So I would like to preface this my saying this was mostly accidental, I didn't realize the implications of my build until, pretty much now.
So... I'm playing a lvl 8 psychic in a home brew game and all is going pretty well. I chose the pageantry discipline because you can augment your spells by turning them into full rounds then giving them +2 cl, +2 DC, I was like sold, also the flavor was delicious.
We started lvl 5 and sometime maybe lvl 6 I decided to specialize in telekinesis. Now that had to wait till this level, but still, I took feats to help with that (And a retrain).
Then I realized that I could maintain telekinesis as a swift action by activating my fifth level power and spending another phrenic. Strong, very strong as it (at lvl 8) would give me a combat maneuver (including grapple) once per round as a swift at +18, strong but not game breaking. We tend to encounter lots of enemies with strong CMD's.
Then just a day or two ago I realized that I could hold a wand of true strike in one hand and activate it every round and grapple stuff at +38. Now we usually face many creatures at once, but suddenly BBG is grappled and pinned with near certainty in the first two turns.
I feel this may destroy the game I want to know what the internet feels. I would like to note that I haven't done this yet.
True strike only applys on attack rolls, not CMB checks.
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True strike only applys on attack rolls, not CMB checks.
CMB rolls are attack rolls.
"When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. "
A) Even if you could do this, yes it would break the game, so skip it.
B) I think it is the Telekinesis spell that is doing the grappling, not you. Or at least that is the way I would rule it. Other GM's and PFS might rule differently.
"Depending on the version selected, the spell can ..., perform a variety of combat maneuvers,.../"
With that said, True Strike CMB checks are always fun. +20 makes a big difference no matter who is making the check.
One last thing. True Strike is sort of an oddball spell. It's power level is out-of-whack compared to other first level spells, like Magic Weapon. True Strike shenanigans should be avoided.
PS Good on ye! Not everyone would deliberately avoid an overpowered option. Thanks for choosing game balance over character power.
True strike only applys on attack rolls, not CMB checks.CMB rolls are attack rolls.
"When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. "
Ah, my mistake.
You're using the spell telekinetic maneuver, right? It's powerful, sure, but you're an 8th-level full caster. You are powerful, that's just something the game will have to expect. And this tactic, while awesome, comes with several harsh limitations.We're talking about a primary caster spending their entire turn, every turn, simply to partially neutralize a single opponent. Note that your expectation of "grappled and pinned with near certainty in the first two turns" isn't quite accurate - you still have to spend a standard action to cast on the first turn, so you'll only be attacking with a +18. If you don't hit with that, you won't be able to pin them until the third turn of combat - and by then they might very well be dead. And unlike telekinesis, telekinetic maneuver lists the target as "one creature," so I don't think you can change to a new target halfway through.
Thanks for your imput, that's a very interesting perspective, noting concentration can easily be broken is a good point, but I would like to note that I'm a psychic, not a sorcerer/wizard, and as such I have telekinesis as a 4th level spell not fifth, it doesn't change much though (and I lose some combat maneuvers also).
Here is the main issue:
An "Epic" encounter for a party of 8th level characters is CR11. I can't find a single CR 11 or lower creature in the Bestiary that even has a chance of success (beyond the chance of a natural 1 on the check) against your CMB roll. So you have basically have auto-success against any opponent you could meet. As you level this will pretty much remain the case. For the rest of the campaign, there is nothing that has even a chance, unless you roll a natural 1.
It is quite possible that this is a rules legal combo, however, it is absolutely devastating to game balance in almost every circumstance.
I think you should talk to your DM. Maybe he can help you in this issue. Maybe he ask you to stop, for the good of the campaign, or maybe he's not that worried.
For example, you cannot grapple certain creatures, maybe that can help him to avoid your one trick pony headshot.
I suggest holding on to this as an ace up your sleeve. Wait for the group to be losing a fight and then, like Luke in the trash compactor suddenly remembering the comm device, pull out this trick.