Slithery D
2015-08-29, 04:59 PM
[Also posted at the Paizo forums.]
A lot of critics seem to think the Psychic is pretty boring mechanically, and with a restricted spell list its not competitive with a Wizard/Sorcerer. Fair enough, I can understand that.
But one of the good things about it is that it picks up some Cleric/Bard/Witch/etc spells that Wizards can't get (e.g. Blade Barrier), and it gets some psychic themed spells earlier than the Wizard, both old classics and some of the new ones published in Occult Adventures. Being aware of this may make you want to pick a Psychic over a Wizard/Sorcerer focused on mental spells/enchantment.
For reference, here are (some) spells that the Psychic gets earlier than the equivalent Wizard/Sorcerer spell. If I missed any let me know. Yes, I know the Cleric/Witch/whatever often gets these the same level as the Psychic, but those aren't going to be your competitor class for comparison purposes.
Format is: (level Psychic gets it at) - (name of spell) (Wizard level)
An asterisk indicates the spell is published in Occult Adventures. I've bolded the ones I think are particularly important spells to get early.
1- Detect Thoughts (2)
1 - Psychic Reading* (2)
1 - Share Language (2)
2 - Aversion* (3)
2 - Detect Mindscape* (3)
2 - Hold Person (3)
2 - Hypercognition* (4)
2 - Howling Agony (3)
2 - Inflict Pain* (3)
2 - Oneiric Horror* (3)
2 - Pain Strike (3)
2 - Seek Thoughts (3)
2 - Suggestion (3)
3 - Mindscape Door* (4)
3 - Nixie's Lure (4)
3 - Object Possession, Lesser* (4)
3 - Purge Spirit* (4)
3 - Share Senses (4)
3 - Telekinetic Maneuver* (4)
4 - Break Enchantment (5)
4 - Condensed Ether* (5)
4 - Create Mindscape* (5)
4 - Dream (5)
4 - Mind Probe* (5)
4 - Oneiric Horror, Greater* (5)
4 - Pain Strike, Mass (5)
4 - Planar Adaptation (5) [huh?]
4 - Sending (5)
4 - Telepathic Bond (5)
4 - Telekinesis (5)
4 - Thoughtsense* (5)
5 - Dream Scan* (6)
5 - Explode Head* (6)
5 - Mind Swap* (6)
5 - Plane Shift (7) [oh, maybe that's why]
5 - Psychic Asylum* (6)
5 - Retrocognition* (6)
5 - Serenity (6)
5 - Suggestion, Mass (6)
5 - Telepathy* (6)
5 - True Seeing (6)
5 - Utter Contempt (6)
6 - Awaken Construct* (7)
6 - Create Mindscape, Greater* (7)
6 - Dream Council* (7)
6 - Ethereal Jaunt (7)
6 - Inflict Pain, Mass* (7)
6 - Joyful Rapture (7)
6 - Object Possession, Greater* (7)
6 - Planar Adaptation, Mass (7)
7 - Mind Blank (8)
7 - Telekinetic Sphere (8)
8 - Bilocation* (9)
8 - Etherealness (9)
8 - Refuge (9)
8 - Mind Blank, Communal (9)
Related, Charm Person (Mass) is missing from the Psychic list, surely an error since they have all the other Hold/Charm/Dominate/etc. spells. Psychics should have it at level 5 like everyone else.
Mass Suggestion is a great Spell Perfection candidate here for enchantment focused psychics, since you can quicken it and get those double bonuses for spell focus and spell penetration.
A lot of critics seem to think the Psychic is pretty boring mechanically, and with a restricted spell list its not competitive with a Wizard/Sorcerer. Fair enough, I can understand that.
But one of the good things about it is that it picks up some Cleric/Bard/Witch/etc spells that Wizards can't get (e.g. Blade Barrier), and it gets some psychic themed spells earlier than the Wizard, both old classics and some of the new ones published in Occult Adventures. Being aware of this may make you want to pick a Psychic over a Wizard/Sorcerer focused on mental spells/enchantment.
For reference, here are (some) spells that the Psychic gets earlier than the equivalent Wizard/Sorcerer spell. If I missed any let me know. Yes, I know the Cleric/Witch/whatever often gets these the same level as the Psychic, but those aren't going to be your competitor class for comparison purposes.
Format is: (level Psychic gets it at) - (name of spell) (Wizard level)
An asterisk indicates the spell is published in Occult Adventures. I've bolded the ones I think are particularly important spells to get early.
1- Detect Thoughts (2)
1 - Psychic Reading* (2)
1 - Share Language (2)
2 - Aversion* (3)
2 - Detect Mindscape* (3)
2 - Hold Person (3)
2 - Hypercognition* (4)
2 - Howling Agony (3)
2 - Inflict Pain* (3)
2 - Oneiric Horror* (3)
2 - Pain Strike (3)
2 - Seek Thoughts (3)
2 - Suggestion (3)
3 - Mindscape Door* (4)
3 - Nixie's Lure (4)
3 - Object Possession, Lesser* (4)
3 - Purge Spirit* (4)
3 - Share Senses (4)
3 - Telekinetic Maneuver* (4)
4 - Break Enchantment (5)
4 - Condensed Ether* (5)
4 - Create Mindscape* (5)
4 - Dream (5)
4 - Mind Probe* (5)
4 - Oneiric Horror, Greater* (5)
4 - Pain Strike, Mass (5)
4 - Planar Adaptation (5) [huh?]
4 - Sending (5)
4 - Telepathic Bond (5)
4 - Telekinesis (5)
4 - Thoughtsense* (5)
5 - Dream Scan* (6)
5 - Explode Head* (6)
5 - Mind Swap* (6)
5 - Plane Shift (7) [oh, maybe that's why]
5 - Psychic Asylum* (6)
5 - Retrocognition* (6)
5 - Serenity (6)
5 - Suggestion, Mass (6)
5 - Telepathy* (6)
5 - True Seeing (6)
5 - Utter Contempt (6)
6 - Awaken Construct* (7)
6 - Create Mindscape, Greater* (7)
6 - Dream Council* (7)
6 - Ethereal Jaunt (7)
6 - Inflict Pain, Mass* (7)
6 - Joyful Rapture (7)
6 - Object Possession, Greater* (7)
6 - Planar Adaptation, Mass (7)
7 - Mind Blank (8)
7 - Telekinetic Sphere (8)
8 - Bilocation* (9)
8 - Etherealness (9)
8 - Refuge (9)
8 - Mind Blank, Communal (9)
Related, Charm Person (Mass) is missing from the Psychic list, surely an error since they have all the other Hold/Charm/Dominate/etc. spells. Psychics should have it at level 5 like everyone else.
Mass Suggestion is a great Spell Perfection candidate here for enchantment focused psychics, since you can quicken it and get those double bonuses for spell focus and spell penetration.