I'm playing a Halfling Fighter, and plan on taking Psi Warrior once we reach level 3. However, I hadn't decided on a subclass when first making the character. So I'm not sure if my stats will lend well to the subclass.
I realize I should have given some more thought to what subclass I was going to take before deciding my stats, but I got too excited to just be playing, that it was an afterthought. However, I still want to go with a Psi Warrior, but I'm not sure whether to take an ASI or a Feat when the time comes. I'm not trying to min-max or go for the most optimized build, but I still want to be useful to the rest of the party during battles. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Are you going dex based or str? I’m guessing dex. Either way, you could asi, plus 1 to whichever you use, and the other in wis.
As for a feat, there’s tons that might work. What weapon do you use? Do you use a shield? What’s your fighting style? Role in the party? We need to know more about your character before we can give any advice.
Are you going dex based or str? I’m guessing dex. Either way, you could asi, plus 1 to whichever you use, and the other in wis.
As for a feat, there’s tons that might work. What weapon do you use? Do you use a shield? What’s your fighting style? Role in the party? We need to know more about your character before we can give any advice.
Strength based
Only have a 17 in Dex because of racial bonuses
Greatsword for the weapon (DM is allowing me to ignore the disadvantage for a small creature using a heavy weapon, but only for Greatswords)
Great Weapon Fighting
No specific role yet
Also for the ASI, did you mean one to Wis, or to Int?
Then I’d go + 1to str and wis. I’m saying these because you want even numbers for stats — modifiers go up when you have an even number. So getting that str up will give you bonuses to hit and damage. Your wis score is also an odd number, so making it even will give you a bonus there on some skills, but also on wis saves which are very common. I’m putting wis as more important than dex because your dex is already crazy high for a str based character. I assume you’re wearing heavy armor. While boosting dex might be nice for initiative, skills and dex saves, it is, as I said, already really high. Taking your int up 1 will do literally nothing for you, since it’s already an even number. Then at level 6, I’d boost str by another 2. At level 8, you could either take str to 20 or start looking at feats. There is one psi knight ability that is int based (I looked quickly, I could be wrong) but to me, it’s not worth taking an asi for int for a single feature.
The other choice could be to swap to a dex build, (if you use the optional rule that allows for a change of fighting style when you hit a level that grants a feat, if you don’t, this won’t really work) boost your dex and wis by 1, switch fighting style to dueling, and put on studded leather and a shield. It would put you at a 18 AC, which I imagine is higher than you have now. Use a rapier and you’ll be doing a d8+6 - it will average out a little less damage than a gfw greatsword, but not much. Or if you end up the party tank, defense style takes your AC up by 1 and damage down by 2.
The other advantage to the dex build is you can max out your main stat with fewer asi, leaving you more room for feats. It will also boost initiative, skills and dex saves. That said, a halfling with a greatsword sounds super fun, even if it’s not optimal it will be an effective character. If you are enjoying it, keep playing it and ignore my bit about changing to a dex build.
There are more than just 1 ability that relies on Int for the Psi Warrior, which is why I originally asked for help. I wasn't sure how badly I messed up my character. And yes, I use heavy armor. Currently wearing Chain Mail.
At 3rd level, there are two abilities that are tied to Int. Protective Field. When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you takes damage, you can use your reaction to expend one Psionic Energy die, roll the die, and reduce the damage taken by the number rolled plus your Intelligence modifier (minimum reduction of 1), as you create a momentary shield of telekinetic force.
Psionic Strike. You can propel your weapons with psionic force. Once on each of your turns, immediately after you hit a target within 30 feet of you with an attack and deal damage to it with a weapon, you can expend one Psionic Energy die, rolling it and dealing force damage to the target equal to the number rolled plus your Intelligence modifier.
At 7th level, there is one ability that is tied to Int. Telekinetic Thrust. When you deal damage to a target with your Psionic Strike, you can force the target to make a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier. If the save fails, you can knock the target prone or move it up to 10 feet in any direction horizontally.
Then there's one at 15th level. Bulwark of Force. You can shield yourself and others with telekinetic force. As a bonus action, you can choose creatures, which can include you, that you can see within 30 feet of you, up to a number of creatures equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of one creature). Each of the chosen creatures is protected by half cover for 1 minute or until you're incapacitated. Once you take this bonus action, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a Psionic Energy die to take it again.
And another at 18th level.
Telekinetic Master. Your ability to move creatures and objects with your mind is matched by few. You can cast the Telekinesis spell, requiring no components, and your spellcasting ability for the spell is Intelligence. On each of your turns while you concentrate on the spell, including the turn when you cast it, you can make one attack with a weapon as a bonus action. Once you cast the spell with this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a Psionic Energy die to cast it again.
I stand corrected, int would be quite useful. Though I don’t necessarily think you need a lot of it. Yes, a 14 would be better, but a 12 is still going to be serviceable. I’d still go with str and wis at 4. Again, you want to be rid of those odd numbers. And I’d still say +2 str at 6. While you have some good int based powers, your bread and butter is still hitting things in melee, and high str is the way you do that most reliably. Then, maybe at level 8, you take stock of how things are working for you. If you feel like you’re not effective at hitting things, bump str again, if you are really missing that extra +1 for your psi powers, boost int. If you’re generally happy with both, there’s feats.
My advice would be to pick up some Int ASI's. Start with the +1 to strength in some form like was mentioned. Whether it's +1 to strength and +1 to an odd stat or a feat that gives you +1... Both are going to give you something for the part that isn't strength. But the saving throws can be helpful so it's not bad to just go wis.
After that despite popular believe you don't have to immediately rush into maxing out Strength as fast as possible. I'm not saying put off the STrength ASI forever but if you want to do a +2 to Int since Int is core to your subclass at level 6 do so. Then You can do the strength ASI at 8... Or the other way around. Then pick up Strength and Int at 12 and 14 as well. Probably in that order but it would depend on how well you feel your managing to hit the enemy which order you want to do them in but doing them with Strength first is not going to be bad for you assuming you get that high.
If for some reason you switch over to a dex style with your stats. You only need 1 and 1 half ASI"s to max out anyway so do +1 to your dex at 4 and Do Int at 6. You only need 1 more Dex ASI at that point to max it out. It's up to you if you take it at 8 or 12. But the rest should pretty much all go to your into your Int to raise it up and rely on your subclass a bit more.
If you have your heart really set on GWM however and just really want to take it. Do that at either 4 or 6 and just get it over with at one of those two points either way. Then worry about increasing the rest of your stats. That way your not worrying about when and how to work it in and you get quite a bit of use at with it to be able to enjoy.
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I'm playing a Halfling Fighter, and plan on taking Psi Warrior once we reach level 3. However, I hadn't decided on a subclass when first making the character. So I'm not sure if my stats will lend well to the subclass.
Current Stats
STR: 15
DEX: 17
CON: 16
INT: 12
WIS: 13
CHA: 11
I realize I should have given some more thought to what subclass I was going to take before deciding my stats, but I got too excited to just be playing, that it was an afterthought. However, I still want to go with a Psi Warrior, but I'm not sure whether to take an ASI or a Feat when the time comes. I'm not trying to min-max or go for the most optimized build, but I still want to be useful to the rest of the party during battles. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Are you going dex based or str? I’m guessing dex. Either way, you could asi, plus 1 to whichever you use, and the other in wis.
As for a feat, there’s tons that might work. What weapon do you use? Do you use a shield? What’s your fighting style? Role in the party? We need to know more about your character before we can give any advice.
Also for the ASI, did you mean one to Wis, or to Int?
Then I’d go + 1to str and wis. I’m saying these because you want even numbers for stats — modifiers go up when you have an even number. So getting that str up will give you bonuses to hit and damage. Your wis score is also an odd number, so making it even will give you a bonus there on some skills, but also on wis saves which are very common. I’m putting wis as more important than dex because your dex is already crazy high for a str based character. I assume you’re wearing heavy armor. While boosting dex might be nice for initiative, skills and dex saves, it is, as I said, already really high. Taking your int up 1 will do literally nothing for you, since it’s already an even number.
Then at level 6, I’d boost str by another 2. At level 8, you could either take str to 20 or start looking at feats. There is one psi knight ability that is int based (I looked quickly, I could be wrong) but to me, it’s not worth taking an asi for int for a single feature.
The other choice could be to swap to a dex build, (if you use the optional rule that allows for a change of fighting style when you hit a level that grants a feat, if you don’t, this won’t really work) boost your dex and wis by 1, switch fighting style to dueling, and put on studded leather and a shield. It would put you at a 18 AC, which I imagine is higher than you have now. Use a rapier and you’ll be doing a d8+6 - it will average out a little less damage than a gfw greatsword, but not much. Or if you end up the party tank, defense style takes your AC up by 1 and damage down by 2.
The other advantage to the dex build is you can max out your main stat with fewer asi, leaving you more room for feats. It will also boost initiative, skills and dex saves. That said, a halfling with a greatsword sounds super fun, even if it’s not optimal it will be an effective character. If you are enjoying it, keep playing it and ignore my bit about changing to a dex build.
There are more than just 1 ability that relies on Int for the Psi Warrior, which is why I originally asked for help. I wasn't sure how badly I messed up my character. And yes, I use heavy armor. Currently wearing Chain Mail.
I stand corrected, int would be quite useful. Though I don’t necessarily think you need a lot of it. Yes, a 14 would be better, but a 12 is still going to be serviceable.
I’d still go with str and wis at 4. Again, you want to be rid of those odd numbers. And I’d still say +2 str at 6. While you have some good int based powers, your bread and butter is still hitting things in melee, and high str is the way you do that most reliably. Then, maybe at level 8, you take stock of how things are working for you. If you feel like you’re not effective at hitting things, bump str again, if you are really missing that extra +1 for your psi powers, boost int. If you’re generally happy with both, there’s feats.
Okay, thank you.
My advice would be to pick up some Int ASI's. Start with the +1 to strength in some form like was mentioned. Whether it's +1 to strength and +1 to an odd stat or a feat that gives you +1... Both are going to give you something for the part that isn't strength. But the saving throws can be helpful so it's not bad to just go wis.
After that despite popular believe you don't have to immediately rush into maxing out Strength as fast as possible. I'm not saying put off the STrength ASI forever but if you want to do a +2 to Int since Int is core to your subclass at level 6 do so. Then You can do the strength ASI at 8... Or the other way around. Then pick up Strength and Int at 12 and 14 as well. Probably in that order but it would depend on how well you feel your managing to hit the enemy which order you want to do them in but doing them with Strength first is not going to be bad for you assuming you get that high.
If for some reason you switch over to a dex style with your stats. You only need 1 and 1 half ASI"s to max out anyway so do +1 to your dex at 4 and Do Int at 6. You only need 1 more Dex ASI at that point to max it out. It's up to you if you take it at 8 or 12. But the rest should pretty much all go to your into your Int to raise it up and rely on your subclass a bit more.
If you have your heart really set on GWM however and just really want to take it. Do that at either 4 or 6 and just get it over with at one of those two points either way. Then worry about increasing the rest of your stats. That way your not worrying about when and how to work it in and you get quite a bit of use at with it to be able to enjoy.