So recently, a mate has offloaded some 3.5 books to me, one of which happens to be expanded psionics handbook. I've not read if yet, but I'm interested in adding psionics to my game. Obviously, I can pretty easily use 3.5 material in pathfinder.
I see on the forums that everyone raves about dream scarred press' ultimate psionics. I've not got that and am curious about the hype. What does it offer that makes people grab that over a second hand 3.5 psionics handbook? Any info would be cool, I am willing to be sold on it if it is awesome and delivers stuff better than the 3.5 book.
Ultimate Psionics takes everything in the 3.5 Expanded Psionics Handbook and gives it their own spin on things. Mechanically very similar, updated to the Pathfinder RPG rules set, but very much distinguishing itself from the base material. Also, Ultimate Psionics is an enormous book, maybe half again as long as the 3.5 book, if I'm remembering things correctly.
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There's the very handy fact that it's already completely converted for you.
It also has a ton of cool new classes (Aegis, Cryptic, Dread, Marksman, Tactician, and Vitalist) that aren't in the 3.5 book, and it fixes some classes that were sadly under-supported or poorly executed in 3.5 (the Soulknife being a prime example).
Ultimate Psionics is better organized, which can make it easier to reference vitally important rules (like the Golden Rule of Psionics: A manifester can never spend more PP on a power or ability than their total manifester level).
UP has tons of sweet archetypes, prestige classes, feats, races, and gear that you won't find in the 3.5 book, making it easier for players to "dip a toe" into the system and find something that connects with them.
There is just more total content in UP. It's a vastly superior tome with a huge trove of material beyond what you'll find in Expanded Psionics and Complete Psionics put together.
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I absolutely love my Ultimate Psionics. It's probably the best Pathfinder book ever published.
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On a serious note: Everything was seriously play-tested. All the flak from the previous attempts (dating way back to AD&D) required it.
The classes are fairly balanced, well thought out, and interesting.
There are 10 new/updated races (Blues, Dromites, Duergars, Elans, Forgeborn, Half-giants, Maenands, Norals, Ophinuans, and Xephs), who have been beautifully crafted.
And there is a lot of support, from magic items to GM advise, for psionics.
The art is good (varying from 'neat' to 'awesome').
Its 453 pages of awesome.
....why, yes, I am a bit of a fan.
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Haha, cheers guys! Sold!!!
The systems are very similar, very similar, but in nearly instance where there is a noticeable difference, Ultimate Psionics is better.