Evening all!
I've recently found myself increasingly drawn to the Psychic class. I haven't yet had a chance to play through Strange Aeons, but I bought the occult classes for HeroLab and keep building Psychics. I love all the variations and interesting themes built into the class, and came up with a concept I'd like to try: the Psychic/Rogue multiclass option.
Now I unfortunately have the hang-up of only using the core rulebook, Ultimate Combat and the Advanced Player's Guide - alongside Strange Aeons, obviously - so I can't and don't particularly like to pick and choose feats and whatnot from a dozen different books and 3pps. So I've heard a bit about rogue psionics, but I can't go down that road.
I came up with a character who began life as a nascent psychic, unlocked her powers and was briefly manipulated into locking them down by a Terrible Psychic Entity, so she spent a few years picking up some Rogue classes while she was on the run. Now before I go ahead and build this into the character, can anyone drop me some advice on whether or not it's a good idea? I've sort of picked up on multiclassing any kind of 'full caster' class as a great way to dilute their late game power, but we'll probably be starting at mid-levels, so I've looked at all the awesome powers and spells various level 10 Psychics get - and hoo-boy that is a lot of fun stuff - and wonder if I'd be doing the character justice by just making it a single level of Rogue for Light Armour and Sneak Attacks relying on flat-footedness through Scary Psychic Shenanigans. Mind you I've never played either class, hence my humble request for advice from older and wiser heads.
What say you, messageboarders?
Thank you for your time,
Od.
If you're looking for a Rogue/Psychic, I'd strongly recommend looking at the Psychic Detective Investigator (archetype found in Occult Adventures). It takes the Investigator's Rogue/Alchemist hybrid chassis and swaps out the Alchemist part for Psychic casting (directly from the Psychic list) and some access to Phrenic Amplifications. You won't get the flavor of the disciplines, but you will get 6 levels of the spellcasting, Investigator/Rogue talents, Phrenic Pool/Amplifications, Studied Combat/Strike (solo sneak attack expy), Trapfinding, consistent d8 HD, and a whole lot of skills. I've been playing one in a play-by-post on these boards and it's a lot of fun.
Otherwise, I'd say you're probably better off, mechanically, going straight psychic. You can always spend feats on armor proficiency if you really want it (though psychic casting doesn't care if you're encumbered). Keep in mind the bonus damage you'll get from sneak attack is small compared to the power of fully caster-leveled spells like the Mind Thrust line, which have the additional benefit of not caring whether your target is flat-footed or not, but I can understand being so drawn to the flavor of an idea that the reduction in power is worth it for the fun.
EDIT: On first read I misread the restriction on books, so the Investigator's probably out (Advanced Class Guide). In that case ignore the first paragraph.
The thing is, you don't get much useful roguishness out of a dip. Light armor proficiency is irrelevant when you can just use a mithral chain shirt (ACP zero) without penalty, a die or two of sneak attack is no big deal at level 10 considering you're not interested in delving into multiple sources, and a few more skill points/class skills would probably be better via feats.
If you want a dip for the flavour you might look at the archaeologist bard - 'This archetype also fits roguelike characters that focus more on learning than on stabbing foes in the back.' A level or two would give you plenty of flavour and better tricks than the same amount of rogue would IMO.
The thing is, you don't get much useful roguishness out of a dip. Light armor proficiency is irrelevant when you can just use a mithral chain shirt (ACP zero) without penalty, a die or two of sneak attack is no big deal at level 10 considering you're not interested in delving into multiple sources, and a few more skill points/class skills would probably be better via feats.
If you want a dip for the flavour you might look at the archaeologist bard - 'This archetype also fits roguelike characters that focus more on learning than on stabbing foes in the back.' A level or two would give you plenty of flavour and better tricks than the same amount of rogue would IMO.
Seconding this. Unless it's unchained rogue and you want 3 levels of it for dex combat, I'd set aside rogue. I'd suggest Vivisectionist but it's not on the list of book he has...
It's hard for me to give specifics because I don't think about which books have what rules in them so it's exceedingly hard to filter all of pathfinder down to 3 books.
I also don't see the book that contains the Psychic class on the list of book usable so I'm confused there.
A level will set you back in terms of power, but you're already a full caster so you're powerful enough as is. I think you should take a one level dip in rogue, it will lower your power but that's okay, you can still play your role fine.
Ah curse, I have missed the editing window.
I have just realised, after graystone mentioned the Vicisectionist, that I also have Ultimate Magic! The Vivi is the delightful Jack the Ripper/Dr Moreau Alchemist archetype, right? A quick look at the cruel vibe it gives off works very nicely with the potential fluff influence of a Dark Half... would you be kind enough, graystone, to elaborate on what difference the Vivi could make to a build?
avr's suggestion of an Archeologist dip is also interesting - we do currently have a Bard who's played four levels of Archeologist and it looked very useful, and I'm also very pleased to skip Bardic Performances - in fact as it picks up Trap Sense, a three-level dip (thank you for that by the way Andre, those words are music to my ears, even in the face of losing levels of Godlike Psychic Power) in that would be a really good way of emphasising her capability without access to her psychic talents.
Sorry citricking, I think by Strange Aeons I meant Occult Adventures! I may play it safe and take a one-level dip, but the Archeologist/Vivisectionist idea may well tempt me a bit deeper in - awful pun completely intended and presented without shame.
Leedwashere , you are correct - sadly I do not have the Advanced Class Guide, but I have been thinking about picking it up after several arguments amongst a couple of my gaming groups about the mechanics of the hybrid classes compared to the purity of base or core classes - I will take a look at the Investigator though as I already have another character in the works who might benefit from that kind of style!
Decisions, decisions...
Thanks for your help!
Od.