Psionic Archer PrC Feedback

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Sysane

Jul 12, 2005 9:48:24
Looking for some feedback guys. I'm a little worried this may be a bit on the broken side. I'll do fluff and what not once I have the mechanic's solidified.

Thoughts and comments are welcome.


Psionic Archer

Hit Die: d8.
Requirements
To qualify to become a psionic archer, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +6.
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Greater Psionic Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow or shortbow).
Psionics: Manifester level 2nd.
Class Skills
The psionic archer’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex). Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

[HTML]Table: The Psionic Archer
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1st +1 +2 +0 +0 Psionic endowment
2nd +2 +3 +0 +0 Psionic arrow +1d6
3rd +3 +3 +1 +1 Imbed arrow
4th +4 +4 +1 +1 Focused aim
5th +5 +4 +1 +1 Psionic arrow +2d6
6th +6 +5 +2 +2 Enhanced critical
7th +7 +5 +2 +2 Greater fell shot
8th +8 +6 +2 +2 Psionic arrow +3d6
9th +9 +6 +3 +3 Multi psionic shot
10th +10 +7 +3 +3 Arrow of might [/HTML]
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the psionic archer prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A psionic archer is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields.
Psionic Endowment (Su): At 1st level, every nonmagical arrow a psionic archer fires from his bow is considered magical for purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Psionic Arrow (Su): At 2nd level, anytime the psionic archer uses Psionic Shot or Greater Psionic Shot feats, he may increase the extra damage dealt by +1d6. The damage increases at 5th level by +2d6, and again at 8th level by +3d6.
Imbed Arrow (Ps): At 3rd level, a psionic archer gains the ability to place an area power upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the power’s area is centered on where the arrow lands, even if the power could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow’s range rather than the power’s range. It takes a standard action to manifest the power and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the power is manifested, or the power is wasted.
Focused Aim (Ex): At first 4th level, a psionic archer may expend his psionic focus in order to add his Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifer (whichever is higher) as an insight bonus on all arrows fired from his bow for one round.
Enhanced Critical (Su): At 4th level, when a psionic archer is psionically focused, arrows fired from his bow have their critical threat range increased by one. This ability stacks with the feat Improved Critical and the spell or power keen edge.
Greater Fell Shot (Su): At 7th level, a psionic archer may expend his psionic focus in order to apply the Fell Shot feat to all arrows fired from his bow for one round. This ability is usable once per day.
Multi Psionic Shot (Su): At 9th level, the psionic archer may expend his psionic focus in order use the Psionic Shot feat in conjunction with the Greater Manyshot feat when used to hit different targets. This ability is usable once per day.
Arrow of Might (Ps): At 10th level, the psionic archer can imbed any one psionic power of 4th level or lower that targets a single opponent which allows a save. The power imbedded in the arrow automatically affects the target that the psionic archer successfully attacks, with no saving throw allowed. The psionic archer must take a full round action and expend their psionic focus in order to manifest the power and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the power is manifested, or the power is wasted. This ability is usable once per day.
#2

kalthandrix

Jul 12, 2005 10:56:37
I do not think that it is broken, but I do have a suggestion. For the Psionic Endowment power, I would have it so that the arrows have the ability to overcome the DR for magic only as long as the Psionic Archer maintains their psionic focus.

I cannot say exactly why I think this, but it was my initial gut reaction when I read the power.

For Focused Aim, I would say that the insight bonus is determined by the psionic class that they belong to (ie Int for psions, Wis for physic wariors, and Cha for wilders). This ties their ability to manifest their powers with how good of an psionic archer they are.

Overall, I think this turned out prety good.
#3

Sysane

Jul 12, 2005 11:06:03
I do not think that it is broken, but I do have a suggestion. For the Psionic Endowment power, I would have it so that the arrows have the ability to overcome the DR for magic only as long as the Psionic Archer maintains their psionic focus.

I understand why you would suggest this, but think its a bit to restrictive. The arcane archer doesn't have to do anything, and also receives a scalable enhancement bonus.

For Focused Aim, I would say that the insight bonus is determined by the psionic class that they belong to (ie Int for psions, Wis for physic wariors, and Cha for wilders). This ties their ability to manifest their powers with how good of an psionic archer they are.

Good point, but wouldn't that already be tied to the characters higher ability score? I wouldn't know many psychic warriors would have a higher Chr than their Wis.

Overall, I think this turned out prety good.

Thanks
#4

ruhl-than_sage

Jul 12, 2005 18:58:55
Imbed Arrow (Ps): At 3rd level, a psionic archer gains the ability to place an area power upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the power’s area is centered on where the arrow lands, even if the power could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow’s range rather than the power’s range. It takes a standard action to manifest the power and fire the arrow. The arrow must be fired in the round the power is manifested, or the power is wasted.

This power should state that the Psionic Archer must expend his psionic focus, when firing the arrow, to use this ability. The reason being, if this is not required of him, the manifester could use an arrow affected by Greater Psionic Shot enhanced by the Psionic Arrow ability to manifest a power like Energy Ball. Thats the only broken part of the class I see, everything else seems fine. ;)
#5

Sysane

Jul 12, 2005 22:57:44
This power should state that the Psionic Archer must expend his psionic focus, when firing the arrow, to use this ability. The reason being, if this is not required of him, the manifester could use an arrow affected by Greater Psionic Shot enhanced by the Psionic Arrow ability to manifest a power like Energy Ball. Thats the only broken part of the class I see, everything else seems fine. ;)

Hmmm, that is an interesting point. I'll change it that focus must be expended in order to use this ability.
#6

zombiegleemax

Jul 13, 2005 2:36:06
Looking for some feedback guys. I'm a little worried this may be a bit on the broken side. I'll do fluff and what not once I have the mechanic's solidified.

Thoughts and comments are welcome.

Not sure on this but I think I'd make just one change - replace Greater Psionic Shot with Psionic Shot as a feat requirement. The reason for this is threefold, 1) the class requirements already include the requirements for Greater Psionic Shot, 2) it would open up the class a bit, allowing a psionic archer to devote that feat to something else, and 3) most 2nd level psionic archers would be doing +3d6 damage with their psionic arrow ability instead of +5d6 as they are now, unless they take Greater Psionic Shot too trading off versatility to become something akin to a light artilery piece.

Like I said, not sure on that, and my reasoning isn't well founded at all, just a gut feeling (could be indigestion though). Otherwise, I love it, way better than the arcane archer :D A and a to you!
#7

Sysane

Jul 13, 2005 8:47:20
Not sure on this but I think I'd make just one change - replace Greater Psionic Shot with Psionic Shot as a feat requirement. The reason for this is threefold, 1) the class requirements already include the requirements for Greater Psionic Shot, 2) it would open up the class a bit, allowing a psionic archer to devote that feat to something else, and 3) most 2nd level psionic archers would be doing +3d6 damage with their psionic arrow ability instead of +5d6 as they are now, unless they take Greater Psionic Shot too trading off versatility to become something akin to a light artilery piece.

Like I said, not sure on that, and my reasoning isn't well founded at all, just a gut feeling (could be indigestion though). Otherwise, I love it, way better than the arcane archer :D A and a to you!

I think I'll keep the preqs as is. If the player goes the fighter/psi warrior route the character will have more than enough feats to be versatile.

Thanks for the input
#8

zombiegleemax

Jul 13, 2005 10:46:11
I think I'll keep the preqs as is. If the player goes the fighter/psi warrior route the character will have more than enough feats to be versatile.

Thanks for the input

No prob