Maximising a Psion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Maximising a Psion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
benensky
06-24-07, 06:56 PM Hi, I am new to this forum and hope I am not posting this to the wrong one.

One of the players wan t to try playing a Psion and I want to recommend or verify he has enough high damage spells to support the rest of his party. We was formerly a Wizard that got killed in our campaign. This leaves the party less one cannon to weild high damage.

If other players have played Psions what skills, feats and powers do you recommend?

Thanks!
benensky
06-24-07, 07:01 PM Maximising a Psion waqs a mistake sorry.
Thomar_of_Uointer
06-24-07, 07:19 PM Maximising a Psion waqs a mistake sorry.

You do know you can edit the post, and its name, right?

Yes, psions make good blasters (and they're more balanced and easier to play than wizards). If the player wants to specialize in dishing out damage, he should play a kineticist (a psychokinesis-specialist psion). If you need to check the rules yourself, you can find them here:

http://d20srd.org
InkBlot
06-24-07, 07:36 PM Just don't forget the golden rules of psionics!

1. You can never spend more power points than your manifester level.
2. You can only expend focus on one feat at a time.
Psikerlord
06-25-07, 06:45 AM with the right feats and a few select pieces of gear (eg overchannel/priviliged energy and a psionic rod of empower), psions are the best blasters in the game. They can dish out their strongest attack powers about 8-9 times a day, more than any other caster, resulting in large scale damage in only two or three rounds. Against the usual 3-4 fights a party faces/day, this should be all the hurt you need. Psions are less versatile than wizards however.
benensky
06-25-07, 12:55 PM Thanks all for the posts! :D

Psikerlord - thanks for the reccomendation for overchannel/priviliged energy and a psionic rod of empower

Good tips. Anyone else have any more tips they are more than welcome. Especially, if anyone uses a Psion for blasting, what powers do you use most effectively?

PS - Thomar_of_Uointer - I looked and tried to figure out how to do that but could only figure out how to edit the main part of the message:confused:

(oh, I just found I can "go advanced" editing this message, now I can edit the Title;) )
InkBlot
06-25-07, 01:51 PM Energy Conversion is a very effecient blasting power. You just need a way of keeping yourself charged with energy. Lighting yourself on fire, wearing a cursed item, or simply holding a torch by the wrong end all work. Share Energy Conversion with your psicrystal for twice the blasting fun each round!

Energy Wall is also a very effecient blasting power. The damage adds up round after round. Of course it works best in conjunction with some kind of power that keeps your enemies in one spot (like Grease).

Energy Wall is also a good utility power. Just set it to Sonic and watch those pesky doors vibrate apart in no time!
Fafnir
06-25-07, 03:24 PM Energy Conversion is a very effecient blasting power. You just need a way of keeping yourself charged with energy. Lighting yourself on fire, wearing a cursed item, or simply holding a torch by the wrong end all work. Share Energy Conversion with your psicrystal for twice the blasting fun each round!

Also, they can't catch you if you're on fire (http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=15&issue=4). :P
carnivore
06-25-07, 04:37 PM look here for more ideas:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=624041

:D
Psikerlord
06-25-07, 05:12 PM In terms of powers, for direct damage at low -mid level, you can't go too wrong with: energy ray (ranged touch attack no save, but gets PR), crystal shard (ranged touch attack, no save, no PR, but does less damage than energy ray) and energy missile (cross between lightning bolt and magic missile, high damage and selective targeting). Energy ball is the psionic fireball, but slightly easier to target (no pea-sized bead shooting away from you - no chance of early detonation)
Thomar_of_Uointer
06-25-07, 08:49 PM Good tips. Anyone else have any more tips they are more than welcome. Especially, if anyone uses a Psion for blasting, what powers do you use most effectively?

Energy missile is a very good power, even if you nerf its nonstandard augmentation (it should be +1 DC per 2 pp spent).
Psionic disintegrate is as sweet as the magical version.
Tornado blast is great for when you're fighting enemies with spell turning and spell resistance.
Concussion blast is the psionic bigby's backhand, good for reliably beating the **** out of someone without killing him.

As for utility, you should definitely take a moment to invest in time hop, its applications are endless.
benensky
06-25-07, 10:59 PM Thanks for all the additional posts

Epically:
InkBlot: Have to look into energy conversion - how is setting yourself on fire storing up energy? Why doesn't it do damage to you?
carnivore: Fantastic Link!! That is the stuff I was looking for.
Psikerlord: Again thanks. Likewise - that is the stuff I was looking for. I will recommend those.
Thomar_of_Uointer: Again thanks. More good stuff!

Hey, Thanks all. This is the kind of stuff I was looking for to recommend to the player. These sound like some great blasting tips.

I will happy if anyone else wants to pass on their wisdom.:D
InkBlot
06-25-07, 11:20 PM Ask me again after you look up energy conversion. It's on page 101 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook.
benensky
06-26-07, 06:59 PM InkBlot:

ck, this is the way i understand it:
1, You Manifest Energy conversion. 2. Energy Conversion prevents you from taking damage due to setting yourself on fire and instead stores the damage points as energy points. 3. At a time you select, you dispel these points as a ray doing damage to your enemy equal to the points you would have taken.:eek:

This does sound very useful considering you can return and fireballs or rays coming at you from other Psions, Wizards and Sorcerers. considering it lasts 10 minutes a level and my player will be level 4 it could be used to clear out a few rooms.

This is a pretty nasty power.

THANKS!!!!

Do you use this allot?
InkBlot
06-26-07, 07:44 PM It seems like you missed some of the finer points.

* At level 4, you're player can't manifest this power. If he is a psion, he needs to be level 13 to learn this power. If he is a wilder, he needs to be level 14 to learn it.

* Energy Conversion only protects against 30 damage. At level 13 an enemy caster/manifester should be doing about 45 damage with each blast.

I've never had the opportunity to play a psion who was high enough level to use Energy Conversion. If I ever do play one, I will most likely use this power. It's a very efficient way to spend power points.
benensky
06-26-07, 10:28 PM InkBlot:

Ok, i was wondering how to use a 13 power point thing at lvl 4 when, "You can never spend more power points than your manifester level." Now I understand. because you cannot use it untill level 13.

Thanks again.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
benensky 06-24-07, 06:56 PM	Hi, I am new to this forum and hope I am not posting this to the wrong one. One of the players wan t to try playing a Psion and I want to recommend or verify he has enough high damage spells to support the rest of his party. We was formerly a Wizard that got killed in our campaign. This leaves the party less one cannon to weild high damage. If other players have played Psions what skills, feats and powers do you recommend? Thanks!
benensky 06-24-07, 07:01 PM	Maximising a Psion waqs a mistake sorry.
Thomar_of_Uointer 06-24-07, 07:19 PM	Maximising a Psion waqs a mistake sorry. You do know you can edit the post, and its name, right? Yes, psions make good blasters (and they're more balanced and easier to play than wizards). If the player wants to specialize in dishing out damage, he should play a kineticist (a psychokinesis-specialist psion). If you need to check the rules yourself, you can find them here: http://d20srd.org
InkBlot 06-24-07, 07:36 PM	Just don't forget the golden rules of psionics! 1. You can never spend more power points than your manifester level. 2. You can only expend focus on one feat at a time.
Psikerlord 06-25-07, 06:45 AM	with the right feats and a few select pieces of gear (eg overchannel/priviliged energy and a psionic rod of empower), psions are the best blasters in the game. They can dish out their strongest attack powers about 8-9 times a day, more than any other caster, resulting in large scale damage in only two or three rounds. Against the usual 3-4 fights a party faces/day, this should be all the hurt you need. Psions are less versatile than wizards however.
benensky 06-25-07, 12:55 PM	Thanks all for the posts! :D Psikerlord - thanks for the reccomendation for overchannel/priviliged energy and a psionic rod of empower Good tips. Anyone else have any more tips they are more than welcome. Especially, if anyone uses a Psion for blasting, what powers do you use most effectively? PS - Thomar_of_Uointer - I looked and tried to figure out how to do that but could only figure out how to edit the main part of the message:confused: (oh, I just found I can "go advanced" editing this message, now I can edit the Title;) )
InkBlot 06-25-07, 01:51 PM	Energy Conversion is a very effecient blasting power. You just need a way of keeping yourself charged with energy. Lighting yourself on fire, wearing a cursed item, or simply holding a torch by the wrong end all work. Share Energy Conversion with your psicrystal for twice the blasting fun each round! Energy Wall is also a very effecient blasting power. The damage adds up round after round. Of course it works best in conjunction with some kind of power that keeps your enemies in one spot (like Grease). Energy Wall is also a good utility power. Just set it to Sonic and watch those pesky doors vibrate apart in no time!
Fafnir 06-25-07, 03:24 PM	Energy Conversion is a very effecient blasting power. You just need a way of keeping yourself charged with energy. Lighting yourself on fire, wearing a cursed item, or simply holding a torch by the wrong end all work. Share Energy Conversion with your psicrystal for twice the blasting fun each round! Also, they can't catch you if you're on fire (http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=15&issue=4). :P
carnivore 06-25-07, 04:37 PM	look here for more ideas: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=624041 :D
Psikerlord 06-25-07, 05:12 PM	In terms of powers, for direct damage at low -mid level, you can't go too wrong with: energy ray (ranged touch attack no save, but gets PR), crystal shard (ranged touch attack, no save, no PR, but does less damage than energy ray) and energy missile (cross between lightning bolt and magic missile, high damage and selective targeting). Energy ball is the psionic fireball, but slightly easier to target (no pea-sized bead shooting away from you - no chance of early detonation)
Thomar_of_Uointer 06-25-07, 08:49 PM	Good tips. Anyone else have any more tips they are more than welcome. Especially, if anyone uses a Psion for blasting, what powers do you use most effectively? Energy missile is a very good power, even if you nerf its nonstandard augmentation (it should be +1 DC per 2 pp spent). Psionic disintegrate is as sweet as the magical version. Tornado blast is great for when you're fighting enemies with spell turning and spell resistance. Concussion blast is the psionic bigby's backhand, good for reliably beating the **** out of someone without killing him. As for utility, you should definitely take a moment to invest in time hop, its applications are endless.
benensky 06-25-07, 10:59 PM	Thanks for all the additional posts Epically: InkBlot: Have to look into energy conversion - how is setting yourself on fire storing up energy? Why doesn't it do damage to you? carnivore: Fantastic Link!! That is the stuff I was looking for. Psikerlord: Again thanks. Likewise - that is the stuff I was looking for. I will recommend those. Thomar_of_Uointer: Again thanks. More good stuff! Hey, Thanks all. This is the kind of stuff I was looking for to recommend to the player. These sound like some great blasting tips. I will happy if anyone else wants to pass on their wisdom.:D
InkBlot 06-25-07, 11:20 PM	Ask me again after you look up energy conversion. It's on page 101 of the Expanded Psionics Handbook.
benensky 06-26-07, 06:59 PM	InkBlot: ck, this is the way i understand it: 1, You Manifest Energy conversion. 2. Energy Conversion prevents you from taking damage due to setting yourself on fire and instead stores the damage points as energy points. 3. At a time you select, you dispel these points as a ray doing damage to your enemy equal to the points you would have taken.:eek: This does sound very useful considering you can return and fireballs or rays coming at you from other Psions, Wizards and Sorcerers. considering it lasts 10 minutes a level and my player will be level 4 it could be used to clear out a few rooms. This is a pretty nasty power. THANKS!!!! Do you use this allot?
InkBlot 06-26-07, 07:44 PM	It seems like you missed some of the finer points. * At level 4, you're player can't manifest this power. If he is a psion, he needs to be level 13 to learn this power. If he is a wilder, he needs to be level 14 to learn it. * Energy Conversion only protects against 30 damage. At level 13 an enemy caster/manifester should be doing about 45 damage with each blast. I've never had the opportunity to play a psion who was high enough level to use Energy Conversion. If I ever do play one, I will most likely use this power. It's a very efficient way to spend power points.
benensky 06-26-07, 10:28 PM	InkBlot: Ok, i was wondering how to use a 13 power point thing at lvl 4 when, "You can never spend more power points than your manifester level." Now I understand. because you cannot use it untill level 13. Thanks again.