Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Rob 02-14-08, 11:38 AM	http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20021122b Was directed here from the Prestige Classes board and was hoping someone could give me a hand. My main concern here is the requirements. I like the features, I think they're good for v3.5 (except I don't understand Psionic Combat?). I wonder if someone could make more reasonable requirements for v3.5 campaign? It's the psionic focus nonsense that is throwing me. I'm playing a Kineticist and I am planning on taking Expanded Knowledge: Fly (Nomad, 4th) as my 9th level feat. I'm mainly asking here so I can take something to the DM. Thanks for any help. (Update) Just found a conversion in the Mind's Eye conversion thread. Now wondering about new requirements: <i>Requirements Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 15 ranks, Psicraft 15 ranks. Feats: Skill Focus (Psicraft), Psionic Endowment. Manifesting: Ability to manifest 7th-level psionic powers, knowledge of at least one power from each psionic discipline.</i> How do I get a power from each other psionic class without taking Expanded Knowledge 5 times?
The_Mess 02-14-08, 12:26 PM	There are two different definitions of the word "discipline" in use, which causes endless amounts of confusion. Discipline doesn't just refer to the discipline list. For example, notice that Vigor (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/vigor.htm) is a psychometabolism power, but it's on the general list. This would count as knowing a psychometabolism power, and you can get it without expanded knowledge.
The_Rob 02-14-08, 12:57 PM	OMG! That makes much more sense. I had noticed those classifications before but it didn't even occur to me that that's what it meant. Thanks a bunch for that clarification.
AntiDjinn 02-14-08, 01:04 PM	(except I don't understand Psionic Combat?) Anyone who did would never use it even with a gun pointed at their head. The system was so awful that WotC published an option that let you spend a feat or two to ditch your own class "feature" and it became a must-have. The 3.0 psionic combat system is dead, not that ever really took a breath. A 3.5 retread of the Archpsion (damn, could someone come up with a better name to make it less obvious as yet another flavorless "psionic X" port?) need not add anything to compensate since the simple removal of the system was compensation enough.
Artector 02-14-08, 01:20 PM	The 3.0 psionic combat system is dead, not that ever really took a breath. A 3.5 retread of the Archpsion (damn, could someone come up with a better name to make it less obvious as yet another flavorless "psionic X" port?) need not add anything to compensate since the simple removal of the system was compensation enough. Overmind? Megapsion? Mindlord? Mindvassal? Thoughtlord? Archbrain? I like Thoughtlord or Overmind personally.
Amaril 02-14-08, 01:41 PM	Updated by Suldarr'essalar As promised: this is a conversion of 3.0 Archpsion (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/psi/psi20021122b) from the Mind's Eye (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/psi). http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery4/44254_C4_Cloakofepicc50223.jpg HD:d4 Prerequirements: Psionics: Ability to manifest 7th level powers; Knowledge of at least 3 power from at least 4th level, each from a different power list. Skills: Knowledge(psionics) 15 ranks, Psicraft 15 ranks, Feats: Psionic Endowment, Skill Focus (Psicraft), Any metapsionic feat. Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special Manifester Level 1 +0 +0 +0 +2 Path of the Mind +1 2 +1 +0 +0 +3 Path of the Mind +1 3 +1 +1 +1 +3 Path of the Mind +1 4 +2 +1 +1 +4 Path of the Mind +1 5 +2 +1 +1 +4 Path of the Mind +1 Class Skills The arch psion's class skills are Concentration (Con), Craft (all skills)(Int), Knowledge (all skills) (Int), Psicraft (Int), Use Psionic Device (Cha). Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier Class Features All the following are class features of the arch psion prestige class. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An arch psion gains no proficiency in any armor or weapons, though she retains any knowledge gained from former classes. Powers Known: At every level, a arch psion gains additional power points per day and access to new powers as if he had also gained a level in whatever manifesting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus feats, metapsionic or item creation feats, and so on). This essentially means that he adds the level of arch psion to the level of whatever manifesting class the character has, then determines power points per day, powers known, and manifester level accordingly. If a character had more than one manifesting class before he became a arch psion, he must decide to which class he adds the new level of arch psion for the purpose of determining power points per day, powers known, and manifester level. Path of the Mind: As a powerful psionic entity, arch psion controls his mind, and potential, knows and expands his power beyond capabilities of normal psionic beings. At each level arch psion can unlock one of the following paths: Mind over Time (Su): This powerful path allows the arch psion to act faster than normal. He can use 2 swift actions in one round once per day. This ability can be taken more than once, each time increasing the number of uses per day by 1. Each time you take this path you lose 7 power points. Mind over Space (Su): An Arch psion who mastered this path can alter area and effect powers that use one of the following shapes: burst, cone, cylinder, emanation, or spread. The Arch psion can change one shape into another, or/and create spaces within the power’s area or effect that are not subject to the power effect. The minimum dimension for these spaces is a 5-foot cube. Furthermore, any shapeable powers have a minimum dimension of 5 feet instead of 10 feet. This path costs 13 power points. Mind over Body (Ex): This path of Mind allows arch psion to get the maximum potential from his material body. Arch psion gains +1 manifester level (which stack with normal manifester level which he gains at every level) as long as his manifester level doesn't exceed his Hit dice. This ability can be taken more than once and it costs 9 power points. Mind over Distance(Su): This path allows the arch psion to make touch attacks as rays, making ranged touch attacks up to 30ft. This path can be taken more than once. Each time it increases the range by another 30ft and costs 13 power points. Disciplined Mind(Ex): This Path allows the arch psion to regain psionic focus as a move action instead of full round action. If a character has psionic meditation feat, this path allows to regain psionic focus as a swift action instead of move action. In this case the arch psion can still choose to regain psionic focus as a move action. This path costs 15 power points. Mastery of Metapsionics(Ex): An arch psion who mastered this path can easily manipulate psionic energy without loosing focus. When you take this path, choose one metapsionic feat. From now on when you use this metapsionic feat you must be psionicly focused instead of expending your psionic focus. This ability can be taken more than once. When you choose this ability you lose 17 power points. Heightened Potential (Ex): This is one of the most powerful paths of the mind. It allows the arch psion to bypass all limitations set by the minds of every creature. Each power that allows a saving throw, and doesn't have a similar augmentation, the arch psion knows gains the following augment: " For every 3 additional power points you spend, this power's save DC increases by 1." This path costs 15 power points. Psi-like Ability (Psi): Unlocking this path arch psion becomes one with his power. He chooses one power he knows, which becomes psi-like ability usable 2 times per day, with Manifester Level equal to arch psion’s hit dice. An arch psion can select to enhance this power with metapsionics, but he must declare so when taking this path, and he must still obey all rules for using metapsionic feats (except for the increased power point cost). For example an arch psion must expend psionic focus if the feat requires him, to do so. If he can't, this ability doesn't work. This path can be taken more than once. Each time it costs 21 power points. If you choose the same power again, you gain another 2 uses. An arch psion must still pay all xp costs (if the power has such costs) of manifesting such powers
AntiDjinn 02-14-08, 01:44 PM	The class probably should not even have "psion" in the name, unless it is to be restricted to psions only. Would an "arch" Ardent devoted to death and decay be considered preeminent, primary, or chief by ardents who exemplify life and justice? The archmage is basically just a high-powered arcane adventurer with noting in the class that actually fits the name (people think "arch" means "powerful" but it means being first in authority or recognized as supreme in your field; the Archbishop of Canterbury did not have to defeat other bishops to get the title). A similar concept for manifesters should be one that any primary manifester could aspire to. That is, unless it actually is restricted to psions, with wilders and ardents needing their own separate high-end PrCs.
jbsaff 02-14-08, 01:48 PM	Overmind? Megapsion? Mindlord? Mindvassal? Thoughtlord? Archbrain? I like Thoughtlord or Overmind personally. For the glory of the Overmind! Live for the swarm! Oh wait... wrong game.
Artector 02-14-08, 02:02 PM	For the glory of the Overmind! Live for the swarm! Oh wait... wrong game. Yeah... I actually did think of that while writing it. It would be great to be an Overmind if you were playing a Dromite.
Bacris 02-14-08, 02:05 PM	It would be great to be an Overmind if you were playing a Dromite. Hrmmm.... :schemes:
AntiDjinn 02-14-08, 02:15 PM	Yeah... I actually did think of that while writing it. It would be great to be an Overmind if you were playing a Dromite. Dromite Society Mind -> Overmind? Either that, or they would have some high-end racial PrC that makes one a Hivemaster or Monarchmind or some such. For a dromite BBEG the progression might be: Society Mind -> Thrallherd -> Hypothetical 3-5 level racial PrC.
Tempest Stormwind 02-15-08, 02:41 PM	Dromite Society Mind -> Overmind? Either that, or they would have some high-end racial PrC that makes one a Hivemaster or Monarchmind or some such. For a dromite BBEG the progression might be: Society Mind -> Thrallherd -> Hypothetical 3-5 level racial PrC. Now you've got me brainstorming on that very idea, dammit! I don't have time for another project and I can already see where this is going!
InkBlot 02-15-08, 03:49 PM	Dromite Society Mind -> Overmind? Either that, or they would have some high-end racial PrC that makes one a Hivemaster or Monarchmind or some such. For a dromite BBEG the progression might be: Society Mind -> Thrallherd -> Hypothetical 3-5 level racial PrC. The Grand Queen and the Elected Consort? Those wouldn't be very exciting to play as PCs, even if they are the only dromites in the hive with genders, since they're so busy laying eggs. They don't even really get to lead their hives, or make important political decisions, so there wouldn't even be much political intrigue they could partake in (more than Grog the barbarian but less than Grogette the bard). Perhaps a Rogue Queen and Rebel Consort prestige class (one class with different options depending on gender) could be fun. You could be a rebel dromite who stole a jar of sacred royal jelly, or a Queen or Consort who decided to fight against the will of the hive. For whatever reason, you've committed the worst crime and sacrilege possible for a dromite and now you're off to found your own hive. These would probably build on the Leadership feat, but in a different way than Thrallherd. There could also be racial prestige classes for each of the four castes: fire, ice, voice, and glimmer. Maybe there could even be a fifth prestige class for the rare dromite who can be all four, or for a dromite who fits into none of them. Those last two may also require feats you can take at 1st level to alter your energy ray ability. Even if they are communist, dromites don't have a hive mind.
DracoPhoenix 02-15-08, 08:38 PM	I think when I looked at Arch Psion, I pretty much took the current Arch-mage and made appropriate substitutions. Things like "costs a 5th level slot" became "costs 9 pp" etc. I think the spell focus in 2 schools of magic pre-req became Psi Endowment and Gtr Psi Endowment. I either out right ditched or changed to "know at least x5 5th level (or higher) powers" the bit needing knowledge of 5th level spells from 5 schools. There was no need for the elemental mastery, the spell power boost was basically +2pp to the limit for aug'ing Don't know if this helps.
Tempest Stormwind 02-15-08, 09:14 PM	I'm playing a Kineticist... Just noticed that bit. That changes things. Look into Untapped Potential. The Energist PrC there is "the psionic archmage", built from the ground up for psionics and kineticists in particular. With appropriate choices, an energist can actually *keep* blasting competitive toward the end of the game.
AntiDjinn 02-15-08, 10:25 PM	Just noticed that bit. That changes things. Look into Untapped Potential. The Energist PrC there is "the psionic archmage", built from the ground up for psionics and kineticists in particular. With appropriate choices, an energist can actually *keep* blasting competitive toward the end of the game. This might be the only way to go with archpsionics. What is considered the ultimate expression of telekinetic power, might be of little interest to a seer. And a set of specials to deck out the ultimate nomad could be less than useless for a telepath. You can look to fantasy literature for example of what a sorcerer supreme or archmage should be able to do, but the archetypes of the six types of psion are so dissimilar as to defy a common archetype. I find more likely that at the upper power range they diverge more than converge.
The_Rob 02-21-08, 09:08 PM	the archetypes of the six types of psion are so dissimilar as to defy a common archetype I'm leaning towards Arch-Psion because it increases your power even though it doesn't emphasize any particular discipline. Where might I be able to read up on Energist and those things? Link?
Lycanthromancer 02-21-08, 09:23 PM	www.dreamscarredpress.com The energist is in Untapped Potential.