Nomad (Psychic Reformated) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Nomad (Psychic Reformated) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Adonis1x23
02-20-08, 10:22 PM So, my dm recently allowed me to use Psychic Reformation on my 6th level nomad, via a higher level psion, because my character was the first in our group to try psionics. I have read the psion guide in the forum but found that it lacked alot of infromation for nomads as far as optimal feat and power selection.

Can you give me advice on how this sounds and how I could improve it?

Human nomad Level 6
(Chaotic Neutral)
Str 9, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 13, Cha 12(stats are rolled, not point buy)

Powers
1st Inertial Armor, Vigor, Skate(untill I get fly, then will change to Know Location), detect psionics, and Control Flames(or entangling ectoplasm)

2nd Psychoportive shelter, crystalstorm, Share Pain, dimension swap

3rd Dispel Psionics(or touchsight), timehop, energy retort, Energy Wall(or telekentic thrust)

Feats
1st level Psycrystal Affinity,Psionic Body,Able learner(for bluff, diplomac,etc..)
3rd Extend Power
5th Psionic Meditation (or EK Suggestion)
6th Leadership? (I usualy love Leadership, but not sure about it for this character)
*alertness as a bonus for psicrystal (single minded)

My character is meant to be hard to pin down in combat and moves around alot. He uses ranged powers, keeps his distance, and generaly avoids being in "the thick" of battle.

I really am trying to avoid Elocator, mostly because of the feat requirements, although I am trying to get my dm to let me EK Scorn Earth.

So far there has been very little psionic opposition but we are about to go into the underdark so that could change. We opperate off of 'psionics is different'.

He is currently being pitted by former allies that include a Paladin, Wizard, Cleric and Ranger/Druid:weep:.

This is my first psionic character and I have yet to learn the subtlties of the class and thank you for your help.

P.s. Can you use PsyRef to change your discipline?
jbsaff
02-21-08, 01:30 AM Quick note:

Get your DM to go with transparency. It'll save your bacon and save psionics for your group. My first DM tried going the different route and got completely fed up.

If you like Leadership, consider Thrallherd. It may not fit well with your character this time around, but it can be an excellent option.

I'd vote for Entangling Ecto over Control Flames.

I don't think you can Reform your discipline. Skill points, feats, and powers learned are what can be done.

That's what I can comment on for now.
Lycanthromancer
02-21-08, 02:49 PM CHANGE TO TRANSPARENCY.

...That is all.
Adonis1x23
02-21-08, 04:48 PM DM ruled it.
jbsaff
02-21-08, 05:14 PM Enjoy those no-save, power-resistence powers, I guess. Make sure you're properly protected from retribution, though.

In order to avoid souring your group on psionics, you may not want to take advantage of every loophole that non-transparency provides. But there are probably plenty of "minor" abuses that could go in your favor.

Perhaps showing the DM situations where non-transparency will result in a completely lopsided encounter would help? He/she can maintain the feel and flavor of "Psionics is different than magic" without subjecting the game to horrible headaches due to bad mechanics.
Lycanthromancer
02-21-08, 06:31 PM Not to mention players and a DM who decide that psionics is horribly broken because they used an absolutely AWFUL variant that results in nothing but migraines and resentment.

If anybody complains about it, show them that the people from the psionics boards told you DO NOT DO IT! PSIONICS IS DIFFERENT IS BAD! NON-TRANSPARENCY IS BAD!

The only way to make it halfway useable and balanced is by houseruling out the wazoo, which will take far, FAR more effort than it's worth. Otherwise, you'll be flinging out powers that nothing in the game can resist, you'll be geared up specifically against retribution of any kind, and the game will suffer as a result.
Adonis1x23
02-21-08, 10:48 PM I appreciate it, but Judge (dm) has told me psionics differing from magic is part of the campaign, this is world setting has multiple campaigns in it and psionics plays a major part in that later.

Can we please go back to looking at the character.

are there any other good PrC's for nomad aside from Elocator?
ReaderOfPosts
02-22-08, 03:47 PM Elocater actually is a suboptimal choice for nomads. The elocater prestige class gives the ability to move around, but it doesn't particularly help you once you have it.

Pure Manifester types don't get a lot from prestige classes. Your best bet is probably Anarchic Initiate from Complete Psionics, because it gives you better skills, hit dice, and BAB in return for taking overchannel (which is a fairly useful feat and would recommend it).

I might recommend EK: Astral Construct and Hustle. Both are useful powers (Hustle has excellent synergy with Psionic Meditation and Psionic Fly: the ability to move manifest move can make you untouchable against the majority of monsters, and with the right terrain against nearly anything.)

Psionic Body is a really lack luster feat. At higher levels you'll almost always want to take Expanded Knowledge (or a few choice meta-psionic feats) for your feats. Overchannel, Improved Initiative, Boost Construct (If you take EK: Astral Construct), and Extend Power are all likely all better choices for first level feats. I'm a big fan of Able Learner, but usually only in builds where you get access to skills from multi-classing that you then apply your skill points to in other levels. I would swap it out, unless you see a benefit when you multiclass.

List of powers I recommend taking, and the priority I give them:
1) Vigor, Inertial Armor, Grease, Energy Ray, Detect Psionics, entangling ectoplasm
2) Share Pain, Dimension Swap, Energy Adaption Specified, one more of your discretion (Swarm of Crystals)
3) Timehop, Touchsight, Energy Wall, Solicit Psicrystal
Next Level: Fly and Dimension Door
CrimsonDeath
02-22-08, 04:26 PM If you plan on melee combat, Psion6/Anarchic Initiate 4/Illithid Slayer 10 isn't a bad psi-gish (BAB +16, ML 19). One of the advantages to using Nomad for such a build is that you get Suvival as a class skill, making Track an actually useful feat.
Adonis1x23
02-22-08, 04:51 PM I am definetly avoiding melee combat

He is meant to "battlefield control, move, blast, move, battelfield control, move,etc.."
Lycanthromancer
02-22-08, 05:08 PM Get a psicrystal and take astral construct. Use dimension hop to swap allies out with yourself, with your psicrystal (who conveniently places itself next to enemies), and with your constructs (who take the majority of the punishment for the group). Taking other battlefield control powers (such as wall of ectoplasm to back up wall of energy) can force your foes to take damage while they spend rounds chopping through to get to you, while your dimension hopping assures that your friends don't have that limitation.

Psionic fly and hustle (AVOID BURST, WHATEVER YOU DO!) are must-haves, as they allow you to stay well out of danger. If your allies are up to it, use dimension swap to switch places while you're in mid-air, allowing your friends to get the drop on your foes by jump-attacking them. CHARGE!

Getting schism (when you can, preferably via research to avoid wasting a feat, and available at level 7) will allow you to toss out psionic grease and entangling ectoplasm (quite probably THE best 1st level powers, bar none), thereby making foes easy targets for the party rogue, and for your Reflex save-based powers.

Have fun.

(Also, you can use your 1st level followers as a human swarm/mob. See...the PHB2? I think? Muahahahaha...)
ReaderOfPosts
02-22-08, 05:31 PM (Also, you can use your 1st level followers as a human swarm/mob. See...the PHB2? I think? Muahahahaha...)

As entertaining as the thought is, I'm slightly skeptical. The rules for Mobs (DMG II) imply that one only uses the mobs for enraged bands of people: not any collection of 48 people.
Slagger the Chuul
02-22-08, 08:40 PM As entertaining as the thought is, I'm slightly skeptical. The rules for Mobs (DMG II) imply that one only uses the mobs for enraged bands of people: not any collection of 48 people.

I also use them to simplify running large groups of melee combatants, and they work pretty well for it. For example, a horde of individual warrior skeletons isn't much fun to run when you've got more than a handful, but a mob of warrior skeletons is relatively easy to use, and can challenge groups of a higher level.
CrimsonDeath
02-23-08, 01:04 AM I also use them to simplify running large groups of melee combatants, and they work pretty well for it. For example, a horde of individual warrior skeletons isn't much fun to run when you've got more than a handful, but a mob of warrior skeletons is relatively easy to use, and can challenge groups of a higher level.

Mob rules (in a modified version) might be good for modelling an army of low-level soldiers, to make them more dangerous to mid-to-high-level players.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Adonis1x23 02-20-08, 10:22 PM	So, my dm recently allowed me to use Psychic Reformation on my 6th level nomad, via a higher level psion, because my character was the first in our group to try psionics. I have read the psion guide in the forum but found that it lacked alot of infromation for nomads as far as optimal feat and power selection. Can you give me advice on how this sounds and how I could improve it? Human nomad Level 6 (Chaotic Neutral) Str 9, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 13, Cha 12(stats are rolled, not point buy) Powers 1st Inertial Armor, Vigor, Skate(untill I get fly, then will change to Know Location), detect psionics, and Control Flames(or entangling ectoplasm) 2nd Psychoportive shelter, crystalstorm, Share Pain, dimension swap 3rd Dispel Psionics(or touchsight), timehop, energy retort, Energy Wall(or telekentic thrust) Feats 1st level Psycrystal Affinity,Psionic Body,Able learner(for bluff, diplomac,etc..) 3rd Extend Power 5th Psionic Meditation (or EK Suggestion) 6th Leadership? (I usualy love Leadership, but not sure about it for this character) *alertness as a bonus for psicrystal (single minded) My character is meant to be hard to pin down in combat and moves around alot. He uses ranged powers, keeps his distance, and generaly avoids being in "the thick" of battle. I really am trying to avoid Elocator, mostly because of the feat requirements, although I am trying to get my dm to let me EK Scorn Earth. So far there has been very little psionic opposition but we are about to go into the underdark so that could change. We opperate off of 'psionics is different'. He is currently being pitted by former allies that include a Paladin, Wizard, Cleric and Ranger/Druid:weep:. This is my first psionic character and I have yet to learn the subtlties of the class and thank you for your help. P.s. Can you use PsyRef to change your discipline?
jbsaff 02-21-08, 01:30 AM	Quick note: Get your DM to go with transparency. It'll save your bacon and save psionics for your group. My first DM tried going the different route and got completely fed up. If you like Leadership, consider Thrallherd. It may not fit well with your character this time around, but it can be an excellent option. I'd vote for Entangling Ecto over Control Flames. I don't think you can Reform your discipline. Skill points, feats, and powers learned are what can be done. That's what I can comment on for now.
Lycanthromancer 02-21-08, 02:49 PM	CHANGE TO TRANSPARENCY. ...That is all.
Adonis1x23 02-21-08, 04:48 PM	DM ruled it.
jbsaff 02-21-08, 05:14 PM	Enjoy those no-save, power-resistence powers, I guess. Make sure you're properly protected from retribution, though. In order to avoid souring your group on psionics, you may not want to take advantage of every loophole that non-transparency provides. But there are probably plenty of "minor" abuses that could go in your favor. Perhaps showing the DM situations where non-transparency will result in a completely lopsided encounter would help? He/she can maintain the feel and flavor of "Psionics is different than magic" without subjecting the game to horrible headaches due to bad mechanics.
Lycanthromancer 02-21-08, 06:31 PM	Not to mention players and a DM who decide that psionics is horribly broken because they used an absolutely AWFUL variant that results in nothing but migraines and resentment. If anybody complains about it, show them that the people from the psionics boards told you DO NOT DO IT! PSIONICS IS DIFFERENT IS BAD! NON-TRANSPARENCY IS BAD! The only way to make it halfway useable and balanced is by houseruling out the wazoo, which will take far, FAR more effort than it's worth. Otherwise, you'll be flinging out powers that nothing in the game can resist, you'll be geared up specifically against retribution of any kind, and the game will suffer as a result.
Adonis1x23 02-21-08, 10:48 PM	I appreciate it, but Judge (dm) has told me psionics differing from magic is part of the campaign, this is world setting has multiple campaigns in it and psionics plays a major part in that later. Can we please go back to looking at the character. are there any other good PrC's for nomad aside from Elocator?
ReaderOfPosts 02-22-08, 03:47 PM	Elocater actually is a suboptimal choice for nomads. The elocater prestige class gives the ability to move around, but it doesn't particularly help you once you have it. Pure Manifester types don't get a lot from prestige classes. Your best bet is probably Anarchic Initiate from Complete Psionics, because it gives you better skills, hit dice, and BAB in return for taking overchannel (which is a fairly useful feat and would recommend it). I might recommend EK: Astral Construct and Hustle. Both are useful powers (Hustle has excellent synergy with Psionic Meditation and Psionic Fly: the ability to move manifest move can make you untouchable against the majority of monsters, and with the right terrain against nearly anything.) Psionic Body is a really lack luster feat. At higher levels you'll almost always want to take Expanded Knowledge (or a few choice meta-psionic feats) for your feats. Overchannel, Improved Initiative, Boost Construct (If you take EK: Astral Construct), and Extend Power are all likely all better choices for first level feats. I'm a big fan of Able Learner, but usually only in builds where you get access to skills from multi-classing that you then apply your skill points to in other levels. I would swap it out, unless you see a benefit when you multiclass. List of powers I recommend taking, and the priority I give them: 1) Vigor, Inertial Armor, Grease, Energy Ray, Detect Psionics, entangling ectoplasm 2) Share Pain, Dimension Swap, Energy Adaption Specified, one more of your discretion (Swarm of Crystals) 3) Timehop, Touchsight, Energy Wall, Solicit Psicrystal Next Level: Fly and Dimension Door
CrimsonDeath 02-22-08, 04:26 PM	If you plan on melee combat, Psion6/Anarchic Initiate 4/Illithid Slayer 10 isn't a bad psi-gish (BAB +16, ML 19). One of the advantages to using Nomad for such a build is that you get Suvival as a class skill, making Track an actually useful feat.
Adonis1x23 02-22-08, 04:51 PM	I am definetly avoiding melee combat He is meant to "battlefield control, move, blast, move, battelfield control, move,etc.."
Lycanthromancer 02-22-08, 05:08 PM	Get a psicrystal and take astral construct. Use dimension hop to swap allies out with yourself, with your psicrystal (who conveniently places itself next to enemies), and with your constructs (who take the majority of the punishment for the group). Taking other battlefield control powers (such as wall of ectoplasm to back up wall of energy) can force your foes to take damage while they spend rounds chopping through to get to you, while your dimension hopping assures that your friends don't have that limitation. Psionic fly and hustle (AVOID BURST, WHATEVER YOU DO!) are must-haves, as they allow you to stay well out of danger. If your allies are up to it, use dimension swap to switch places while you're in mid-air, allowing your friends to get the drop on your foes by jump-attacking them. CHARGE! Getting schism (when you can, preferably via research to avoid wasting a feat, and available at level 7) will allow you to toss out psionic grease and entangling ectoplasm (quite probably THE best 1st level powers, bar none), thereby making foes easy targets for the party rogue, and for your Reflex save-based powers. Have fun. (Also, you can use your 1st level followers as a human swarm/mob. See...the PHB2? I think? Muahahahaha...)
ReaderOfPosts 02-22-08, 05:31 PM	(Also, you can use your 1st level followers as a human swarm/mob. See...the PHB2? I think? Muahahahaha...) As entertaining as the thought is, I'm slightly skeptical. The rules for Mobs (DMG II) imply that one only uses the mobs for enraged bands of people: not any collection of 48 people.
Slagger the Chuul 02-22-08, 08:40 PM	As entertaining as the thought is, I'm slightly skeptical. The rules for Mobs (DMG II) imply that one only uses the mobs for enraged bands of people: not any collection of 48 people. I also use them to simplify running large groups of melee combatants, and they work pretty well for it. For example, a horde of individual warrior skeletons isn't much fun to run when you've got more than a handful, but a mob of warrior skeletons is relatively easy to use, and can challenge groups of a higher level.
CrimsonDeath 02-23-08, 01:04 AM	I also use them to simplify running large groups of melee combatants, and they work pretty well for it. For example, a horde of individual warrior skeletons isn't much fun to run when you've got more than a handful, but a mob of warrior skeletons is relatively easy to use, and can challenge groups of a higher level. Mob rules (in a modified version) might be good for modelling an army of low-level soldiers, to make them more dangerous to mid-to-high-level players.