I think that it would be interesting to have a variant of the Summoner class that used psionics instead of magic. That way, he would be a master of creating astral constructs instead of summoning monsters. The number of powers known and power points for a psionic summoner would probably be the same as a psychic warrior.
The psionic eidolon could be called a tulpa instead; it would be a living construct instead of a standard construct because it has its own intelligence. There would probably have to be a few other changes because even a living construct has a number of immunities that a standard eidolon doesn't have.
So, what changes do you think would be needed to make the summoner into a psionic class? And what should we call this new variant, anyway?
This is exactly what I did for a prestige class way back when XPH came out. Your psicrystal acts as the brain of your construct. I added some stuff in about being a crafter as well, and I thought it seemed thematic. Here's what I came up with if you'd like to see:
Requirements Skills: Knowledge (Psionics)-8 ranks, Knowledge(The Planes) 5 ranks, Craft(any) 8 ranks.
Feats: Boost Construct, Psicrystal Affinity
Psionics: Ability to manifest 3rd level powers, including Astral Construct
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special PP/Day Powers Known
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1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Astral Companion ---
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Efficient Creation +1 level of existing manifesting class
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 +1 Level of existing manifesting class
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Bonus Feat +1 Level of existing manifesting clas
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Architect ---
6th +3 +2 +2 +5 +1 Level of existing manifesting class
7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Master Craftsman +1 Level of existing manifesting class
8th +4 +2 +2 +6 Bonus Feat +1 Level of existing manifesting class
9th +4 +3 +3 +6 +1 Level of existing manifesting class
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Instant Army ---
Astral Companion: You can turn your psicrystal into an astral companion. Essentially you create an astral
construct, but instead of it being unintelligent, your psicrystal enters it and uses it as a host. During this time the
construct is essentially permanent until destroyed, at which time a new one needs to be created. You maintain
a general amount of mental control over your astral companion. Also, all mental contact between yourself and the
psicrystal within is as normal. Essentially your psicrystal's "mental" self now inhabits a new physical body, which
means among other things that the psicrystal's special powers (p. 22 of EPH) and its natural armor bonus are
temporarily unavailable, with the exception of share powers and sight link. If the construct is destroyed
it disappears, leaving your psicrystal vulnerable. Unless your psicrystal has learned the flight ability, it falls
to the ground taking 1d6 points of falling damage per size leval above small its host astral construct host was.
Creating an astral companion takes 24 hours and 10gp per power point spent to manifest the Astral Construct power.
Bonus Feat: At 4th and 8th levels the Astral Architect gains a bonus psionic item creation feat.
Architect: Depending on the size category of astral constructs you create, they gain the benefit of a particular
feat. Note: This is an exception to the rule that creatures without an intelligence score cannot gain feats.
Small-Swarmfighting
Medium-Combat Reflexes
Large or larger-Improved Grapple
Efficient Creation(Ex): When manifesting Astral Construct, the casting time is only 1 standard action,
instead of 1 round. You may create two astral constructs, whose total power point cost must not
exceed your manifester level, as a 1 round manifestation.
Master Craftsman(Ex): When creating a psionic item, he can choose to decrease the base cost of the item
(and thereby the experience spent) by 20%, or retain in the item any bonuses he might have on powers
stored within. For example, Krshka, who has an intelligence of 19 could create a dorje of Energy Burst with
a save DC of 17 instead of 14 as it normally would be, though doing so costs full price.
Instant Army(Ps): As a full-round action, instead of creating a single astral construct with multiple lower abilities,
you may instead create a number of lower level astral constructs at once. For each additional power point
you spend, you may create one additional astral construct with each manifestation of the power, as long
as all astral constructs created don't total in power point cost more than you can afford with this additional
augmentation. For example, Krshka, a 5th level shaper/10th level Astral Architect, may summon one
1st level, one 2nd level and one 3rd level astral construct with a single manifestation of the power. It costs
him 1 power point for the 1st level construct, 3 power points for the 2nd level construct, and 5 power
points for the 3rd level construct, plus 1 power point for each of the two extra constructs, for a total of
11 power points. You can make a maximum number of astral constructs in this manner equal to your key
ability modifier. You can only use this ability once during an encounter.
Instead of implementing this class in my game, since the summoner is SO close to what I had envisioned, I just "flavored" summoners psionically. Eidolons are creatures that are culled from the deep astral (dream) plane and are basically night terrors made flesh.
Three things:
1) If the tulpa is a living construct rather than an outsider, should it be reduced in power in some way to compensate for the additional immunities granted by this subtype? Also, it cannot be banished like an extraplanar creature can be (though the power dismiss ectoplasm works normally against it.) There should be some kind of adjustment made to balance it against the summoned eidolon.
(Note that the astral construct power needs no further balancing, as it is already limited by creating only one creature per use, while summon monster spells have the option of summoning more than one lower level creature per use.)
2) A 19th-level psychic summoner has a bit of a problem, as there is no psionic equivalent of the gate spell. What sort of ability should replace this power?
3) Should the psionic summoner continue to use Charisma as his main ability score, or should Wisdom (like the psychic warrior) or Intelligence be used?
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Three things:
1) If the tulpa is a living construct rather than an outsider, should it be reduced in power in some way to compensate for the additional immunities granted by this subtype? Also, it cannot be banished like an extraplanar creature can be (though the power dismiss ectoplasm works normally against it.) There should be some kind of adjustment made to balance it against the summoned eidolon.
As the tulpa is an actual manifestation of the thoughtformer's will, it's death could cause some nonlethal damage or fatigue or just general unpleasant side effects for the summoner. Perhaps he suffers a morale penalty to will saves, as his 'psyche is depleted' after the tulpa dies, or something.
The critter itself might be fairly buff, but it's 'death' could be most unpleasant for the summoner, as it is part of his psyche manifest.
As the tulpa is an actual manifestation of the thoughtformer's will, it's death could cause some nonlethal damage or fatigue or just general unpleasant side effects for the summoner. Perhaps he suffers a morale penalty to will saves, as his 'psyche is depleted' after the tulpa dies, or something.
I think that "thoughtformer" is an excellent name for this class variant. As for what sort of penalty the thoughtformer should take, perhaps he could be sickened or staggered for 1 round per 2 class levels (minimum 1). He might also be prevented from manifesting powers during this time unless he makes a concentration check (DC 15 + double power level).
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I think that "thoughtformer" is an excellent name for this class variant. As for what sort of penalty the thoughtformer should take, perhaps he could be sickened or staggered for 1 round per 2 class levels (minimum 1). He might also be prevented from manifesting powers during this time unless he makes a concentration check (DC 15 + double power level).
That sounds reasonable.
I don't actually like 'thoughtformer' just because it's that thing that isn't a portmanteau but everyone calls a portmanteau anyway.
Some sort of modification of the word 'cogitation' would be my ideal, since it comes darn close to literally meaning a construct of thought.
Cogitant? (pronounced CODG-it-ent)
Cogito doesn't work for me, it feels like a superhero stage-mentalist name. "Behold, Cogito the Magnificent!"
Cogitant sounds good to me!
As for a replacement to the gate ability, there's a metacreativity power called genesis that is rather nifty, or true creation.