plinths
2016-11-27, 03:11 AM
Buffy likes to trip enemies and cast buffs.
--------------
This is a melee / Psion gish build.
It's FOR people who want to:
- be strong early on, but not be useless later
- play a Fighter but with buffs and more tactical options
- play a Psychic Warrior but with Polymorph
- try something psionic without dealing with complicated blasting options
It's NOT FOR people who want to:
- use Diplomacy/etc
- play a pure caster and cast save-or-lose spells
--------------
necessary sources: SRD, Magic Item Compendium
optional sources: Tome of Battle, Monster Manuals
You also need Complete Psionic for Practiced Manifester and nothing else.
--------------
Things you can do with this build:
level 2 -> Trip enemies, then get a free attack.
level 9 -> Trip anything that moves towards you, even if it's a 5 foot step.
Or, get 2 attacks when you charge using Psionic Lion’s Charge.
level 11 -> Be a Treant with 20-foot reach.
level 12 -> Become an Androsphinx. Turn your psicrystal into another Androsphinx. Pounce on an enemy from 160 feet away for 4 attacks each, with yours as touch attacks from a Heartseeking Amulet.
Or, be a War Troll and have 40 AC.
level 13 -> Become a Gold Dragon. Charge an enemy from 400 feet away. Before you take your attack, drop your psicrystal next to you, and cast a Quickened Metamorphosis, turning you and your crystal into 12-headed Hydras with +4 strength for 408 damage total, +144 with Power Attack.
Or, be a mini-Firbolg riding the Gold Dragon that you turned your crystal into. Carry a Valorous lance, cast a Psionic Lion’s Charge for Pounce, charge from 400 feet away, and deal 234 damage, +216 with Power Attack. (And another 13 damage from your mount's bite.)
--------------
race: Human
classes: Wolf Totem Barbarian 2 / Crusader (or Ranger) 1 / Psion 2 / Slayer 10 / Psion 7
typical 28-point buy stats: 16 Str, 14 Dex, 14 Con, 14 Int, 8 Wis, 8 Cha
If you're not using Tome of Battle, you can get a level of Ranger instead of Crusader. That gets you an extra feat, maybe Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain. Personally, I think spiked chains are kind of silly, but YMMV. If you're using them, then get a Living Chain (4325 gp) [MiC].
--------------
FEATS
level 1 -> Combat Reflexes, Power Attack
(optional: flaw -> Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain)
level 2 -> bonus: Improved Trip
level 3 -> Track, stance: Martial Spirit
(if Ranger -> Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain, bonus: Track)
level 4 -> bonus: Practiced Manifester [Complete Psionic]
level 6 -> Psicrystal Affinity
level 9 -> Martial Stance: Thicket of Blades [Tome of Battle]
(alternatively, Expanded Knowledge: Psionic Lion’s Charge)
level 12 -> Quicken Power
--------------
SKILLS
levels 1-2:
Get 4 cross-class ranks of Knowledge (dungeoneering) for Slayer.
(if going Ranger -> get cross-class Balance instead)
You might want 5 Jump.
That lets you get Extreme Leap (skill trick) [Complete Scoundrel].
You might also want some Ride.
level 3: 5 Balance
(if Ranger -> get 5 Knowledge (dungeoneering) instead)
level 4: 4 Psicraft (for Practiced Manifester)
level 5: max Concentration
level 6+: max Spot
--------------
LEVELS
level 1:
Buffy is a fighter with a reach weapon and fast movement.
level 2:
Improved Trip! Get some potions of Enlarge Person, and trip everything.
Note that an AoO happens before what provoked it. So if an enemy gets up, you don't want to trip them with your AoO because the trip happens before they get up.
level 3:
Crusader gives 5 maneuvers and a stance. (That's almost all the maneuvers available to choose at level 1. Take a Devoted Spirit maneuver, obviously.)
Here's how a Crusader works:
Make a deck of 5 cards. Each card is a maneuver. When you start an encounter, draw 2 cards. Each turn after that, draw another card.
level 4:
What does Psion give you?
- You lose 1 BAB and some HP.
- You get a 4 AC magic shield, and maybe Grease.
That's the only time you lose BAB, and the real benefits come at higher levels.
You need to take +1 Intelligence here, to do higher level powers later.
level 7:
6 BAB, level 2 powers
level 8:
+4 to saves vs mind-affecting stuff
level 9:
Thicket of Blades, or Pounce from Psionic Lion’s Charge
level 3 powers
(White Raven Tactics is good too, but you can only use it once, so that's better for a Warblade. Also, it was ruled to not work on yourself.)
level 11:
Polymorph and Dimension Door!
Inertial Armor now gives 9 AC, and works with transformations.
Slayer gives full protection from scrying.
Metamorphosis also works on your psicrystal because of "Share Powers". So, use it as a mount, and carry a lance! Mounts need to be larger than you, so you might want a Ring of Shrinking.
Psicrystals have your HD count, half your HP, and they get the construct BAB of 3/4 their HD. (Cleric BAB progression.)
Some people say that Psicrystals get feats from HD, because their Alertness is not a bonus feat. That was probably unintentional; ask your DM if you want to give it feats. (And of course, it doesn't qualify for any feats that require class levels, so it can't take Martial Study.) I'd suggest Skill Focus and Combat Reflexes.
level 13:
12 BAB, level 5 powers, ability to use Quickened Metamorphosis
level 14:
complete immunity to unwanted mental effects
level 15:
You're done with Slayer, so you can replace your Track feat using Psychic Reformation for 600 XP. (This doesn't help if you got it from being a Ranger, because then it wasn't a choice.) You don't have to qualify for a prestige class to keep your levels in it - otherwise Dragon Disciple would be contradictory.
--------------
STUFF
equipment:
mule, rope, torches, etc
guisarme -> masterwork guisarme (309 gp)
flail -> masterwork heavy flail with a least Crystal of Return (615 gp) [MiC]
chain shirt (100 gp), optionally with armor spikes (50 gp)
sling -> masterwork composite longbow (700 gp)
consumables:
Blessed Bandage (10 gp) [MiC]
potions of Enlarge Person (50 or 100 gp, depending on duration)
combat items:
Healing Belt (750 gp) [MiC]
Amulet of Tears (2300 gp) [MiC]
Brute Gauntlets (500 gp) [MiC]
Armbands of Might (4100 gp) [MiC] with +2 strength (+4000 gp)
+1 guisarme (+2000 gp) with a lesser Energy Assault Crystal (3000 gp) [MiC]
if allowed: (shirt/vest or cloak or circlet) of continuous Ray of Hope (8000 gp) [Book of Exalted Deeds]
+1 Ring of Protection (2000 gp)
add +1 Resistance & +1 natural armor to your shirt (+3000 gp)
add +2 Constitution to your amulet (+4000 gp)
Whirling or Sweeping guisarme (+1 = +6000 gp) [MiC]
Steadfast Boots (1400 gp) [MiC]
Heartseeking Amulet (3000 gp) [MiC] added to your Amulet of Tears (2300 -> 6450 gp)
+2 Dexterity on your bracers (+4000 gp)
armor: +1 Mithralmist shirt of Easy Travel (3400 + 1500 gp) [MiC]
3 PP Cognizance Crystal (4000 gp)
^^^^
The total cost of the above is 60k gp, so you could afford it all by level 12 or 13.
utility items:
Talisman of the Disk (500 gp) [MiC]
Rod of Escape (3500 gp, provides Knock) [MiC]
Ring of Shrinking (3600 gp) [Savage Species]
storage items:
Handy Haversack (2000 gp)
Bag of Holding I (2500 gp)
Bag of Holding III (7400 gp)
flight options:
Winged Mask (13000 gp) [Magic of Faerun]
1/day command word CL 14 Phantom Steed (15120 gp)
teleportation options:
Cloak of Mysterious Emergence (13000 gp) [Dragon Magic]
1/day command word Teleport (16200 gp)
--------------
Psion discipline: Egoist (Psychometabolism)
notable powers:
.....level 1
Force Screen (a magic shield)
Psionic Grease
Inertial Armor (better at higher levels)
Vigor (temporary HP, but Amulet of Tears is better early on)
Energy Ray (short range energy blasting, can destroy locks)
Precognition, Defensive (+1 AC)
Precognition, Offensive (+1 to hit)
.....level 2
Animal Affinity (get +4 strength or dexterity)
Share Pain (with your psicrystal)
Before using Share Pain and Vigor with your Psicrystal, make sure you can repair it or get a new one if it dies. (Ask your DM.)
"New Horizons in Psionics" says you can get a new one of the same kind after 24 hours, by spending 100 XP.
I'd suggest getting an ally a wand of Repair Light Damage [Spell Compendium], if someone can use it.
.....level 3
Telekinetic Thrust (carry a pile of greatswords or spears on a floating disk)
Time Hop (remove a door or enemy temporarily)
Ectoplasmic Form (fly around, and go through cracks)
Hustle (free move action)
Touchsight (ignore invisibility and darkness)
If it acts as Dispel Magic (ask your DM) then you also want Dispel Psionics.
.....level 4
Metamorphosis (your most important power!)
Psionic Dimension Door
Psionic Freedom of Movement
Psychic Reformation (if you need to swap feats)
.....level 5
Psionic Revivify (raise dead)
Psionic Plane Shift
--------------
Here are some good creatures for Metamorphosis:
humanoid / weapon users
7 - Treant (huge) - 20 AC, 29 Str, power attack, can speak
9 - Cave Troll - 21 AC + armor, 29 Str, can speak
12 - War Troll - 25 AC + armor, 31 Str, can speak
13 - Firbolg - 23 AC + armor, 36 Str, can speak
flyers
7 - Wyvern - 18 AC, 19 Str, flying, poison, 6 attacks, grab, can speak
11 - very young Gold Dragon - 19 AC, 21 Str, 200 ft flying, 6 attacks, fire immunity, can speak
12 - Androsphinx - 22 AC, 25 Str, flying, pounce, rake, can speak
grapplers
7 - Remorhaz (huge) - 20 AC, 26 Str, grab, 8d6 fire damage when touched
9 - Behir (huge) - 20 AC, 26 Str, grab, rake, constrict, can speak
melee damage
X - Hydra (huge)
special purpose
5 - Rust Monster - weak, can destroy metal stuff
8 - Giant Octopus (aquatic) - 18 AC, 20 Str, 8 attacks, grab, reach
8 - Umber Hulk - 18 AC, 23 Str, can speak, tunnels through rock
--------------
This is a melee / Psion gish build.
It's FOR people who want to:
- be strong early on, but not be useless later
- play a Fighter but with buffs and more tactical options
- play a Psychic Warrior but with Polymorph
- try something psionic without dealing with complicated blasting options
It's NOT FOR people who want to:
- use Diplomacy/etc
- play a pure caster and cast save-or-lose spells
--------------
necessary sources: SRD, Magic Item Compendium
optional sources: Tome of Battle, Monster Manuals
You also need Complete Psionic for Practiced Manifester and nothing else.
--------------
Things you can do with this build:
level 2 -> Trip enemies, then get a free attack.
level 9 -> Trip anything that moves towards you, even if it's a 5 foot step.
Or, get 2 attacks when you charge using Psionic Lion’s Charge.
level 11 -> Be a Treant with 20-foot reach.
level 12 -> Become an Androsphinx. Turn your psicrystal into another Androsphinx. Pounce on an enemy from 160 feet away for 4 attacks each, with yours as touch attacks from a Heartseeking Amulet.
Or, be a War Troll and have 40 AC.
level 13 -> Become a Gold Dragon. Charge an enemy from 400 feet away. Before you take your attack, drop your psicrystal next to you, and cast a Quickened Metamorphosis, turning you and your crystal into 12-headed Hydras with +4 strength for 408 damage total, +144 with Power Attack.
Or, be a mini-Firbolg riding the Gold Dragon that you turned your crystal into. Carry a Valorous lance, cast a Psionic Lion’s Charge for Pounce, charge from 400 feet away, and deal 234 damage, +216 with Power Attack. (And another 13 damage from your mount's bite.)
--------------
race: Human
classes: Wolf Totem Barbarian 2 / Crusader (or Ranger) 1 / Psion 2 / Slayer 10 / Psion 7
typical 28-point buy stats: 16 Str, 14 Dex, 14 Con, 14 Int, 8 Wis, 8 Cha
If you're not using Tome of Battle, you can get a level of Ranger instead of Crusader. That gets you an extra feat, maybe Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain. Personally, I think spiked chains are kind of silly, but YMMV. If you're using them, then get a Living Chain (4325 gp) [MiC].
--------------
FEATS
level 1 -> Combat Reflexes, Power Attack
(optional: flaw -> Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain)
level 2 -> bonus: Improved Trip
level 3 -> Track, stance: Martial Spirit
(if Ranger -> Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain, bonus: Track)
level 4 -> bonus: Practiced Manifester [Complete Psionic]
level 6 -> Psicrystal Affinity
level 9 -> Martial Stance: Thicket of Blades [Tome of Battle]
(alternatively, Expanded Knowledge: Psionic Lion’s Charge)
level 12 -> Quicken Power
--------------
SKILLS
levels 1-2:
Get 4 cross-class ranks of Knowledge (dungeoneering) for Slayer.
(if going Ranger -> get cross-class Balance instead)
You might want 5 Jump.
That lets you get Extreme Leap (skill trick) [Complete Scoundrel].
You might also want some Ride.
level 3: 5 Balance
(if Ranger -> get 5 Knowledge (dungeoneering) instead)
level 4: 4 Psicraft (for Practiced Manifester)
level 5: max Concentration
level 6+: max Spot
--------------
LEVELS
level 1:
Buffy is a fighter with a reach weapon and fast movement.
level 2:
Improved Trip! Get some potions of Enlarge Person, and trip everything.
Note that an AoO happens before what provoked it. So if an enemy gets up, you don't want to trip them with your AoO because the trip happens before they get up.
level 3:
Crusader gives 5 maneuvers and a stance. (That's almost all the maneuvers available to choose at level 1. Take a Devoted Spirit maneuver, obviously.)
Here's how a Crusader works:
Make a deck of 5 cards. Each card is a maneuver. When you start an encounter, draw 2 cards. Each turn after that, draw another card.
level 4:
What does Psion give you?
- You lose 1 BAB and some HP.
- You get a 4 AC magic shield, and maybe Grease.
That's the only time you lose BAB, and the real benefits come at higher levels.
You need to take +1 Intelligence here, to do higher level powers later.
level 7:
6 BAB, level 2 powers
level 8:
+4 to saves vs mind-affecting stuff
level 9:
Thicket of Blades, or Pounce from Psionic Lion’s Charge
level 3 powers
(White Raven Tactics is good too, but you can only use it once, so that's better for a Warblade. Also, it was ruled to not work on yourself.)
level 11:
Polymorph and Dimension Door!
Inertial Armor now gives 9 AC, and works with transformations.
Slayer gives full protection from scrying.
Metamorphosis also works on your psicrystal because of "Share Powers". So, use it as a mount, and carry a lance! Mounts need to be larger than you, so you might want a Ring of Shrinking.
Psicrystals have your HD count, half your HP, and they get the construct BAB of 3/4 their HD. (Cleric BAB progression.)
Some people say that Psicrystals get feats from HD, because their Alertness is not a bonus feat. That was probably unintentional; ask your DM if you want to give it feats. (And of course, it doesn't qualify for any feats that require class levels, so it can't take Martial Study.) I'd suggest Skill Focus and Combat Reflexes.
level 13:
12 BAB, level 5 powers, ability to use Quickened Metamorphosis
level 14:
complete immunity to unwanted mental effects
level 15:
You're done with Slayer, so you can replace your Track feat using Psychic Reformation for 600 XP. (This doesn't help if you got it from being a Ranger, because then it wasn't a choice.) You don't have to qualify for a prestige class to keep your levels in it - otherwise Dragon Disciple would be contradictory.
--------------
STUFF
equipment:
mule, rope, torches, etc
guisarme -> masterwork guisarme (309 gp)
flail -> masterwork heavy flail with a least Crystal of Return (615 gp) [MiC]
chain shirt (100 gp), optionally with armor spikes (50 gp)
sling -> masterwork composite longbow (700 gp)
consumables:
Blessed Bandage (10 gp) [MiC]
potions of Enlarge Person (50 or 100 gp, depending on duration)
combat items:
Healing Belt (750 gp) [MiC]
Amulet of Tears (2300 gp) [MiC]
Brute Gauntlets (500 gp) [MiC]
Armbands of Might (4100 gp) [MiC] with +2 strength (+4000 gp)
+1 guisarme (+2000 gp) with a lesser Energy Assault Crystal (3000 gp) [MiC]
if allowed: (shirt/vest or cloak or circlet) of continuous Ray of Hope (8000 gp) [Book of Exalted Deeds]
+1 Ring of Protection (2000 gp)
add +1 Resistance & +1 natural armor to your shirt (+3000 gp)
add +2 Constitution to your amulet (+4000 gp)
Whirling or Sweeping guisarme (+1 = +6000 gp) [MiC]
Steadfast Boots (1400 gp) [MiC]
Heartseeking Amulet (3000 gp) [MiC] added to your Amulet of Tears (2300 -> 6450 gp)
+2 Dexterity on your bracers (+4000 gp)
armor: +1 Mithralmist shirt of Easy Travel (3400 + 1500 gp) [MiC]
3 PP Cognizance Crystal (4000 gp)
^^^^
The total cost of the above is 60k gp, so you could afford it all by level 12 or 13.
utility items:
Talisman of the Disk (500 gp) [MiC]
Rod of Escape (3500 gp, provides Knock) [MiC]
Ring of Shrinking (3600 gp) [Savage Species]
storage items:
Handy Haversack (2000 gp)
Bag of Holding I (2500 gp)
Bag of Holding III (7400 gp)
flight options:
Winged Mask (13000 gp) [Magic of Faerun]
1/day command word CL 14 Phantom Steed (15120 gp)
teleportation options:
Cloak of Mysterious Emergence (13000 gp) [Dragon Magic]
1/day command word Teleport (16200 gp)
--------------
Psion discipline: Egoist (Psychometabolism)
notable powers:
.....level 1
Force Screen (a magic shield)
Psionic Grease
Inertial Armor (better at higher levels)
Vigor (temporary HP, but Amulet of Tears is better early on)
Energy Ray (short range energy blasting, can destroy locks)
Precognition, Defensive (+1 AC)
Precognition, Offensive (+1 to hit)
.....level 2
Animal Affinity (get +4 strength or dexterity)
Share Pain (with your psicrystal)
Before using Share Pain and Vigor with your Psicrystal, make sure you can repair it or get a new one if it dies. (Ask your DM.)
"New Horizons in Psionics" says you can get a new one of the same kind after 24 hours, by spending 100 XP.
I'd suggest getting an ally a wand of Repair Light Damage [Spell Compendium], if someone can use it.
.....level 3
Telekinetic Thrust (carry a pile of greatswords or spears on a floating disk)
Time Hop (remove a door or enemy temporarily)
Ectoplasmic Form (fly around, and go through cracks)
Hustle (free move action)
Touchsight (ignore invisibility and darkness)
If it acts as Dispel Magic (ask your DM) then you also want Dispel Psionics.
.....level 4
Metamorphosis (your most important power!)
Psionic Dimension Door
Psionic Freedom of Movement
Psychic Reformation (if you need to swap feats)
.....level 5
Psionic Revivify (raise dead)
Psionic Plane Shift
--------------
Here are some good creatures for Metamorphosis:
humanoid / weapon users
7 - Treant (huge) - 20 AC, 29 Str, power attack, can speak
9 - Cave Troll - 21 AC + armor, 29 Str, can speak
12 - War Troll - 25 AC + armor, 31 Str, can speak
13 - Firbolg - 23 AC + armor, 36 Str, can speak
flyers
7 - Wyvern - 18 AC, 19 Str, flying, poison, 6 attacks, grab, can speak
11 - very young Gold Dragon - 19 AC, 21 Str, 200 ft flying, 6 attacks, fire immunity, can speak
12 - Androsphinx - 22 AC, 25 Str, flying, pounce, rake, can speak
grapplers
7 - Remorhaz (huge) - 20 AC, 26 Str, grab, 8d6 fire damage when touched
9 - Behir (huge) - 20 AC, 26 Str, grab, rake, constrict, can speak
melee damage
X - Hydra (huge)
special purpose
5 - Rust Monster - weak, can destroy metal stuff
8 - Giant Octopus (aquatic) - 18 AC, 20 Str, 8 attacks, grab, reach
8 - Umber Hulk - 18 AC, 23 Str, can speak, tunnels through rock