Psiologist prestige class - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 methvezem Dec 29, 2004 15:25:15	Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody! I'd like to get your commentaries on the academician (edit: formerly know as the psiologist) PrC I've been working on. I already toned down some of the abilities and I want to know what you think about it (thanks already to Pennarin and Jon): Academician[i] “The Way is hard for those without the Will to follow it to the end”[/i] - Urmexca, human academician Many are those who are trained in the use of the Way, but few dedicate themselves completely to its comprehension. The academician studies extensively in the psionic academies and schools to unlock a mastery over the Way that other never dreamed of. By learning from the various existing traditions of the Way, he can benefit from the wisdom of hundreds of great masters. Intense contemplation on the uses of his powers and on the understanding of his Will are paramount to him. He firmly believes that psionics is superior to magic or any other physical training, if its user is knowledgeable enough in the Way and has the Will to back it up. The academician even considers himself superior to the other, more mundane users of the Way. Only manifesters who have given a priority to their psionic development are likely to be drawn to becoming academicians. Thus, almost all academicians come from the ranks of psions or psionicists, and a few wilders who trained in the academies after developping their powers on their own. Psychic warriors and soulknives rarely have the intellectual focus required to become academicians. NPC academicians are most often found in the various psionic academies dotting the lands of Athas. They are often teachers of the Way, masters who show the superiority of psionics over all other disciplines to those who wish to listen. They are always on the lookout to find new ways to develop their already impressive grasp of the Will and the Way. Hit Die: d4. Requirements To qualify to become a academician, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Alignment: Any lawful. Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 12 ranks, Psicraft 12 ranks. Feats: Psionic Affinity, Skill Focus (Knowledge (psionics)), Skill Focus (Psicraft), any two metapsionic feats. Psionics: Able to manifest 5th-level powers. Special: Must have trained in at least three different psionic academies or schools and must still be a member in good standing in one of them. Class Skills: The academician's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Autohypnosis (Wis), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Knowledge (any others) (Int), Psicraft (Int), Sense Motive (Wis) and Use Psionic Device (Cha). Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier. The Academician
#2 Torack Dec 30, 2004 3:19:48	poke Don't you mean Psionicist? Sorry. Couldn't help myself.
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2004 5:39:03	No, Psiologist, as in the Tarandan School of Psionics Psiologists .
#4 lurking_shadow Dec 30, 2004 8:39:53	Methvezem, I've noticed that your Psiologist only gets new powers and power points per day every two levels. That means a character that reaches 10th level in this PrC will have five manifester levels and a lot of pps less than he would otherwise, and that even a full Psion/Psiologist will never get 9th level powers until epic levels. Personally, I think that's too big a handicap for a PrC meant for psionics masters. I think this should be changed, even if it means an increase to the numeric requirements for the PrC and/or toning down class features. That special requirement seems a bit too large as well; not entirelly sure, but IIRC most cities do not have three or more academies. May I suggest the requirement be changed to "must have been trained under at least three psionics masters and be a member in good standing in a psionic academy or school"? Those are my two bits... hope it helps.
#5 methvezem Dec 30, 2004 10:44:59	Torack, as TerminusVortexa pointed out, it is really psiologist. This prestige class is based on a 2nd ed kit, the psiologist, from the Will and the Way. This PrC is an effort to fill the holes leaved by the already existing ones for Athas where the use of psionics is widespread. Lurking Shadow, I changed the manifester level progression from the original full one to a odd-numbered one to tone down the prestige class. But as you pointed out, the psiologist is supposed to be a master of the Way so I'll bring it back as it was first. If you think that the abilities are too powerful or broken let me know and give me some alternative if possible. I edited the part on the schools and academies. Thanks for the input.
#6 Pennarin Dec 30, 2004 12:22:46	I'm the one who suggested the requirement of multiple schools. The reasoning behind it was that masters with wildly different teaching methods would not be found all under the same roof of one city's academy, that such academies tend to have a single master who does not wish for his students to be "stolen" from him by another master teaching "inferior" methods. Thus, a would be psiologist would have to travel to study in one city, then at a master in the wastes, then return to another city, and so on, until the DM deams the training complete. Its putting together all the secrets he learns from all the masters that allows the psiologist to do what he does. (Think of martial arts movies in which the hero has studied under the greatest masters of the land until he has become unbeatable...) I suggest putting back the requirement. Veiled Alliance members often travel to other cities to learn from other VAs, so why not promising students of the Way? The acedemy sponsoring the individual pays for his travels with the idea that he will come back and teach in their school once having become a psiologist.
#7 methvezem Dec 30, 2004 17:51:08	Now Pennarin I recall correctly why we originally changed this requirement for the psiologist. It had to be kinda hard to get because the power given by the PrC is somewhat powerful given the right combination of feats and abilities. The requirement for studying in multiples schools or academies will stay even if the would be psiologist could study in different schools within the same city, in raam for exemple where multiples organisations exists.
#8 jon_oracle_of_athas Dec 31, 2004 6:15:39	I see you've toned the class down some since I took a brief look at it and told you it was broken. It is still quite potent. If you want to keep some of the potent abilities, you could up the requirements for the class. For example, you could add Skill Focus (knowledge [psionics]) and up the number of ranks required, so you can't enter the class until say 10th level.
#9 methvezem Dec 31, 2004 7:31:56	Since the psiologist is supposed to be the summum in psionic use, one who wish to qualify for this PrC must devote himself totally to the comprehension of psionics. The ranks required in Knowledge (psionics) and Psicraft are now 12. I've added the Skill Focus (Knowledge (psionics)) to the requirements and that the character be able to manifest 5th-level powers, available to psion at 9th level, psychic warriors at 13th and wilder at 10th. In addition, the character will have to devote the majority of its feats to be eligible, even if he is human (bonus 1st level feat). These I hope will help keep characters truly devoted to psionics gain the benefits of this PrC.
#10 Pennarin Dec 31, 2004 7:42:19	What is the meaning of the whole bit about a "chosen discipline" I read in multiple places? It needs clarifying.
#11 methvezem Dec 31, 2004 8:12:16	What is the meaning of the whole bit about a "chosen discipline" I read in multiple places? It needs clarifying. You're right. The term "chosen discipline" come from the psion ability discipline. I put it there to give the psiologist some kind of limit to which powers he can use its 9th and 10th level abilities, in those he know the most, form its chosen discipline. Since wilders and PsW can qualify for the PrC, I must reformulate or drop that entirely. I'm not sure if it will be unbalancing, but as both abilities are usable once per day, dropping this restriction could be ok. Thoughts?
#12 Pennarin Dec 31, 2004 13:11:21	Thoughts? The abilities requiring a "chosen discipline" require exactly that: that the psiologist limit that ability to only one discipline, and all such abilities always work only for that discipline. (The first time an ability mentions the need to choose a discipline, elaborate a little, then the next time just mention that it only applies to the discipline already chosen for the xyz ability.) Mention that if the psiologist is already a psion, that he must choose his psion discipline as his chosen discipline.
#13 travis_ui Jun 29, 2005 15:51:40	Reading through this class (very nice, btw) I noticed something similar to my observation in the other psiologist class, like that observation, purely a matter of editing. In the abilities and benefits description under "Powers Known" you specify that your psiologist gains powers and power points at every odd level, but on the chart you show +1 manifester level for each level of psiologist. Just wondering which is correct?
#14 methvezem Jun 29, 2005 16:06:01	Reading through this class (very nice, btw) I noticed something similar to my observation in the other psiologist class, like that observation, purely a matter of editing. In the abilities and benefits description under "Powers Known" you specify that your psiologist gains powers and power points at every odd level, but on the chart you show +1 manifester level for each level of psiologist. Just wondering which is correct? Thanks for pointing me out that error. The +1 manifester level for each level of psiologist is correct. I edited the text to reflect that.
#15 Pennarin Jun 29, 2005 16:10:54	My own copy of the PrC says +1 per level in the Powers Known section. Guess we edited it long ago.
#16 travis_ui Jun 29, 2005 16:14:29	My own copy of the PrC says +1 per level in the Powers Known section. Guess we edited it long ago. Not exactly the same editing error for both :P On yours it was the description of the benefit "The Way" versus the number of times it appeared on the chart ;) I'm pretty sure you fixed it.
#17 Pennarin Jun 29, 2005 16:17:53	Not exactly the same editing error for both :P On yours it was the description of the benefit "The Way" versus the number of times it appeared on the chart ;) I'm pretty sure you fixed it. The "you" would be Kalthandrix, not me :P I only helped Methvezem with this thread's PrC.
#18 travis_ui Jun 29, 2005 16:21:47	right right...I'm an observant one :D
#19 kalthandrix Jun 29, 2005 20:37:52	right right...I'm an observant one :D Don't feel bad- when I got on-line this evening and opened my psiologist thread, I seen that it had been railroaded by others- and then I realized that this was Methvezem's thread for his conversion of the psiologist! :D
#20 kalthandrix Aug 03, 2005 8:02:33	Question- Is Meths version officially changing it's name to the Academician as posted on the thread Pennarin made for an archive or is it staying as Psiologist?
#21 methvezem Aug 03, 2005 8:10:04	Question- Is Meths version officially changing it's name to the Academician as posted on the thread Pennarin made for an archive or is it staying as Psiologist? Yes, Kal, I am officially changing the name of my PrC to Academician. From now on there will be no confusion about your PrC and mine. Both are inspired by the same 2e kit, but the title academician goes well with the abilities and fluff of my class. Pennarin knew that I had changed it before I did it on the boards so he already made the change in the links page. I'll edit my post to reflect the change of name.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

methvezem

Dec 29, 2004 15:25:15

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody!

I'd like to get your commentaries on the academician (edit: formerly know as the psiologist) PrC I've been working on. I already toned down some of the abilities and I want to know what you think about it (thanks already to Pennarin and Jon):

Academician[i]
“The Way is hard for those without the Will to follow it to the end”[/i] - Urmexca, human academician

Many are those who are trained in the use of the Way, but few dedicate themselves completely to its comprehension. The academician studies extensively in the psionic academies and schools to unlock a mastery over the Way that other never dreamed of. By learning from the various existing traditions of the Way, he can benefit from the wisdom of hundreds of great masters. Intense contemplation on the uses of his powers and on the understanding of his Will are paramount to him. He firmly believes that psionics is superior to magic or any other physical training, if its user is knowledgeable enough in the Way and has the Will to back it up. The academician even considers himself superior to the other, more mundane users of the Way.

Only manifesters who have given a priority to their psionic development are likely to be drawn to becoming academicians. Thus, almost all academicians come from the ranks of psions or psionicists, and a few wilders who trained in the academies after developping their powers on their own. Psychic warriors and soulknives rarely have the intellectual focus required to become academicians.

NPC academicians are most often found in the various psionic academies dotting the lands of Athas. They are often teachers of the Way, masters who show the superiority of psionics over all other disciplines to those who wish to listen. They are always on the lookout to find new ways to develop their already impressive grasp of the Will and the Way.

Hit Die: d4.

Requirements
To qualify to become a academician, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any lawful.
Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 12 ranks, Psicraft 12 ranks.
Feats: Psionic Affinity, Skill Focus (Knowledge (psionics)), Skill Focus (Psicraft), any two metapsionic feats.
Psionics: Able to manifest 5th-level powers.
Special: Must have trained in at least three different psionic academies or schools and must still be a member in good standing in one of them.

Class Skills:
The academician's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Autohypnosis (Wis), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Knowledge (any others) (Int), Psicraft (Int), Sense Motive (Wis) and Use Psionic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

The Academician

Torack

Dec 30, 2004 3:19:48

*poke*

Don't you mean Psionicist?

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

zombiegleemax

Dec 30, 2004 5:39:03

No, Psiologist, as in the Tarandan School of Psionics Psiologists .

lurking_shadow

Dec 30, 2004 8:39:53

Methvezem, I've noticed that your Psiologist only gets new powers and power points per day every two levels. That means a character that reaches 10th level in this PrC will have five manifester levels and a lot of pps less than he would otherwise, and that even a full Psion/Psiologist will never get 9th level powers until epic levels. Personally, I think that's too big a handicap for a PrC meant for psionics masters. I think this should be changed, even if it means an increase to the numeric requirements for the PrC and/or toning down class features.

That special requirement seems a bit too large as well; not entirelly sure, but IIRC most cities do not have three or more academies. May I suggest the requirement be changed to "must have been trained under at least three psionics masters and be a member in good standing in a psionic academy or school"?

Those are my two bits... hope it helps.

methvezem

Dec 30, 2004 10:44:59

Torack, as TerminusVortexa pointed out, it is really psiologist. This prestige class is based on a 2nd ed kit, the psiologist, from the Will and the Way.
This PrC is an effort to fill the holes leaved by the already existing ones for Athas where the use of psionics is widespread.

Lurking Shadow, I changed the manifester level progression from the original full one to a odd-numbered one to tone down the prestige class. But as you pointed out, the psiologist is supposed to be a master of the Way so I'll bring it back as it was first. If you think that the abilities are too powerful or broken let me know and give me some alternative if possible.

I edited the part on the schools and academies.
Thanks for the input.

Pennarin

Dec 30, 2004 12:22:46

I'm the one who suggested the requirement of multiple schools.
The reasoning behind it was that masters with wildly different teaching methods would not be found all under the same roof of one city's academy, that such academies tend to have a single master who does not wish for his students to be "stolen" from him by another master teaching "inferior" methods.
Thus, a would be psiologist would have to travel to study in one city, then at a master in the wastes, then return to another city, and so on, until the DM deams the training complete.

Its putting together all the secrets he learns from all the masters that allows the psiologist to do what he does. (Think of martial arts movies in which the hero has studied under the greatest masters of the land until he has become unbeatable...)

I suggest putting back the requirement. Veiled Alliance members often travel to other cities to learn from other VAs, so why not promising students of the Way? The acedemy sponsoring the individual pays for his travels with the idea that he will come back and teach in their school once having become a psiologist.

methvezem

Dec 30, 2004 17:51:08

Now Pennarin I recall correctly why we originally changed this requirement for the psiologist. It had to be kinda hard to get because the power given by the PrC is somewhat powerful given the right combination of feats and abilities.

The requirement for studying in multiples schools or academies will stay even if the would be psiologist could study in different schools within the same city, in raam for exemple where multiples organisations exists.

jon_oracle_of_athas

Dec 31, 2004 6:15:39

I see you've toned the class down some since I took a brief look at it and told you it was broken. It is still quite potent. If you want to keep some of the potent abilities, you could up the requirements for the class. For example, you could add Skill Focus (knowledge [psionics]) and up the number of ranks required, so you can't enter the class until say 10th level.

methvezem

Dec 31, 2004 7:31:56

Since the psiologist is supposed to be the summum in psionic use, one who wish to qualify for this PrC must devote himself totally to the comprehension of psionics.

The ranks required in Knowledge (psionics) and Psicraft are now 12. I've added the Skill Focus (Knowledge (psionics)) to the requirements and that the character be able to manifest 5th-level powers, available to psion at 9th level, psychic warriors at 13th and wilder at 10th. In addition, the character will have to devote the majority of its feats to be eligible, even if he is human (bonus 1st level feat).

These I hope will help keep characters truly devoted to psionics gain the benefits of this PrC.

#10

Pennarin

Dec 31, 2004 7:42:19

What is the meaning of the whole bit about a "chosen discipline" I read in multiple places? It needs clarifying.

#11

methvezem

Dec 31, 2004 8:12:16

What is the meaning of the whole bit about a "chosen discipline" I read in multiple places? It needs clarifying.

You're right. The term "chosen discipline" come from the psion ability discipline. I put it there to give the psiologist some kind of limit to which powers he can use its 9th and 10th level abilities, in those he know the most, form its chosen discipline.

Since wilders and PsW can qualify for the PrC, I must reformulate or drop that entirely. I'm not sure if it will be unbalancing, but as both abilities are usable once per day, dropping this restriction could be ok. Thoughts?

#12

Pennarin

Dec 31, 2004 13:11:21

Thoughts?

The abilities requiring a "chosen discipline" require exactly that: that the psiologist limit that ability to only one discipline, and all such abilities always work only for that discipline. (The first time an ability mentions the need to choose a discipline, elaborate a little, then the next time just mention that it only applies to the discipline already chosen for the xyz ability.)
Mention that if the psiologist is already a psion, that he must choose his psion discipline as his chosen discipline.

#13

travis_ui

Jun 29, 2005 15:51:40

Reading through this class (very nice, btw) I noticed something similar to my observation in the other psiologist class, like that observation, purely a matter of editing.

In the abilities and benefits description under "Powers Known" you specify that your psiologist gains powers and power points at every odd level, but on the chart you show +1 manifester level for each level of psiologist. Just wondering which is correct?

#14

methvezem

Jun 29, 2005 16:06:01

Reading through this class (very nice, btw) I noticed something similar to my observation in the other psiologist class, like that observation, purely a matter of editing.

In the abilities and benefits description under "Powers Known" you specify that your psiologist gains powers and power points at every odd level, but on the chart you show +1 manifester level for each level of psiologist. Just wondering which is correct?

Thanks for pointing me out that error. The +1 manifester level for each level of psiologist is correct. I edited the text to reflect that.

#15

Pennarin

Jun 29, 2005 16:10:54

My own copy of the PrC says +1 per level in the Powers Known section. Guess we edited it long ago.

#16

travis_ui

Jun 29, 2005 16:14:29

My own copy of the PrC says +1 per level in the Powers Known section. Guess we edited it long ago.

Not *exactly* the same editing error for both :P On yours it was the description of the benefit "The Way" versus the number of times it appeared on the chart ;) I'm pretty sure you fixed it.

#17

Pennarin

Jun 29, 2005 16:17:53

Not *exactly* the same editing error for both :P On yours it was the description of the benefit "The Way" versus the number of times it appeared on the chart ;) I'm pretty sure you fixed it.

The "you" would be Kalthandrix, not me :P I only helped Methvezem with this thread's PrC.

#18

travis_ui

Jun 29, 2005 16:21:47

right right...I'm an observant one :D

#19

kalthandrix

Jun 29, 2005 20:37:52

right right...I'm an observant one :D

Don't feel bad- when I got on-line this evening and opened my psiologist thread, I seen that it had been railroaded by others- and then I realized that this was Methvezem's thread for his conversion of the psiologist! :D

#20

kalthandrix

Aug 03, 2005 8:02:33

Question- Is Meths version officially changing it's name to the Academician as posted on the thread Pennarin made for an archive or is it staying as Psiologist?

#21

methvezem

Aug 03, 2005 8:10:04

Question- Is Meths version officially changing it's name to the Academician as posted on the thread Pennarin made for an archive or is it staying as Psiologist?

Yes, Kal, I am officially changing the name of my PrC to Academician. From now on there will be no confusion about your PrC and mine.
Both are inspired by the same 2e kit, but the title academician goes well with the abilities and fluff of my class. Pennarin knew that I had changed it before I did it on the boards so he already made the change in the links page. I'll edit my post to reflect the change of name.