Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rhonin the Big 04-09-07, 11:52 AM	I posted this awhile back and I am resubmitting my idea for further criticism since the thread was archived. I had a dream a long time ago where I was being charged by a frenzying orc barbarian foaming at the mouth, I was in a dirt colliseum. All of a sudden a glowing purple tentacle extended from the palm of my hand tripping the creature, whipping at his hands forcing his greataxe beside him. My whip-like tentacle sucked away at the magic of his weapon, it satisfied my thirst like a chocolate milkshake threw a straw. I then stepped back and my tentacle, autonomous to my hand, lashed out at the frenzying orc sucking away his strength bit by bit until he finally died. This prestige class is what I believe the soulknife needs to breakout from the ordinary, this is my dream that I share with all of you. Changed the opening quote so as not to rip off Full Metal Alchemist ... I mean Jacket Gave the flavor text an overhaul Made Improved Lashing Grab stronger Added Focus Extract, which feels like a Mind Flayer kinda thing. Reworded the eating abilities, now they can only deal lethal damage. Made Absorb Magic not contingent on disarms for item suppression and trips/grapples for eating spells. changed the title cuz reposts dont get hits. I still need a table though, could somebody please make one for me? Kinetic Lasher: "My mind is afflicted with an illness, the blade I spent years forming and honing my skills with has become an abomination … though I do not suffer from this illness, I enjoy every crack of it." Strip Lightning, the very first Kinetic Lasher Some soulknives build a style around sword combat while others become silent and stealthy combatants who attack with a barrage of thrown mindblades. To a kinetic lasher, this is all too orthodox. The Kinetic Lasher embraces a psionic host in his mind which laid dormant in the beginning of his soulknife career, which transforms his beloved mindblade into a whip of distilled psionic energy. A Kinetic Lasher trains to use his new psionic weapon to destroy his opponents strategically and efficiently. At higher levels the Kinetic Lash becomes a writhing tentacle with an appetite for strength and a diet dependency on magical enhancements like the magical enhancements inherent in the Kinetic Lash itself. The Kinetic Lasher literally lashes out with his mind, and his opponent’s become terrible things to waste. The path to obtain the Kinetic Lash is paved by obtaining the mindblade, though a few levels in fighter or being a human are important for gaining the required feats. Humans, kalshatar and maybe even Elans are often members of the Kinetic Lasher since they are all essentially human and humans are most likely to train with exotic weapons. Half-giants are drawn to the Kinetic Lasher because a whip is versatile enough to take advantage of their powerful build. Dwarf and half-orc Kinetic Lashers are unheard of, since half-orcs are not always smart enough to use the tactical advantages of a whip and dwarves place too much importance on axes and hammers. Elves might take to the Kinetic Lasher the same way they take to the Elven Bladesinger, as a way for them to combine their Elven grace with psionic combat. NPC Kinetic Lashers are the soulknife gladiators, using their Psionic whip to display beautiful prowess with every crack as they snatch their opponent’s weapons away and constrict them until they beg for mercy. Some Kinetic Lashers look for a cure, soon they find themselves liking the so-called “disease” better. Others believe their martial metamorphosis is the result of an illithid heritage, they train to understand their lineage because it may hold the key to mastery of their psychic tentacle. Every battle is a chance for the Kinetic Lasher to display his unorthodox style of Psionic combat, and they enjoy every second of it. Requirements: Base attack +3 Combat expertise, exotic weapon proficiency (whip), improved disarm or improved trip. Shape Mindblade class feature. Hit Dice: d10 Saves: Good fortitude and will Base attack: As fighter Class skills: Autohypnosis, concentration, climb, listen, spot, knowledge (psionics) knowledge (arcana) and tumble Skills: 2+int. Kinetic Lash (su): At 1st level, the former soulknife embraces his psionic host as the other forms of his mind blade become a tentacle-like whip known as the Kinetic Lash. The Kinetic Lash becomes the base form of the mind blade every time it is formed. The Kinetic Lash cannot be thrown, and only 1 Kinetic Lash can be formed at a time. The Kinetic Lash is treated as both a mind blade and a whip for the purposes of feats, spells and whatnot that affect them, so the Kinetic Lash still keeps the mind blade enhancement bonuses and mind blade specific class features, yet feats such as weapon focus (mind blade) and weapon focus (whip) both apply to the Kinetic Lash (but do not stack). The Kinetic Lash is in all ways equal to a whip sized appropriately for the wielder, except as follows. The Kinetic Lash deals base slashing damage according to the table above as if the size category increased for the purpose of determining base damage. At 1st level the Kinetic Lash deals 1d4 slashing damage for a medium wielder, at 4th level it deals 1d6 slashing damage for a medium wielder, at 7th level it deals 1d8 slashing damage for a medium wielder and at 10th level it deals 1d10. The Kinetic Lash deals lethal damage (including normal damage to all creatures, regardless of armor bonus or natural bonus to AC) rather than subdual, but the wielder can opt to deal nonlethal damage with the Kinetic Lash at no penalty. However, extra damage such as Psychic Strike, as well as several of the Kinetic Lasher's class features, cannot deal nonlethal damage. The Kinetic Lash can be broken (hardness 10 and hit points 10) but the Kinetic Lasher can just create another one as a free action on his turn. Unlike other supernatural abilities the Kinetic Lash can be formed inside an antimagic field, if the Kinetic Lasher succeeds on a DC20 will save once a round as a free action his Kinetic Lash is temporarily ignored by the antimagic field until the beginning of his next turn. Failure means the Kinetic Lash dissipates (if it hasn’t already) and he does not gain any of its benefits this round. Improved Mind Blade (ex): The Kinetic Lash continues to grow in power as the character gains levels. Kinetic Lasher levels stack with any soulknife levels the character might have for the purpose of determining the mind blade enhancement bonuses, although he can only apply his mind blade enhancement bonuses to his Kinetic Lash. In addition, the Kinetic Lasher can add 1 additional Mind Blade enhancement special ability to the list per class level; these new special abilities can be added to his Kinetic Lash normally. The new enhancement special abilities must apply to a slashing melee weapon, cannot be higher than +4, cannot be chosen if wielding a Kinetic Lash enhanced in this way would hurt the wielder (so an elf Kinetic Lasher cannot form a elfbane Kinetic Lash) and must match at least one component of the character’s alignment (a nongood Kinetic Lasher cannot form a holy Kinetic Lash). Defensive Lash (ex): At 2nd level the Kinetic Lasher can attack with his Kinetic Lash without provoking attacks of opportunity. He also still threatens an area and can thus make attacks of opportunity with the Kinetic Lash. Psychic Strike (su): At 3rd level the Kinetic Lasher gains an improvement to his Psychic Strike exactly like a soulknife and it stacks with any psychic strike the character has. He can only use Psychic Strike with his Kinetic Lash. Kinetic Lash Containment (ex): At 4th level the Kinetic Lash starts to become separate from the wielders mind, it can now hold a psionic focus as if it were a psicrystal with the psicrystal containment feat. Kinetic Lash Containment does not stack with similar effects, but unlike psicrystal containment feats and abilities that quicken the gain of psionic focus apply to Kinetic Lash Containment Lashing Grab (ex): At 5th level the Kinetic Lasher has learned how to subdue his opponents with his weapon. He can now use his Kinetic Lash to initiate a grapple. Focus Extract (su) The Kinetic Lasher embraces the hosts hunger for the concentrated focus of intelligent creatures and can satisfy that hunger on a critical hit. Starting at 5th level when a Kinetic Lasher successfully scores a critical hit with his Kinetic Lash the target loses any psionic focus he or she may have and the Kinetic Lasher regains his psionic focus if he does not have one at the time (such as if he expended it). If the target cannot gain a psionic focus or the Kinetic Lasher already has one than he gains temporary HP equal to (his class level + his soulknife levels) x2, if the target can maintain a psionic focus but does not have one to Extract at the moment than the target cannot regain his psionic focus until 1 round after the critical hit. Focus Extract cannot be used in conjunction with any attacks that deal subdual damage, the host must be able to eat its prey in order to savor the juices of intelligent thought. Improved Lashing Grab: At 7th level the Kinetic Lash becomes a writhing psionic tentacle. When he hits with a single melee attack, he can choose to expend his psionic focus and grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity (like he had improved grab). If the grapple succeeds the target automatically takes Kinetic Lash damage + (his strength x2) (like constriction). Debilitating Lash (su): At 8th level the Kinetic Lasher embraces the host’s appetite for the physical power of living creatures. He can use a psychic strike to consume an opponent’s strength similar to Knife to the Soul ability of the Soulknife except it can only be used to deal strength damage. If the Kinetic Lasher expends his focus after a successful Debilitating Lash he gains a bonus to his strength equal to the strength damage of Debilitating Lash, these strength bonuses last for the duration of the encounter plus one minute afterwards. Debilitating Lash cannot be used in conjunction with any attacks with the Kinetic Lash that deals subdual damage, the hunger for power cannot be satisfied without drawing the blood of prey. Absorb Magic (su): The final ability of the Kinetic Lash surfaces, its magical appetite is finally mastered by the its wielder as his weapon becomes a drain for magic enhancements. Starting at 10th level when the Kinetic Lasher successfully disarms, grapples or trips an opponent with his Kinetic Lash, he may expend his psionic focus to emulate a targeted greater dispel magic against the weapon he disarms or the target of his trip attack, with a Caster Level equal to his class level + soulknife levels. Success means the disarmed weapon's magical properties are suppressed for 1d4+1 rounds, or the target has 1 spell already cast on him dispelled (chosen before the disarm, trip or grapple action is made, thus a failure wastes a psionic focus), and the Kinetic Lash automatically regains use of psychic strike or holds 1 additional use of psychic strike if his Kinetic Lash is already powered by psychic strike. If the dispel effect fails, it cannot be affected by Absorb Magic for 24 hours and the expended focus is wasted. Absorb Magic can only be used once per round, cannot be used in conjunction with any attacks with the Kinetic lash that deal subdual damage and does not affect weapons with an enhancement bonus higher then the Kinetic Lash's. 1: Kinetic Lash (1d4), improved mind blade 2: Defensive Lash. 3: Psychic strike +1d8 4: Kinetic Lash (1d6), Kinetic Lash containment 5: Lashing Grab, Focus Extract 6: Psychic strike +2d8 7: Kinetic Lash (1d8), Improved Lashing Grab 8: Debilitating Lash 9: Psychic Strike +3d8 10: Kinetic Lash (1d10), Absorb Magic As usual please tell me what you think. If anybody has any questions or comments feel encouraged to post them here.
Rhonin the Big 04-15-07, 05:39 PM	:bump:
RazielRavenloft 04-16-07, 02:14 PM	very interesting but I would give the Kinetic Lasher some feats or powers which improve his bab, for a whip 1d10 dmg is too much. thats my opinion
forsaken1111 04-18-07, 04:28 PM	Looks cool, I love the flavor. If my current character in our high-level game expires I might talk to my DM about using this, though we may have to alter it very slightly to fit his custom campaign setting. The idea of a psionic parasite influencing a soulknife's mind blade is very cool.
Rhonin the Big 04-18-07, 07:13 PM	very interesting but I would give the Kinetic Lasher some feats or powers which improve his bab, for a whip 1d10 dmg is too much. thats my opinion The Kinetic Lasher already has full BaB, combined with at least 5 soulknife levels he shouldn't be lacking in the attack department (mine had a fourth attack by 17th level). 1d10 slashing damage out to 15ft isn't really that bad at 16th level, even at 1st level a human fighter can have exotic weapon proficiency (spiked chain), willing deformity & deformity (tall) for the same 15ft reach and similar base weapon damage. Looks cool, I love the flavor. If my current character in our high-level game expires I might talk to my DM about using this, though we may have to alter it very slightly to fit his custom campaign setting. The idea of a psionic parasite influencing a soulknife's mind blade is very cool. Thank you, I'm not used to compliments on these boards! Are there any other GBI with the Kinetic Lasher? If so, please say so. If not then over the weekend I will begin working on some more flavor text.
forsaken1111 04-18-07, 09:42 PM	The Kinetic Lasher already has full BaB, combined with at least 5 soulknife levels he shouldn't be lacking in the attack department (mine had a fourth attack by 17th level). 1d10 slashing damage out to 15ft isn't really that bad at 16th level, even at 1st level a human fighter can have exotic weapon proficiency (spiked chain), willing deformity & deformity (tall) for the same 15ft reach and similar base weapon damage. True, if one is willing to use the vile feats and look like/roleplay a freak. I think it would be better if you leave the damage/effect as per the standard whip but allow Shape Mindblade to shape it into any whip-type weapon. (Example: Spiked chain, whip dagger, etc) That way you're not altering game mechanics for no real reason. What ingame makes your whip do more than double a normal whip's damage? What makes it do lethal vs nonlethal? That's equivalent to somehow adding the 'flaming' +1 enhancement without paying for it. If its suddenly 'sharper' than a whip then that should be reflected by using up a +1 enhancement slot or something. I'll probably leave the whip as a whip, but allow it to be shaped into a whip-dagger or spiked chain just as the default mindblade can be made into other types of blades. No need or reason for you to do better than longsword damage at reach without paying for it in any way and without provoking attacks of opportunity. Increasing the damage can be handled just fine by layering on enhancements anyway. Thank you, I'm not used to compliments on these boards! Are there any other GBI with the Kinetic Lasher? If so, please say so. If not then over the weekend I will begin working on some more flavor text. No problem. I liked the idea so I said so. I like the soulknife class. I've even created alternate versions of the Illumine Soul which can forge a conduit to any of the energy planes, not just the positive energy plane. I have all 4 elements plus negative energy worked out.
Rhonin the Big 04-18-07, 10:50 PM	True, if one is willing to use the vile feats and look like/roleplay a freak. I think it would be better if you leave the damage/effect as per the standard whip but allow Shape Mindblade to shape it into any whip-type weapon. (Example: Spiked chain, whip dagger, etc) That way you're not altering game mechanics for no real reason. No way am I allowing alternate shape forms, the mechanical drawback of this class is you get a whip or nothing. The point is by sacrificing the same 3 feats you can do the same thing, you dont even have to use willing deformity if you own Lords of Madness. What ingame makes your whip do more than double a normal whip's damage? What makes it do lethal vs nonlethal? That's equivalent to somehow adding the 'flaming' +1 enhancement without paying for it. The same thing that makes a monk's unarmed strikes deal upto 2d10 lethal instead of 1d4 nonlethal, exclusive training with a unique weapon + the application of inner psionic power (aka ki) If its suddenly 'sharper' than a whip then that should be reflected by using up a +1 enhancement slot or something. I'll probably leave the whip as a whip, but allow it to be shaped into a whip-dagger or spiked chain just as the default mindblade can be made into other types of blades. No need or reason for you to do better than longsword damage at reach without paying for it in any way and without provoking attacks of opportunity. You do pay for it in several ways: you lose 3 of your character's feats, 2 skill points a level, several definitive class skills of the soulknife & every possible notion of ranged combat outside of 15ft. In exchange it is no longer a suicide pact when you use a whip in melee, and your whip becomes magically & physically stronger. It really isn't that impressive to deal 1d10 damage with 15ft reach at 16th level, that's why I gave it to them. No problem. I liked the idea so I said so. I like the soulknife class. I've even created alternate versions of the Illumine Soul which can forge a conduit to any of the energy planes, not just the positive energy plane. I have all 4 elements plus negative energy worked out. Funny you say that because Im working on a paladin/soulknife pRc.
forsaken1111 04-19-07, 01:58 AM	So this class removes the ability to shape your mindblade into the previous shapes granted by the soulknife class? I must have missed it but I didn't see anything saying the whip form was permenant. Maybe I misunderstood you? If that's true perhaps you should add some sort of level-trade where you can trade-in soulknife levels for levels of your prestige class, like blackguard can trade in paladin levels. That would remove the ability to form the blade-shapes and even remove the ability to make the mind blade at all, in favor of the mind-whip. Perhaps trade in one level per level gained in your PRC? I don't know how it would work, just a cool idea. Expand on the class, give it an epic progression and some nice flavor text. Is the psionic parasite of illithid origin? Does it hate illithids or love them? Will it do extra damage to them, due to its heritage and their greater psionic power? Will it refuse to damage them? Is it possible to dual-wield the mind whips? Could you change the damage type by using the shape mindblade ability? Does this class preclude you from taking the soulbow or illumine soul classes? A union of this and the soulbow would be fairly cool.
Rhonin the Big 04-19-07, 02:02 PM	So this class removes the ability to shape your mindblade into the previous shapes granted by the soulknife class? I must have missed it but I didn't see anything saying the whip form was permenant. Maybe I misunderstood you? Yes, the whip form is the default form and replaces all mindblade forms. If that's true perhaps you should add some sort of level-trade where you can trade-in soulknife levels for levels of your prestige class, like blackguard can trade in paladin levels. That would remove the ability to form the blade-shapes and even remove the ability to make the mind blade at all, in favor of the mind-whip. Perhaps trade in one level per level gained in your PRC? I don't know how it would work, just a cool idea. No level substitution via Blackguard, that would remove the class feat requirements. Expand on the class, give it an epic progression and some nice flavor text. Is the psionic parasite of illithid origin? Does it hate illithids or love them? Will it do extra damage to them, due to its heritage and their greater psionic power? Will it refuse to damage them? It COULD be from an illithid origin, that's for the player to decide. It could be an abnormal growth of the body's psychic energy centers further augmented by taking soulknife levels realized upon the shaping of his blade. If it is from an illithid origin it could either be love or hate, my Duskling soulknife/KL wanted a cure so if it were from him being an illithid slave descendent he may begin to hate his masters (thus possibly creating an abberation-bane KL). I will make for flavor text once I finish my history reading & assembling my sweet Gundam birthday present when she arrives. Is it possible to dual-wield the mind whips? Could you change the damage type by using the shape mindblade ability? Does this class preclude you from taking the soulbow or illumine soul classes? A union of this and the soulbow would be fairly cool. No you cannot dual-wield Kinetic Lashes as only one can be created at a time. You cannot shape your KL into anything else because you lose your other mindblade forms. Since the KL is treated as both a soulknife & whip for qualifying for abilities which enhance them (such as improved critical), you can use KL to qualify for Soulbow though I do not understand why you would.
forsaken1111 04-20-07, 02:35 AM	No you cannot dual-wield Kinetic Lashes as only one can be created at a time. You cannot shape your KL into anything else because you lose your other mindblade forms. Since the KL is treated as both a soulknife & whip for qualifying for abilities which enhance them (such as improved critical), you can use KL to qualify for Soulbow though I do not understand why you would. Well it would give you ranged combat beyond 15ft and your soul-arrows (treated in all ways like your soulknife) would be stealing psionic focus from people. Would certainly silence my friend who said "Yeah it's neat but useless beyond 15ft... " when you hit him and dispelled his armor's protection at 40ft then did a charge the next round. Or get the ranged grapple feat and start grappling at range with your arrows and hitting people with targeted dispel magic because of the grapple...
Rhonin the Big 04-20-07, 11:31 AM	Should the su feed abilities be limited in use only to the whip, or should I let the guy who spent his levels in soulbow enjoy the synergy? Please tell me what it plays like after 4 combat encounters please, that way I can decide for myself how to tweak it.
forsaken1111 04-20-07, 08:40 PM	I'm not going to be playing him unless my current character dies, but if I do I'll let you know. Since its all psychic energy anyway I see no reason it wouldn't work together, but I suppose its up to you. I personally think the dramatic effect of pinning a guy to a tree with a psychic arrow AND dispelling some protection magic is kinda cool. Would make a great bounty hunter type who tracks down mages.
Tedronai 08-12-07, 07:56 PM	I like the concept. It make me smile. My DMs hate it when I smile... The Debilitating Lash abilitity, however, does not state a duration on the Str bonus. At least one minute is what I would suggest, and no more than one hour, as well.
Rhonin the Big 08-12-07, 08:07 PM	I like the concept. It make me smile. My DMs hate it when I smile... Are you smiling because you like it or because the Kinetic Lasher is too powerful? The Debilitating Lash abilitity, however, does not state a duration on the Str bonus. At least one minute is what I would suggest, and no more than one hour, as well. I added a duration = the remainder of the encounter +1 minute afterwards. Thats enough to fight a good fight and do some heavier lifting afterwards.
Tedronai 08-12-07, 08:24 PM	oh, because I like it. I don't think it's TOO powerful, though it is powerful. Just not overly so. The class essentially gives only significant effectiveness in extremely short range combat, and not particularly any more effectiveness that a Soulknife, with the appropriate feat selection, in melee. If I was writing the class, I might give it a few extra little perks (nothing particularly big) such as the ability to qualify for Improved Grapple and feats with IG as a prereq. without having IG's prereq.s