3/4 BAB Psionic Prestige classes.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Quick question, is there a psionic-advancing prestige class (ideally one that doesn't loose ML in the first 3 level) with 3/4 BAB other than Anarchic Initiate?

[ShurikVch]

Defender of Sardior (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20030926a) - full BAB, and also full ML progression (for Psychic Warrior)

Elocater (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/elocater.htm) have 3/4, but lose 2nd level ML

Slayer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/slayer.htm) have full BAB, but lose ML at 1st level

Illithidkin (Dr#296) gives powers known and pp/day, but no actual ML progression

Psionic Fist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/psionicFist.htm) (3/4) and War Mind (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/warMind.htm) (full BAB) are get their one separate manifesting

Also, can name bunch of PrC with 3/4 or full BAB, but they all lose some ML

[Martimus Prime]

Ardent has a rather handy way of getting around lost manifester levels in PrCs via the Practiced Manifester feat - all you really lose out on is power points and a mantle or two, and even then those can be fixed through other means (psycarnum infusion/incarnum talent, assume mantle, other base psionic classes, etc). An ardent 5/Elocator5/Slayer 10, for example, has better than 3/4 BAB and still has 9th level powers.

[Petrocorus]

Sanctified Mind from Lords of Madness is Full BAB and (Full -1) ML. Requires all martial weapons proficieny, though.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Defender of Sardior (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20030926a) - full BAB, and also full ML progression (for Psychic Warrior)

Elocater (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/elocater.htm) have 3/4, but lose 2nd level ML

Slayer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/slayer.htm) have full BAB, but lose ML at 1st level

Illithidkin (Dr#296) gives powers known and pp/day, but no actual ML progression

Psionic Fist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/psionicFist.htm) (3/4) and War Mind (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/warMind.htm) (full BAB) are get their one separate manifesting

Also, can name bunch of PrC with 3/4 or full BAB, but they all lose some ML


Sanctified Mind from Lords of Madness is Full BAB and (Full -1) ML. Requires all martial weapons proficieny, though.

I'm actually trying to get those 3/4 BAB levels to hop into Slayer ASAP while only loosing 1 ML at most (since Slayer looses 1 too).

Ardent has a rather handy way of getting around lost manifester levels in PrCs via the Practiced Manifester feat - all you really lose out on is power points and a mantle or two, and even then those can be fixed through other means (psycarnum infusion/incarnum talent, assume mantle, other base psionic classes, etc). An ardent 5/Elocator5/Slayer 10, for example, has better than 3/4 BAB and still has 9th level powers.

I know about Ardent' quirky ML and power acquisition mechanics, but I want to go psion for the Int focus, mostly for skill points, though in general I prefer Int-heavy characters to wis-heavy ones.

[Petrocorus]

I'm actually trying to get those 3/4 BAB levels to hop into Slayer ASAP while only loosing 1 ML at most (since Slayer looses 1 too).


Oh, i see. Sadly, the soonest way i known to enter Slayer is Ranger 1 / Psion 6. The Anarchic Initiate's Skill requirement are actually delaying the entry without shenanigans, AFAIK.
Maybe Psion 2/ Anarchic Initiate 4 if you use Inspire Greatness + Something to boost Inspire Greatness + Psychic Reformation.
I don't know how much that would cost and the availability at level 2 surely depends on the DM.

I'm interested in finding an earlier entry too.

Edit: Is "soonest" actually proper English?

[mabriss lethe]

If all you need the ML for is entry into Slayer, and you haven't locked into a race, Go for Kalashtar and take the Kalashtar Mindlink feat asap. It will give you a ML equal to your Hit Dice independent of class levels. It's good enough to qualify for the PrC while letting you pick whatever class you want to fill in the gaps in your BAB. Once you're in the PrC, you can apply it's increased ML to your actual psionic class.

[Jeff the Green]

Edit: Is "soonest" actually proper English?

Yes. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/soon) whitetext

[LurKing]

I'm actually trying to get those 3/4 BAB levels to hop into Slayer ASAP while only loosing 1 ML at most (since Slayer looses 1 too).

I don't know exactly how soon you're trying to get into Slayer or if you've already selected a race, but if you're Human you could try the following to be ready to enter Slayer at CL 7, losing only one ML along the way...

2 levels of Psion
3 levels of Human Paragon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#humanParagon)
1 level of Anarchic Initiate

This requires you to spend a feat on overchannel and a feat on track, but your Human racial feat and the bonus feat from the racial class make the feat cost quite affordable. Additionally, it requires your DM to rubberstamp approval that Human Paragon spellcasting progression can apply to manifesting instead, but this seems reasonable.

Edit: Note that this is using fractional BAB. I realized after posting that I've been using this variant rule so long I forgot it was a variant.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Which Psion powers are you particularly wanting? There's actually surprisingly few 9th level psion powers that are worthwhile. Even Reality Revision carries an xp cost which can be mitigated by riding the xp wave, but still is a per-use cost. Heck, even Greater Metamorphosis has an xp cost that dings you every time you manifest it. Unless you're going to be doing the Mind Switch Shuffle, 9th level psion powers are just kinda... meh. Mind you, the extra PP is never a bad thing, but 9th level powers isn't really as necessary as it would be for a Sorc/Wiz/Cleric.

I'd suggest focusing less on 'I have full BAB and 9th level manifesting' and more on what you actually want to accomplish, specifically, with your character. Then work to those ends.

[Dusk Eclipse]

My goal isn't getting 9th level powers per say (thought that would be a definite plus), but to avoid delaying power adquisition as much as possible. My plan is to go with a scaled-down version of thr King of Smack, but combining Form of Doom (would need expanded knowledge on a Psion-base though) and strength of my enemy for funsies; the faster I get those powers, the better.

[Petrocorus]

... thr King of Smack, but combining Form of Doom ... and strength of my enemy ...

I'm lost there. What are those?

[Dusk Eclipse]

King of Smack (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/910286): probably the first famous truly optimized build to come out after thr XPH came out, it uses size increase shenanigans to attack with claws that deal up to 72d6 damage, while healing up to half of it.


Form of Doom (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/formofDoom.htm): neat
little power that transform you into a scary eldritch abomination, tentacles included, along with several other benefits.


Strength of my Enemy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/strengthofMyEnemy.htm) one weapon deals strength damage per hit and you gain that strnegth as an enhancement bonus.

[ShurikVch]

King of Smack (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/910286): probably the first famous truly optimized build to come out after thr XPH came out, it uses size increase shenanigans to attack with claws that deal up to 72d6 damage, while healing up to half of it.


Form of Doom (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/formofDoom.htm): neat
little power that transform you into a scary eldritch abomination, tentacles included, along with several other benefits.


Strength of my Enemy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/strengthofMyEnemy.htm) one weapon deals strength damage per hit and you gain that strnegth as an enhancement bonus. Note: Form of Doom and Strength of my Enemy are both Psychic warrior powers.
So, do you going to build Psion, as you mentioned earlier, or Psychic warrior?

[Dusk Eclipse]

Expanded Knowledge exist, so getting those powers shouldn't be a problem, even on a Psion base.

[mabriss lethe]

At a high enough level, you can basically buy them, either using psychic chirurgery or possibly via the tattoos presented in the "Getting Wired" Mind's Eye article.

[Dusk Eclipse]

I know that, but that does rely on DM fiat and I try to avoid it as much as possible.

[Rubik]

I know that, but that does rely on DM fiat and I try to avoid it as much as possible.No it doesn't. Costs for spellcasting services are detailed in the Core rulebooks and the SRD.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Technically yes, it doesn't involve straight fiat, but it does rely on being able to find a 17th level Telepath with the appropriate powers, in this case two melee focused Psychic Warrior's ones, which is not a given in any setting ( I know there is one in Eberron), furthermore since the powers are not on the standard Psion list, it opens the question, how did this Telepath got those powers in the first place? As with anything the DM is allowed to simply say no, but in this particular case I feel any Dm has a strong case for denying easy access via Psychic Chirurgery, specially when there is another completely RAW-legal non-cheesy* way to acquire them, hell that is (probably) the actual intention of Expanded Knowledge; personally I don't think spending two feats to get FoD and SomE is a bad trade.

*Cheese-level varies on each table, some people might not consider it cheese at all, while others might consider it on par with Pun-pun (hyperbole), in my case I think it is somewhere in the middle, appropriate for some games, but not for this particular one.

[Petrocorus]

Technically yes, it doesn't involve straight fiat, but it does rely on being able to find a 17th level Telepath with the appropriate powers, in this case two melee focused Psychic Warrior's ones, which is not a given in any setting ( I know there is one in Eberron), furthermore since the powers are not on the standard Psion list, it opens the question, how did this Telepath got those powers in the first place? As with anything the DM is allowed to simply say no, but in this particular case I feel any Dm has a strong case for denying easy access via Psychic Chirurgery, specially when there is another completely RAW-legal non-cheesy* way to acquire them, hell that is (probably) the actual intention of Expanded Knowledge; personally I don't think spending two feats to get FoD and SomE is a bad trade.

*Cheese-level varies on each table, some people might not consider it cheese at all, while others might consider it on par with Pun-pun (hyperbole), in my case I think it is somewhere in the middle, appropriate for some games, but not for this particular one.

If the said Psion has one Exp Knowl, he can reform it twice to PsyChir you. Cost a helluva lot. But doable. Depending on DM leniency as you said.