Psion and Vow of Poverty? How well does it work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Psion and Vow of Poverty? How well does it work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
echoota
07-10-07, 03:00 PM I've got a Hengayokai (from Oriental Adventures, updated to 3.5 in Dragon) which is currently a 4th leve psion and I've decided to go with the Vow of Poverty coming out of Book of Exalted Deeds.

For the Hengayokai I picked the sparrow form and so far it has worked out pretty well since a lot of the natural stats for the sparrow are potent at low levels. I can do all of my manifesting regardless of being in sparrow form and so I'm not finding many limitations.

However, what does come up as a problem a lot is the issue of magic items. Getting a wearing little sparrow size items is a pain and makes be get closer to my weight threshold to fly well. On top of all of that, spell usuers are quickly picking up on this unusual little bird flitting about with magic auraus all about it.

So, because of those concerns and also dealing with character motivations within the overall story I decided to go with vow of poverty. I think this is going to work a lot better for the character who was very immaterial to begin with. It's also giving a strong thematic background to the character, fleshed out with some real mechanics.

Has anyone else tried something similar?
InkBlot
07-10-07, 03:54 PM I once played a monk14/psion5/crusader1 with Vow Of Poverty. He stunk, but that was because he was multiclassed poorly. Vow Of Poverty, and that one level of crusader, were the only good decisions I had made with that character.

Anyway, Vow Of Poverty should work well. Just keep in mind that a lot of psion/wilder buff powers won't stack with it. This isn't a bad thing, since it lets you concentrate on damage or utility powers instead.

Ask your DM if the enhancement bonus to attack and damage (Exalted Strike?) works with weapon like powers - such as hammer, or dissipating touch.
TheCobra
07-10-07, 05:34 PM If I recall correctly, the attack and damage bonus applies to everything, not just weapons. Whenever you roll damage, add +1-5.
calronmoonflower
07-11-07, 02:15 AM The psion is well self contained so they function well without much equipment. Vow of Poverty works well with them as they need no material components of focuses for their powers and don't often wear much in the way of armor.
Toxic_Shaman
07-11-07, 07:41 AM VoP is pretty good for a Psion character, but it has some of the same issues any VoP character will face. VoP is quite powerful at low levels but by the time you reach higher levels you fall farther and farther behind what you would be able to do if you had magic items instead. It can make a cool character though.
The_Shaman
07-11-07, 08:21 AM Hmm, would a psicrystal or psionic tattoos be allowed for such a character?
ck2001wendt
07-11-07, 09:17 AM Hmm, would a psicrystal or psionic tattoos be allowed for such a character?

Psicrystal: Yes, just like you'd allow a Wizard to have a familiar.

Psionic Tattoo: No. You have to purchase it using GP.

A Psion with VoP seems like it would work well. The only drawback is that Cog Crystals and other ways of gaining extra daily PP become very important at high levels but are lost to you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
echoota 07-10-07, 03:00 PM	I've got a Hengayokai (from Oriental Adventures, updated to 3.5 in Dragon) which is currently a 4th leve psion and I've decided to go with the Vow of Poverty coming out of Book of Exalted Deeds. For the Hengayokai I picked the sparrow form and so far it has worked out pretty well since a lot of the natural stats for the sparrow are potent at low levels. I can do all of my manifesting regardless of being in sparrow form and so I'm not finding many limitations. However, what does come up as a problem a lot is the issue of magic items. Getting a wearing little sparrow size items is a pain and makes be get closer to my weight threshold to fly well. On top of all of that, spell usuers are quickly picking up on this unusual little bird flitting about with magic auraus all about it. So, because of those concerns and also dealing with character motivations within the overall story I decided to go with vow of poverty. I think this is going to work a lot better for the character who was very immaterial to begin with. It's also giving a strong thematic background to the character, fleshed out with some real mechanics. Has anyone else tried something similar?
InkBlot 07-10-07, 03:54 PM	I once played a monk14/psion5/crusader1 with Vow Of Poverty. He stunk, but that was because he was multiclassed poorly. Vow Of Poverty, and that one level of crusader, were the only good decisions I had made with that character. Anyway, Vow Of Poverty should work well. Just keep in mind that a lot of psion/wilder buff powers won't stack with it. This isn't a bad thing, since it lets you concentrate on damage or utility powers instead. Ask your DM if the enhancement bonus to attack and damage (Exalted Strike?) works with weapon like powers - such as hammer, or dissipating touch.
TheCobra 07-10-07, 05:34 PM	If I recall correctly, the attack and damage bonus applies to everything, not just weapons. Whenever you roll damage, add +1-5.
calronmoonflower 07-11-07, 02:15 AM	The psion is well self contained so they function well without much equipment. Vow of Poverty works well with them as they need no material components of focuses for their powers and don't often wear much in the way of armor.
Toxic_Shaman 07-11-07, 07:41 AM	VoP is pretty good for a Psion character, but it has some of the same issues any VoP character will face. VoP is quite powerful at low levels but by the time you reach higher levels you fall farther and farther behind what you would be able to do if you had magic items instead. It can make a cool character though.
The_Shaman 07-11-07, 08:21 AM	Hmm, would a psicrystal or psionic tattoos be allowed for such a character?
ck2001wendt 07-11-07, 09:17 AM	Hmm, would a psicrystal or psionic tattoos be allowed for such a character? Psicrystal: Yes, just like you'd allow a Wizard to have a familiar. Psionic Tattoo: No. You have to purchase it using GP. A Psion with VoP seems like it would work well. The only drawback is that Cog Crystals and other ways of gaining extra daily PP become very important at high levels but are lost to you.