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JoshuaZ 09-18-07, 04:00 PM

Ok, we've seen this sort of thing before, and now we get another one. The thoughts behind this fix were that there are three complaints about the Soul Knife that I've seen 1) That it doesn't have sufficient psionic flavor 2) At upper levels it is too weak since among other problems a psychic warrior or even a normal fighter will have a weapon about as good as the Mind Blade 3) The Soul Knife has little customizability. Now, as far as I am concerned the 3rd is the most serious problem. I don't care as much about playing a weak character, but I want to be able to feel like I have a fair bit of control over what my character's build is. Soul Knife 20 has pretty much no choice other than which feats you take from your normal level advancement. This fix therefore gives the Soul Knife the ability to pick a few weak powers and slightly increases the strength of the Mind Blade at higher levels. This fix attempts to do this while keeping the class mechanics simple. With this preamble in mind, I suggest the following: In addition to everything that the standard Soul Knife has: First the minor detailsl: Add Use Psionic Device to the class skill list, and add Ghost Touch and Merciful as possible options for the Soul Knife's blade enhancements. Now for the fun stuff: Manifesting and Powers Known At 2nd and every odd level but first the Soul Knife gains the ability to manifest from a list of Soul Knife powers as a first level manifester. The Soul Knife does not gain manifester levels from advancing in its class. Soul Knife powers which are identical existing powers: Catfall, Daze, Burst, Chameleon, Detect Psionics, Empty Mind, Elfsight, My Light, Call to Mind, Astral Traveler, Disable, Demoralize, Empathy, Far Hand, Float, Missive, Telempathic Projection, Vigor, Know Direction and Location, Matter Agitation, Deceleration, Inertial Armor, Mind Thrust, Powers that are new or are modified versions of existing powers: Soul Knife Precognition- Identical to Precognition but the bonus is only +1 Soul Screen - Identical to Force Screen but the bonus is only +3. Control Object, Control Flame and Control Light are all as normal, but have a range of close. Soul Ray- Is identical to Energy Ray but has a reflex save for half unless the damage in chosen to be cold in which case there is a fort save for half. Soul Strike- Is identical to Ego Whip does only 1d2 charisma damage, has no augment, has a range of close and has will negates. Concussion: Identical to Concussion Blast but does only 1d3 points of force damage and range is close(augment is also only 1d3) and has a reflex save for half. Conceal Thoughts and Skate are as normal but target must be personal. Soul Meditation: Is identical to Body Adjustment but heals only 1d3 hp and takes 1 minute to manifest. At each even level except 2nd, the Soul Knife gains 1 additional power point. The Soul Knife does not gain any bonus power points for a high ability score. Psionic Study As the Soul Knife gains further understanding of his psionic powers, he is able to gain additional psionic power. At levels 4,12 and 20 the Soul Knife picks one of the following 1) Increase Soul Knife manifester level by 1. 2) Get a bonus psionic feat. 3) Get an additional power from the Soul Knife power list. 4) (available only at levels 12 and 20) Pick one enhancement from the Weapon Special Ability table for the Soul Knife and reduce the enhancement cost of the enhancement by one for purposes of Mind Blade Enhancement 5) (available only at levels 12 and 20) Reduce the amount of time it takes to reassign the abilities of the Mind Blade. The first time this is chosen the time is reduced to 1 hour. If this is taken again, the time is reduced to 1 minute. Psionic Disruption At 6th level, the Soul Knife learns to use his Mind Blade to disrupt other psionic beings. Whenever a Soul Knife makes a successful melee strike with his Mind Blade he may expend psionic focus to make his target lose psionic focus and lose 1 power point. At every even level after 6th, the number of power points lost by the target to this strike increases by 1. Soul Bane At 8th level, the Soul Knife learns to channel his negative emotions regarding a creature type to empower his blade when fighting against that creature type. The Soul Knife's Mind Blade gains the Bane property against a single group (the choices for this ability are identical to those for which the choices for the Bane property for a magical weapon). At 16th level, the Soul Knife adds another creature type that his Mind Blade has the Bane property for. This modified Soul Knife has a few powers, some of which such as Empty Mind and Elfsight can be useful even late game, but the total number of powers the Soul Knife gets is few and they are all level 1 powers, so there is no danger in the Soul Knife outpowering the Psychic Warrior. This Soul Knife is faced with either improving his Mind Blade and its versatility or improving his manifesting. So, what do people think?