Post/Author/DateTime	Post
m o n k 12-31-07, 04:52 PM	Are there any skills out there that Psions with the Telepath discipline absolutely shouldn't do without? In other words, can it be said that a telepath is silly to not have X number of ranks in Y skill? Or does it depend more on what you want to do?
Tedronai 12-31-07, 05:27 PM	Well, Psicraft and Concentration should of course be at max ranks or very near to it, but that goes for pretty much any full manifester.
CrimsonDeath 12-31-07, 05:44 PM	Diplomacy is one of the most powerful skills in the game, if you can get a stupidly high modifier. Even if you're not really trying, it can be nice to have. Depending on how your DM runs games, Gather Information is great for keeping a quest from stagnating. Your Knowledge skills can be good for Synergy bonuses. Five ranks in Knowledge (Psionics) gives you +2 to Psicraft; Knowledge (Local) gives a synergy bonus on Gather Information; Knowledge (Nobility & Royalty) gives a synergy bonus on Diplomacy. Bluff is not only worth having in its own right for certain occasions, but it also gives synergy bonuses on three different skills: Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sleight of Hand. Diplomacy is the most important of the three for a Telepath. Depending on the DM, Bluff may also help out when using the Suggestion psionic power. I'm not sure how useful Sense Motive is in its own right, but if you're trying to get a good Diplomacy modifier, you'll want at least five ranks for the synergy bonus.
Nabuchadnezzar 12-31-07, 07:44 PM	sense motive maxed + inquisitor = who does need zone of thuth or discern lies anymore? as a telepath I'll put ranks in: Psicraft maxed Concentration maxed Knowledge (psionic) at least 5 ranks, better maxed Knowledge (local) 5 ranks Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks Diplomacy maxed Sense motive maxed Bluff at least 5 ranks, better maxed Buy a circlet of persuasion Get a "friend" psicrystal
archerpwr 01-01-08, 12:56 PM	Funny, my telepath thrall has all of these except diplomacy. Diplomacy is the shaper thrallherd's job.
AntiDjinn 01-01-08, 01:40 PM	If you really need to know if a person is lying to you, you could just peek inside their head (if you were all that concerned about their right to privacy and the sanctity of their inner thoughts you wouldn't be a telepath). Just hide the displays and be confident of the DC of your intrusion because if you beat their Will save they don't know they have been subjected to a power. Still, the average telepath has neither the points nor the actions to spare to be reading the minds of everyone they talk to. Sense motive (+/- Inquisitor) can be a real point saver. The same applies to other interaction skills: You might not need to be diplomatic when you can force the issue with Charm and Suggestion, but using the skill does not cost you points and does not constitute an attack. If you fail at an attempt to convince someone to see it your way, then no harm no foul, everyone is expected to state their case. If you attempt to tamper with someone's mind and flub it, then bad things will ensue. So try your social skills first if you aren't in combat or dealing with someone actively hostile, you can always abuse their minds if being nice fails.
Nabuchadnezzar 01-01-08, 03:40 PM	skill tests are not [mind affecting] ;) and they don't waste PP :D