration

Ok, the Eye might not be required, but still, better than "anything but a one"

So, I've got maximised energy missiles down to +3pp, I know there's an Incarnum feat or two I can use to further reduce this. But are these worth the additional investment?

Also, any other items / tricks that would further reduce this? I pretty much only pack energy missiles and occasionally energy barrage as my energy powers.

The good news is that I can then still use the torc and maximise any other power, so it's not strictly a one trick pony.

Would Empower + metapsionic(Empowered energy missile) be a better option or worth adding to the above?

2) Which is better?:
Metapsionic Specialisation (e.g. Torc of PP + Maximise + metapower (energy missile))
or
DC buffing (e.g. Endowment + Gtr Endowment + Psionatrix)

With Psi-Meditation on both.

(Improvements welcome)

The intended build is for a telepath with expanded knowledge(Energy Missiles).

Thanks in advance.
Mesiolan
11-08-07, 08:06 AM Ok "2" questions :

1) I was thinking how viable was a maximised Energy missile if done like:

Feats: Maximise, Metamagic (Maximised Energy Missile), Psionic Meditation.
Items: Torc of power preservation.
Items: Eye of Concentration

Ok, the Eye might not be required, but still, better than "anything but a one"

So, I've got maximised energy missiles down to +3pp, I know there's an Incarnum feat or two I can use to further reduce this. But are these worth the additional investment?

Also, any other items / tricks that would further reduce this? I pretty much only pack energy missiles and occasionally energy barrage as my energy powers.

The good news is that I can then still use the torc and maximise any other power, so it's not strictly a one trick pony.

Would Empower + metapsionic(Empowered energy missile) be a better option or worth adding to the above?

2) Which is better?:
Metapsionic Specialisation (e.g. Torc of PP + Maximise + metapower (energy missile))
or
DC buffing (e.g. Endowment + Gtr Endowment + Psionatrix)

With Psi-Meditation on both.

(Improvements welcome)

The intended build is for a telepath with expanded knowledge(Energy Missiles).

Thanks in advance.

To Question 1:

I don't know about the Incarnum feats and can't comment on those. But on the Energy Missile, I can comment.

Take Empower, not Maximize. This is simple math.

For electricity, you calculate: 1d6 = 3.5 average damage.
(X-2)*3.5*1.5 (Empower) = (X-4)*6 (Maximize), with X the invested power points.
5.25X -10.5 = 6X-24
21X-42 = 24X-96
54 = 3X
18 = X

If you invest 18pp for an electricity attack, it does not matter wether you empower it (16d6 x 1.5) or maximize it (flat 84 pts).

For cold and fire, you calculate:
(X-2)*4.5*1.5 (Empower = (X-4)*7 (Maximize).
58=X
So, empower stays ahead of maximize for damage/pp until very high epic levels.

The empowered one is save DC +1, so it's still better than maximize. And at Lv 18 (or at the level, when you may spend 18pp on one manifestation, i.e. with Overchannel at lv 15), you should NOT be wasting your pp on energy attacks. It's too costly compared to many "all or nothing" powers with a high DC.

For the "Empower + Maximize" thing you need to spend your focus twice. So you need at least the Psicrystal + Containment feats. And you will be able to pull off the stunt only 1/encounter, or you'll lose several actions to re-focus. It is better to empower a power up to 18pp, and starting at 19pp to empower+max it (for fire + cold).

But if you already spend your focus on two metafeats, better use Twin power on your Empowered attack. For damage output, it's better to spend the 6pp on twin, than 4pp on maximize. Twin power is even better than Empower power after lv. 12 (save DC is worse, though).

That said, I would pick "Privileged Energy", "Empower Power", and "Twin Power" and work with that, until you get things which are like "save or die" or "save or suck".

Take a look at the average monsters in the MM. Their HP rises faster than their CR. Most monsters with CR 4 have more than double the HP of a CR 2 critter. So, the damage output of a linear power (like all energy attacks) does not compete with the HP increase of the monsters. It's better to defeat them not by targetting their HP, but other things - like "save or slave", or the like.

Ego whip is nice, if you put many pp into it (empower, twin and so on) and target a mediocre CHA score. Nice to knock out animals, barbarians, and rogues (no evasion).

This answers your question 2 as well, 'cause you'd better go to increase your DC, not the damage output.

For this, try to get
1) highest ability score possible
2) Endowment and Greater
3) Psionatrix
4) There are some feats out there, which MIGHT let you allow to increase the DC by one, but they are for arcane casters and the transpirency rules don't apply to feats. So you need to ask your DM.
CrimsonDeath
11-08-07, 11:44 AM Ego whip is nice, if you put many pp into it (empower, twin and so on) and target a mediocre CHA score. Nice to knock out animals, barbarians, and rogues (no evasion).

Actually, I think someone did an analysis and found that, among monsters subject to mind-affecting effects, Charisma rises faster than linearly with CR.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DracoPhoenix 11-08-07, 06:31 AM	Ok "2" questions : 1) I was thinking how viable was a maximised Energy missile if done like: Feats: Maximise, Metamagic (Maximised Energy Missile), Psionic Meditation. Items: Torc of power preservation. Items: Eye of Concentration Ok, the Eye might not be required, but still, better than "anything but a one" So, I've got maximised energy missiles down to +3pp, I know there's an Incarnum feat or two I can use to further reduce this. But are these worth the additional investment? Also, any other items / tricks that would further reduce this? I pretty much only pack energy missiles and occasionally energy barrage as my energy powers. The good news is that I can then still use the torc and maximise any other power, so it's not strictly a one trick pony. Would Empower + metapsionic(Empowered energy missile) be a better option or worth adding to the above? 2) Which is better?: Metapsionic Specialisation (e.g. Torc of PP + Maximise + metapower (energy missile)) or DC buffing (e.g. Endowment + Gtr Endowment + Psionatrix) With Psi-Meditation on both. (Improvements welcome) The intended build is for a telepath with expanded knowledge(Energy Missiles). Thanks in advance.
Mesiolan 11-08-07, 08:06 AM	Ok "2" questions : 1) I was thinking how viable was a maximised Energy missile if done like: Feats: Maximise, Metamagic (Maximised Energy Missile), Psionic Meditation. Items: Torc of power preservation. Items: Eye of Concentration Ok, the Eye might not be required, but still, better than "anything but a one" So, I've got maximised energy missiles down to +3pp, I know there's an Incarnum feat or two I can use to further reduce this. But are these worth the additional investment? Also, any other items / tricks that would further reduce this? I pretty much only pack energy missiles and occasionally energy barrage as my energy powers. The good news is that I can then still use the torc and maximise any other power, so it's not strictly a one trick pony. Would Empower + metapsionic(Empowered energy missile) be a better option or worth adding to the above? 2) Which is better?: Metapsionic Specialisation (e.g. Torc of PP + Maximise + metapower (energy missile)) or DC buffing (e.g. Endowment + Gtr Endowment + Psionatrix) With Psi-Meditation on both. (Improvements welcome) The intended build is for a telepath with expanded knowledge(Energy Missiles). Thanks in advance. To Question 1: I don't know about the Incarnum feats and can't comment on those. But on the Energy Missile, I can comment. Take Empower, not Maximize. This is simple math. For electricity, you calculate: 1d6 = 3.5 average damage. (X-2)3.51.5 (Empower) = (X-4)6 (Maximize), with X the invested power points. 5.25X -10.5 = 6X-24 21X-42 = 24X-96 54 = 3X 18 = X If you invest 18pp for an electricity attack, it does not matter wether you empower it (16d6 x 1.5) or maximize it (flat 84 pts). For cold and fire, you calculate: (X-2)4.51.5 (Empower = (X-4)7 (Maximize). 58=X So, empower stays ahead of maximize for damage/pp until very high epic levels. The empowered one is save DC +1, so it's still better than maximize. And at Lv 18 (or at the level, when you may spend 18pp on one manifestation, i.e. with Overchannel at lv 15), you should NOT be wasting your pp on energy attacks. It's too costly compared to many "all or nothing" powers with a high DC. For the "Empower + Maximize" thing you need to spend your focus twice. So you need at least the Psicrystal + Containment feats. And you will be able to pull off the stunt only 1/encounter, or you'll lose several actions to re-focus. It is better to empower a power up to 18pp, and starting at 19pp to empower+max it (for fire + cold). But if you already spend your focus on two metafeats, better use Twin power on your Empowered attack. For damage output, it's better to spend the 6pp on twin, than 4pp on maximize. Twin power is even better than Empower power after lv. 12 (save DC is worse, though). That said, I would pick "Privileged Energy", "Empower Power", and "Twin Power" and work with that, until you get things which are like "save or die" or "save or suck". Take a look at the average monsters in the MM. Their HP rises faster than their CR. Most monsters with CR 4 have more than double the HP of a CR 2 critter. So, the damage output of a linear power (like all energy attacks) does not compete with the HP increase of the monsters. It's better to defeat them not by targetting their HP, but other things - like "save or slave", or the like. Ego whip is nice, if you put many pp into it (empower, twin and so on) and target a mediocre CHA score. Nice to knock out animals, barbarians, and rogues (no evasion). This answers your question 2 as well, 'cause you'd better go to increase your DC, not the damage output. For this, try to get 1) highest ability score possible 2) Endowment and Greater 3) Psionatrix 4) There are some feats out there, which MIGHT let you allow to increase the DC by one, but they are for arcane casters and the transpirency rules don't apply to feats. So you need to ask your DM.
CrimsonDeath 11-08-07, 11:44 AM	Ego whip is nice, if you put many pp into it (empower, twin and so on) and target a mediocre CHA score. Nice to knock out animals, barbarians, and rogues (no evasion). Actually, I think someone did an analysis and found that, among monsters subject to mind-affecting effects, Charisma rises faster than linearly with CR.