Thoughts on Cenobite [Archive] - Wizards Community

Thoughts on Cenobite [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Phelot_Plaguecrafter
07-26-07, 10:23 PM All right, Psionics forum.

What do you think of the prestige class, Zerth Cenobite, out of Complete Psionic? Seems pretty cool to me, but I'm looking for any information from people that have already played one and have some insight, or really, anyone with any insight at all.

Thanks.
Tempest Stormwind
07-26-07, 11:00 PM It's a cool (but not good) class, once per day.

It's not offensive like most of CPsi, but it's not exceptional either, nor is it even particularly memorable. It, like the monk, may have a lot of nifty abilities, but none of them work well together and most of them have ludicrously low per-day uses (usually once per day). If that's what you're looking for, fine, but it isn't really conductive to effective characters.

Really, the only reason I'd ever consider playing one myself is on a joke character likely to see use exactly once (i.e. an NPC), just so I could say he practices deja fu.
runestar
07-27-07, 01:42 AM Might be useful as an NPC, where you do not have to worry about limited abilities/day.
Noodles2375
07-27-07, 01:45 AM All right, Psionics forum.

What do you think of the prestige class, Zerth Cenobite, out of Complete Psionic? Seems pretty cool to me, but I'm looking for any information from people that have already played one and have some insight, or really, anyone with any insight at all.

Thanks.

I like the fist of Zuoken MUCH better.
kyeudo
07-27-07, 02:11 AM Really, the only reason I'd ever consider playing one myself is on a joke character likely to see use exactly once (i.e. an NPC), just so I could say he practices deja fu.

I never pegged you as a Terry Pratchett fan, Tempest.
Tempest Stormwind
07-27-07, 02:48 AM I never pegged you as a Terry Pratchett fan, Tempest.

Lifelong fan, actually. He's as funny in person as he is on paper.
kyeudo
07-27-07, 10:32 AM Lifelong fan, actually. He's as funny in person as he is on paper.

Never met him in person, but agreed as far as the books go.
SlanderPanic
07-27-07, 11:29 AM I used it for an NPC in my homebrew campaign and it worked decently. However, as mentioned above, the once-per-day abilities make it a very cruddy choice for PCs. The NPC I used was an exalted monk who focused on disarming opponents and then slapping them with stunning attacks and subdual damage until they either surrendered or went unconscious. He did well against my PCs, hovering right on the edge of victory before being felled by a fist from a disarmed dwarven defender who remembered that plate mail comes with gauntlets. It was an epic moment. He ended up using everything he had in that fight, though: All his power points, all his zerth cenobite abilities, his psionic focus, and all his stunning attempts. If he'd had another battle that day, he would surely have been defeated soundly.
Phelot_Plaguecrafter
07-28-07, 02:57 PM All righty. So far, I have comments to its general uselessness (as monk), promotions for Terry Pratchett, and its numerous joke related uses as an NPC.

Someone wanna give advice now or what?
Tempest Stormwind
07-28-07, 03:15 PM Don't play one.

If you really want a psionic monk, go for the Fist of Zuoken. Or, if you're a bit more adventurous, use Talashatora (feat, Secrets of Sarlona; it essentially transforms any psionic class into a "stacks with monk" class).

That's really the best advice you're going to get.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
07-28-07, 05:51 PM Don't play one.

If you really want a psionic monk, go for the Fist of Zuoken. Or, if you're a bit more adventurous, use Talashatora (feat, Secrets of Sarlona; it essentially transforms any psionic class into a "stacks with monk" class).

That's really the best advice you're going to get.

Even the almighty Tempest Stormwind has no advice on how to make a cenobite fix? It cannot be. ;) Then again, I haven't been able to come up with a decent fix for it either - but my monk-related stuff is always sub par.

Anyway, as for advice: it makes a memorable NPC. Try to talk your DM into working on it (after say a test game, if you can get one - to prove it's subpar). I'd recommend more uses per day of your abilities. Or better yet, use them by expending psionic focus or paying a couple of power points. In fact, the focus mechanic might be a really good way to start a fix.
InkBlot
07-28-07, 06:02 PM The Fist Of Zuoken has more powers known, and has bonus feats he can use on Expanded Knowledge. You could just be a FoZ and take powers that the Zerth Cenobite's abilities imitate, such as hustle, time hop, and precognition.

The Zerth Cenobite could be "fixed" by altering it to grant certain powers-known at a reduced power level (like the Elocator's Transporter ability). There would still be problems with the class, but it's a start.
kyeudo
07-28-07, 10:23 PM A possible fix would be to give the Cenobite some kind of time points to spend to activate his abilities, kind of like a fate spinner or a ninja. That way those nice abilities become usable more often.
runestar
07-29-07, 12:33 AM Or the factotum.
BobBarker
07-29-07, 01:00 AM Hey, Slander, was that the fight when my newly sex-changed cleric of Kord lost her shiny flaming greatsword and tried to distract the monk with her massive charisma (and huge knockers)?:D
She had some nice buffs up, but being disarmed of all her weapons made her pretty useless.
Just keep in mind when fighting the zerth cenobite that that plan worked great (he ended up kicking the crap out of me).
SlanderPanic
07-29-07, 01:24 AM In point of fact it was. The whole Unity Cup storyline was really memorable. You guys were definitely at your peak during that one. Tonight really brought that feeling back, too. I had a lot of fun.

Sorry about all the Charisma damage, though. Could have been worse: Bill saved against three death urges and a couple of mind thrusts before even engaging the caller in darkness.
Enchanter_Tom
07-29-07, 09:34 PM How to make the zerth cenobite not suck:

1. Full BAB.
2. Abilities usable for free 3 + Wis modifier times per day. After that, give them a PP cost.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Phelot_Plaguecrafter 07-26-07, 10:23 PM	All right, Psionics forum. What do you think of the prestige class, Zerth Cenobite, out of Complete Psionic? Seems pretty cool to me, but I'm looking for any information from people that have already played one and have some insight, or really, anyone with any insight at all. Thanks.
Tempest Stormwind 07-26-07, 11:00 PM	It's a cool (but not good) class, once per day. It's not offensive like most of CPsi, but it's not exceptional either, nor is it even particularly memorable. It, like the monk, may have a lot of nifty abilities, but none of them work well together and most of them have ludicrously low per-day uses (usually once per day). If that's what you're looking for, fine, but it isn't really conductive to effective characters. Really, the only reason I'd ever consider playing one myself is on a joke character likely to see use exactly once (i.e. an NPC), just so I could say he practices deja fu.
runestar 07-27-07, 01:42 AM	Might be useful as an NPC, where you do not have to worry about limited abilities/day.
Noodles2375 07-27-07, 01:45 AM	All right, Psionics forum. What do you think of the prestige class, Zerth Cenobite, out of Complete Psionic? Seems pretty cool to me, but I'm looking for any information from people that have already played one and have some insight, or really, anyone with any insight at all. Thanks. I like the fist of Zuoken MUCH better.
kyeudo 07-27-07, 02:11 AM	Really, the only reason I'd ever consider playing one myself is on a joke character likely to see use exactly once (i.e. an NPC), just so I could say he practices deja fu. I never pegged you as a Terry Pratchett fan, Tempest.
Tempest Stormwind 07-27-07, 02:48 AM	I never pegged you as a Terry Pratchett fan, Tempest. Lifelong fan, actually. He's as funny in person as he is on paper.
kyeudo 07-27-07, 10:32 AM	Lifelong fan, actually. He's as funny in person as he is on paper. Never met him in person, but agreed as far as the books go.
SlanderPanic 07-27-07, 11:29 AM	I used it for an NPC in my homebrew campaign and it worked decently. However, as mentioned above, the once-per-day abilities make it a very cruddy choice for PCs. The NPC I used was an exalted monk who focused on disarming opponents and then slapping them with stunning attacks and subdual damage until they either surrendered or went unconscious. He did well against my PCs, hovering right on the edge of victory before being felled by a fist from a disarmed dwarven defender who remembered that plate mail comes with gauntlets. It was an epic moment. He ended up using everything he had in that fight, though: All his power points, all his zerth cenobite abilities, his psionic focus, and all his stunning attempts. If he'd had another battle that day, he would surely have been defeated soundly.
Phelot_Plaguecrafter 07-28-07, 02:57 PM	All righty. So far, I have comments to its general uselessness (as monk), promotions for Terry Pratchett, and its numerous joke related uses as an NPC. Someone wanna give advice now or what?
Tempest Stormwind 07-28-07, 03:15 PM	Don't play one. If you really want a psionic monk, go for the Fist of Zuoken. Or, if you're a bit more adventurous, use Talashatora (feat, Secrets of Sarlona; it essentially transforms any psionic class into a "stacks with monk" class). That's really the best advice you're going to get.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 07-28-07, 05:51 PM	Don't play one. If you really want a psionic monk, go for the Fist of Zuoken. Or, if you're a bit more adventurous, use Talashatora (feat, Secrets of Sarlona; it essentially transforms any psionic class into a "stacks with monk" class). That's really the best advice you're going to get. Even the almighty Tempest Stormwind has no advice on how to make a cenobite fix? It cannot be. ;) Then again, I haven't been able to come up with a decent fix for it either - but my monk-related stuff is always sub par. Anyway, as for advice: it makes a memorable NPC. Try to talk your DM into working on it (after say a test game, if you can get one - to prove it's subpar). I'd recommend more uses per day of your abilities. Or better yet, use them by expending psionic focus or paying a couple of power points. In fact, the focus mechanic might be a really good way to start a fix.
InkBlot 07-28-07, 06:02 PM	The Fist Of Zuoken has more powers known, and has bonus feats he can use on Expanded Knowledge. You could just be a FoZ and take powers that the Zerth Cenobite's abilities imitate, such as hustle, time hop, and precognition. The Zerth Cenobite could be "fixed" by altering it to grant certain powers-known at a reduced power level (like the Elocator's Transporter ability). There would still be problems with the class, but it's a start.
kyeudo 07-28-07, 10:23 PM	A possible fix would be to give the Cenobite some kind of time points to spend to activate his abilities, kind of like a fate spinner or a ninja. That way those nice abilities become usable more often.
runestar 07-29-07, 12:33 AM	Or the factotum.
BobBarker 07-29-07, 01:00 AM	Hey, Slander, was that the fight when my newly sex-changed cleric of Kord lost her shiny flaming greatsword and tried to distract the monk with her massive charisma (and huge knockers)?:D She had some nice buffs up, but being disarmed of all her weapons made her pretty useless. Just keep in mind when fighting the zerth cenobite that that plan worked great (he ended up kicking the crap out of me).
SlanderPanic 07-29-07, 01:24 AM	In point of fact it was. The whole Unity Cup storyline was really memorable. You guys were definitely at your peak during that one. Tonight really brought that feeling back, too. I had a lot of fun. Sorry about all the Charisma damage, though. Could have been worse: Bill saved against three death urges and a couple of mind thrusts before even engaging the caller in darkness.
Enchanter_Tom 07-29-07, 09:34 PM	How to make the zerth cenobite not suck: 1. Full BAB. 2. Abilities usable for free 3 + Wis modifier times per day. After that, give them a PP cost.