Maybe more of a dreamscarred question, but wanted to see what people think of a wilder I built for a friend's campaign. If you were to change anything with this character what would it be.
Elan (formerly elf) Male
Str: 13
Dex: 12
Con: 12
Int: 14
Wis: 10 (really hate leaving it at 10)
Cha: 16
HP: 9, AC: 14 (1 Dex, 3 Studded Leather), 30' Ground
BAB: 0, +1 w/str - Spear 1d6, x2, 20ft range, brace
*Surge Blast: 1d6 Force damage, 30' ranged touch, expend psionic focus.
CMB: 1 (+2 v. Trips - trait), CMD: 12, +2 to Initiative (+1 trait)
F: 3 (+2 from psicrystal) R: 1 W: 2
Feats:
Psionic Talent (Elan racial) - +2 Power Points
Alertness (psicrystal) - +2 Perception, +2 Sense Motive
Psicrystal Affinity (Student's Surge)
Extra Power Known: (Vigor)
Skills:
Bluff +7 (+8 other elans)* (+1 trait)
Diplomacy +6 (+7 other elans)
Knowledge (psionics) +6
Perception +6 (w/alertness)
Sense Motive +6 (w/alertness)
Spellcraft +6
Use Magic Device +7
Powers:
Mind Thrust (DC 14)
Vigor
5 Power Points (2 psionic talent, 1 from Cha Mod)
Equipment:
Studded Leather 25g, 25 lbs.
Spear 6g, 6 lbs.
Rope 50ft (silk) 1g, 5lbs.
3 Sunrods 6g, 3lbs.
4 Minor Healing Potions - Homebrew maybe 80g
Encumbrance 43/50 light load.
Remaining wealth: 8 Platinum, 1 Gold, 10 Silver
Psicrystal -
Standard first level psicrystal - adds alertness, resolved (+2 fort saves)
Thanks, if anyone sees this thread and has a critique!
How attached are you to the Student's Surge? Because I've gone through that list and honestly a Raging Wilder can get very scary.
I plan on playing one in an upcoming campaign, using Expanded Knowledge and such to gain the Metamorphosis line of powers.
Student's Surge is one of the best options for the extra powers. Raging Wilder works best if you are wanting to go toe-to-toe with your enemy, and yes it IS scary - a sort of psychic warrior/wilder cross, and this build doesn't look like that.
Trust me, I helped draft both of them ;)
With this build, I would say that if you are going for a "blaster" then go energy ray not mind thrust. Mind thrust is more damage, but is also limited and requires a save that your target could make. Energy ray effects more things, and gives you more variety.
Not a bad plan, and I agree with Energy Ray if that's the direction he wants to stick with.
My issue with Wilders (even Student ones) is how limited their power list is. To me that, along with the 3/4ths BAB, makes the class more viable as a switch hitter, like a druid, as opposed to a straight caster.
I kinda wish the Wilder could rearrange their powers known every morning, like a Vitalist can. I vaguely remember an archetype that gives that ability, if memory serves. But there was something about the archetype that I disliked too.
(Looks it up)
Here we are. The Contemplative.
It's nice but it all but gives up Wild Surge entirely, replacing it with the Overchannel line of feats and losing the Surge Bond completely.
Thanks for the responses so far, mates. Rage is still an option for me as the game starts next Sunday. Right now I am not married to any one thing. Mind Thrust I know is limited, I almost made that my topic name: Mind Thrust v. Energy Ray v. Crystal Shard.
*So you would trade the unreliable for the more reliable - check.
I was thinking I could change out, later on, whatever I take at this level, whenever I decide what path I want to go down. I have a few ideas on that.
Melee combat - couple levels fighter, couple levels ninja. Maybe even a couple levels in elocater. Not the most optimal build for him I know.
Social - Take Mind Link as my fifth level bonus feat from Student Mind - if I kept that build, and then go into the much beloved thrall herd (kidding on the much beloved part ). Or dip ranger and go sighted seer.
Caster/Blaster - A few levels of wilder, a few levels of sorcerer, and then I go cerebremancer. Losing class abilities sucks, but leveling both manifester and caster at the same time is amazing. Psion/wizard is more optimal for this build I know.
Wilder attracted me over psion due to how they manifest powers through emotion rather than by study and practice, yet have some formal training (hence student's surge - the extra powers are nice too, when I am so limited in number). The last time I played anything psionic related was in 2e and I know much has changed since then!
I like the archetype Jeremy had written out - I will contemplate it! Sorry for the pun :)
Thanks for the responses so far, mates. Rage is still an option for me as the game starts next Sunday. Right now I am not married to any one thing. Mind Thrust I know is limited, I almost made that my topic name: Mind Thrust v. Energy Ray v. Crystal Shard.
*So you would trade the unreliable for the more reliable - check.
Absolutely. You don't get many options as a wilder - make the most of the ones you have.
Melee combat - couple levels fighter, couple levels ninja. Maybe even a couple levels in elocater. Not the most optimal build for him I know.
Touch range powers, strong physical stats and take the metamorphosis chain of powers using your bonus Expanded Knowledge feats. Metamorphosis is fantastic for self-buffing just any way you like. It won't make you better than the party fighter, but you will be a lot more interesting...
You can always take a feat for weapon proficiency if you want, although I don't usually bother.
Social - Take Mind Link as my fifth level bonus feat from Student Mind - if I kept that build, and then go into the much beloved thrall herd (kidding on the much beloved part ). Or dip ranger and go sighted seer.
I've thought about this, but decided against it. You want to mess with heads, a telepath is better. There's just less to be gained from wild-surging save with mind thrust.
Caster/Blaster - A few levels of wilder, a few levels of sorcerer, and then I go cerebremancer. Losing class abilities sucks, but leveling both manifester and caster at the same time is amazing. Psion/wizard is more optimal for this build I know.
I'd just go wilder all the way as a blaster. They do it really well, just stick with the energy (and maybe one or two non-energy) powers and boost them up and let rip.
Wilder attracted me over psion due to how they manifest powers through emotion rather than by study and practice, yet have some formal training (hence student's surge - the extra powers are nice too, when I am so limited in number). The last time I played anything psionic related was in 2e and I know much has changed since then!
I prefer the wilder as well, it's much more interesting to me than the psion, and it's easier to fit into a campaign that is non-psionic in nature as just a freak person with freak powers.
Thanks for the responses so far, mates. Rage is still an option for me as the game starts next Sunday. Right now I am not married to any one thing. Mind Thrust I know is limited, I almost made that my topic name: Mind Thrust v. Energy Ray v. Crystal Shard.
*So you would trade the unreliable for the more reliable - check.
Absolutely. You don't get many options as a wilder - make the most of the ones you have.
Melee combat - couple levels fighter, couple levels ninja. Maybe even a couple levels in elocater. Not the most optimal build for him I know.Touch range powers, strong physical stats and take the metamorphosis chain of powers using your bonus Expanded Knowledge feats. Metamorphosis is fantastic for self-buffing just any way you like. It won't make you better than the party fighter, but you will be a lot more interesting...
You can always take a feat for weapon proficiency if you want, although I don't usually bother.
Social - Take Mind Link as my fifth level bonus feat from Student Mind - if I kept that build, and then go into the much beloved thrall herd (kidding on the much beloved part ). Or dip ranger and go sighted seer.I've thought about this, but decided against it. You want to mess with heads, a telepath is better. There's just less to be gained from wild-surging save with mind thrust.
Caster/Blaster - A few levels of wilder, a few levels of sorcerer, and then I go cerebremancer. Losing class abilities sucks, but leveling both manifester and caster at the same time is amazing. Psion/wizard is more optimal for this build I know.I'd just go wilder all the way as a blaster. They do it really well, just stick with the energy (and maybe one or two non-energy) powers and boost them up and let rip.
Wilder attracted me over psion due to how they manifest powers through emotion rather than by study...
Thank you for the input. I was thinking about metamorphosis with a more melee type. So I am thinking I was on the right path. My inexperience with wilder made me doubt myself. I think that is how I will go. I might pick up natural healing at 3rd just for utility, but may be a wasted feat since I could just wait for body adjustment, might be wrong on the name but the stronger heal. Just a thought, not sure it will be necessary. Thanks again!
You're welcome. Psionic Body is a good feat as you will have a lot of bonus psionic feats to rack up the HP. There's an example of a Wilder I made in a game here.
You're welcome. Psionic Body is a good feat as you will have a lot of bonus psionic feats to rack up the HP. There's an example of a Wilder I made in a game here.
Like your build. I pretty much mopped the floor with the bad guys so far, ranged touch 4d6+4 for the win (ended up 2nd level by the time the session ended). I pretty much just surged the entire time, only getting close to enervating once. When my pps did run out I was effective as a meat shield, especially after I got eluding touch and a +1 buckler. Vigor saved my life more than once. People were amazed at what I could do. I almost felt bad for how well he did. Just wait til I get psionic meditation.
Might give updates on this as the game progresses. People that were interested in wilder like I was can get an idea of how they function. I like Psyren's guide, but needs updating a little here and there. I don't like to be cookie-cutter so I only look at guides as advice, not laws written in stone.
So I am stuck on picking my 2nd level power. My DM wants to curtail my psicrystal, it has been captured by people following us. I was inclined to do the vigor/shared pain combo with my psicrystal, but with recent events I am unsure. Is Minor Metamorphosis worth a 2nd level power, when I plan on taking metamorphosis as my fourth level expanded knowledge? I like the burrowing and ability score increases, just not sure. Cloud Mind is interesting as well to me.
I'd go for minor metamorphosis myself (actually I have, with my Expanded Knowledge) and it's very flexible which is something the wilder really needs. I'll get the next power too at higher level, when I can.
I agree, very versatile power and utility is something I value over specializing. That was my last real worry regarding him. Now it is simply a matter of surviving until psychic reformation.
My Wilder is a lvl 7 Chaotic Surge And I couldn't be more happy with his performance. I Psi-gifted Mind Thrust and got Empower Power and just picked up EK: Energy Missile. Currently, if I max augment, wild surge and empower either of these abilities, my max hit on a 4 with the 1d4 chaotic surge is 12d10 (+50%) dmg and a DC of 24 on Mind Thrust, and 11d6+11 (+50%) cold/fire dmg to 7 targets and a DC of 24 on Energy Missile.
If I wiff with a 1 on the Chaotic Surge, it becomes 3d10 (+50%) dc 19 on Mind Thrust, and 2d6+2 (+50%) cold/fire to 7 targets dc 19 on Energy Missile.
My save DC is high because of a couple items I've acquired to boost Charisma.