PDA

View Full Version : Psionic Focus



Maeglin_Dubh
2011-02-13, 01:08 PM
Last thread got no replies and is now buried under a page or two, so I'll go with a more generic theme this time.

What is the general opinion on the usefulness of feats that work based on Psionic Focus? Whether it be Up the Walls or Fell Shot, is Psionic Focus something worth basing a character (psionic or otherwise) around?

ex cathedra
2011-02-13, 01:14 PM
Most of them just aren't that powerful, or take a long line of feats. Metapsionics aside, very few of the Psionic Focus feats are actually worth it. Most of them aren't above the average power level for feats, but still require you to discharge your psionic focus (adding an inefficient action tax) or leave your focus constantly readied, which is generally a waste of potential.

Flickerdart
2011-02-13, 01:20 PM
If you have a psicrystal and Psicrystal Containment, then you have two focuses. If you have Hustle and Psionic Meditation, then you can refresh one of these focuses as a swift action, meaning that you rarely have to waste a real action to refresh, and can go without refreshing for a turn or two.

KillianHawkeye
2011-02-13, 02:04 PM
I prefer the feats that require maintaining your psionic focus, because they're essentially "always on" as long as I don't mix them with stuff that requires expending your focus.

Telok
2011-02-13, 02:09 PM
If you have power points from your race and use light armor then Speed of Thought is a decent investment for some people.

I've also seen a decent archer build using the Psionic Shot feats and the Pyro PrC.

RndmNumGen
2011-02-13, 02:14 PM
I've also seen a decent archer build using the Psionic Shot feats and the Pyro PrC.

How did that work? You can't use Psionic Shot with ranged touch attacks like Bolt of Fire, can you?

Reynard
2011-02-13, 02:21 PM
How did that work? You can't use Psionic Shot with ranged touch attacks like Bolt of Fire, can you?

Actually, you can. Any ranged attack qualifies.

Though the fact that it's once/turn (at best) is terrible. I prefer the Pathfinder version.

Zaq
2011-02-13, 02:24 PM
The biggest trap in this case is to take a bunch of abilities that require maintaining your focus AND a bunch of abilities that require expending it. You need to pick one and stick with it, as a rule of thumb. I prefer maintaining it to expending it, but metapsionics are fun.

Reynard
2011-02-13, 02:42 PM
The biggest trap in this case is to take a bunch of abilities that require maintaining your focus AND a bunch of abilities that require expending it. You need to pick one and stick with it, as a rule of thumb. I prefer maintaining it to expending it, but metapsionics are fun.

I like maintaining it constantly for those little benefits, and having the option to Quicken the hell out of my powers at the slightest provocation.

Quicken and Extra-Dimensional (Or whichever one it is that lets you hit incorporeal) are really the only Metapsionic Feats I bother with, unless I'm feeling like giving some real crazy damage.

EDIT: Also, Psion-Warblades have a great option here, getting their focus as a swift action when they use a maneuver.

Psyren
2011-02-13, 03:10 PM
Pretty much all the "Focus" feats got buffed in Pathfinder. I'm getting to that part of my guide, though WoW is making it difficult to concentrate. :smalltongue:

But as far as the 3.5 ones, yeah they tend to be weak. The attack-based ones, since they rely on expending focus, don't go well with iteratives. If you routinely attack without iteratives though - say, a Scout, Warlock, ray specialist etc. - they can be a nice boost, particularly early on.

Cieyrin
2011-02-13, 03:54 PM
Pretty much all the "Focus" feats got buffed in Pathfinder. I'm getting to that part of my guide, though WoW is making it difficult to concentrate. :smalltongue:

But as far as the 3.5 ones, yeah they tend to be weak. The attack-based ones, since they rely on expending focus, don't go well with iteratives. If you routinely attack without iteratives though - say, a Scout, Warlock, ray specialist etc. - they can be a nice boost, particularly early on.

Psionic Shot can work well with a Soulbow, if you combine it with a Psychic Strike and other damage goodies.

Psyren
2011-02-13, 05:24 PM
Psionic Shot can work well with a Soulbow, if you combine it with a Psychic Strike and other damage goodies.

Soulbows get iteratives though, so you're almost always better off full-attacking. This is doubly true since Soulbow doesn't advance psychic strike.

Jair Barik
2011-02-13, 05:33 PM
Pretty much all the "Focus" feats got buffed in Pathfinder. I'm getting to that part of my guide, though WoW is making it difficult to concentrate. :smalltongue:

But as far as the 3.5 ones, yeah they tend to be weak. The attack-based ones, since they rely on expending focus, don't go well with iteratives. If you routinely attack without iteratives though - say, a Scout, Warlock, ray specialist etc. - they can be a nice boost, particularly early on.

WoW-Whenever a character makes contact with it they automatically lose their Psionic focus. You cannot regain your psionic focus whilst in the presence of WoW

Psyren
2011-02-13, 05:59 PM
WoW-Whenever a character makes contact with it they automatically lose their Psionic focus. You cannot regain your psionic focus whilst in the presence of WoW

Yeah, pretty much :smalltongue:
(In fact, I should probably eat something)

Maeglin_Dubh
2011-02-13, 06:45 PM
So, what are the best constantly-on feats for Psionic Focus? Speed of Thought obviously looks good, but what else is worth considering.

Psyren
2011-02-13, 07:08 PM
So, what are the best constantly-on feats for Psionic Focus? Speed of Thought obviously looks good, but what else is worth considering.

That depends. Do you mean purely 3.5, or is Pathfinder available? Also, 3rd-party sources like Hyperconscious? (same author as the XPH, Bruce Cordell.)

Maeglin_Dubh
2011-02-13, 07:27 PM
Eh, primarily 3.5 I think. Pathfinder is a possibility.

Psyren
2011-02-13, 09:13 PM
In 3.5 only, your options are limited. Most useful effects prefer you expend your focus, as that balances them (at least to WotC's mind.)

From the XPH: Ghost Attack is good; doubles your chance to hit, and works with ranged weapons to boot. Its usefulness is campaign-dependent however. Speed of Thought is excellent, especially since it stacks with most other speed-boosters like Skate, ER, Haste etc. I was never too impressed with Up The Walls myself, but it does get better the faster you get.

From CPsi: Mental Juggernaut is nice but again campaign-dependent. Focused Skill User should only be considered if competence bonuses are hard to come by.
Psymbiot is great (untyped!) and with some shenanigans you could probably get it to apply to your psicrystal, gaining the benefits 24/7. If not, then just make sure you're not the only manifester in the party.