Soulknife feat and weapon damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Soulknife feat and weapon damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Samothrake
03-07-07, 01:44 AM I just want to make sure I have my mind wrapped around the rules correctly here. I looked around, but have not found a search feature for the boards, so forgive me if this has been asked before.

I am helping a friend reformat his Level 11 Soulknife. I’ve checked the errata, the Dragon Magizine most cited, the Complete Psionic, and Expanded Psionic Handbook.

So just to make things clear to all, here’s my understanding of a mindblade. The soulknife makes it out of psionic energy, but in itself, the mindblade is not a psionic weapon. It behaves at low levels like any other short sword would. Or so states the XPH.
The Psionic Weapon feat allows any person who can become psionically focused (which includes a Soulknife thanks to the free Wild Talent feat) to expend their focus to do an additional 2d6 damage if they hit. Since the mindblade acts like a normal short sword, a soulknife can use the Psionic Weapon feat to add damage to a single strike when he expends his focus. Does this sound correct?

Furthermore since this character is level 11, he can also use Psychic Strike to deal another 3d8 points of damage. This character also routinely uses the Vicious special quality for his weapon.
If my calculations are right, if this character has the weapon charged with Psychic Strike, and expends his focus, if he hits, he does 1d6 (weapon damage) + 2d6 (psychic weapon damage) + 2d6 (vicious quality) + 3d8 (psychic strike) + strength bonus – a total of 5d6+3d8+strength. Is that correct?

Also, if one takes Improved Critical (mindblade) does it apply to all forms (bastard sword, long sword etc) of the mindblade or only when it is in short sword form?
calronmoonflower
03-07-07, 02:22 AM 1. yes the damage is correct.

2. improved critical (mind blade) would work no matter its shape.
Despana
03-07-07, 02:24 AM You've got it right. But keep in mind they can only do it once every other round (and without Psionic Meditation they don't even get to move on the round they strike) and take 1d6 damage themselves in the process.

The numbers look more impressive than the tactic actually is.

If you choose mindblade as the weapon for any feats (weapon focus, improved critical, etc.) it applies to all forms the mindblade assumes.
Bacris
03-07-07, 08:07 AM Also remember that even at 1st level, the mind blade counts as a magic weapon for damage reduction.
ChubZ
03-07-07, 06:54 PM Can you tell me where did you get that from?
I've always thought that it was in all ways as a normal shortsword/longsword/bastard and changes to +1 and only then becomes usable against DR. At least that's how my DM stated that.
If there's anyplace that states otherwise I'd like to know :)

tnx
Bacris
03-07-07, 08:43 PM It's right in the mind blade entry.

Mind Blade (Su): As a move action, a soulknife can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind. The blade is identical in all ways (except visually) to a short sword of a size appropriate for its wielder. For instance, a Medium soulknife materializes a Medium mind blade that he can wield as a light weapon, and the blade deals 1d6 points of damage (crit 19–20/x2). Soulknives who are smaller or larger than Medium create mind blades identical to short swords appropriate for their size, with a corresponding change to the blade’s damage. The wielder of a mind blade gains the usual benefits to his attack roll and damage roll from a high Strength bonus.
The blade can be broken (it has hardness 10 and 10 hit points); however, a soulknife can simply create another on his next move action. The moment he relinquishes his grip on his blade, it dissipates (unless he intends to throw it; see below). A mind blade is considered a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
ChubZ
03-08-07, 08:09 AM So that's considere even if it's not a +1 enchantment.
Cool, thanks.
SlanderPanic
03-08-07, 11:23 AM Right, because it's made out of supernatural energy. Normal weapons need at least a +1 enhancement bonus (not enchantment) to bypass DR/magic because, otherwise, they simply aren't supernatural. Other weapons made from energy also bypass DR/magic, such as Mordenkainen's sword and the pyrokineticist's flame lash.
Despana
03-08-07, 01:16 PM Just to quibble, the fire lash would bypass any and all DR since it is energy damage. Otherwise you are correct.
ChubZ
03-08-07, 07:10 PM Isn't it made from ectoplasm not energy. I thought that there was a feat to treat your mind blade as energy weapon/force effects and such. gonna go read through srd again.
Found it:
a soulknife can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind.
I guess the form is done with ectoplasm.
The blade is identical in all ways (except visually) to a short sword of a size appropriate for its wielder.
This is the part that doesn't stick with me though. If it already overcomes DR even before it becomes +1, then why the magical progression. Why not declare it a psionic weapon that does a certain amount of damage and don't worry about DR. And state a progression that has something to do with PR being that core SK manifests a blade instead of any type of power of any level.
SlanderPanic
03-08-07, 07:34 PM I'm not sure how you're getting "ectoplasm" from "composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind." No, there's no feat that lets you treat your mind blade as a force effect.

The reason the mind blade has an enhancement progression is because it improves your attack and damage rolls. The game doesn't use DR/+X anymore, so the enhancement bonus doesn't matter for overcoming DR.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Samothrake 03-07-07, 01:44 AM	I just want to make sure I have my mind wrapped around the rules correctly here. I looked around, but have not found a search feature for the boards, so forgive me if this has been asked before. I am helping a friend reformat his Level 11 Soulknife. I’ve checked the errata, the Dragon Magizine most cited, the Complete Psionic, and Expanded Psionic Handbook. So just to make things clear to all, here’s my understanding of a mindblade. The soulknife makes it out of psionic energy, but in itself, the mindblade is not a psionic weapon. It behaves at low levels like any other short sword would. Or so states the XPH. The Psionic Weapon feat allows any person who can become psionically focused (which includes a Soulknife thanks to the free Wild Talent feat) to expend their focus to do an additional 2d6 damage if they hit. Since the mindblade acts like a normal short sword, a soulknife can use the Psionic Weapon feat to add damage to a single strike when he expends his focus. Does this sound correct? Furthermore since this character is level 11, he can also use Psychic Strike to deal another 3d8 points of damage. This character also routinely uses the Vicious special quality for his weapon. If my calculations are right, if this character has the weapon charged with Psychic Strike, and expends his focus, if he hits, he does 1d6 (weapon damage) + 2d6 (psychic weapon damage) + 2d6 (vicious quality) + 3d8 (psychic strike) + strength bonus – a total of 5d6+3d8+strength. Is that correct? Also, if one takes Improved Critical (mindblade) does it apply to all forms (bastard sword, long sword etc) of the mindblade or only when it is in short sword form?
calronmoonflower 03-07-07, 02:22 AM	1. yes the damage is correct. 2. improved critical (mind blade) would work no matter its shape.
Despana 03-07-07, 02:24 AM	You've got it right. But keep in mind they can only do it once every other round (and without Psionic Meditation they don't even get to move on the round they strike) and take 1d6 damage themselves in the process. The numbers look more impressive than the tactic actually is. If you choose mindblade as the weapon for any feats (weapon focus, improved critical, etc.) it applies to all forms the mindblade assumes.
Bacris 03-07-07, 08:07 AM	Also remember that even at 1st level, the mind blade counts as a magic weapon for damage reduction.
ChubZ 03-07-07, 06:54 PM	Can you tell me where did you get that from? I've always thought that it was in all ways as a normal shortsword/longsword/bastard and changes to +1 and only then becomes usable against DR. At least that's how my DM stated that. If there's anyplace that states otherwise I'd like to know :) tnx
Bacris 03-07-07, 08:43 PM	It's right in the mind blade entry. Mind Blade (Su): As a move action, a soulknife can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind. The blade is identical in all ways (except visually) to a short sword of a size appropriate for its wielder. For instance, a Medium soulknife materializes a Medium mind blade that he can wield as a light weapon, and the blade deals 1d6 points of damage (crit 19–20/x2). Soulknives who are smaller or larger than Medium create mind blades identical to short swords appropriate for their size, with a corresponding change to the blade’s damage. The wielder of a mind blade gains the usual benefits to his attack roll and damage roll from a high Strength bonus. The blade can be broken (it has hardness 10 and 10 hit points); however, a soulknife can simply create another on his next move action. The moment he relinquishes his grip on his blade, it dissipates (unless he intends to throw it; see below). A mind blade is considered a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
ChubZ 03-08-07, 08:09 AM	So that's considere even if it's not a +1 enchantment. Cool, thanks.
SlanderPanic 03-08-07, 11:23 AM	Right, because it's made out of supernatural energy. Normal weapons need at least a +1 enhancement bonus (not enchantment) to bypass DR/magic because, otherwise, they simply aren't supernatural. Other weapons made from energy also bypass DR/magic, such as Mordenkainen's sword and the pyrokineticist's flame lash.
Despana 03-08-07, 01:16 PM	Just to quibble, the fire lash would bypass any and all DR since it is energy damage. Otherwise you are correct.
ChubZ 03-08-07, 07:10 PM	Isn't it made from ectoplasm not energy. I thought that there was a feat to treat your mind blade as energy weapon/force effects and such. gonna go read through srd again. Found it: a soulknife can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind. I guess the form is done with ectoplasm. The blade is identical in all ways (except visually) to a short sword of a size appropriate for its wielder. This is the part that doesn't stick with me though. If it already overcomes DR even before it becomes +1, then why the magical progression. Why not declare it a psionic weapon that does a certain amount of damage and don't worry about DR. And state a progression that has something to do with PR being that core SK manifests a blade instead of any type of power of any level.
SlanderPanic 03-08-07, 07:34 PM	I'm not sure how you're getting "ectoplasm" from "composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind." No, there's no feat that lets you treat your mind blade as a force effect. The reason the mind blade has an enhancement progression is because it improves your attack and damage rolls. The game doesn't use DR/+X anymore, so the enhancement bonus doesn't matter for overcoming DR.