Psychic Warrior/Warforged Build Suggestions

[SapphireLament]

Hello, Im new to the whole D&D thing and wanted to ask the more experienced players a few questions.

My DM just invited me to his gaming session, but since I have come in the middle of a campaign I was told to take over for a person who no longer comes out anymore. This person had a level 8 psychic warrior warforged. The DM has given me permission to redo everything except his class and race. So weapons, feats, powers, are all game.

I have searched a lot of places and have noticed a trend of this class with particular parameters like focusing on enlarging yourself to HUGE size and so forth. I even noticed the God Of Smack thing which obviously made my jaw drop. But im a warforged so I cant do that entirely.

Now here is where I get confused and maybe some of you guys will read this and go "wtf?" but my DM allows all of 3.5 and 4.0. I know right, he calls it 3.9 lol. So anything from both is game. He blends them nicely from what I heard from the other players though. The 4.0 bonuses I get are from the Battlemind. The only things I get from battlemind are the things like "Demand", "Mind Spike", "Elevated Harmony", etc. So ya, kinda crazy but interesting at the same time. Im allowed to use any/every book too. He has them all on a thumb drive.

So I am interested in dishing out crazy damage like god of smack, and I like the whole make you HUGE or even COLOSSAL thing. Form of Doom seems neat too. His enemies are pretty cool, and powerful too, and his bosses wipe the floor with us. So ya, I would like to throw back some damage at these guys. Im open to other ideas as well, but what do you guys think I should do for the level 8 and all the way to 20? Below is what I remember from the sheet if you need it. All of it can be changed like I mentioned besides class/race:

Warforged (neutral)
8 Psychic Warrior
Executioners Axe (think the old player made this an attached component)
Heavy Crossbow
Adamantium Armor (the FEAT and acts as Full Plate for the DM)
1000 gold (around there, just guestimating)
Deep Impact
Psionic Talent (he got this feat a few times)

If you read this far I really appreciate it and thanks in advance for helping a noob out!

[GawainBS]

Ditch Psionic Talent. The extra PP aren't worth the feat investment.
Power Attack is a must. Psionic Meditation (Psionic Focus = Move Action) is a must too. Psycrysal Affinity is good, as is Psycrystal Containment. Combat Reflexes is very nice, if you're going to get Huge, as your reach increases. Be sure to pick up Standstill, and if your DM allows it, Large and In Charge from Draconomicon. If you have the INT required (13+) Combat Expertise (Which sucks, but is a requirement for the next), Improved Trip and Robillar's Gambit (Players Handbook II) are nice ones. Later on, pick up Quicken Power.

As for powers, Expansion, Vigor, (Greater) Concealing Amorpha, Offensive and Defensive Precognition, Hustle ( ! ), Psionic Lion's Charge are all great.

Tactics:
Use your weapon twohanded. No discussion.
Psycrystal Affinity = you get a Psycrystal. Psycrystal Containment = Both you and your Crystal can hold a Psionic Focus. Hustle = extra move action, which can be used to recharge your Psionic Focus. This allows you to expend a Psionic Focus to use Metapsionic feats (Like Quicken) and still keep the benefit of being focused.
Expansion, at the later levels, can be cast as a Swift Action, and grants you reach. This means you threaten more opponents, for use with Combat Reflexes, Trip & Stand Still/Large and in Charge.
Robillar's Gambit meshes nice with Concealing Amorpha, as even a missed attack triggers a counter.

Also, check out this: [url="http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=8904.0"]a nice guidebook[/url] to PWs, and the people are a friendly and knowledgable bunch.

And [url="http://dreamscarredpress.com/dragonfly/ForumsPro/viewforum/f=2.html"]here[/url]is the Pathfinder update on Psionics.

[SapphireLament]

Wow, I really love most of these. Some I havent ever read before or realized the potential either. So I have two questions:

If I get the "Monkey Grip" feat, and acquire a Large Executioner Axe to use as my main weapon, when I cast the power "Expansion" it says "all equipment, worn or carried, is expanded by this power". Does that mean that when I go from being "Medium -> Large" the weapon goes to "Huge" and so forth depending if I expand further?

If I pick up "Expanded Knowledge" then learn the power 'Metamorphosis' can I use this power once im "Large" or "Huge" to become a monster of the same size. Like say a "Behemoth"? The power allows equipment to be worn in the new form if it is capable. This monster is capable of walking on two feat and holding objects. Does that mean it could wear my armor and use my weapons?

With the things you mentioned before included with this, I would assume I would be a force to be reckoned with. If I read them right of course. Which is why im checking in, lol. Thanks for the help thus far.

[GawainBS]

1. The weapon would become larger, yes, but Monkey Grip is a waste of a feat. a) You're expending a feat. b) A -2 to hit could just as well mean extra Power Attack. With a twohander, that -2 to hit is +4 damage. If you're medium, an Executioner's Axe does 1d12, I assume. (Let's go with that for the sake of argument.) That's 6 damage on average, as you round down in D&D. A Large one would be 3d6. That's 10 on average. If you took the -2 with Power Attack on the medium Axe, that would be 6 + 4 on average. If you later became Huge, the damage difference might make it up, but I personally think there are more useful feats, like improving your charge, or more Psionic Powers. Even "Up The Walls" adds a lot of versatility.
For example: Take Leap Attack (Complete Adventurer), Shocktrooper (Complete Warrior) and if you have to Battle Jump (Unapproachable East, Faerun). That's triple Power Attack return (twohander + Leap Attack), no attack penalty from Power Attack (Shock Trooper), and all of that doubled with Battle Jump. Combine that with Psionic Lion's Charge for a Full Attack on a charge. Granted, more feat required, but the return is so good.

2. Yes, Metamorphosis is that good. Definitly worth a feat.

[SapphireLament]

As far as attacks of opportunity, he is going off the 4 edition variation, where you can do multiple AoO whenever you want. So combat reflexes is unneeded right?

And the way he is working a "charge" is you take a move action to perform it and once you close in you make a full attack with the -2 penalties for the next round. That is basically the power right? So no need for that one either.

Yes your right on the axe. It is 1d12 and brutal, so I can re-roll 1s and 2s. So:

Medium (normal damage)
1d12

Large (expansion 1 damage / monkey grip normal damage)
3d6

Huge (expansion 2 damage / monkey grip expansion damage)
4d6

Gargantuan (monkey grip expansion 2 damage)
6d6

My mind was thinking get a massive weapon and do crazy damage, so I looked up ways to make it Colossal but could only get as far as Gargantuan which is still nice. 6d6 is great. But I see what your saying though.

I have yet to find a description of the feat you mentioned, Large and In Charge. So I don't know its requirements or description. But these are the feats I like so far. Let me know what ya think. As a level 8 I can get 9 feats:

1- Adamantine Body (AC+8 / DR 2)
2- Psycrystal Affinity (obtain a psycrystal with bonus?)
3- Psicrystal Containment (store additional focus)
4- Combat Expertise (?)
5- Improved Trip (no AoO when tripping)
6- Quicken Power (manifest power as a swift action)
7- Psionic Weapon (melee weapon deals +2d6 and uses focus)
8- Greater Psionic Weapon ( +4d6 and uses focus)
9- Deep Impact (resolve melee attack as touch attack, uses focus)

EDIT: Just realized I forgot Expanded Knowledge: Metamorphasis. Tricky choosing which feats to go first, lol.

I can get some of the other feats you suggested later since I dont qualify for some yet. But whats your thoughts?

And the powers I like to take for my level 8 guy:

1st- Expansion
1st- Vigor
1st- Precognition, Defense
2nd- Precognition, Offense (1st level spell in place of a 2nd)
2nd- Hustle
2nd- Force Screen (AC +4?)
3rd- Inertial Armor (AC +4?) stackable with above I think so ill get +8
3rd- Greater Concealing Amorpha
Expanded Knowledge: Metamorphasis

Im liking a lot of this spells you mentioned. Whacha think?

[GawainBS]

I don't know your houserules, so I can't comment on that.

Force Screen is useless, just buy an Animated Shield.
Inertial Armour doesn't stack with your Adamantine Plate, so it's useless.
Metaphysical Weapon is awesome (forgot it earlier), as you can just buy a +1 Trnasmuting (to get past DR) Eager Warning Axe, and pay only for a +5 weapon, while Metaphysical Weapon provides the +5 to hit and damage.
Thicken Skin provides extra AC, and stacks with enhancement bonus to Armour and Shield. Thicken Skin provides an enhancement bonus to AC. (Note the subtle difference).
Dimension Door provides good mobility.

As for feats: Greater Psionic Weapon is useless. 2d6 extra damage on one attack isn't going to cut it.
Psionic Weapon is only worth it as a prereq for Deep Impact. (Be sure to do full Power Attack with that.)
Large and in Charge is from Draconomicon. It's Stand Still on steroids.
Quicken Power is very good, but it gets better at higher levels, so keep it untill later. Up the Walls might be a good substitute.

Doing a lot of damage in D&D doesn't come from your base weapon mainly, but from high STR and Power Attack, and charges.

[SapphireLament]

Oh wow, good eye on the Deep Impact thing. I misread it. I thought it needed "greater psionic weapon" as another prereq. That saves me a feat then.

Animated Shield huh. I'll have to look that one up I know nothing of the item. Hopefully I have the gold for it.

Thicken Skin is better? I think I see what you read here. You are right it is subtle. Some are these powers are tricky if you read them wrong. Thanks for pointing this out.

Dimension Door is sick. For some reason I thought you said Dimension Swap when I read it, and I thought the power was OK. But clearly the one you mentioned is better. Good find.

So if "Large and In Charge" is "Stand Still" on steriods, why get stand still? Or is it a prereq? Also I still cant find the Large and in Charge specific text anywhere on google. Want o be sure I qualify if it needs any other prereqs, and get a better understanding of the feat.

Now I like where you were going with the Metaphysical Weapon but got lost towards the end. Let me see if I can understand it so I know what I have to do when I go later in the week.

Buy a "Eager Warning Axe" (have yet to google what that is exactly yet)
Enhance it with "+1 Transmuting" (very nice find, thx. Bypass DR is sick)
So now its a "Eager Warning Transmuting Axe"?
Then enhance that with gold to +5 weapon.
So now its a "Eager Warning Transmuting Axe +5"?
Then use "Metaphysical Weapon" to enhance it another +5? (power says it only does +1 but maybe im reading it wrong)

I apologize if I butchered what you said. I just want to be sure I understood you. Ok so here is my redo with your extremely helpful suggestions:

FEATS:
1- Adamantine Body (AC+8 / DR 2)
2- Psycrystal Affinity (obtain a psycrystal with bonus?)
3- Psicrystal Containment (store additional focus)
4- Combat Expertise (?)
5- Improved Trip (no AoO when tripping)
6- Stand Still (AoO can be used to stop enemies movement)
7- Psionic Weapon (melee weapon deals +2d6 and uses focus)
8- Deep Impact (resolve melee attack as touch attack, uses focus)
9- Large and In Charge (super stand still?)

Future Must Have Feats: Quicken Power, Power Attack, Robillar's Gambit, Up the Walls, Improved Critical (Axe), (anymore I should consider?), etc.

POWERS:
1st- Expansion
1st- Vigor
1st- Precognition, Defense
2nd- Precognition, Offense (1st level spell)
2nd- Metaphysical Weapon (1st level spell)
2nd- Hustle
3rd- Thicken Skin (1st level spell)
3rd- Greater Concealing Amorpha
Expanded Knowledge: Metamorphasis

Future Must have Powers: Vampiric Blade (3rd), Dimension Door (4th), Breath of the Black Dragon (6th), Form of Doom (6th), (anymore I should consider?), etc.

[GawainBS]

Powers: Breath of the Black Dragon isn't great. Maybe nice if you combine it with Quicken, but Psionic Mind Blank is WAY better. As is Dispelling Buffer. You'll be pretty vulnerable to dispelling otherwise.

Feats: Power Attack should be amongst your first feats. Choose between Stand Still and Large and in Charge. Having both is superfluous, but check Draconomicon p. 71 for the details. I can't reprint the text. It depends on your DM wether or not Expansion makes you qualify for it. RAW, you do qualify.

Metaphysical Weapon: You know the formula for weapon cost in D&D, right? It means that each +1 enhancement is exponentially more expensive than the last. Your weapon needs to do two things: hitting and delivering damage. A raw bonus to hit does this (the + Y on your weapon) and bypassing DR does this.
A +1 Transmuting weapon is a must. This costs you 2*3²*1000 gp = 18000 gp. Metaphysical Weapon makes this a +5 Transmuting Weapon, without adding to the cost. Otherwise, you'd be spending 2*7²*1000gp = 98000 gp.
Eager and Warning (Both from Magic Item Compendium) provide an Initiative Bonus. Initiative in D&D is very important. As these would make the weapon more expensive, Metaphysical Weapon becomes even greater.

[SapphireLament]

Everything you said up to "Metaphysical Weapon makes it +5" makes sense now. The power says it gives a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls. I can augment it by another +1 for every 4pp I put into it. Thats why im confused. Unless I am to assume you want me to spend 16pp to get a +4 bonus added to the +1 transmuting thus making it +5 like you mentioned. If so, then wow thats most of my power points right there. If not, then holy cow! I must have read the description of this spell like 8 times, and I dont get where the +5 comes from. Sorry.

Powers: Psionic Mind Blank and Dispelling Buffer eh? I like them. Thanks.

Feats: He says I qualify for Large and In Charge when I use Expansion. I can then replace Stand Still with Power Attack then.

[GawainBS]

First off: you can't spend more PP in augmenting a power than your total manifester level. In your case, you can never spend more than 8 pp in total. You also have to augment it to +5, since the bonuses don't stack with the +1. They overlap.
The thing about Metaphysical weapon is that you augment it as far as possible, to get your weapon as high as possible with a +Y bonus. And, very important, a +4 PP to make it last hour/lvl. You want to spend as few rounds as possible to buff each combat.
So, once you reach lvl 9, you can spend 9 pp to get a +2 Axe which lasts 9 hours.

As for augmenting: keep in mind that you can't augment for more PP than your manifester level. With Expansion, I'd rather spend the 6 PP to manifest it as a swift action than Expanding to Huge.

All these things cost a lot of PP, but make sure your WIS is high enough. Get a Torc of Power Preservation.

Check out the Handbook I linked to earlier, it has ways to recover PP. Otherwise, ask there, those people know more about it than I do.

[SapphireLament]

I gotcha now. Think im ready to attend my next session with awesome results. Thanks for sticking with me this whole time. Much appreciated. Should I post here again if anything goes wrong/well? Or start a new thread?

Thanks again!

[GawainBS]

Feel free to update this one, or post in the handbook. People can give you better ideas there.
One last advice: STR is most important, followed by WIS and CON. You need at least 16 WIS to manifest your 6th lvl powers.