Practiced Manifester

[Myrddin0001]

this might be a dead subject, but I can't find an answer anywhere. when it says "Your manifester level for the chosen manifesting class increases by four" does this mean that a Psion 5/Fighter 4 would manifest powers AS a 9th level Psion (power ppoint total/total powers known/max power level known), or does it mean that simply his effective manifester level (EML) is increased by four but still manifests powers (power point total/total powers known/max power level known) as a 5th level Psion?

[kardar233]

Practiced Manifester increases things that are based on your Manifester Level. This is different from your Psion level.

Let's take a look at your Fighter4/Psion5 with Practiced Manifester.

He has 25 + 1/2 Int mod * 9 PP. This is because you use your Manifester Level for bonus PP from high stats, but you use your Psion level for PP from your Psion class.

He knows 11 powers and can manifest up to 3rd-level powers. This is because your Powers Known and the maximum level of powers manifested are based on your Psion level.

He can augment powers up to a maximum of 9 PP. This is because the number of PP you can spend on a power is limited by your Manifester Level.

Anything else?

[Myrddin0001]

Ok so he still manifests as a 5th level Psion with a bonus to his EML for determining numerical effects based on manifester level and not that he can actually manifest power level as a 9th level. Gotcha. Thanks!

[Tulya]

this might be a dead subject, but I can't find an answer anywhere. when it says "Your manifester level for the chosen manifesting class increases by four" does this mean that a Psion 5/Fighter 4 would manifest powers AS a 9th level Psion (power ppoint total/total powers known/max power level known), or does it mean that simply his effective manifester level (EML) is increased by four but still manifests powers (power point total/total powers known/max power level known) as a 5th level Psion?

It's the same as Practiced Spellcaster. All manifester-level dependent effects for your powers, such as range, targets, duration, augmentation limits, etc. increase. Your powers known and base power point pool are unaffected.

However, bonus power points are based on both high ability score and your manifester level. By Rules As Written, Practiced Manifester should also be able to increase your power point pool in that manner. Some argue that this benefit is not Intended, however, as Practiced Spellcaster does not benefit your spells per day in any way. Others rebut that the systems can not be compared in such a way, as spells scale with caster level alone, while the main effect of powers tends to increase only in potential effect with manifester level via the increased augmentation cap. A psion must still invest the extra power points to achieve the same increase in effect in analogous powers.

(Note: Table mentions Class Level. However, the preceding text uses Manifester Level, and text takes precedence over table notation.)

[Kuulvheysoon]

this might be a dead subject, but I can't find an answer anywhere. when it says "Your manifester level for the chosen manifesting class increases by four" does this mean that a Psion 5/Fighter 4 would manifest powers AS a 9th level Psion (power ppoint total/total powers known/max power level known), or does it mean that simply his effective manifester level (EML) is increased by four but still manifests powers (power point total/total powers known/max power level known) as a 5th level Psion?

Fun fact - while the latter is generally true, with the Ardent (CPsi), the former is true. The Ardent class table lacks a "Maximum Power Level known" column, so it can manifest anything with a PP cost lower than their Manifester Level (ML). This makes them particularily attractive to multi-class with (or to enter a prestige class that loses manifesting progression. Hello Ardent-entry Metamind...).