Bread and Butter powers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bread and Butter powers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shmeff
07-27-07, 02:17 PM I'm new to psionics, though i have both the XPH and CP, and i was wondering what are some of the generally referred to 'Bread and Butter' powers. Meaning, powers that pretty well everyone takes, due to their utility or general goodness. what do you think are some of the more commonly taken powers at each level?
InkBlot
07-27-07, 03:13 PM It truly depends on what you want to do with your character. Unlike with Wizards, there are no powers that are so good that every Psion will take them.

I usually like to play Psions as utility/debuffers first and blasters second. So for most of my Psions their bread and butter powers are entangling ectoplasm and grease, followed by astral construct and either swarm of crystals, crystal shard, or hail of crystals (depending on level).
carnivore
07-27-07, 03:53 PM 1st lvl:
Vigor

2nd lvl
Share Pain

3rd lvl
Dispel Psionics

4th lvl
Metamorphosis

5th lvl

6th lvl
Disintegrate

7th lvl

8th lvl

9th lvl

opps out of time
:D
SlanderPanic
07-27-07, 04:06 PM I'm big on ego whip, psionic charm, hostile empathic transfer, inertial armor, and death urge.
Deekin
07-27-07, 04:38 PM You forget Time Hop
Tedronai
07-27-07, 05:13 PM with the discipline-only powers coming into play, much of that, in my experience depends on the psion in question

Any kineticist worth his salt takes Energy Missile at 3rd, and a Telepath who doesn't have Psionic Charm by 2nd and Hostile Empathic Transfer by 6th must be doing something particularly strange. A shaper who doesn't take Astral Construct might get by, but if they then miss out on Fabricate later on, they need to lay of the drugs. The other disciplines have their own signature effects, of course, but those are the disciplines I've examined closely, so those are the ones I'll mention.

Most of my Psions, and I've played a few, take Defensive Precognition for that helpful AC AND Save boost that stacks with almost any magic item available (have you noticed just how rare good insight bonuses tend to be outside of psionics?)

If you're playing in a campaign that doesn't use Magic-Psionics transparency, that also changes things significantly. The usefulness of powers like Detect Psionics or Dispel Psionics vary greatly in such a game based on whether or not your DM bothers to include any psionic elements besides those you yourself introduce or seek out. (which is all-to-common a failing in my experience, but if you know ahead of time what to expect, you can take advantage of this and conserve possibly your most valuable resource-powers known)

Crystal Shard, and the various other metacreativity direct damage powers are particularly handy if you encounter creatures with power resistance or immunity. I usually take Crystal Shard as my 1st level damage dealing power, as it retains much more usefulness as a niche power later on than the other options at that level
CrimsonDeath
07-27-07, 05:14 PM Schism (although I had a psion get to level 14 without it)
Knight0
07-27-07, 07:29 PM Adapt body, mind blank personal and dispel should just materialise on your character sheet. Entangling Ectoplasm is awesome even at higher levels, range touch attack at high levels you should be hitting 9 times out of ten (annoying ones) your enemy gets penalties on movement ac and attack for 5 rounds no save no spell resis. Plane shift is also quite a common one as is crystal shard (great for golems or anything that is big with energy resistences and spell resistence (or immunity). And of course reality revision AKA wish AKA miracle.

I also agree with inertial armour, metamorphosis, disintergrate, time hop and energy missile. Also I like ego whip completely pwns fighters. 1d4 charisma damage +4pp for +1d4 +2dc. at high levels your dealing around 12 Charisma damage on average which is higher than most high level fighters taking them out in a round even if they make their save they are dead in 2 rounds MAX. Greater Teleport is also a nice power.

I don't like death urge being a mind affecting power with will negating.

for discipline powers Astral seed and fiery discoporation are like get out of jail free cards when you die. and restoration is always helpful.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shmeff 07-27-07, 02:17 PM	I'm new to psionics, though i have both the XPH and CP, and i was wondering what are some of the generally referred to 'Bread and Butter' powers. Meaning, powers that pretty well everyone takes, due to their utility or general goodness. what do you think are some of the more commonly taken powers at each level?
InkBlot 07-27-07, 03:13 PM	It truly depends on what you want to do with your character. Unlike with Wizards, there are no powers that are so good that every Psion will take them. I usually like to play Psions as utility/debuffers first and blasters second. So for most of my Psions their bread and butter powers are entangling ectoplasm and grease, followed by astral construct and either swarm of crystals, crystal shard, or hail of crystals (depending on level).
carnivore 07-27-07, 03:53 PM	1st lvl: Vigor 2nd lvl Share Pain 3rd lvl Dispel Psionics 4th lvl Metamorphosis 5th lvl 6th lvl Disintegrate 7th lvl 8th lvl 9th lvl opps out of time :D
SlanderPanic 07-27-07, 04:06 PM	I'm big on ego whip, psionic charm, hostile empathic transfer, inertial armor, and death urge.
Deekin 07-27-07, 04:38 PM	You forget Time Hop
Tedronai 07-27-07, 05:13 PM	with the discipline-only powers coming into play, much of that, in my experience depends on the psion in question Any kineticist worth his salt takes Energy Missile at 3rd, and a Telepath who doesn't have Psionic Charm by 2nd and Hostile Empathic Transfer by 6th must be doing something particularly strange. A shaper who doesn't take Astral Construct might get by, but if they then miss out on Fabricate later on, they need to lay of the drugs. The other disciplines have their own signature effects, of course, but those are the disciplines I've examined closely, so those are the ones I'll mention. Most of my Psions, and I've played a few, take Defensive Precognition for that helpful AC AND Save boost that stacks with almost any magic item available (have you noticed just how rare good insight bonuses tend to be outside of psionics?) If you're playing in a campaign that doesn't use Magic-Psionics transparency, that also changes things significantly. The usefulness of powers like Detect Psionics or Dispel Psionics vary greatly in such a game based on whether or not your DM bothers to include any psionic elements besides those you yourself introduce or seek out. (which is all-to-common a failing in my experience, but if you know ahead of time what to expect, you can take advantage of this and conserve possibly your most valuable resource-powers known) Crystal Shard, and the various other metacreativity direct damage powers are particularly handy if you encounter creatures with power resistance or immunity. I usually take Crystal Shard as my 1st level damage dealing power, as it retains much more usefulness as a niche power later on than the other options at that level
CrimsonDeath 07-27-07, 05:14 PM	Schism (although I had a psion get to level 14 without it)
Knight0 07-27-07, 07:29 PM	Adapt body, mind blank personal and dispel should just materialise on your character sheet. Entangling Ectoplasm is awesome even at higher levels, range touch attack at high levels you should be hitting 9 times out of ten (annoying ones) your enemy gets penalties on movement ac and attack for 5 rounds no save no spell resis. Plane shift is also quite a common one as is crystal shard (great for golems or anything that is big with energy resistences and spell resistence (or immunity). And of course reality revision AKA wish AKA miracle. I also agree with inertial armour, metamorphosis, disintergrate, time hop and energy missile. Also I like ego whip completely pwns fighters. 1d4 charisma damage +4pp for +1d4 +2dc. at high levels your dealing around 12 Charisma damage on average which is higher than most high level fighters taking them out in a round even if they make their save they are dead in 2 rounds MAX. Greater Teleport is also a nice power. I don't like death urge being a mind affecting power with will negating. for discipline powers Astral seed and fiery discoporation are like get out of jail free cards when you die. and restoration is always helpful.