Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harliquinn 05-19-06, 01:03 PM	I posted this in Psionics forum but thought I would get some feedback from those who are familiar with rules variants... ================= Wild Psion A Psion may gain his power from the chaotic reaches of his mind. In this way, he is able to call upon Wild Surges much like a Wilder. His use of Wild Surge is more primitive and does not extend the additional abilities associated with the chaotic nature of his mind. If you use this variant, the Psion loses his bonus [psionic] feat at 1st level and one or more of his bonus [psionic] feats at 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th. In place of these feats, the Psion gains increasing levels of the Wild Surge ability that Wilders experience and the associated drawback with Pyshic Enervation. These Wild Psions as they are called need not unlock all the chaos of their minds, allowing them to choose either the bonus feat or the Wild Surge ability at 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th. 1st Level: A Wild Psion does not gain the bonus [psionic] feat at 1st level. Instead he gains the Wild Surge +1 ability, which functions as the Wilder ability of the same name, but uses the Psion's class level instead. In addition, the Wild Psion gains the Psychic Enervation ability with his Psion level substituting for the Wilder level. Additional Levels: Each time a Psion would be eligible for a bonus [psionic] feat, he may instead increase his Wild Surge ability by +1 (to a maximum of +5 at 20th level). Once this choice is made, it may not be changed. Each bonus feat that a Wild Psion chooses in place of his Wild Surge ability reduces the maximum Wild Surge potential by 1. Harliquinn
00_Whupass 05-19-06, 01:27 PM	I'm sorry but No Way would I allow this in one of my games. You've just taken everything unique about the wilder and given it to the psion. Effectively removing any and all reason to play a wilder. Not to mention with the Psion's vastly superior powers known you can take much greater advantage of Wild Surge since you no longer have to specialize and limit yourself to one power at each powerlevel except 1st and 9th. All in all you've just given a huge power boost to the psion, while at the same time removing all reason to play a wilder. If you want to manifest as a higher level as a psion there is already an option, take the overchannel feat.
Harliquinn 05-19-06, 01:49 PM	I don't think that Wild Surge alone takes away everything from the Wilder. The Wilder is a more martial oriented psionic class than the Psion. It still has over the Psion: 1) Higher HD 2) Higher BAB 3) More skills 4) Simple Weapons 5) Light Armor 6) Surging Euphoria 7) Elude Touch 8) Volatile Mind 9) Wild Surge +6 Having said that, I'm not really concerned if the Variant makes the Wilder non-desirable but only if it's balanced. The Unearthed Arcane included such options for fighters (sacrificing feats for sneak attack) which could arguably remove desire for rogues (Or rogues sacrificing sneak attack for feats). I also am aware of Overchannel and I don't particularly like those mechanics, which is the reason for trying to see a variant as mentioned above is balanced. The Psion's strengths are its powers known and bonus feats. That's all the Psion has going for it really. Giving up these bonus feats for a 'feat-like' ability is the balancing factor. For each feat you give up, you gain an additional +1 Wild Surge. You're also gaining them much slower than a Wilder (Who gets +6 at 19th level, while the Wild Psion would gain +5 at 20th level). Definitely appreciate all comments, but I don't think it's quite as drastic as you have made it out to be. Harliquinn