Psion

[GnomeGninjas]

I am planning to build a psion for a campaign I'm joining though I don't really know anything about psionics. I just have access to srd for powers though I think all the powers are in srd. For race I'll choose gnome. For feat I don't know what I'll choose. For powers I'm thinking Control Flames, Disable, and Entangling Ectoplasm, though I might be missing some good ones. I can't take flaws. I need build advice, information on how psionics work/ a link to a psionic guide or something.

[Feralventas]

You have a base number of Power Points gained from Manifesting Class levels and Your Relevant Ability Modifier (Int for Psions). These points are spent to manifest your powers. You can invest a number of points into your powers equal to your manifested level. (1 at level one, 3 at level 3, and so forth.)

Your powers known are available and function like a Sorcerer's spells known.

You can choose how many power points you invest in a power, down to the minimum needed to manifest it (1 point minimum for 1st level powers, 3 points for 2nd level, 5 points for 3rd level, and so on to 17 points minimum for 9th level.)

[erikun]

You have a base number of Power Points gained from Manifesting Class levels and Your Relevant Ability Modifier (Int for Psions). These points are spent to manifest your powers. You can invest a number of points into your powers equal to your manifested level. (1 at level one, 3 at level 3, and so forth.)
These are the basics for psionics. Please note that the maximum PP = manifester level is a very hard rule; there aren't many ways to bypass it. For example, Maximize Power increases the power's cost by 4 PP. This means that a 10th level Psion could only spend 6 PP on the power itself, because 6PP + 4PP = 10PP limit.

Psions choose a discipline. This is basically like a Wizard's specialization, except it is manditory. Psions may choose powers from the general Psion/Wilder list, along with the list of their discipline. They may not choose powers from one of the five other disciplines.

(This part will get confusing: all powers have a discipline, but are not necessarily restricted to a discipline list. Conceal Thoughts is a 1st level telepathy power on the general Psion list. Psionic Charm is a 1st level telepathy power on the Telepath discipline list. Just stick with this page (http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/psionicPowerList.htm), choosing your powers from the Psion/Wilder list and the one specific to your discipline.)

Helpful first-level powers depend on what you are planning with the character. Energy Ray is good damage, at 1d6/PP for a single target. Vigor is nice at 5 temp HP/PP for when you might take damage. Synesthete is handy against blindness/deafness, although My Light or Control Light might work better. Detect Psionics is frequently handy.

And then there are the discipline-specific powers. Astral Construct (Metacreativity) is good, but not that great at first level. Psionic Charm (Telepathy) always has its uses, and can still be used at higher levels.

[DaedalusMkV]

Control Flames is actually really poor at all levels. While it does get impressive at very high levels, sending fires the size of city blocks moving around, it never does good damage for the PP you need to invest and has harsh limitations and a terrible effective range. At first level, I really doubt you'll find being able to move around and/or snuff out a candle flame to be all that useful. At first level Matter Agitation is amazing for preserving PP, being a Will-save vs. okay damage for as long as you need to maintain it before the bad guys stop moving. I used it heavily up until 3rd level, at which point it was utterly useless in combat but still useful for surreptitiously setting fires. Mind Thrust is also a fairly effective weapon, since a lot of enemies at 1st level have very weak Will saves and d10 per PP is quite solid, and will serve you well until at least 7th level and probably beyond since it's easy to metapsy into a devestating effect (Maximized, if you can swing it, will probably outright kill most enemies).

Your Discipline determines what you'll be best at at higher levels. Kineticists get all the best 'Splodey stuff, for example, while Telepaths can manipulate their enemies and facilitate communication with their allies. Look over the Powers on each Discipline list and figure out which you like most.

As far as Feats go, there are a lot of different ways to go. You can't go wrong with the Overchanne/Talented combo, which lets you raise your ML (and thus the number of PP you can throw around at once) for no cost. You also can't go wrong with metapsionics Feats and anything that improves your ability to achieve your Psionic Focus (sort of a binary switch which improves your Concentration when on and can be turned off to power a number of different things).

If you want a more in-depth guide, I found this guide (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19571514/3.5_Psion_Buildguide_and_Compendium)fairly helpful when I was building my Psion, though I disagreed with a few things.

[Mnemnosyne]

Some useful links for you:

3.5 Psion Buildguide and Compendium (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19571514/3.5_Psion_Buildguide_and_Compendium)
The only relatively overall handbook for psions I've seen.

What is the most powerful psionic power (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19537882/What_Is_the_Most_Powerful_Psionic_Power)
Useful list, I don't necessarily agree with all the choices, but it certainly has useful information.

Raising ML (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127103)
A couple useful tidbits of information on raising ML and reducing power costs - far from comprehensive, but useful info.

The Mind's Eye: Expanded Classes, Part Two (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070314a)
The Mind's Eye: Expanded Classes, Part Three (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070411a)
Psion ACFs.

Brainstorm for Psionic Tricks, Tactics, and Combos Handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177889)
Lots of neat tricks. Some of them are useful in a practical game, some of them make DMs throw books at your head.

Myth: The XPH is overpowered (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/18833134/Myth:_The_XPH_is_overpowered)
While I don't think you think psionics are overpowered, you seem unfamiliar with some of the system and this guide helps for someone highly unfamiliar with psionics.

Psionic Powers by Discipline (http://mnemnosyne.com/D&D%20Stuff/Psionic%20Powers%20by%20Discipline.htm)
A list I made, and intended for Erudites (the second column with only a number indicates what level an Erudite would gain access to the power) but it is as complete a list of all psionic powers as I was able to make.

[GnomeGninjas]

Thank you for all the advice/links/explanations. I'm still not sure what feats to take. I think improved initiative for my normal feat but I don't know which to choose for my bonus feat. The powers I chose are Charm, Matter Agitation, and Vigor.

[Analytica]

Semi-cheesy, but how about Hidden Talent: Astral Construct? Hidden talent gives +1PP and a first-level power from any list, so you can cherry-pick another disciplines signature power like this.

[GnomeGninjas]

That seems like a good one to choose. I don't really see what's cheesy about it though.

[Amphetryon]

Overchannel + Talented are just about always worth considering as Psionic Feats.

[Analytica]

That seems like a good one to choose. I don't really see what's cheesy about it though.

It was probably intended for otherwise non-psionic characters with just that power, but sure. I like to take it.

[The Glyphstone]

That seems like a good one to choose. I don't really see what's cheesy about it though.

It's semi-cheesy because Hidden Talent is technically optional material - it's supposed to replace Wild Talent in campaigns with high levels of psionic activity in the setting, so it's simply Better Than Wild Talent in every way.

[GnomeGninjas]

It's semi-cheesy because Hidden Talent is technically optional material - it's supposed to replace Wild Talent in campaigns with high levels of psionic activity in the setting, so it's simply Better Than Wild Talent in every way.

That makes sense.

[The Glyphstone]

Though the flip side is that Wild Talent is an awful feat, so it's still at best mild cheese.