Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heridfel 07-29-07, 03:24 PM	Polymath Hook: A psionicist who tries to move beyond the limits of disciplines Requirements To qualify to become a polymath, a character must fulfill all the following criteria: Skills: Psicraft 8 ranks Feats: Psionic Endowment Special: Knowledge of powers from at least four different discipline lists Hit Die: d4 Class Skills The polymath’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), and Psicraft (Int). Additionally, any psion entering the prestige class may choose one skill granted by his discipline as a class skill for polymath. Skill Points per Level: 2 + Int modifier. Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special ------------------------------ 1 +0 +0 +0 +2 Expanded Knowledge, Depth through diversity 2 +1 +0 +0 +3 Strength through diversity 3 +1 +1 +1 +3 Expanded Knowledge, Widened horizons Level Powers Known ------------------------------ 1 +1 level of existing manifesting class 2 +1 level of existing manifesting class 3 +1 level of existing manifesting class Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A polymath gains no proficiency with any weapons or armor. Expanded Knowledge (Ex): At first and third level, you gain Expanded Knowledge as a bonus feat. Depth Through Diversity (Ex): At first level, you gain additional insight on how to manifest more powers each day. You gain 1 power point for each power you know that is available on a discipline list. This does not include powers on your discipline list, if applicable. You cannot gain more power points from this ability than your manifester level. Strength Through Diversity (Ex): At second level, you can use your advanced knowledge of how powers work to make a power harder to resist. To use this ability, you must expend your psionic focus. You may increase the level of one power that you are manifesting by an amount up to the number of disciplines that you know powers from. This cannot increase the level of the power higher than the highest level of powers that you can manifest, and it does not increase the cost of the power. It is otherwise treated as a power of its increased level in all ways, including an increased save DC and interaction with other powers and spells. A polymath may use this ability once per day. Widened Horizons (Ex): At third level, a polymath has learned more about learning powers than most psionicists will in their lifetimes. From now on, whenever he learns a power through Expanded Knowledge, he can choose a power of any level up to the highest-level power that he can manifest, even if that power doesn't appear on his class or discipline list. ----------- This class came about because I wanted to see a psionic prestige class with a full manifesting progression (other than Anarchic Initiate, which doesn't work for any non-chaotic character). I figured that this made for a good theme. The simplest entrance is for a psion who takes Expanded Knowledge at levels 3, 5, and 6 (and takes at least one power from his own discipline list). If the erudite variant psion is allowed, then it could conceivably join the class at level 6. They gain less from the class than psions do, though - fewer class skills, less of a benefit from Expanded Knowledge, and the capstone ability of polymath does not affect their ability to learn discipline powers through the erudite class ability. They do gain a larger benefit from Depth through Diversity, though, but the limit of bonus pp to manifester level means that they won't go completely overboard. Please let me know if you think the class is too good. I always worry about overbuilding, rather than underbuilding. Thanks.
CrimsonDeath 07-29-07, 06:08 PM	If you learn additional off-Discipline powers after entering the class, do they retroactively increase the PP gained from Depth through Diversity?
heridfel 07-30-07, 04:06 PM	Yes, that was my intent. I tried to phrase it like Psychic Seep (from Quori Mindhunter) and Psionic Body, both of which track the current state, not the state when the class feature or feat is gained. If you have a suggestion to make that clearer, I'd be happy to hear it. I also realized that it doesn't really make sense to have Psicrystal Affinity as the prerequisite. The class doesn't have anything to do with psicrystals. However, I do think it needs at least one feat explicitly mentioned as a prerequisite, even if most classes will need to take Expanded Knowledge to qualify. Given how Strength Through Diversity works, Psionic Endowment fits much better than Psicrystal Affinity did.
RadicalTaoist 07-30-07, 06:42 PM	*BZZZT* Full manifesting progression! That's a penalty! Other than that, it's a pretty good little class. I actually like it for an Educated Wilder.