Soulknife help! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Soulknife help! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
medivaldude
03-24-08, 02:51 AM Hey guys, im making a 2nd lvl half-orc soulknife, and i was wondering what feats and nifty equipment i should give him.
bkdubs123
03-24-08, 03:07 AM You should reconsider playing the Soulknife (because its just not a very good class at all) and play my Lurkblade instead (think of it as Soulknife with a kick).

Honestly, Soulknife's just not very great after a few levels. I'd look into something else if I were you.
ppaladin123
03-24-08, 04:34 AM If you are really set on the soul knife you should probably play as a kalashtar and take some of their soul knife substitution levels. Then focus on getting into llumine soul, which will boost your BAB and give your mind blade some desperately needed augments. There are also a few items in the magic item compendium that allow you to treat your mind blade as adamantine and some other materials. Those are probably a requirement. In general soul knife seems like a class that is only good as a piece of a gestalt build.
CrimsonDeath
03-24-08, 12:13 PM If you have Complete Psionic, you might want to look at that Soulbow and Illumine Soul prestiege classes. Otherwise, if your Wisdom is high enough, you might consider going into War Mind for four or five levels, even if it doesn't advance your mind blade.

As a half-orc, you may want to focus on melee. The Psionic Weapon line of feats may be good. Greater Psionic Weapon + Psychic Strike or Deep Impact + Power Attack + Psychic Strike is a good way to start off combat with a big hit. In this case, as soon as you can shape your mind blade, use the longsword or bastard sword version and wield it two-handed. Consider the Improved Buckler Defense feat from Complete Warrior, or an Animated shield. If your Wisdom is high enough, you might look into the Psionic Meditation feat.

Remember that you can throw your mind blade with a 30' range increment. That means you can attack people up to 150' away. Look into the Brutal Throw feat from Complete Adventurer. If you have Tome of Battle, consider a dip into Warblade and four levels of Bloodstorm Blade.

All that money your saving by not buying a weapon? Spend it on defense. You'll need it.

Choose your skills carefully. You have a great skill list, but not many skill points. Concentration is great if you have a lot of feats that expend your focus. Tumble is great if you plan to be mobile, which is often within a Soulknife's best interests. Spot, Listen, Hide, and Move Silently are all good if you plan to scout; of the four, Spot is probably the most worthwhile, if you have to pick just one.
ppaladin123
03-24-08, 01:48 PM Actually instead of playing a soulknife you might want to play a psychic warrior with the soulbound weapon alternate class feature: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a

You'll get a weapon that you can pull out of thin air, it will be nicely augmentable and you'll have the flavor of a soulknife with all the advantages of a psychic warrior.
InkBlot
03-25-08, 01:43 PM If you have Tome of Battle, consider a dip into Warblade and four levels of Bloodstorm Blade.

...

Choose your skills carefully. You have a great skill list, but not many skill points. Concentration is great if you have a lot of feats that expend your focus.

Levels of Warblade would also allow you to pick up some Diamond Mind maneuvers. Look for the ones which require a Concentration check. As a psionic character, you can expend psionic focus to take 15 (not 10) on any concentration check. How would you like to be able to take 15 on a saving throw? The only downside is that maneuvers can't be used at will; you have to spend an action to recover your maneuvers if you want to use them again in the same fight. However, Warblade multiclasses very well, since 1/2 your non-Warblade levels count towards the level of maneuvers you can learn.
Moosh Nailo
03-25-08, 03:25 PM If you can get your hands on, or already have, the Untapped Potential 3rd party book, there are some great feats for soulknives, as well as a simple and effective re-write/touchup of the class. I believe it is the widely accepted BlaineTog fix?

Deceptive blade allows you to feint while you materialize your blade, and add bluff to your skill list. With some feat synergy, you can charge psychic strike free while you materialize your blade.
With dueling blade, when you fight defensively or use combat expertise and a bad guy misses, you get an AoO at no penalty. This feat and Deadly Defense gives you AoOs with an extra 1d6 damage just for the bad guy missing!

Good sneaking feats in there, too. What style will you be playing? Full out melee? Sneak and stab?
As for items, like the others said anything that will increase your survivability is a good choice.
Assuming you get hidden talent to replace wild talent (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a), powers such as biofeedback and the various AC boosters are always solid choices.
Zappy
03-25-08, 04:07 PM All the above advice is great, but here's some more.
I multiclassed mine with fighter. You only really need four levels to get specialization and such. Illunmine sould is a must as well.
DracoPhoenix
03-27-08, 09:25 AM I had a Incarnate 4 / Soulknife 3(-5) / Illumine Soul 2+ at one point (was a work in progress, now it's a corpse in something's stomach).

That was fun, I used the Incarnate Avatar (think I had expanded capacity on this one) to bump my +atk, coupled with lightening gauntlets and flame mantle, psi-weapon and psi-meditate meant the first hit per round was a doozy.

Admittedly, if I wanted Psi-weapon more than once per encounter, I only hit once per round, but it counted :)

Yeah, the Illumine Soul is near enough a must - if only for the free undead bane, ~constant deathward* and 1/day ~auto-rez.

*I had an agreement with my DM that I was effectively constantly casting it and at the start of an encounter would roll a d8 to determine how many rounds were left of the duration.
Tholas
03-28-08, 04:53 PM If you can sell your DM on the Soulknife Variant out of Untapped Potential combined with the 'Extra Feats' Alternate Class Feature out of the Mind's Eye Article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a) and optionally on the High Psionics: Soulknives Sourcebook(For some way cool feats) from Dreamscarredpress you can do powerful and fun builds.

How About Soulknife 11/Exotic Weapon Master(Uncanny Blow) 1/War Mind 8 (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/warMind.htm)

For a continued mindblade enhancement you need at least twice the feat Mind Blade Kensai(works like Practised Spellcaster) out of Untapped Potential. Better would be the Kensai Feats out of High Psionics: Soulknives as each of them gives +1 mindblade enhancement up to your char level.

Here a build I've chosen for my clerics cohort:

Soulknife 1-8: Blade of Might, Soul Armor, Improved Soul Armor, Power Attack, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword), Soul Shield, Soul Warrior, Wielder of the True Blade
Ex. Weapon Master 1: Improved Soul Shield
Soulknife 10-12: Dueling Blade, Combat Expertise
Warmind 13-17: Combat Reflexes

Skill Tricks: Extreme Leap(3.), Nible Stand(4.), Easy Escape(6.), Clarity of Vision(9.), Twisted Charge(10.), Speedy Ascent(12.), Back on your Feet(14.), Spot the Weak Point(?16.)

Improved Soul Armor combined with Soul Warrior gives AC5 + soulknife enhancement bonus, most notable special is Gleaming.
Improved Soul Shield combined with Soul Warrior gives AC4 + soulknife enhancement bonus
Wielder of the True Blade makes the weapon a force effect and bumps it one size category(d10 -> 2d8, I couldn't take it before lvl 12 cause her Wis sucks)
Duelling Blade lets you make an AoP at your full BAB every time you are missed when fighting defensively, also you can shift your full BAB to AC.

Not the most awesome build out there but very mobile, self sufficient and capable of both the meatshield and damage dealer role.

At lvl 12, with Str 18 she can choose between:
1H/Shield: AC31 +21/+16, 2d8+10
2H AC 22, +21/+16, 2d8+14.
That is with no special enhancements to armor, shield and weapon but before any other equipment or buffs. :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
medivaldude 03-24-08, 02:51 AM	Hey guys, im making a 2nd lvl half-orc soulknife, and i was wondering what feats and nifty equipment i should give him.
bkdubs123 03-24-08, 03:07 AM	You should reconsider playing the Soulknife (because its just not a very good class at all) and play my Lurkblade instead (think of it as Soulknife with a kick). Honestly, Soulknife's just not very great after a few levels. I'd look into something else if I were you.
ppaladin123 03-24-08, 04:34 AM	If you are really set on the soul knife you should probably play as a kalashtar and take some of their soul knife substitution levels. Then focus on getting into llumine soul, which will boost your BAB and give your mind blade some desperately needed augments. There are also a few items in the magic item compendium that allow you to treat your mind blade as adamantine and some other materials. Those are probably a requirement. In general soul knife seems like a class that is only good as a piece of a gestalt build.
CrimsonDeath 03-24-08, 12:13 PM	If you have Complete Psionic, you might want to look at that Soulbow and Illumine Soul prestiege classes. Otherwise, if your Wisdom is high enough, you might consider going into War Mind for four or five levels, even if it doesn't advance your mind blade. As a half-orc, you may want to focus on melee. The Psionic Weapon line of feats may be good. Greater Psionic Weapon + Psychic Strike or Deep Impact + Power Attack + Psychic Strike is a good way to start off combat with a big hit. In this case, as soon as you can shape your mind blade, use the longsword or bastard sword version and wield it two-handed. Consider the Improved Buckler Defense feat from Complete Warrior, or an Animated shield. If your Wisdom is high enough, you might look into the Psionic Meditation feat. Remember that you can throw your mind blade with a 30' range increment. That means you can attack people up to 150' away. Look into the Brutal Throw feat from Complete Adventurer. If you have Tome of Battle, consider a dip into Warblade and four levels of Bloodstorm Blade. All that money your saving by not buying a weapon? Spend it on defense. You'll need it. Choose your skills carefully. You have a great skill list, but not many skill points. Concentration is great if you have a lot of feats that expend your focus. Tumble is great if you plan to be mobile, which is often within a Soulknife's best interests. Spot, Listen, Hide, and Move Silently are all good if you plan to scout; of the four, Spot is probably the most worthwhile, if you have to pick just one.
ppaladin123 03-24-08, 01:48 PM	Actually instead of playing a soulknife you might want to play a psychic warrior with the soulbound weapon alternate class feature: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a You'll get a weapon that you can pull out of thin air, it will be nicely augmentable and you'll have the flavor of a soulknife with all the advantages of a psychic warrior.
InkBlot 03-25-08, 01:43 PM	If you have Tome of Battle, consider a dip into Warblade and four levels of Bloodstorm Blade. ... Choose your skills carefully. You have a great skill list, but not many skill points. Concentration is great if you have a lot of feats that expend your focus. Levels of Warblade would also allow you to pick up some Diamond Mind maneuvers. Look for the ones which require a Concentration check. As a psionic character, you can expend psionic focus to take 15 (not 10) on any concentration check. How would you like to be able to take 15 on a saving throw? The only downside is that maneuvers can't be used at will; you have to spend an action to recover your maneuvers if you want to use them again in the same fight. However, Warblade multiclasses very well, since 1/2 your non-Warblade levels count towards the level of maneuvers you can learn.
Moosh Nailo 03-25-08, 03:25 PM	If you can get your hands on, or already have, the Untapped Potential 3rd party book, there are some great feats for soulknives, as well as a simple and effective re-write/touchup of the class. I believe it is the widely accepted BlaineTog fix? Deceptive blade allows you to feint while you materialize your blade, and add bluff to your skill list. With some feat synergy, you can charge psychic strike free while you materialize your blade. With dueling blade, when you fight defensively or use combat expertise and a bad guy misses, you get an AoO at no penalty. This feat and Deadly Defense gives you AoOs with an extra 1d6 damage just for the bad guy missing! Good sneaking feats in there, too. What style will you be playing? Full out melee? Sneak and stab? As for items, like the others said anything that will increase your survivability is a good choice. Assuming you get hidden talent to replace wild talent (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a), powers such as biofeedback and the various AC boosters are always solid choices.
Zappy 03-25-08, 04:07 PM	All the above advice is great, but here's some more. I multiclassed mine with fighter. You only really need four levels to get specialization and such. Illunmine sould is a must as well.
DracoPhoenix 03-27-08, 09:25 AM	I had a Incarnate 4 / Soulknife 3(-5) / Illumine Soul 2+ at one point (was a work in progress, now it's a corpse in something's stomach). That was fun, I used the Incarnate Avatar (think I had expanded capacity on this one) to bump my +atk, coupled with lightening gauntlets and flame mantle, psi-weapon and psi-meditate meant the first hit per round was a doozy. Admittedly, if I wanted Psi-weapon more than once per encounter, I only hit once per round, but it counted :) Yeah, the Illumine Soul is near enough a must - if only for the free undead bane, ~constant deathward* and 1/day ~auto-rez. *I had an agreement with my DM that I was effectively constantly casting it and at the start of an encounter would roll a d8 to determine how many rounds were left of the duration.
Tholas 03-28-08, 04:53 PM	If you can sell your DM on the Soulknife Variant out of Untapped Potential combined with the 'Extra Feats' Alternate Class Feature out of the Mind's Eye Article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a) and optionally on the High Psionics: Soulknives Sourcebook(For some way cool feats) from Dreamscarredpress you can do powerful and fun builds. How About Soulknife 11/Exotic Weapon Master(Uncanny Blow) 1/War Mind 8 (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/warMind.htm) For a continued mindblade enhancement you need at least twice the feat Mind Blade Kensai(works like Practised Spellcaster) out of Untapped Potential. Better would be the Kensai Feats out of High Psionics: Soulknives as each of them gives +1 mindblade enhancement up to your char level. Here a build I've chosen for my clerics cohort: Soulknife 1-8: Blade of Might, Soul Armor, Improved Soul Armor, Power Attack, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword), Soul Shield, Soul Warrior, Wielder of the True Blade Ex. Weapon Master 1: Improved Soul Shield Soulknife 10-12: Dueling Blade, Combat Expertise Warmind 13-17: Combat Reflexes Skill Tricks: Extreme Leap(3.), Nible Stand(4.), Easy Escape(6.), Clarity of Vision(9.), Twisted Charge(10.), Speedy Ascent(12.), Back on your Feet(14.), Spot the Weak Point(?16.) Improved Soul Armor combined with Soul Warrior gives AC5 + soulknife enhancement bonus, most notable special is Gleaming. Improved Soul Shield combined with Soul Warrior gives AC4 + soulknife enhancement bonus Wielder of the True Blade makes the weapon a force effect and bumps it one size category(d10 -> 2d8, I couldn't take it before lvl 12 cause her Wis sucks) Duelling Blade lets you make an AoP at your full BAB every time you are missed when fighting defensively, also you can shift your full BAB to AC. Not the most awesome build out there but very mobile, self sufficient and capable of both the meatshield and damage dealer role. At lvl 12, with Str 18 she can choose between: 1H/Shield: AC31 +21/+16, 2d8+10 2H AC 22, +21/+16, 2d8+14. That is with no special enhancements to armor, shield and weapon but before any other equipment or buffs. :D