My original idea (after the 40 "levels" in Dragon) was 20 Soulknife*/Warblade. Between those and the Kineticist powers there should give him a decent way to fight in humanoid form. (On top of some personal fluff I gave him like the half-dragon form from Dragons of Eberron)
However I am having a tough time with two major issues and one smaller one.
1. Balancing offensive powers with utility powers. (I am a personal fan of the breath weapon spells from Draconomicon and would presume psionic dragons would develop their own version. It was that or Erudite Spell to Power and I was advised against being that cheesy for good reason.)
2. I have always thought of the Soulknife to be a weapon and would much prefer to make it a custom legacy weapon. Just have no idea how to balance it correctly with all the little nuances I want. (Many of the mind blade abilities and a few custom ones, willing to post full details if anyone wants to help.) I feel like I could do a better mix with Warblade than Soulknife.
3. No idea how to have the Dragon naturally breath fire, cold and paralyzing gas. Since I used the Silver as the base template it has all the stats of a normal silver. (I gave him fire immunity and a weakness to Acid as a way to try and balance it) Only way I can determine breath weapon changes are either through the Unholy Ravager of Tiamat at level 7 (Draconomicon) or the spell also found in the same book. In lieu of taking useless levels I was thinking of giving him the ability that the Talon has naturally and boosted the LA by 1. In essence it allows a Dragon to substitute their breath weapon energy damage for another one and take a -1 penalty on rounds in between using the breath weapon. I figure it might be applicable as a feat instead but I wanted another's opinion. For this Dragon in specific it would only be switching between fire and cold.
Any and all help would be appreciated and I am more than willing to post more info if I have been shown to be lacking.
*http://dsp-d20-srd.wikidot.com/soulknife
The Main part of this build that I want to know is what do you see yourself doing in combat. Melee, breath weapon, Strikes, Powers,...in a fight, what do you see yourself going for first? This will drive any advice from this point forward.
Pairing up Martial Adepts that have access to Diamond Mind w/ Psionics is generally considered a good idea, so good job there. What disciplines/maneuvers beyond Dimond Mind are you planning on grabbing. Iron Heart Surge is generally a good choice.
You could always take levels in Dragonfire Adept from Dragon Magic and apply the breath effects to your breath weapon, though I have no idea if it's legal or not. As to using multiple breath weapons, perhaps the Dread Linnorm from MM2 might give you some ideas.
I'll pop back with more questions and advice when I can; real life calls.
2. ECL 68 with LA. Technically level 22.
3. I am not too big a fan of the normal Soulknife to be honest. Thought that variant gave more options.
4. Flavor
6. No, it is mostly fluff except the secondary breath weapon. I used the Ebberron (sp?) idea that not ALL Metallics are Good and not ALL Chromatics are evil.
7. I listed the prestige classes I was looking at. I can use any book(s) I want. I don't want to list ALL of the ones I have but I can name a few: Core, Complete Series, Draconomicon, Dragons of Ebberron, Book of 9 Swords, Expanded Psionics Handbook. I know a few were obvious.
Nothing overwhelming at all, I appreciate you responding. I would have responded sooner but for some reason I didn't get an email sayng this thread was updated and I just recently got back to a computer.
Well there are two aspects of combat I want to discuss; human form and dragon form.
In dragon form I see breath weapon and the normal delve of dragon attacks: claw, bite, etc.
In the human form I was hoping for a mix of Strikes and Powers.
These are the maneavers I have picked up: Steel Wind, Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Sudden Leap, Stone Bones (Changed for Girallon Windmill Strike at level 18), Wall of Blades, Insightful Strike, Fountain of Blood, Rabid Bear Strike, Greater Insightful Strike, Finishing Move, Diamond Defense, Strike of Perfect Clarity, Time Stands Still. Hunter's Scent, Punishing Strike, Wolverine Stance, Hearing the Air are the stances. Not sure if I am doing it right...
I would really prefer to just drop the Soulknife if I could and make it a more personalized Legacy Weapon (dunno if you know anything about that). I will admit my idea of the Soul Blade has been tainted by Raziel from the Legacy of Kain series, plus it would be easier to apply other aspects.
Dragonfire adept is interesting but doesn't affect the base breath weapon. It seems to take a few too many levels than needed, which is exactly why I didn't take Unholy Ravager of Tiamat.
The Dread Linnorm is very interesting and I figure the same principle could be applied, which is what I did. My character can breath a cone of fire with the same range and damage, by taking an extra turn to wait after the breath. I figured it would add a +1 LA.
It requires six levels of Dragonfire Adept, but the advantage it offers is significant.
Also, the dragon doesn't lose his senses in human form, AFAIK. So, Hearing the Air is a fairly useless Stance.
You realize this Dragon is going to have more hit points then anyone else in the party, right? And insane stats?
Just wondering what you're planning on fighting with him.
As far as mixed bloodlines, just use sorcery to change the elemental damage of the breath weapon. AS far as immunity to fire and cold, ANYONE can do that with the Rituals of the Frozen Heart/Fiery Heart (Druid/8), so it's no big thing.
==Aelryinth
Do the invocations work with Warock invocations? Can the Warlock class take these and vice-verse? I presume that the answer is no, that they are different "schools" of invocations just written with the same format.
@Aelryinth: Primarily, in all fairness, this is just me trying to build a conversion of a character I play in free-form DnD. I am aware that he is ridiculous levels and epic and all that. It is fun converting him and I am lucky enough to have found a DM interesting (crazy?) enough to give it a whirl. I am in a party with my siblings who are all similiarly ECL Dragons and such. Don't know what to fight yet, but I am sure he can come up with something.
In regards to the breath weapon: my character is psionic, but I figure psionic Dragons would have adapted the breath changing spells from the Draconomicon.
Where are those rituals from?
Thanks for the help so far guys, it truly is appreciated.
@Slagger: Oh wow, didn't see that before. Would it be possible to retain breaht weapon some how? I know in Dragons of Eberron there is a feat that lets you turn in to a Half-Dragon with the use of the Alternate Form ability. It is mainly a fluff idea I would prefer to keep, and kind of a cool surprise in combat. I am also trying to weigh the virtue of taking the class vs. using the feats.
Offhand, I can't think of any way to keep the breath weapon. The half-dragon option would potentially allow some breath weapon use, but since (I assume) you're still applying that template to a base humanoid form with average statistics, it's a choice between having the better ability scores of your normal form or getting a half-dragon breath weapon (which actually isn't all that impressive at your level).
Since the draconic invocations are the main thing of use to you, you can also consider taking just one level of dragonfire adept and advancing its invocations through a prestige class that advances spellcasting (as per the dragonfire adept's sidebar on prestige classes). I'm not sure how that would interact with the custom creature design you've got using psionics in place of arcane spells though, so you'd have to ask your DM.
Do the invocations work with Warock invocations? Can the Warlock class take these and vice-verse? I presume that the answer is no, that they are different "schools" of invocations just written with the same format.
They appear to be separate, unlike the draconic auras which can be used with a variety of aura-based classes as well as being available to true dragons (trading a spell or psionic power known for a draconic aura).
I don't understand how you mean about the auras being available to true Dragons? What book is that from?
I don't understand how you mean about the auras being available to true Dragons? What book is that from?
It's also from Dragon Magic (pages 86 and 87).
The draconic auras can be accessed normally by taking the Draconic Aura feat or by selecting them as an aura for one of the aura-using classes (dragon shaman, marshal, and the dragon lord prestige class). True dragons also have the option of swapping one of their spells or powers known (along with a spell slot or some power points) for a draconic aura.
Since the auras can run continually without requiring you to use actions that could be spent doing something else, they're a viable option for a dragon that already has plenty of spellcasting or manifesting potential. Of course, they could still just take draconic auras via the feat if they didn't want to reduce their spellcasting in any way.
==Aelryinth
The Spells to gain the Fire and Cold subtypes are from Sandstorm and Frostburn, respectively. I may have erred on the names.
The names appear to be mantle of the icy soul and mantle of the fiery spirit.
I will note, however, that mantle of the icy soul was updated to be a limited duration effect in the Spell Compendium (but it's still a 1 hour/level duration), which kind of makes sense since it's three levels lower than its fiery counterpart.
Question now is how could I make a weapon that gives the same properties that the Soulknife class gives? Would a Weapon of Legacy work?
The draconic auras can be accessed normally by taking the Draconic Aura feat or by selecting them as an aura for one of the aura-using classes (dragon shaman, marshal, and the dragon lord prestige class). True dragons also have the option of swapping one of their spells or powers known (along with a spell slot or some power points) for a draconic aura.
Isn't the Divine Mind also a (crappy) class that provides auras?
Another option is the Kensai class that gets to buff up its own 'weapon'.
==Aelryinth
Just use the Ancestral weapon feat and make up your own weapon.
Another option is the Kensai class that gets to buff up its own 'weapon'.
==Aelryinth
As does the Psychic Weapon Master.
You don't have to buy a weapon. That means that the money you'd be spending on a weapon you can devote to utility buys or a faster, higher defense.
At higher levels, 50k of extra toys can add up nicely. At level 20, that's 200k of extra cash sitting around you can spend on other stuff.
I agree that otherwise the lack of class abilities is not that impressive. Why, it kind of reminds you of the fighter now, doesn't it?
==Aelryinth
I agree that otherwise the lack of class abilities is not that impressive. Why, it kind of reminds you of the fighter now, doesn't it?
Hmm, that suggests a another fighter class improvement possibility where you get money; receiving level-based cash would be flexible enough to fit with the rest of the fighter's design.
It's not exactly ideal (since it gives money, rather than specific class abilities), but just giving the fighter more of something that everyone else has matches the current class design.
The one thing to remember about the Soulknife is that it is saving you money.
You don't have to buy a weapon. That means that the money you'd be spending on a weapon you can devote to utility buys or a faster, higher defense.
At higher levels, 50k of extra toys can add up nicely. At level 20, that's 200k of extra cash sitting around you can spend on other stuff.
I agree that otherwise the lack of class abilities is not that impressive. Why, it kind of reminds you of the fighter now, doesn't it?
==Aelryinth
How would you proprose mixing Soulknife, Dragonfire Adept and Warblade then?
I agree that otherwise the lack of class abilities is not that impressive. Why, it kind of reminds you of the fighter now, doesn't it?
Hmm, that suggests a another fighter class improvement possibility where you get money; receiving level-based cash would be flexible enough to fit with the rest of the fighter's design.
It's not exactly ideal (since it gives money, rather than specific class abilities), but just giving the fighter more of something that everyone else has matches the current class design.
Oh, you mean like the OA samurai, which levelled his weapon via XP and not coin? Odd, that...it's one of the most popular fighter variant classes because of nice things like that.
==Aelryinth
The one thing to remember about the Soulknife is that it is saving you money.
You don't have to buy a weapon. That means that the money you'd be spending on a weapon you can devote to utility buys or a faster, higher defense.
At higher levels, 50k of extra toys can add up nicely. At level 20, that's 200k of extra cash sitting around you can spend on other stuff.
I agree that otherwise the lack of class abilities is not that impressive. Why, it kind of reminds you of the fighter now, doesn't it?
==Aelryinth
How would you proprose mixing Soulknife, Dragonfire Adept and Warblade then?
Gak.
I, wah, that's an incredibly weird combo of classes and I have absolutely no clue how to mix and match such a hodgepodge. Especially if you're talking gestalt.
Warblade is better if you stick with it, or maybe grab Master of 9. Soulknife is basically a fighter variant with a free weapon and access to psionic feats. Dragonfire Adept is a warlock variant.
I have no clue how to combine those effectively.
==Aelryinth
How would you proprose mixing Soulknife, Dragonfire Adept and Warblade then?
It's tricky when you don't have a handy hybrid class, so generally you dip as little into most of the classes as possible and focus on your strengths in a particular class. It can help if you're building towards a prestige class that will grant abilities without too much dependence on the previous classes.
It's not exactly ideal (since it gives money, rather than specific class abilities), but just giving the fighter more of something that everyone else has matches the current class design.
Oh, you mean like the OA samurai, which levelled his weapon via XP and not coin? Odd, that...it's one of the most popular fighter variant classes because of nice things like that.
Similar, though without actually requiring an investment aside from levels in the class (you're already "paying" by taking levels after all). But didn't the OA samurai sacrifice goods with a gold piece value, rather than XP? The Ancestral Relic feat (from the Book of Exalted Deeds) is basically the same thing in feat form. The kensai had an XP cost mechanic, though.
The fighter's heavy dependency on gear does mean that anything helping him with that gear is useful, whether it's the equivalent of extra money to buy it, ways to protect or restore it, or methods for making its use better than for other characters.
Ancestral Relic is similar. both 'work' in increasing WBL because you can sacrifice goods at full value, instead of selling them off for half. So, to advance your sword, you'd grab all the gems and jewelry and tapestries and objects d'art and sac them to your weapon for 50k, instead of selling them off for 25. The samurai ability was annoying because you had to do a ceremony and fast and pray to the ancestors and whatnot...which meant you couldn't level a weapon on the road. You had to have downtime like any crafter.
Basically, it was a one weapon Item Creation Feat.
Ancestral Relic is only available to Good people, but came with a bonus...the wealth limit on an item was increased by +50%. So, you could make a sword worth 300k...or a shield worth, um, 450k (armor+weapon x 1.5). So, slightly better then the samurai ability. In both cases, it meant you weren't depending on finding a weapon, you could just HAVE the one you wanted.
==========
Legacy Weapons work if you want to go with them, that's fine. Most are just not worth the time and hassle for the xtra abilities, especially if thy start throwing out save, hp, and stat penalties. You're paying in more then one way for that stuff.
==Aelryinth
Go ahead and make yourself your own 'legacy' weapon...Grandfather's Sword is a standard of the genre.
==Aelryinth
I'd recommend taking the Ancestral Weapon feat and making yourself a custom intelligent weapon, then. Because you sacrifice gold to raise it in level, you get twice the bang for your buck out of it, and the maximum gp limit on it is 350k, I believe.
Go ahead and make yourself your own 'legacy' weapon...Grandfather's Sword is a standard of the genre.
==Aelryinth
And I only found Ancestral Relic feat. Or is that the same thing?
"manifest" is the same as 'summon to hand'. There's an augment gem in the MIC which does it. Quick Draw practically does the same thing.
Throwing is throwing and returning. Just add it to the weapon. Thematically best with an axe or hammer or spear, of course.
Bladewind...not sure what that is. I believe it's a class ability like whirlwind attack, isn't it?
==Aelryinth
Would the "summon to hand" ability be applicable even by making it appear and disappear like the actual Soulknife does?
if you don't want to have to sheathe it, use a glove of storing, snap your fingers, its in your hand.
If it's over against the wall and you want it in your hand, use the augment gem.
If you jsut want to be able to get it in your hand fast, QuickDraw does the job.
==Aelryinth