Adding class levels to a psionic Illithid?

[danielxcutter]

So, the psionic variant of Illithids introduced in the XPH can manifest powers as a 9th-level Telepath... at CR 8. Yeah. Anyways, does anyone have ideas for adding levels to one, aside from straight Telepath?

One of the more powerful ways is to add levels in a caster class - which are non-associated, after all - and then the right theurge-type PrC. A Illithid Telepath 1/Wizard 8/Cerebremancer 7 or Illithid Telepath 1/Cleric 8/Psychic Theurge 7 means manifesting as a 17th-level Telepath and a 15th-level Wizard or Cleric at CR 20 - better than most theurges, barring Arcane Hierophants.

Also, since a mind flayer can afford to lose up to 4 ML while still getting 9th-level powers at CR 20, that lets one take levels in some of the more "unoptimal" PrCs. Oh sure, most encounters aren't at CR 20, but lagging too far behind that rate isn't exactly good either, so yeah. For some reason, I keep entertaining the idea of an Illithid Telepath 1/Rogue 1/Shadowmind 10. And to be honest, it kinda makes sense, since doing telepathic BS while keeping a low profile is, you know, literally their thing. Not sure whether to treat Rogue as non-associated or not, though...

If you have other ideas, feel free to share.

[Ursus Spelaeus]

Dip into Totemist for soulmelds, then qualify for Soul Manifester. You continue your telepath progression and gain soulmelds for better natural attacks.

[danielxcutter]

Dip into Totemist for soulmelds, then qualify for Soul Manifester. You continue your telepath progression and gain soulmelds for better natural attacks.

Hrm... I mean it could work, but it doesn't really fit the image...

[Ursus Spelaeus]

Hrm... I mean it could work, but it doesn't really fit the image...

You could give it levels in Incarnate instead for the psionics-themed soulmelds instead.

[danielxcutter]

*bumps* Nobody?

[MaxiDuRaritry]

You could always go illithid savant and eat the ice assassin of a high level caster...

Three levels for level 20 wizard casting. And feel free to eat a psion or even another illithid for more manifesting.

[danielxcutter]

You could always go illithid savant and eat the ice assassin of a high level caster...

Three levels for level 20 wizard casting. And feel free to eat a psion or even another illithid for more manifesting.

Well, Illithid Savant is kinda OP...

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Well, Illithid Savant is kinda OP...But it doesn't progress any of the illithid's previous abilities, so would it not be non-associated?

[danielxcutter]

But it doesn't progress any of the illithid's previous abilities, so would it not be non-associated?

That's even more OP.

[Yael]

That's even more OP.

That's basically a buff to its class levels, don't it?

[danielxcutter]

That's basically a buff to its class levels, don't it?

The idea was a more interesting build, not an OP one.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Mind Mage is the PrC canonically associated with illithid theurges. It's a nice class, too.

Ur-theurging is the other obvious strategy. It's pretty powerful, and I think it ties in well with Pandorym (the god-slaying psionic elder evil). After all, when the gods are dead, ur-priests will have unfettered access to divine energy, right? (Whether this is true or not is less relevant than whether some ur-priest would believe it or not, and I think they would.)

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Mind flayer 8/wizard 4/prestige bard 1/sublime chord 2/lyric thaumaturge 1/telepath 1/mind mage 10?

Red = Non-Associated Levels

[J-H]

Give it levels in Metamind. At the capstone, free manifesting for a minute. With Quicken, Schism, and regular manifesting, it can do 3 powers per round standing still.
Make one of those Timeless Body, and you've got a cthonic TPK in a can.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Mind flayer 8/wizard 4/prestige bard 1/sublime chord 2/lyric thaumaturge 1/telepath 1/mind mage 10?

Red = Non-Associated Levels
Perform (tentacle bagpipe)?

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Perform (tentacle bagpipe)?Brainpanpipes.