Psionic Focus

Post subject: Re: Psionic Focus Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 09:16 PM

Fenris wrote:

Jaid wrote:

incidentally, you cain use your concentrate skill to gain your focus defensively. that is one of the legitimate uses of the concentrate skill Wink

SRD wrote:

You can use Concentration to manifest a power or use a psi-like ability defensively, so as to avoid attacks of opportunity altogether.

No mention of using it defensively to gain the focus though.

i think that SRD is not up to date. try this one:

Hypertext Online SRD wrote:

Special
You can use Concentration to cast a spell, use a spell-like ability, or use a skill defensively, so as to avoid attacks of opportunity altogether. This doesn’t apply to other actions that might provoke attacks of opportunity.

The DC of the check is 15 (plus the spell’s level, if casting a spell or using a spell-like ability defensively). If the Concentration check succeeds, you may attempt the action normally without provoking any attacks of opportunity. A successful Concentration check still doesn’t allow you to take 10 on another check if you are in a stressful situation; you must make the check normally. If the Concentration check fails, the related action also automatically fails (with any appropriate ramifications), and the action is wasted, just as if your concentration had been disrupted by a distraction.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Huh,
No I was using the exact same SRD. I was looking int the Psionic section.
www.d20srd.org/srd/psi...ration.htm

Rather than the main section. So that is an interesting difference.

Hmmmm.

So since I use the Concentratio skill to regain focus, I could do so.

Hrmm, Would Combat Manifestation work in this case I wonder?

Post subject: Re: Psionic Focus Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:46 PM

Fenris wrote:

I was looking int the Psionic section. Rather than the main section. So that is an interesting difference.

The reason they are different is because the Psionics section only houses rules for changes made to the skills with the introductions of psionics into the game. So, any rules that are in the game regardless of whether psionics is involved or not are found in the regular section of the rules. Since using concentration to avoid AoOs with skill checks is always a possibility, it is in the main section. The fact that it applies to the area of psionics with which you are interested is just gravy ... confusing gravy as the case may be....

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Angellis_ater wrote:

Your thunder was stolen by a DUSKBLADE? Seriously? Gimme a shot at that Duskblade and I'll whoop his ass!

I take this as a challenge. Magic-wielding poncy git thinks he can upstage the Masters of the Mind? Pfff... Wink

You want cool PsyWar stuff? Either, build a Mindblader PsyWar, or use a Psicrystal Weapon for expending your psifocus and use your regular, personal, focus for maintenance feats. Now, gimme that duskblade build.

All right A_a, let's build me a PsyWar.

Now looking at the two, part if this is that he is using the same idiom as I was going to, the greatsword. And he can do it very well.

Now Here is what I was looking at 6th Level Human PsyWar
It's a homebrew, Fighters get a feat every level, I convinced the GM to give me a 2/3 feat progession for PsyWar (so 1,2, 4,5,7,8,10 etc.) So I have 8 feats to play with. I was going for the big bad tank. Take it and deal it out.

So
Str 18 (17+level)
Dex 12
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 9

Then picking up as feats: Weapon Focus (greatsword), Power Attack, Cleave, Psionic Body, Agressive Combat Instinct, Defensive Combat Instinct, Psionic Weapon. That still left two to go. Which may have been Psionic Meditaiton and maybe Impoved Toughness.

For Powers I was looking at
Biofeedback
Expansion
Force Screen
Physical Acceleration
Body Adjustment
and either Empathetic Transfer or Dissolving Weapon

I mean, that makes a pretty nice PsyWar. He is pretty good. Attack at +10 (assuming a magic weapon) 2d6+7 damge. Full plate, probably a 20-21 AC. Not bad. Give him a chance to buff and he'll destroy you with size, reach, DR and haste. Nasty.

Now here is the dusk blade

SPOILER! Click here to read.

So, very similar concept. I will say I haven't stated my prefences yet, so I can;t say boo about his choices. But he looks pretty tough. He has a higher BAB than I do, though WF helps. We have the same I would have a good deal more HP though, especially with Imp Toughness (about 66 in the current build) Ok, a lot more Wink

)

But I just feel like my schitch is taken you know.

So, this is almost less about power, though I want to be effective, than about doing something well. So do I focus on maintan that psionic focus and what else can I do?

I really am not thrilled with mindblades as a concept, though I am going to go back and take a look at some other feats and see if they help.

Now, we do have a swashbuckler/fighter in the group who is a TWF AC monkey, super high AC, very low HP.

But I thought to round us out is to make my PsyWar focused on a reach weapon, a glaive perhaps. Lower strength, higher dex, take Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise and Imporved Trip. An Expanded PsyWAr with a reach of 15 could be a real battle field control nightmare. Tripping everyone who comes close and then steiking while they are down. So that was amother idea. But illuminate me one and all.

I do tend to play a straight up fighter mostly, but NLF has corrupted me and I do like the PsyWar concept. The flexibility he has is great, and I don't mind giving up the HP or BAB for it.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

You know what? Why should I have to stand down from what I want to play?

So I am going to play a greatsword weilding Psychic Warrior and have him rock. ANd out Duskblade the Duskblade. Wink

So help me out guys. Especially with feats. I am really at a loss with good Psonic feats to boost Psionic Body, but provide a good return.

Do I go with the Psionic Meditation and Psionic Blade combo or the COmabat Instincts?

But what else is there to take if I keep my focus?

What about any good psionic items?

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 11:54 PM

How free am I to build this PsyWar of yours? Any feats from us, for example? Provided that we have the above as a given (all our feats).

MAIN BUILD
Feats: Psicrystal Weapon (HPC1), Psionic Weapon, Psionic Body, Psionic Talent, Bodily Reservoir, Improved Psionic Talent, Metapsychic Weapon, Psionic Meditation

This gives you +16 hp, +9 power points, all the benefits of a Psicrystal Weapon, a -1 discount on any augmentation of a 1st or 2nd level power, the ability to reacquire psionic focus as a move action and while you maintain it you do +1d6 damage, expend it for +2d6 instead. It does require a Wis 15.

Options
Want more focus on the PsiFocus thingie? Take Psicrystal Containment (the weapon holds a second focus) and Psicrystal Strike Focus (kill an enemy and focus for free) instead of two of the above. Swift Strike is a nice bonus in this combo, allowing you to move, attack and then attack again as a swift action.

Want more bonuses when holding psionic focus? Take Aggressive and Defensive Combat Instinct (+1 to attack and AC) instead of 2 feats.

If you really want non-psionic feats, pick up Rapid Metabolism and Psionic Metabolism to treat ALL feats as psionic.

Want to make the Psicrystal Weapon more focused? Take Awakened Psi-crystal and give it a few cool abilities.

Mental Talent gives you an additional 1st level power and access to manifest powers with your psionic focus. Good when you're low on PP.

If you want to channel touch attacks, take Power Channeler instead of Psicrystal Weapon.

Want even more power points? Pick up Phrenic Aberration and pick some cool Phrenic Feats (suggestions: Phrenic Legacy, Phrenic Vampire)

It all depends on what exactly you want. Assuming my main suggested build up there, these are the following powers:

MAIN POWERS:
Biofeedback, Hammer, Force Screen, Strength of my Enemy, Dissolving Touch, Expansion

The main idea here is to use Force Screen+Biofeedback for defensive purposes, SoME for multipurpose drain+boost, Expansion for increased damage & reach and Hammer+Dissolving Touch for boosting damage.

If given the opportunity to boost, you are dangerous as hell. Provided just one turn of boosting, my suggestion is as follows: Move Action (focus), Standard Action (Expansion), Swift Action (Hammer). This gives you a base damage of 4d6+1d8 and a 10' reach. Not bad. Add remaining powers as necessary (Force Screen against low attack high damage, Biofeedback against high attack, low damage, Dissolving Touch for alphastrikes, SoME for multipurpose effects, mainly against other Meleers.

Most replacable power: SoME - while good, you might prefer to go for Vigor for greater staying power. You can manifest Vigor for 5pp and gain 30 temporary hit points, that is STAYING power.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Awesome. Simply awesome.

Maybe even Be-awesome Wink

Looks great A_a.

I have a few tweaks I would put on him. But that gives me soem great options..Now all the feats come out of HPC1? What about Combat Insticnt is that in there or only in Enlightend Monk.

Juts seeing what I need to buy.

I think this works very well though. I may wait on the Psionic Meditation anf Pick up Aggressive Combat Instinct. My Concentration is still low enoughit is a 50-50 chance to get it back.

but Iget a feat at 7th anf 8th so I could pick up Psioninc Meditation and greater Psioninc Weapon then.

but this gives me some realy good options.

So for the augemtation, that is -1. That would be like expansion, it costs 1 PP. That doesn't change. But if I wanted to grow two sizes, I could pay an extra 5 (instead of 6) for it correct?

Heh, such options!

Thanks Andreas, I will have to tweak him out and see what works for him. But I can already see that he tremendous possibilties for damage, even with out augmenting.

Screw his true stike crap and shocking grasp BS.

I can deal it out!

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 05:07 PM

HPC1 and Mind Unveiled: Feats are the sources.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Angellis_ater wrote:

HPC1 and Mind Unveiled: Feats are the sources.

Bought them Smile

Looks great, there is more i there to use.

I am really on the fencewith powers. I really like Physical acceleration and Body adjustment. I am contemplating dropping Force shield for Hammer so I would have Biofeedback, Exapsnion, Hammer, Body adjustment, Physcial accelration and dissolving weapon.

My AC will suffer a bit, but I have a ton of HP. But maybe I should wait on Physical Accelertation for Force screen?

My AC looks to be 21 right now. Not bad. But force screen could kick that up. Hrmmm

And wouldn't I have +10 PP (2 from Psionic Talent and 8 from Bodily Reservoir?)

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 05:27 PM

ur 6th lvl with an AC of only 21? hmm, does that include armor or are u somehow restricted in what u can wear/afford? for powers, especially when ur more limited in how many u can have, i personally like to pick powers/spells that either strongly compliment me or shore up my weaknesses. Also when stuck between a few choices i often look to which power or spell does the most for my level. if a pair of powers are both good choices, i usually go with one that lasts longer, has no save or a secondary effect.

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 06:10 AM

It is better to go with Vigor than Body Adjustment in most cases. Sure, for just 4 pp you can get 2d12 of healing, which is 11 points generally. For 4 pp, you get 25 temporary hit points - a little planning saves the day. I would also go with Force Screen above Physical Acceleration, it maximises your usage of the shield bonus (which you won't get any otherwise).

And yes, that is +10pp, my fault. Brainfreeze or something.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

One more question I think.

FOr purposs of Improved Psionic Talent, does the orginal cost count towards my manifester level or the new cost?

Ie I have expansion. I am a 6th level manifester which means I can augment my manifestations so long as I don;t spend more than 6 points (ML=6)

So can I use expansion and grow two sizes? It costs me 5 PP to do so becuase of IPT plus the one to manifest for 6.

Or does the effective PP level of 7 mean I cannot do that?

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:11 PM

Think of it as if the feat pays for 1pp of the augmentation. You would need Favored Power to increase the ML by +1. (Might be a good choice overall for Expansion. First +1 ML, then manifest as a Move).

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Angellis_ater wrote:

It is better to go with Vigor than Body Adjustment in most cases. Sure, for just 4 pp you can get 2d12 of healing, which is 11 points generally. For 4 pp, you get 25 temporary hit points - a little planning saves the day. I would also go with Force Screen above Physical Acceleration, it maximises your usage of the shield bonus (which you won't get any otherwise).

And yes, that is +10pp, my fault. Brainfreeze or something.

OK, we have picked up a secondary healer and I think we are covered for healing. So I will drop Body Adjustment.

Vigor is damn nice I will admit.

WHat about Energy Adaptation (specified) or Animal Affinity? Thoughts on those?

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 07:31 AM

Both are good at a later stage, since you continue to gain one power every level, but I wouldn't exchange any of the basic powers. You need to focus on doing what you do best and maximising your benefits. Hitting 7th level will be great for you, allowing you to manifest stuff like Force Shield and Expansions as Swift Actions! Combo with say Favored Power and Improved Favored Power and you could potentially manifest Expansion+Force Screen+Attack in the same round.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Angellis_ater wrote:

Both are good at a later stage, since you continue to gain one power every level, but I wouldn't exchange any of the basic powers. You need to focus on doing what you do best and maximising your benefits. Hitting 7th level will be great for you, allowing you to manifest stuff like Force Shield and Expansions as Swift Actions! Combo with say Favored Power and Improved Favored Power and you could potentially manifest Expansion+Force Screen+Attack in the same round.

OK Vigor it is. And I will get a feat a level 7 an 8 Wink

But I don;t see that Force Screen can be augmented as a swift action.

Also does Improved Psionic Talent stack with Favored Power? and What book is Improved Favored Power in?

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 07:47 AM

Yeah, my mistake on the Force Screen as Swift Action - that's what you get for posting in the morning without breakfast and while juggling two kids at the same time! Smile

However, that does make Force Screen an AWESOME target for Favored Power and IFP. Manifest a +1 Manifester Level would mean that at 9th level you can manifest it for 8pp in total and get a +6 shield bonus and you can do it as a Move action. Smile

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Angellis_ater wrote:

Yeah, my mistake on the Force Screen as Swift Action - that's what you get for posting in the morning without breakfast and while juggling two kids at the same time! Smile

However, that does make Force Screen an AWESOME target for Favored Power and IFP. Manifest a +1 Manifester Level would mean that at 9th level you can manifest it for 8pp in total and get a +6 shield bonus and you can do it as a Move action. Smile

HEy A_a,

I think I edited as you were replying

To add:
Also does Improved Psionic Talent stack with Favored Power? and What book is Improved Favored Power in?

Post subject: Psionic Focus Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 04:49 PM

Improved Psionic Talent only lowers the cost, while Favored Power increases your manifester level by +1, so they naturally "stack" since they do two different things.

I might misremember the name, but it should be in the same book as Favored Power is in.

Enlightened Mind Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 239 Karma: +2

Angellis_ater wrote:

Improved Psionic Talent only lowers the cost, while Favored Power increases your manifester level by +1, so they naturally "stack" since they do two different things.

I might misremember the name, but it should be in the same book as Favored Power is in.

Cool. Yeah I found it in The High Psionics Comp. Though it doesn't say it raises the manifester level, it says I pay one less point to manifest it. I am cutting hairs too thinly there?

It was Greater Favored Power, I can't find an Improved Favored power.

Might be a good errata:

Favored Power as written
Improved Favored Power (as Greater is now, 9th levl Man, standard becomes move)
Greater Favored Power. 15th Manifester min, move action becomes swift action.

You have to pay three feats to get that one power as swift, but if would be really cool. And three feats is a good balance for that.