Prestige Class: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-prestige-classes/pyrokin eticist
I was planning on making one of these as an opposing NPC (not a BBEG, but someone that works against them) in a campaign I'm running, but I don't want my party to feel completely dominated by it. Now I know people have varying opinions on psionics ranging from "OMG OP NERF NOW" to "Worse than a tank wizard" (on second though, wizard tanks might not be TOO bad, buff spells and what not). I just want to know if there's anything game breaking about them.
My first thought is to half the values on Fire Adaptation and reducing Bolt of Fire to 1d6 per 2 class levels. I'm thinking of cutting the Hand and Weapon Afire damage in half as well. Finally I would make Leach Heat a full round action with a range of 60 feet, or a standard action with a range of 30 feet, but allow the user to heal 1/2 damage dealt.
Any thoughts?
Not sure if moved, or posted in wrong section...
Seriously, the pyro can dish out some neat damage, but they get jack sh*** for their power progression, rendering them essentially a one-trick pony regarding their damage output. The PCs are one buff away from being immune to anything the class can dish out, so no, I wouldn't nerf it, especially since they essentially are a fighter-style-class that already lacks the whole casting versatility-schtick.
I once had a major villain pyrokineticist and countered this linearity by applying one of my own eastern vampire templates and the master of exotic weapons PrC in 3.5 - the resulting build actually managed to kill off one of my PCs, but without the additional options thus provided, the Pyro would have gone down faster than a snowball in hell.
The thing's is: How strong is a wizard if you halve his slots? A Paladin's boni? Pyros are VERY tightly focused on one element and should at least rock when it comes to this focus. Especially with how easy it is to cancel out their abilities. And no, I don't think that penetrating fire wholly offsets the argument, it just mans that they are not as easily thwarted. Another analogue to drive the point home would be the most extreme example I can think of, a red dragon's breath: Unprotected? Crispy PCs. Protected? Fighting Chance. Now pyros are infinitely weaker (unless they are red dragons!), but I hope you get the idea.
Having played 2 whole campaigns and for over 10 years with psionics in both 3.5 and pathfinder, my experience is that they are not overpowered and rather weaker than the arcane classes. Though their novas can rock hard! You won't have the nova-issue with a standard pyro-built, though.
Hope that helps!
yeah i have to agree there is no reason to nerf the Pyro anymore than it nerfs itself...it is a reach to say it is even near OP. Flavorful...Yes. Powerful...Yes. But just be thankful its not a fullblown Kineticist.
The folks at dreamscarred press have a pretty good eye for balance and this is merely an update to a pyro class that has been around for awhile...
maybe voice your concerns on the Dreamscarred Press forums and get some feed back there. they are pretty much the experts and their Ultimate Psionics book will be a wonderful companion to any Pathfinder campaign.
just remember the golden rule...
You can't spend more PowerPoints on a power than you have Manifester Levels.