Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Artector 12-08-07, 11:16 AM	I checked the FAQ and didn't find anything, so I'm creating this thread. The Astral Construct menu C choice Energy Bolt is a little confusing on how to calculate the save DC. Since the Construct has a non-int, 11 wis, and 10 cha, I really doubt it matters but I'd like to know if there was anything to pump the DC up to more than 16 (Using Electricity). As much as I'd love it I doubt the construct gets my int bonus to the DC.... Anyways, any help?
Lycanthromancer 12-08-07, 11:29 AM	About the only ways to do this are: 1.) Give it a feat (which can't be done, what with a -- Int. 2.) Give it a Cha-boosting item. 3.) Make a homebrewed feat that you take (similar to Boost Construct).
Zathress 12-08-07, 12:59 PM	Psi/spell-like abilities don't require minimum mental scores to cast/manifest there abilities the menu choice gives the Construct the psi like ability to manifest energy bolt thus its charisma could be 1 and it manifest it fine. Psi/spell-like abilities use the creatures charisma modifier to calculate saves. You could place a cloak of charisma on it as well as Psionatrix of psychokinesis to up the DC. So even if you had say the cloak and the psionatrix you could only up the DC by 4 to a total of 18. (augmented to an 8th level manifester increases the DC by 1) And a DC of 20 if the foe is wearing metal armor. Your better off accepting the foe will always make their save, due to the basic expense and time required to equip your construct. The energy bolt power(on the construct) is best when fighting things like swarms or creatures that will easily out maneuver and avoid the construct. As well as when the enemy creature is vulnerable to certain energy types.
AntiDjinn 12-08-07, 04:02 PM	Energy Bolt is a sub-optimal C menu choice in most cases. The fact that you are looking to take extraordinary measure to make it useful shows this. If you really*need energy damage to hurt a foe, then as a psion you could have just shot it yourself for less effort than it takes to make a construct. Using Energy Bolt takes a standard action from the construct, and by the levels where you are getting C picks, your construct could no so much more with its action. If you want a construct that can blast then take Concussion, it does less damage, but never misses, replaces an energy descriptor (defenses are common) with the Force descriptor (defenses are very rare), and most importantly is a free action to use so your construct can toss it out in addition to its normal actions.
Artector 12-08-07, 04:40 PM	Thanks. I wasn't really looking into pumping $ or feats into it, I was just curious. And I didn't really notice Concussion Blast was a free action... that makes it more useful. What I was going for where to have several very annoying invisible snipers blasting the crap out of things, and make the most use of the natural invisibility trait. Though Full Attack+Concussion Blast+Invisible will be pretty damn devastating. (And that's before I pull out the other mean stuff I can do. :devil:)
InkBlot 12-08-07, 05:01 PM	With Boost Construct, a 13-power-point astral construct deals 4d6 energy + 3d6 force damage every round for 13 rounds. That's 91d6 damage over all. That's a bit simplified, but I think it illustrates my point. It's more economical to set up a blasty-bot construct than it is to blast on your own. It's just not something you'd do if you favor nova tactics, or if you're facing a single big monster (unless, perhaps, you worry that the monster could pulverize your construct too quickly in melee). It only takes 2-4 rounds for a 13-point AC to match the damage output of a 13-point energy bolt. Anything after that is gravy. In my group, fights usually last at least 5 rounds.
Artector 12-08-07, 05:56 PM	With Boost Construct, a 13-power-point astral construct deals 4d6 energy + 3d6 force damage every round for 13 rounds. That's 91d6 damage over all. That's a bit simplified, but I think it illustrates my point. It's more economical to set up a blasty-bot construct than it is to blast on your own. It's just not something you'd do if you favor nova tactics, or if you're facing a single big monster (unless, perhaps, you worry that the monster could pulverize your construct too quickly in melee). It only takes 2-4 rounds for a 13-point AC to match the damage output of a 13-point energy bolt. Anything after that is gravy. In my group, fights usually last at least 5 rounds. A good argument as well... Though that's what's great about AC, I have choices. And Temporal Acceleration means I can throw several out as a swift action (effectively.) Turn 1: Blast something, move away. Temporal Acceleration 15 PP. 2 rounds of actions. -Use TA time to form 2 constructs. (3 depending on Personal Construct) Turn 2: Repeat if necessary. Turn 3: You guessed it. That's essentially the plan. (And yes, nova-ing is very viable in the game I'm playing in, and there's only 1 more session, so its a good time to do that crap.) So far doing it less crazy has been effective. I do have another question though. I have Personal Construct from the Mind's Eye, and can throw out my personal construct as a swift action for my focus. A) Can I utilize this during Temporal Acceleration? and B) Can I have more than 1 Personal Construct at a time? I haven't beeen using them during situation A), but I've been assuming yes on B). Please be nice if I'm making any grave errors.
Suspect_Unusual 12-08-07, 07:23 PM	1) Yes, if you have the psionic focus to expend. 2) No if you use Complete Psionic, Yes if you ignore that 'eratta'.
Artector 12-08-07, 10:03 PM	1) Yes, if you have the psionic focus to expend. 2) No if you use Complete Psionic, Yes if you ignore that 'eratta'. Thank you. On #2 I was referring specifically to Personal Construct, and as far as I care CompPsi doesn't exist yet. The wording in Personal Construct refers quite a bit to the singular, so that's why I ask.
Suspect_Unusual 12-08-07, 10:09 PM	I'll admit that the wording doesn't, as far as I can tell, directly support my conclusion. Flavorfully, I see it as a sort of "favored template" for astral constructs that are always a mere super-focused-state away from instantly manifesting. Since each construct is created on the spot, and isn't "summoned" per se, it would seem weird conceptually for it to be limited to just one. *shrug*