Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Coneyman88 06-06-07, 02:47 PM	I'm helping my girlfriend build her (and my) first psionic character ever. I have absolutely no idea of how these things work. I love the core magic stuff but outside of that, I'm pretty much a newb!:confused: :confused: I am starting to get Incarnum....I'm babbling. She's a lvl 4 Kinecist (spelling?) and she is invovled in a low psionic campaign - but there will be psionic supplements (if you will) so she's not useless and the DM told her that it would be okay and still fun for her to persue this character. What can she do to get an extra edge for her character? She's Elan with Abilities: Str. 8 Dex. 10 Con. 10 Int. 21 Wis. 14 Cha. 6 What's the best way to bust her character and create a total badass? We need ideas for any skills (to max out - 64 skill points), feats, item, powers, ect.
Tempest Stormwind 06-06-07, 03:33 PM	See the New DM/Player's Guide in my sig to undestand the system. The FAQ at the top of the forum will answer any remaining questions you may have. As for the character: 1) PLEASE tell me the DM's using transparency (the default) even with the low psionics. 2) The highest Intelligence an elan can have at level 4 is 19, not 21, unless you were including equipment.
Tyroki 06-06-07, 05:48 PM	See the New DM/Player's Guide in my sig to undestand the system. The FAQ at the top of the forum will answer any remaining questions you may have. As for the character: 1) PLEASE tell me the DM's using transparency (the default) even with the low psionics. 2) The highest Intelligence an elan can have at level 4 is 19, not 21, unless you were including equipment. Perhaps they're starting at a certain age? Possibly old.
carnivore 06-06-07, 07:38 PM	look here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=624041 :D
Lycanthromancer 06-09-07, 01:14 PM	If she IS starting at a higher age category, her Cha REALLY sucks. I'd say treat her personality as if she goes at every problem like a chainsaw, even when some tweezers would be more appropriate. Blunt, and prone to serious overkill. Anyway, kineticists are mainly good for two thing: Blasting and Battlefield Control. It's easier to do the former in the beginning, and the latter later on (ie, after 10th level). You can also go in for caster-control with null psionics fields and such. Some ideas for powers in the early and mid-levels: I'd definitely go easy on the energy powers, however, as they overlap something awful. Take one ray power (energy ray), an AoE save-based powers (likely energy ball), and one pp-efficient power (energy current). If your party doesn't mind having its treasure destroyed, you can take energy missile for surgical strikes, and targetting weapons and armor to debuff your enemies. Even so, that's an awful lot of energy-based powers to take. If you want a more utility-based kineticist, take time hop for vast utility options, entangling ectoplasm and psionic grease for debuffing, and maybe skate or psionic levitation for mobility. Take as many Knowledge skills as possible, as the kineticist's skill list is sub-stellar, to say the least. You don't even need Disable Device; intelligent use of time hop or even a sonic-based energy ray can do that kind of thing for you. Just remember she does need to be careful about causing damage to other party members, even if she is as blunt as a bowling ball; nobody likes collateral damage.
Coneyman88 06-12-07, 11:02 PM	If she IS starting at a higher age category, her Cha REALLY sucks. I'd say treat her personality as if she goes at every problem like a chainsaw, even when some tweezers would be more appropriate. Blunt, and prone to serious overkill. Anyway, kineticists are mainly good for two thing: Blasting and Battlefield Control. It's easier to do the former in the beginning, and the latter later on (ie, after 10th level). You can also go in for caster-control with null psionics fields and such. Some ideas for powers in the early and mid-levels: I'd definitely go easy on the energy powers, however, as they overlap something awful. Take one ray power (energy ray), an AoE save-based powers (likely energy ball), and one pp-efficient power (energy current). If your party doesn't mind having its treasure destroyed, you can take energy missile for surgical strikes, and targetting weapons and armor to debuff your enemies. Even so, that's an awful lot of energy-based powers to take. If you want a more utility-based kineticist, take time hop for vast utility options, entangling ectoplasm and psionic grease for debuffing, and maybe skate or psionic levitation for mobility. Take as many Knowledge skills as possible, as the kineticist's skill list is sub-stellar, to say the least. You don't even need Disable Device; intelligent use of time hop or even a sonic-based energy ray can do that kind of thing for you. Just remember she does need to be careful about causing damage to other party members, even if she is as blunt as a bowling ball; nobody likes collateral damage. This was AMAZINGLY helpful! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
AntiDjinn 06-13-07, 01:34 AM	It may be a bad idea to play such a lopsided character for her first psion. High Int is tempting but 21 might be overkill. You need enough of a DC mod to routinely beat the saves of foes of comparable CR. Beating their save by a lot does not increase the hurt. And many blasts require a ranged touch attack rather than allowing a save. Maybe consider putting a few points into other stats to start, then put all gains into Int. Dex 10: Mod of zero. So when she wants to hit with Energy Ray or Crystal Shard her bonus on the ranged touch attack is +2. Even shooting at a target with touch AC 10 she will miss about 40% of the time. A Dex of 12 gives her +3 attack bonus with RTA's and another point of AC. Con 10: Mod of zero. Hit points aren't a huge problem (that's why she gets Resilience) but Con is the stat mod for concentration checks. Concentration is not an area to shortchange a primary caster/manifester. She can expend focus to take 15 if needed, so if the average concentration DC is going to be 22 or lower she should be OK. Wis 14: Not a huge deal for a psion. Will is already your best save. If you want a feat that has a Wis prereq then fine. If someone is casting at a psion though, they tend to pick effects that call for Reflex or Fortitude. If she is worried about making Spot and Listen checks then get a psicrystal. Cha 6: If she really wants to play someone who is alienated from society at large or who just come across as weird, then fine. Just be aware that Cha 6 is asking to be reduced to catatonia with Ego Whip. Even in a low psionics game Ego Whip is only 2nd level. Note that Resilience is useless against Ego Whip (it only works vs. hit point damage) and Resistance is close to useless (because the power does half damage if the save is made, a Cha of 6 can be zeroed in short order). Even one more point of Cha could keep her standing long enough to shoot back.
Tyroki 06-13-07, 01:45 AM	See, this is why you have to respect Anti-Djinn, Lycanthromancer, Tempest Storm, Hovnarr, and Bacris >.> They're all really helpful and absolutely kick ass >.>
CrimsonDeath 06-13-07, 04:22 AM	Con 10: Mod of zero. Hit points aren't a huge problem (that's why she gets Resilience) but Con is the stat mod for concentration checks. Concentration is not an area to shortchange a primary caster/manifester. She can expend focus to take 15 if needed, so if the average concentration DC is going to be 22 or lower she should be OK. Elan Resilience is a last resort. For routine damage management, use Vigor. (But either way, a couple more points of Con won't hurt.)
Tyroki 06-13-07, 04:46 AM	Vigor for the win. Though Inertial Armor doesn't seem to hurt >.> And hey, 3 more levels and she can edit that out if she doesn't like it xD Just adding to Lycans post, don't forget the Concentration and Psicraft skills. I'd say they're quite necessary xD Those and the knowledges (Especially of Psionics) work quite nicely ^^ (The planes can be nice =D It's helped me out in the campaign I'm in, which isn't centred around anything in particular yet.) Then whatever else is up to her. For feats, the bonuses given by a Psicrystal are quite nice, so Psicrystal Affinity gives you one. Psionic Meditation allows her to gain her focus back as a move action rather than a full rounder. Psionic Containment allows you to hold an extra focus in your Psicrystal, which can come in handy =3 Kineticist eh? I haven't tried one yet, but I'd say Empower Power could be quite a boost, but I don't know if you should grab it now or not. 4th level... It wouldn't add quite as much as it would at say, 6th level. Really, it's up to her and how she wants to play, but as has been said, Kineticists seem to be great at blasting the heck out of things ^^; Doesn't stop them grabbing utility powers of course >.> Control Sound, Time Hop, even Telekinetic Thrust. I've tried them recently in a campaign and I absolutely love them O.o Well anyway. If you get to the point where you can't really decide on what else to use feats on, consider Expanded Knowledge to delve into the other disciplines, or even other psionic classes. The FAQ and the Psion Compendium are quite helpful ^^ Read through the boards, and you will learn quite alot.
CrimsonDeath 06-13-07, 05:16 PM	Unless you're fighting lots of incorporeals, Inertial Armor is a wasted power known slot at higher levels (once mithral chain becomes available). For most of your career, you're probably better off wearing some armor with no check penalty, even if you're not proficient. Eventually the same argument can be made for Force Screen-- basically, once you can afford a +2 heavy darkwood shield. The Knowledge Devotion feat from Complete Champion is pretty good for just about anyone with Knowledge: Any as a class skill, especially if the character expects to deal damage rather often. Grab five ranks of Knowledge: Psionics and one rank each of Knowledge: Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Religion, and the Planes. If you do that, any time you see a creature, you can make a Knowledge check for guaranteed attack roll and damage bonuses against it. (Note that these bonuses aren't limited to weapon attack and damage rolls.) You may consider picking up a few more Knowledge skills just for the synergy bonuses-- Nobility & Royalty might be good if you ever find yourself needing to negotiate. Autohypnosis might be worth a few ranks. You never know when you'll get knocked unconscious, and stabilizing yourself is better than waiting for the healer. Plus, memorizing any interesting text you come across can be helpful too. But definitely max out Concentration. It lets you manifest in melee, in a grapple, in a vehicle, in bad weather... pretty much anywhere. As a primary manifester, you'll always want the opportunity to manifest a power, whether you intend to do so or not.
Tyroki 06-13-07, 07:26 PM	Unless you're fighting lots of incorporeals, Inertial Armor is a wasted power known slot at higher levels (once mithral chain becomes available). For most of your career, you're probably better off wearing some armor with no check penalty, even if you're not proficient. Eventually the same argument can be made for Force Screen-- basically, once you can afford a +2 heavy darkwood shield. I thought so, but would it not be useful at level 4? Not to mention it can be reformed out. Ooooh... Knowledge Devotion o.o Whats the exact text?
Jaid 06-13-07, 07:43 PM	The Knowledge Devotion feat from Complete Champion is pretty good for just about anyone with Knowledge: Any as a class skill, especially if the character expects to deal damage rather often. Grab five ranks of Knowledge: Psionics and one rank each of Knowledge: Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Religion, and the Planes. If you do that, any time you see a creature, you can make a Knowledge check for guaranteed attack roll and damage bonuses against it. (Note that these bonuses aren't limited to weapon attack and damage rolls.)linked power + call to mind ftw?
Lycanthromancer 06-13-07, 08:12 PM	You're quite welcome, C-man. By the way, do you know how the campaign is going to run? If it's going to be a seafaring campaign, or an undead campaign, or a Darksun campaign, or an FR campaign...you'll want to make sure the psion in question is properly configured. Playing against undead and dragons will be a lot different than if it's mostly an in-city, social game. Ask the DM about what she should expect, so she doesn't feel horribly put out (especially with a Cha of 6). If you know a bit better what you'll be up against, I can help you customize the kineticist a bit better. Give you especially useful powers, feats, skills, and whatnot. :)
CrimsonDeath 06-13-07, 08:26 PM	Ooooh... Knowledge Devotion o.o Whats the exact text? I'm pretty sure quoting the exact text would be a copyright violation, but I can give you the gist of it. To take the feat, you need 5 ranks in any Knowledge. When you take it, you choose one Knowledge skill (not necessarily the one you have ranks in) and treat it as a class skill, no matter what your class is. Then, in each combat encounter, you can make a Knowledge check appropriate to each creature type of enemy you're facing (The Planes for outsiders, Dungeoneering for aberrations, etc) if you have at least 1 rank in that Knowledge skill. Based on the value of that check, you get a bonus on attack and damage rolls against all creatures of that type during that encounter-- even if they're not of the same kind. (So, the same Knowledge: Dungeoneering check would apply to the Beholder and Mind Flayer that were there at the beginning of the fight, as well as the Choker that showed up five rounds later.) And, you get to make a separate check against each creature type, so if you're fighting an Ogre, a Goblin, and a Worg, you can make three Knowledge checks (Nature, Local, and Arcana, respectively). And, the checks are free actions. The bonus you get is determined by a table listed with the feat, but the bonus is always at least +1, even if your roll result is a negative number.
Tyroki 06-14-07, 12:41 AM	I'm pretty sure quoting the exact text would be a copyright violation, but I can give you the gist of it. To take the feat, you need 5 ranks in any Knowledge. When you take it, you choose one Knowledge skill (not necessarily the one you have ranks in) and treat it as a class skill, no matter what your class is. Then, in each combat encounter, you can make a Knowledge check appropriate to each creature type of enemy you're facing (The Planes for outsiders, Dungeoneering for aberrations, etc) if you have at least 1 rank in that Knowledge skill. Based on the value of that check, you get a bonus on attack and damage rolls against all creatures of that type during that encounter-- even if they're not of the same kind. (So, the same Knowledge: Dungeoneering check would apply to the Beholder and Mind Flayer that were there at the beginning of the fight, as well as the Choker that showed up five rounds later.) And, you get to make a separate check against each creature type, so if you're fighting an Ogre, a Goblin, and a Worg, you can make three Knowledge checks (Nature, Local, and Arcana, respectively). And, the checks are free actions. The bonus you get is determined by a table listed with the feat, but the bonus is always at least +1, even if your roll result is a negative number. o.o What are the minimum and maximum bonuses? That sounds insane o.o
CrimsonDeath 06-14-07, 06:10 PM	The minimum is +1, if you can't hit DC 16. The maximum is +5, with a DC 36 check (not unheard-of for an Int-based caster to be hitting half the time by level 15). I'm not sure how useful the feat would be for a primary caster, though.
Lycanthromancer 06-14-07, 06:13 PM	If you regularly make attack rolls, such as for a ray-user, it's not half bad.
Tyroki 06-14-07, 06:29 PM	If you regularly make attack rolls, such as for a ray-user, it's not half bad. Thats just what I was thinking. That would make them quite a bit easier to use, especially if you lack a dex mod... >.>... xD Like me.
Coneyman88 06-15-07, 11:47 AM	It may be a bad idea to play such a lopsided character for her first psion. High Int is tempting but 21 might be overkill. You need enough of a DC mod to routinely beat the saves of foes of comparable CR. Beating their save by a lot does not increase the hurt. And many blasts require a ranged touch attack rather than allowing a save. Maybe consider putting a few points into other stats to start, then put all gains into Int. Dex 10: Mod of zero. So when she wants to hit with Energy Ray or Crystal Shard her bonus on the ranged touch attack is +2. Even shooting at a target with touch AC 10 she will miss about 40% of the time. A Dex of 12 gives her +3 attack bonus with RTA's and another point of AC. Con 10: Mod of zero. Hit points aren't a huge problem (that's why she gets Resilience) but Con is the stat mod for concentration checks. Concentration is not an area to shortchange a primary caster/manifester. She can expend focus to take 15 if needed, so if the average concentration DC is going to be 22 or lower she should be OK. Wis 14: Not a huge deal for a psion. Will is already your best save. If you want a feat that has a Wis prereq then fine. If someone is casting at a psion though, they tend to pick effects that call for Reflex or Fortitude. If she is worried about making Spot and Listen checks then get a psicrystal. Cha 6: If she really wants to play someone who is alienated from society at large or who just come across as weird, then fine. Just be aware that Cha 6 is asking to be reduced to catatonia with Ego Whip. Even in a low psionics game Ego Whip is only 2nd level. Note that Resilience is useless against Ego Whip (it only works vs. hit point damage) and Resistance is close to useless (because the power does half damage if the save is made, a Cha of 6 can be zeroed in short order). Even one more point of Cha could keep her standing long enough to shoot back. Thank you for the breakdown of some flaws, and ways to improve the character. This will come in handy in a few days when we actually get together to build the thing! You're quite welcome, C-man. By the way, do you know how the campaign is going to run? If it's going to be a seafaring campaign, or an undead campaign, or a Darksun campaign, or an FR campaign...you'll want to make sure the psion in question is properly configured. Playing against undead and dragons will be a lot different than if it's mostly an in-city, social game. Ask the DM about what she should expect, so she doesn't feel horribly put out (especially with a Cha of 6). If you know a bit better what you'll be up against, I can help you customize the kineticist a bit better. Give you especially useful powers, feats, skills, and whatnot. :) I am actually in close contact with the DM (almost daily) and it's going to be a ranging campaign. We're getting tired of the bisic forrest-and-dungeon campaign so it's going to go all over the place. Mostly in a city that has the availabilities of a supermetropolis (as far as item availability, guilds, services, ect.) but it's not quite as big. As far as the Cha of 6 goes, the character is already meant to be a little bit out of place. Seeing as how psicons ar not extremely common in D&D (compared to wizards and sorcerers) the DM is also going to give her technology and give her a "from-the-future" feel so that we chn add some more flavor to the party than a she's-from-the-neighboring-country line. Hope that helps, if you need more info just ask me, I'm always talking with the DM and he'll let me know just about anything about the campaign anytime I need it.
Tyroki 06-15-07, 08:08 PM	So, any sign of flaws? =3 Giz alook at your current build will you Coney? ^^ I'm certainly loving the "From the future" idea. It sounds so illithidy =D Is she an Elan? I've been hoping someones been playing a rare Elan from the future, who comes back and warns the party that its the Elans who become the Illithids through something evil getting into the Elan birth ritual. That would be awesome.
Coneyman88 06-16-07, 12:14 AM	So, any sign of flaws? =3 No flaws for this particular campaign. :-\ Huh!? [QUOTE=I'm certainly loving the "From the future" idea. It sounds so illithidy =D Is she an Elan? I've been hoping someones been playing a rare Elan from the future, who comes back and warns the party that its the Elans who become the Illithids through something evil getting into the Elan birth ritual. That would be awesome. Sacrasm????
Tyroki 06-16-07, 02:02 AM	Don't read too much into it? I wasn't kidding >.> It would be freaking awesome. Giz a look = Give me a look. I thought that would spoke for itself.
Coneyman88 06-16-07, 11:46 AM	Don't read too much into it? I wasn't kidding >.> It would be freaking awesome. Giz a look = Give me a look. I thought that would spoke for itself. okay. uh...we haven't gotten a build together yet.
axenome 06-16-07, 12:37 PM	Unless you're fighting lots of incorporeals, Inertial Armor is a wasted power known slot at higher levels (once mithral chain becomes available). For most of your career, you're probably better off wearing some armor with no check penalty, even if you're not proficient. Eventually the same argument can be made for Force Screen-- basically, once you can afford a +2 heavy darkwood shield. Hrm... have you forgotten that both force screen and inertial armor are both augmentable? Inertial armor augments for 2 pp/+1 ac. Meaning that at manifestor level 9, for only 9 pp, it provides as much armor (With a 9 hour duration) as plate mail. Inertial Armor never really goes out of style, either, since any manifestor worth his Mind Blast takes Overchannel and Talented- they're just bread and butter feats. The progression of Inertial Armor only gets more brutal as a 20th level manifestor overchanneling for +3 levels at the beginning of the day gets a grand total of +15 to armor- the equivalent of +7 platemail. Expending his psionic focus eliminates the 5d8 damage he would be taking from overchannel (Because Inertial Armor remains a 1st level power) through the talented feat, spends 1 extra round refocusing after manifesting, and he is good to go. If you really feel the need to get those armor goodies like reinforced or whatever, get a suit of +1 padded loaded to the top with energy resist and what not- you've got +9 enhancement to blow through before you max out mortal magic. Bleh. On to Force Screen. Augments 4pp/+1 ac, not bad, has a fairly short duration. Even so, for cheeseball fights against nothing monsters you can spend 1 pp to boost your AC by 4, and unlike the aforementioned shield in the above argument, you can still wield a two handed weapon. When you finally DO go up against that very old red dragon, you can wind yourself up with the highest AC in the party by pumping the Force Screen up full- without overchannel you can get it up to +8 shield bonus by spending 17 pp (Equal to a +4 tower shield with the Dancing property), or +9 with a 1 level overchannel at 20. If you truly fear the 1d8 damage you can use Talented again, but I'd personally save it for the ray attack you're going to be throwing at the dragon cause, Hey! Dragons have CRAP touch armor classes. Or whatever else you feel like doing to him. Anyhow, the above example of overchanneled Inertial Armor and Force Screen means that given a comparable RoP and Ammy NA, your AC is going to be several points higher than the fighter. Math below. Level 20 Psion. Feats used here: Overchannel, Talented. Including level bonuses for 20 levels to attributes, starting scores at level 1 are 15,14,13,12,10,8. Assume this to be a human so no racial adjustments. Str:8 Dex:14 Con:14(13+1 for level) Int:19(15+4 for levels) Wis:10 Cha:12 10(Base)+15(Armor from 3 level overchannel Inertial Armor)+8(Shield from Force Screen for 17pp)+2(Dex)+5(Ammy natural armor +5)+5(Ring of Protection +5)= AC 45. Want to REALLY bash it hard? Make him an Egoist to get access to the Thicken Skin power, or take the Expanded Knowledge feat at level 3+ to get it. Thicken Skin grants an enhancement bonus to armor class- not to armor, natural armor, deflection, etc, but Enhancement, arguably an entirely separate bonus and would stack appropriately (according to how it is written). Also augmentable, lasts 10 mins/level. Oh how munchtastic is this. Overchannel this one to level 23, it will last 230 mins, or 10 minutes shy of 4 hours. 3pp/+1 ac, for 22 pp you gain an additional +8 for just under 4 hours boosting you to a grand total of AC 53. *See Post Script #1 The first time I saw this I felt ILL. For 7 hours and 40 minutes of protection, you do this 2 times (Thicken skin is ALSO a 1st level power, ergo overchannel/talent abuse again), for a total PP expenditure of 44 (Thicken Skin) + 23 (Inertial Armor) + 85 (17pp * 5 for the assumption of 5 encounters in a day- and who actually fights 5 bosses in a day? But for most fights you'll be making do with a +2 dancing heavy shield equivalent, so this cost is WAY higher than you'll actually pay unless you get into something like 80+ fights) = 152 pp for the day on protecting yourself. A 20th level psion with 19 int has 343 base pp plus 40 bonus pp for Int giving a grand total of 383 pp. Without resorting to anything else to boost Int (A +6 headband of Int grants 30 bonus pp at level 20, and this isn't being counted yet) he still has 231 pp to maul things with. And psions have LOTS of nasty things they can do to you with that much power to burn. Well, that's about the end of what I am willing to display here for the time being, but that is my argument of why Inertial Armor and Force Screen are the BEST armor boosting options available to a Psion, NOT the worst. Especially at higher levels. PS: I have been told by someone reading over my shoulder that Thicken Skin would probably be an enhancement bonus to Natural Armor(I haven't personally read the errata on it yet, but I will at some point) so if interpreted in that fashion then the Egoist mentioned above would forgo the Amulet of Natural Armor and make do with a measly AC 48. PPS: dirty psion trick # 2: the Fighter-killer Telepath, using same stats arrayed as above, without any int boosting items or a Psionatrix. Feats: Psicrystal Containment + Psionic Endowment + Greater Psionic Endowment + Overchannel + Talented Powers: Schism(Manifested early) + Mind Thrust Expend Psionic Focus #1(From Psicrystal) to add +2 to the DC of a power. Then Expend YOUR psionic focus to do it AGAIN. Then overchannel 3 levels(Taking the 5d8 damage) to boost your manifestor level to 23, to launch a 23pp, 23d10 Mind Thrust with a Will save DC of 28. Average damage of a 23d10 Mind Thrust is 126. Use Schism to refocus yourself, follow up the next round with a DC 26, 20d10 Mind Thrust (Average damage 110). Scrape up the puddle of brains on the floor with a shovel. PS: Headband of Int+6 and a Psionatrix of Telepathy will increase Int to 25, initial DC to 32 and second Mind Thrust DC to 30, but you'll have to give up the Amulet of Natural Armor to wear the psionatrix. In said case you can use your robe slot for a Skin of the Defender(EPH p 176) to gain a +4 to NA instead of the +5, or, if you use a feat to gain thicken skin and DM doesn't let them stack, see above, etc. If you should run across 5 Wishes to boost inherent bonus to Int you can raise Int to 30 and both DC's by another 3. Happy hunting. Changelog: Corrected math error on bonus PP.
Tyroki 06-16-07, 07:51 PM	Hang on, I thought th Schism can't refocus... Dude, as truely awesome as that is... Why the hell would you? Alright, nice arguement (I for one like Inertial Armor, but didn't want to touch Force Screen just yet) But why spend so much PP to get such awesome AC? >.> Aren'tcha more likely to spend less during your course of the day anyway? You can still get the extra duration via Overchannel and talented. Also... Err... 80 PP by level 20 for having 19 INT? No no no. You get 80 at Int of 26. You only get 40 from 19 Int. And no, I didn't use the chart. I checked using the formula. All of these huuuuge possibilities given to nova (And I would class 152 as a form of Nova, just to be nigh untouchable) but... What fun is it to use them, just to find the DM's going to screw you over later JUST for using them. (And I don't blame him or her for doing that either) Besides. If a player can do it, the DM can make their pawns do it many times over... Great. Now you've got 3 Psions coming after you that are nigh untouchable even to your party's FIGHTER.
InkBlot 06-16-07, 07:55 PM	Hang on, I thought th Schism can't refocus. You're kind of right. Your second mind can only take standard actions. Refocusing is normally a full-round action. However, the Psionic Meditation feat allows you to focus as a move action. The second mind can swap it's standard action for a move action, and use it's move action to focus itself, but only if you have the right feat.
AntiDjinn 06-16-07, 08:07 PM	The trick is, Schism states that it works like "two characters in one body". Nothing in the power's text says the two can trade foci back an forth any more than two characters could do normally. So if only mind 2 is focused, mind 1 can't use a metapsionic feat. They each have a distinct manifester level, each use an action to manifest; they manifest powers independently of one another, so each has to manage their own focus.
axenome 06-16-07, 09:49 PM	:blush: Yeah, sorry about the math blunder for bonus pp- you're right, is only 40... As for the second mind refocusing, the feat is Psionic Meditation. And if it is truly being treated as a separate entity, then that means the second mind can potentially hold a THIRD psionic focus- but the psicrystal will give up its focus to the first or the second mind because the psicrystal is telepathically linked to you at that point, and it is still you. Oh man this strikes me as SO ugly. New order of operation: Round 1: Expend crystal focus to avoid damage from overchannel, expend second mind focus to avoid damage from its overchannel, Mind Thrust #1 23d10, Mind Thrust #2 17D10. Ewww. Potentially 40d10, average damage 220. Next round expend Psicrystal focus to avoid 1 overchannel, soak the other one. another 40d10 at the cost of 5d8 damage to you. While the fighter is trying his level best to make you a head shorter, and THAT is why you would want an AC of 45 :) because after the FIRST round of abuse that fighter is gonna either run away or charge right through your companions and try to murder you. If he isn't dead after the first one, that is. :dancin: