[3.5] Best Astral Construct setup

[Lateral]

What would be the best setup for a favored Astral Construct for a Psion 6/Constructor 9 (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625b)/Psion +5 with the Personal Construct (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070411a) ACF? What abilities do I give it?

[AshDesert]

Honestly, I think you might get more mileage out of staying straight Shaper. The only menu ability that compares with the stock choices available in the SRD is Reach, and I'm not sure that Constructor is really worth giving up an ML for (though that 9th level ability is rather nice).

As for the abilities, for Constructs from 1st-3rd, the best choices on Menu A are Power Attack and Trip, but low BAB and Small size kind of ruin that. Flight is fairly uncommon at those levels, and Fly can give the Construct a good tactical advantage. From 4th-6th, I like to give it both Power Attack and Trip, as the combination of the two tend to be better than one ability from Menu B. 7th-9th, Power Attack, Trip, and either Pounce, Extra Attack, or Improved Fly, depending on the situation. Menu C just doesn't offer all that much when compared to getting a bunch of abilities from A and B. If I were using a Constructor, at 20 my Construct would be Power Attack, Trip, Improved Fly, Natural Invisibility, Pounce, and Reach. You now have a flying, invisible Huge construct with reach that can trip as a free action and full atack on the end of a charge.

[Psyren]

Honestly, I think you might get more mileage out of staying straight Shaper.

You've got to be kidding. Enhanced Construction alone makes it worthwhile (Twin Power for 2PP, that maintains your augmentation, and goes off on the same round??), never mind the other good stuff like Extended Construction, Utility Construct, Ecto Protection...

Seriously, the class is solid gold for Astral Construct specialists, try it.

[Endarire]

Intro
Done correctly, you can get a L9 astral construct much sooner than level 17.

Manifester Level Boosts
-Orange Ioun Stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#iounStones) (30K)

-Practiced Manifester (Complete Psionic 57), combined with the Spellgifted Trait (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterTraits.htm#spellgifted)

-Overchannel Feat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#overchannel). Talented Feat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#talented) recommented, especially with the feat Transcend Limits (Hyperconscious 44).

-Linked Power Feat (Complete Psionic 62) + Metapower Feat (Complete Psionic 63)

-Midnight Augmentation Feat (Magic of Incarnum 38)

Other Astral Construct Goodness
Construct Feats and Items (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/pse/20020727c): More astral construct menu options, many of which were included in 3.5. Ask your GM which menu options require the Advanced Construction feat listed there.

Also contains new feats for more or longer constructs, and items to grant such feats.

Durable Construct Feat (Hyperconscious 40): Requires manifester level 3 and Boost Construct (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#boostConstruct), but makes your astral constructs last 10 minutes. Woo!

Expand Your Mind (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20020426b): Augment Construction Feat for +1 hit point per Hit Die and a +1 competence bonus on attack and damage rolls.

Personal Construct - Psion (Shaper) Alternative Class Feature (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070411a): Debatable whether the Quickening is free, or the whole construct is. (I view it as 1 free construct at a time, like an animal companion.)

Psionic Potporri (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20030829a): More astral construct menu options.

Subpsionics (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/pse/20021025a): Astral construct menu options for fear and 'taint.' Doesn't seem worth it.

[AshDesert]

You've got to be kidding. Enhanced Construction alone makes it worthwhile (Twin Power for 2PP, that maintains your augmentation, and goes off on the same round??), never mind the other good stuff like Extended Construction, Utility Construct, Ecto Protection...

Seriously, the class is solid gold for Astral Construct specialists, try it.

Yeah. I didn't read through it that well when I first saw the link. Looking back over, yeah, Enhanced Construction is definitely worth one ML (I didn't notice the 2 PP the first time, that's insane), not to mention two free abilities. I was just looking at the Menues, which are a bit lackluster (although Reach is very nice). Ecto Protection is kinda meh (although if your DM likes to dispel your constructs I could see the use) and most battles don't last long enough to make 1 min/level much more meaningful than 1 round/level. Utility Construct is a free horse, which is nice.

That Favored Construct ACF is also very naice, free Quickened Power for what I normally do with Constructs anyway (I end up just using one Construct set up and because it's easier to just keep one statblock on hand).

[Psyren]

Ecto Protection is kinda meh (although if your DM likes to dispel your constructs I could see the use) and most battles don't last long enough to make 1 min/level much more meaningful than 1 round/level. Utility Construct is a free horse, which is nice.

Dispel is a fairly standard tactic vs. summons - this is why it's a good idea to Overchannel all your Astral Constructs (Talented, of course) even if you don't plan to augment them all the way.

As for Extended Construction, the duration is key. Sure, a given battle doesn't last long - but how about back-to-back encounters? Starting another fight with your AC squad still intact is definitely worth the price of admission, as it saves you the actions you would otherwise have spent assembling your robo-guardians.


Overchannel Feat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#overchannel). Talented Feat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#talented) recommented, especially with the feat Transcend Limits (Hyperconscious 44).

That feat is so awesome; I wish it got more love :smallbiggrin:

Also, don't forget Subconscious and Preconscious Power from the same book. While you're bleeding on the ground, you can create Astral Constructs to pick you up and zip you away from the battle; meanwhile, you keep making Autohypnosis checks to clot up (Or just Body Adjustment)