Kalashtar
Ability Scores: +2 Wis, +2 Cha
Size: Medium
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Quori (Supernal?)
Skill Bonuses: +2 Diplomacy, +2 Insight
Trained Mind: You gain a +2 bonus to defences against psychic powers.
Mind Link: You can use mind link as an at-will power.
Mind Link Kalashtar Racial Power
You forge a mental link with another creature, allowing you to communicate telepathically.
At-Will • Psychic
Minor Action Ranged 10
Target: One willing creature
Effect: You can communicate telepathically with the target creature, over any distance. When you and the target flank an opponent, you both gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls.
The mind link lasts for five minutes. Breaking the mind link is a free action.
Special: You may have only one mind link active at one time. If you create a new mind link, your previous mind link breaks.
I'm concerned Mink Link is too good as an at-will, it might be worth changing it to an encounter power so it can't be switched around easily. What do you guys think?
A natural racial feat would be one to expand the number of people connected with the mind link.
If you've made your own conversion, please do share
Now I just have to jury-rig the rogue into a soulknife...
At will:
-Ditch the flanking bonus. It would make it suitable for an at-will then.
-Maybe Kalashtar can mindlink into a group communication, but can only bring one outsider per kalashtar into the discussion.
Encounter:
-Make it an encounter power and applicable to a number of people equal to your intelligence modifier, maybe.
-Flanking seems to have been replaced by "Combat Advantage".
Maybe something like "If you and your linked ally are adjacent to an enemy you both gain combat advantage against him" would work,
Other:
-Make Mind-Link an at will and the flanking thing an encounter power with the prerequisite "You and your mindlinked ally must be adjacent to the enemy" or something.
Mind Link Kalashtar Racial Power
You forge a mental link with another creature, allowing you to communicate telepathically.
At-Will • Psychic
Minor Action Ranged 10
Target: One willing creature
Effect: You can communicate telepathically with the target creature, over any distance.
The mind link lasts for five minutes. Breaking the mind link is a free action.
Special: You may have only one mind link active at one time. If you create a new mind link, your previous mind link breaks.
Psychic Coordination
Tier: Heroic
Prerequisite: Kalashtar, mind link racial power
Benefit: If you flank an opponent with a mind linked ally, you both gain a +1 power bonus on attack rolls against that opponent.
Telepathic Advantage
Tier: Paragon
Prerequisite: Kalashtar, mind link racial power
Benefit: You can use the telepathic advantage power.
Telepathic Advantage Feat Power
By coordinating your actions with an linked ally, you expend your psionic focus to press your advantage.
Encounter • Psychic
Minor Action Melee 1
Requirement: You and a mind linked ally are adjacent to the target.
Target: One creature
Effect: Until the end of your next turn, you and the mind linked ally gain combat advantage against the target. Your mind link power ends.
I would give them +2 Cha instead of +2 Dex though. It's unfortunate that several races already have the same modifiers, but that's the best fit IMHO (their connection to the Quori is spiritual, it should enhance mental stats first). +2 Wis may work too.
Kalashtar are all about Charisma, both in that "too perfect" physical appearance and in the whole force-of-will/influencing others thing. And Wisdom seems like a good match with their focus on both mental discipline and empathy.
Beyond that, in lieu of psionics, what the kalashtar are best known for is the Path of Light - a path that can just as easily be followed by a cleric or paladin. Wis/Cha makes them strong at either of these, though focusing on the non-melee paths (which is again perfectly approriate) - while Int/Dex aren't especially useful for either of the current divine classes. I just see kalashtar clerics as being more common that kalashtar wizards - and it creates a stat combo that isn't currently out there, AFAIK.
Of course, this does put both of their stats in the same bracket - so one might actually want to give them something like "Precognitive Warning: +1 to Reflex Defense", the same way that Eladrin (Int/Dex) and Warforged (Str/Con) received a +1 to Will saves to balance the single-bracket-bonus thing.
With that said, I do think the non-melee divine paths are a good path for Kalashtar. The ally-empowering aspect of many Wis-based clerical powers fits the PoL, and command is a very appropriate power for a kalashtar cleric. And the low-Strength/high-Wisdom, high-Charisma is an interesting path to explore, and one I almost played in the campaign I'm currently in. The high-Str paladin is great for the classic soldier of the Silver Flame; the low-Str, high-Cha paladin makes an interesting champion of the Path of Light.
Kalashtar
Ability Scores: +2 Wis, +2 Cha
Size: Medium
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Quori
Skill Bonuses: +2 Diplomacy, +2 Insight
Trained Mind: You gain a +2 bonus to defenses against psychic powers.
Mind Link: You can use mind link as an at-will power.
Power: Mind Link Kalashtar Racial Power
You forge a mental link with another creature, allowing you to communicate telepathically.
At-Will • Psychic
Minor Action Ranged 10
Target: One willing creature
Effect: You can communicate telepathically with the target creature, over any distance.
The mind link lasts for five minutes. Breaking the mind link is a free action.
Special: You may have only one mind link active at one time. If you create a new mind link, your previous mind link breaks.
Feat: Psychic Coordination
Tier: Heroic
Prerequisite: Kalashtar, mind link racial power
Benefit: If you flank an opponent with a mind linked ally, you both gain a +1 power bonus on attack rolls against that opponent.
Feat: Telepathic Advantage
Tier: Paragon
Prerequisite: Kalashtar, mind link racial power
Benefit: You can use the telepathic advantage power.
Telepathic Advantage Kalashtar Feat Power
By coordinating your actions with a linked ally, you press your advantage.
Encounter • Psychic
Minor Action Melee 1
Requirement: You and a mind linked ally are adjacent to the target.
Target: One creature
Effect: You and the mind linked ally gain combat advantage against the target. This effect lasts until the end of the encounter, but ends if the mind link with the original ally ends.
As a paragon level encounter power, to me, Telepathic Advantage should last the entire combat.
Hmm, I'm not sure. Permanent, unbreakable combat advantage sounds like it might be a bit powerful...it's a massive boon for rogues. Is there precedent for this in other paragon abilities? Bear in mind this is a feat, as well.
Some good points all around on ability scores. I'd given them an Int bonus to help with the psion class (I assume it'll be Int based), but Wis and Cha both make a lot of sense. Wisdom especially, considering what we have to work with at this time.
I'll change it to Wis/Cha.
Also, as a nice side effect, if you put a half-elf and a Kalashtar in the same party, they'll be able to sell a helm of water breathing to a sahaugin.
Kalashtar
Ability Scores: +2 Wis, +2 Cha
Size: Medium
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Quori
Skill Bonuses: +2 Diplomacy, +2 Insight
Psychic Resistance: You have resist psychic 5 + one half-your level.
Naturally Psychic: Kalashtar get +1 to attack rolls when using powers with the Psychic Keyword
Kalashtar Diplomacy: You can use Kalashtar Diplomacy as an encounter power
Kalashtar Diplomacy
With a commanding presence, and gentle psychic nudge, you can influence others.
Encounter
Free Action * Personal
Effect: Reroll any bluff, intimidate, or diplomacy roll. Use the second roll, even if it is lower.
*Edit* Removed the +1 to will defense I gave to Kalashtar, as it is included in their bonus' to Wisdom and Charisma.
Gave Kalashtar Naturally Psychic
Ability Scores: +2 Wis, +2 Cha
One with the Quori: The Kalashtar recieves a +1 bonus to their Will Defense.
The thing about this is that it sounds great in terms of flavor, but mechanically it leaves you very one-sided. Both your stat bonuses are in the same bracket, which means that instead of getting +1 to two defenses, you only get a bonus to one (Will). Then you've added an additional bonus to Will. And one of the main classes they'll be good at is cleric, which puts its full bonus into... Will. So as a kalashtar cleric, you'll have a GREAT Will save - but be noticably weak on the others.
So far, the two fully developed PC races that have two stats in the same bracket (Warforged with both in the Fort bracket and Eladrin in the Reflex bracket) have received an exterior boost to a different defense (Will) to make up for it.
Now, you may not be concerned about this; obviously there's good flavor for doing Will. But you do also have that covered with the Psychic Resistance. Hence my suggestion of "Precognitive Warning: +1 to Reflex Defense." The flavor is a psychic flash - but the effect is to balance out the lopsided defenses.
Maybe it it is both, then it should only last 1 round. Or, maybe until the opponent makes a save. You'd have to change the fluff a bit, though, to describe why an opponent making a save would end it.
The thing about this is that it sounds great in terms of flavor, but mechanically it leaves you very one-sided. Both your stat bonuses are in the same bracket, which means that instead of getting +1 to two defenses, you only get a bonus to one (Will). Then you've added an additional bonus to Will. And one of the main classes they'll be good at is cleric, which puts its full bonus into... Will. So as a kalashtar cleric, you'll have a GREAT Will save - but be noticably weak on the others.
So far, the two fully developed PC races that have two stats in the same bracket (Warforged with both in the Fort bracket and Eladrin in the Reflex bracket) have received an exterior boost to a different defense (Will) to make up for it.
Now, you may not be concerned about this; obviously there's good flavor for doing Will. But you do also have that covered with the Psychic Resistance. Hence my suggestion of "Precognitive Warning: +1 to Reflex Defense." The flavor is a psychic flash - but the effect is to balance out the lopsided defenses.
You make a good point, and I may change my version of the Kalashtar to having a +1 to reflex. However, I toyed with the idea of removing that all together. Is the extra +1 to defenses really needed? I think with what I've given them, they don't need the extra +1 (even to reflex) to remain viable. Instead I gave them an offensive ability, and get a +1 to hit when using any power with the psychic keyword.
Perhaps adding a little flexibility to the stat bonus might work. Perhaps +2 to Dex and +2 to either Int, Wis, or Cha (player's choice). Maybe make the bonus connected to the quori line that the kalashtar is hosting.
The only problem with doing that is it leads to creating many subraces.. which Eberron, and 4e in general, seem to be trying to get rid of.
I wonder if a mind blade couldn't just be a series of feats? We already know about what point a character should have specific enhancements...
The only problem with doing that is it leads to creating many subraces.. which Eberron, and 4e in general, seem to be trying to get rid of.
I disagree, but it's not a big deal. Just because there'd be some mechanical flexibility doesn't make for a subrace, any more than a human with a bonus to Str is a different subrace from a human with a bonus to Int. If there hadn't been a precedent set with the flexibility, I'd never have suggested it.
It borders on blasphemy, but one could argue that kalashtar are already a subrace of humans, fluff-wise. What's wrong with a nod towards that heritage in the mechanics, especially based on their quori heritage?
Perhaps the one flexible bonus between Int, Wis, or Cha would be enough, instead of a bonus to Dex as well.
I suggest removing the "Lasts 5 minutes" aspect of Mind Link and add "Sustain Free: You maintain the link." at the bottom of the ability block. It already says in the PHB that most abilities can be sustained up to 5 minutes, and without explicitely mentioning how it's sustained, a Kalashtar could be knocked unconscious and brought back with the mind link persisting.
The reason I gave the power a 5 minute duration is to prevent constant telepathy over any distance. If it is Sustain Free, you could have kalashtar on opposite sides of the world still in contact. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, but it is something to consider.
I disagree, but it's not a big deal. Just because there'd be some mechanical flexibility doesn't make for a subrace, any more than a human with a bonus to Str is a different subrace from a human with a bonus to Int. If there hadn't been a precedent set with the flexibility, I'd never have suggested it.
It borders on blasphemy, but one could argue that kalashtar are already a subrace of humans, fluff-wise. What's wrong with a nod towards that heritage in the mechanics, especially based on their quori heritage?
Perhaps the one flexible bonus between Int, Wis, or Cha would be enough, instead of a bonus to Dex as well.
Also, 4E (and Original Eberron) already has multiple types of Shifters.
Also, 4E (and Original Eberron) already has multiple types of Shifters.
True, the shifters do have different types. However, the basic stats for EVERY shifter are the same. They choose a type of shifter bonus, similar to taking a feat at 1st level that only shifters can use. They are all the same species.
Having Kalashtar that exist for different lines could end up having a bunch of sub-races similar to what D&D has experienced with elves over the years, aquatic elves, high elves, wood elves, dark elves, winged elves, elves that are smart, elves that as strong, etc. Basically making elves the best at everything because there was a subrace that was perfect for each class. While I don't think that is the intention with the Kalashtar as you present it, it is a possibility from my point of view that it could happen, and once you start down that path forever will it dominate your destiny.
True, the shifters do have different types. However, the basic stats for EVERY shifter are the same.
That's not true according to the two Shifter write-ups in the back of the 4E Monster Manual.
One of them gets +2 Str/+2 Wis and the other gets +2 Dex/+2 Wis.
Kalashtar
Ability Scores: +2 Cha; Special.
Size: Medium
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Quori*
Skill Bonuses: +2 Diplomacy, +2 Insight.
Psychic Resistance: You have resist psychic 5 + one half-your level.
Quori Heiritedge: You gain +2 to Int or Wis, depending on the Quori spirit within you.
Mind Link: You can use mind link as an at-will power.
Mind Link Kalashtar Racial Power
You forge a mental link with another creature, allowing you to communicate telepathically.
At-Will • Psychic
Minor Action; Ranged 10
Target: One willing creature
Effect: You can communicate telepathically with the target creature, over any distance. The bond ends at the end of your round.
Sustain Free: The bond persists for another round.
Special: You may have only one mind link active at one time. If you create a new mind link, your previous mind link breaks.
---
* In a non-Eberron campaign replace Quori with Supernal.