A good use of r power points [Archive] - Wizards Community

A good use of r power points [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DarkAngelPrime
05-19-07, 02:38 PM So, I'm thinking of making a Synad Beguiler because both the race and the class intrigue me, and I've never tried either before. Still, I feel I'm selling myself short to not use the racial power points I'd get. Is there a good use for power points without taking a level in a psionic class. If not, I can take a level of something since Synads are multiclassing-friendly. If I were to do that, what psionic class should I take that a single level would be useful in?

Edit: Dear lord, I need to proofread my titles as well as my post. I apologize for the horrendous title to this thread.
Tempest Stormwind
05-19-07, 02:39 PM Synads generally aren't all that hot, especially since there's editing concerns on them.

Racial power points generally work best if you don't spend them. Having any power points at all lets you gain psionic focus, which in turn lets you take 15 on a single Concentration check. You can take focus-related feats to make yourself all the more versatile as well.
DarkAngelPrime
05-19-07, 02:50 PM Hm. Didn't know that about Synads. This kind of takes the conversation out of the realm of psionics then, but is there a decent race, preferably out of Core for the fun of it, that is suited for a Beguiler? I was kinda thinking about tossing a template on it, like Entropic Creature, but wasn't sure if the setback to spell-casting would be too high a price.
Tempest Stormwind
05-19-07, 02:57 PM Many races work well for beguilers. Gnomes come to mind as a spectacularly good choice, along with the omnipresent humans.
ChimericalWolf
05-19-07, 03:40 PM Another option is trying to convince your DM to allow you to take Hidden Talent. Not great, but it might be a fun splash.
InkBlot
05-19-07, 03:44 PM Synads are decent. Not as good as some other races, but definately not bad. They're not nearly as bad as half-elves, for example. Just remember that in the long run, mechanicaly, which race you choose don't matter as much as the classes you choose. None of the +0 LA races have abilities that can eclipse a class level. Play what you think would be most fun.

The synad doesn't have any ability penalties, has the abberation type, darkvision, favored class: any, a smattering of psionic abilities, and 3 bonus power points. In other words, they're like humans except they trade their bonus feat and bonus skill points for some realy cool special abilities.

Being an abberation means you're immune to effects which only target humanoids. A lot of these are common at low levels, such as Hold Person.

Darkvision is a 3rd level spell you'll never need to cast, and a torch that won't give away your position to your enemies.

The Synad's natural psionic ability gives you more power points than you could get with Wild Talent. It's enough power points to use Collective and Multitask each once, and still have a power point left over for focus.

Threefold Mind's +2 to Will saves makes your strong save stronger.

Oracle's +2 to any save (or initiative, or attack) 1/day is handy.

Collective's +2 to psicraft and knowledge checks for 1 power point is nice. Not as nice as Call To Mind, and you won't use psicraft much as a beguiler, but still nice.

Multitask either gives you an extra mental swift action 1/day, or lets you "sudden quicken" a mental action 1/day. The second interpretation is great if you need to get your focus back quickly. Not as useful as it would be to a psion, but still handy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DarkAngelPrime 05-19-07, 02:38 PM	So, I'm thinking of making a Synad Beguiler because both the race and the class intrigue me, and I've never tried either before. Still, I feel I'm selling myself short to not use the racial power points I'd get. Is there a good use for power points without taking a level in a psionic class. If not, I can take a level of something since Synads are multiclassing-friendly. If I were to do that, what psionic class should I take that a single level would be useful in? Edit: Dear lord, I need to proofread my titles as well as my post. I apologize for the horrendous title to this thread.
Tempest Stormwind 05-19-07, 02:39 PM	Synads generally aren't all that hot, especially since there's editing concerns on them. Racial power points generally work best if you don't spend them. Having any power points at all lets you gain psionic focus, which in turn lets you take 15 on a single Concentration check. You can take focus-related feats to make yourself all the more versatile as well.
DarkAngelPrime 05-19-07, 02:50 PM	Hm. Didn't know that about Synads. This kind of takes the conversation out of the realm of psionics then, but is there a decent race, preferably out of Core for the fun of it, that is suited for a Beguiler? I was kinda thinking about tossing a template on it, like Entropic Creature, but wasn't sure if the setback to spell-casting would be too high a price.
Tempest Stormwind 05-19-07, 02:57 PM	Many races work well for beguilers. Gnomes come to mind as a spectacularly good choice, along with the omnipresent humans.
ChimericalWolf 05-19-07, 03:40 PM	Another option is trying to convince your DM to allow you to take Hidden Talent. Not great, but it might be a fun splash.
InkBlot 05-19-07, 03:44 PM	Synads are decent. Not as good as some other races, but definately not bad. They're not nearly as bad as half-elves, for example. Just remember that in the long run, mechanicaly, which race you choose don't matter as much as the classes you choose. None of the +0 LA races have abilities that can eclipse a class level. Play what you think would be most fun. The synad doesn't have any ability penalties, has the abberation type, darkvision, favored class: any, a smattering of psionic abilities, and 3 bonus power points. In other words, they're like humans except they trade their bonus feat and bonus skill points for some realy cool special abilities. Being an abberation means you're immune to effects which only target humanoids. A lot of these are common at low levels, such as Hold Person. Darkvision is a 3rd level spell you'll never need to cast, and a torch that won't give away your position to your enemies. The Synad's natural psionic ability gives you more power points than you could get with Wild Talent. It's enough power points to use Collective and Multitask each once, and still have a power point left over for focus. Threefold Mind's +2 to Will saves makes your strong save stronger. Oracle's +2 to any save (or initiative, or attack) 1/day is handy. Collective's +2 to psicraft and knowledge checks for 1 power point is nice. Not as nice as Call To Mind, and you won't use psicraft much as a beguiler, but still nice. Multitask either gives you an extra mental swift action 1/day, or lets you "sudden quicken" a mental action 1/day. The second interpretation is great if you need to get your focus back quickly. Not as useful as it would be to a psion, but still handy.