Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mystyc 03-21-07, 03:15 AM	I've recently noticed a lot more support for soulknives than I knew of before, particularly like the gauntlets of [weapon ability], prestige classes with advancement, and special options for kalashtar soulknives (which is the particular race I'm thinking of). Does all of this make them any better or more viable?
AntiDjinn 03-21-07, 03:54 AM	The Soulknife never was awful, just a little underpowered. It seems they were really trying to resist power creep with the 3.5 initial write up. There have been a variety of fixes; it is easier for DM's to take something that is at the low end of the power curve and beef it up than to reign in another druid, cleric, or artificer. If your party consists of a soulknife, a monk, a bard, a swashbuckler, and a shadowcaster then you will fit right in (and actually be able to contribute). The full soul blade progression PrCs do help. In fact, they violate PrCSBNBNR. There is little reason to stay soul knife for 20 levels if you can grab other specials and still enjoy full progression of the class' key feature. For DM's who are afraid of adding psionics to their game because they believe it is overpowered I advise: Try the soul knife. Straight out of the book, without modifications. Go ahead, try it. There, that didn't steamroller your game did it? Now try with the Mind's Eye class options. See how well psionic feats work with psionic focus as a balance? Now maybe add the psychic warrior to your game to get more use of those feats. If that proves painless then work in the psion, ardent, and lurk. Game still functional? Now, let's talk third party products.
Uchiha_Arthas 03-21-07, 08:36 AM	Stupid question but could you point me in the direction of a few of those SoulKnife PRC's? I have the Complete Psionic (Soulbow and Illumine Soul Prc) but havent heard of any other good SoulKnife Prc...
runestar 03-21-07, 08:42 AM	For DM's who are afraid of adding psionics to their game because they believe it is overpowered I advise: Try the soul knife. Straight out of the book, without modifications. Go ahead, try it. There, that didn't steamroller your game did it? That is arguably as much of a headache as it is a consolation...;)
Caliborn 03-21-07, 09:30 AM	It violates the PrCwhat?
SlanderPanic 03-21-07, 09:43 AM	Prestige Classes Should Be Nice, Not Required. In other words, prestige classes should be attractive options, but shouldn't make single-classing irrelevant. For example, a wizard would be stupid to stay single-classed when he can take a prestige class that grants full casting and a variety of special abilities. There's also FSBNNR, Feats Should Be Nice, Not Required. Also: Am I the only one who hates the abbreviation "PrC?"
runestar 03-21-07, 09:53 AM	Is there a difference between "required" and "It is not a must, but it is simply that good that one would be a moron not to take it"?:P
Mystyc 03-21-07, 12:04 PM	Is there a difference between "required" and "It is not a must, but it is simply that good that one would be a moron not to take it"?:P Not really. To be perfectly fair, wizards and sorerers do give up some abilities when they prestige class (feats or exchanging spells, familiar progression), but these are so outclassed by what most PrCs offer that it's almost irrelevant. I find "PrC" handy. I can't imagine how else you would abbreviate "prestige class" in a world where "PC" has already been taken. I don't know about other classes with progression -- I was thinking primarily of the CP ones. And what are these Mind's Eye options? I have a passing familiarity with ME, but not that particular part of it.
Bacris 03-21-07, 12:19 PM	http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a The Expanded Soulknife options.
SlanderPanic 03-21-07, 01:16 PM	I find "PrC" handy. I can't imagine how else you would abbreviate "prestige class" in a world where "PC" has already been taken. Why abbreviate it at all? It really doesn't save you that much typing time. Then again, I'm known to be biased against abbreviations. Personally, I prefer to have as little alphabet soup in my kitchen as possible. (Also, "PrC" always sounds like "prick" in my head.)
Nephlite 03-21-07, 01:52 PM	Is there a difference between "required" and "It is not a must, but it is simply that good that one would be a moron not to take it"?:P No, but they are pretty similar. :D
BlaineTog 03-21-07, 04:16 PM	Why abbreviate it at all? It really doesn't save you that much typing time.Yes it does. When you type it as much as many people here do, it saves substantial time over the long run. It's also a lot harder to misspell "PrC."
AntiDjinn 03-21-07, 06:39 PM	Mystyc, if your DM will consider non-WotC material, then using the Mindscapes psionic combat system from Hyperconscious also gives the soul knife a boost. Unlike the excremental 3.0 psi combat system, Mindscapes actually works and there are good reasons to initiate psionic combat. Combatants parley for round to round advantages in the physical combat at hand; if you win a round of Mindscapes combat then you can get a bonus to your melee or ranged attack vs. your opponent that round or a bonus on the save vs. his power, or some other tactical advantage. There are two different mode check progressions: Good and Average. The soul knife has the Good progression (sharing it with the psion, fist of Zuoken, metamind, psion uncarnate, and thrallherd). A soul knife vs. a psychic warrior or war mind of the same level can easily win most rounds of Mindscapes combat, and if he chooses the right modes that can translate into victory in the physical fight as well.
Mystyc 03-22-07, 12:46 AM	Mystyc, if your DM will consider non-WotC material... I actually am the DM -- I'm looking to draw up an NPC for my guys to run into. Obviously, I can make him as "good" as I want, but I do like to keep some transparency so that the players know everything is on the up-and-up. I'm sorry to say, though, that Hyperconscious is out. We use a smattering of house rules and outsider suggestions, but a full 3rd-party book just won't fly.