This month we have several feats and powers that your psychic warrior will find quite interesting. Be sure to read the sidebar on crystal weapons and armor, too!

Feats

Improved Psionic Sidestep [Psionic]

You have a greater knack for avoiding attacks of opportunity.

Prerequisites: Dex 15, Wis 15, Dodge, Mobility, Psionic Sidestep, reserve power points 9+.

Benefit: Once per round when you provoke an attack of opportunity, you can move up to 10 feet as a free action. If this movement takes you out of the attacker's reach, the attack of opportunity fails. This 10 feet of movement does not itself provoke any attacks of opportunity. If your free 10 feet of movement does not take you out of the attacker's reach, the attack does not automatically fail; however, you gain an additional +2 dodge bonus to your Armor Class for this attack; this dodge bonus stacks with the dodge bonus from the Psionic Sidestep feat.

Pinpoint Shot [General]

You make a single, accurate shot against a target with cover.

Prerequisites: Point Blank Shot, base attack bonus 6+.

Benefit: By using a full-round action, you can make a single ranged attack and ignore the cover bonus of a target. This does not work against a target with total cover.

Psionic Sidestep [Psionic]

You have a knack for avoiding attacks of opportunity.

Prerequisites: Dex 13, Wis 13, Dodge, Mobility, reserve power points 5+.

Benefit: Once per round when you provoke an attack of opportunity, you can move up to 5 feet as a free action. If this movement takes you out of the attacker's reach, the attack of opportunity fails. This 5 feet of movement does not itself provoke any attacks of opportunity. If your free 5 feet of movement does not take you out of the attacker's reach, the attack does not automatically fail; however, you gain an additional +2 dodge bonus to your Armor Class for this attack.

About Power Chains Power chains are a series of similar powers, such as the astral construct series (astral construct I to astral construct IX). Some feats, such as Upgrade Power and Chain Link, recognize the concept of power chains and give you benefits within power chains.

Psionic Weapon Power Chain Level Power 0 -- 1 Lesser psionic weapon 2 -- 3 Psionic weapon 4 -- 5 -- 6 Greater psionic weapon (psychic warrior) 7 Greater psionic weapon (psion) 8 -- 9 --

Psionic Armor Power Chain Level Power 0 -- 1 Lesser psionic armor 2 -- 3 Psionic armor 4 -- 5 -- 6 Greater psionic armor (psychic warrior) 7 Greater psionic armor (psion) 8 -- 9 --

Powers

Darkness Cloak
Clairsentience (Wis)
Level: Psion 4, Psychic Warrior 4
Display: Vi
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Power Resistance: Yes (harmless)
Power Points: 7

This power shrouds the target in an aura of shadow. This aura grants the recipient a +3 deflection bonus to Armor Class plus an additional +1 for every four manifester levels (maximum bonus of +8). The subject sees through the cloak as though it did not exist and is also afforded darkvision with a range of 60 feet. Finally, the subject gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against any light powers or effects.

Greater Psionic Armor
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 7/Psychic Warrior 6
Duration: 1 hour/level
Power Points: 13/11

As psionic armor, except up to three special abilities can be infused and the total market modifier of all selected abilities cannot exceed +5.

Greater Psionic Weapon
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 7/Psychic Warrior 6
Duration: 1 hour/level
Power Points: 13/11

As psionic weapon, except up to three special abilities can be infused and the total market modifier of the selected abilities cannot exceed +5.

Lesser Psionic Armor
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 1/Psychic Warrior 1
Duration: 1 round/level
Power Points: 1

As psionic armor, except only one special ability can be infused and the total market modifier of the selected ability cannot exceed +1.

Lesser Psionic Weapon
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 1/Psychic Warrior 1
Duration: 1 round/level
Power Points: 1

As psionic weapon, except only one special ability can be infused and the total market modifier of the selected ability cannot exceed +1.

Psionic Armor
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 3/Psychic Warrior 3
Display: Vi, Au, Me
Manifestation Time: 1 round.
Range: Touch
Target: 1 set of armor or shield you possess
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Power Points: 5

You infuse a set of crystal armor or a crystal shield(see the Crystal Weapons and Armor sidebar below) with psionic energy. The item gains one or more special abilities it does not currently have from the appropriate table. (Armor uses Table 7-3: Armor Special Abilities and shields use Table 7-4: Shield Special Abilities in Chapter 7 of the Psionics Handbook). You select the abilities when the power is manifested. The total number of abilities that can be selected cannot exceed two and the total market modifier of the selected abilities cannot exceed +3. The total market modifier of all bonuses and special abilities of the item cannot exceed +10. A given ability can be infused only once per day.

Psionic Weapon
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 3/Psychic Warrior 3
Display: Vi, Au, Me
Manifestation Time: 1 round.
Range: Touch
Target: 1 weapon you possess
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Power Points: 5

You infuse acrystal weapon(see the Crystal Weapons and Armor sidebar below) with psionic energy. The weapon gains one or more special abilities it does not currently have from the appropriate table. (Melee weapons use Table 7-5: Melee Weapon Special Abilities and ranged weapons use Table 7-6: Ranged Weapon Special Abilities in Chapter 7 of the Psionics Handbook). You select the abilities when the power is manifested. The total number of abilities that can be selected cannot exceed two and the total market modifier of the selected abilities cannot exceed +3. The total market modifier of all bonuses and special abilities of the weapon cannot exceed +10. A given ability can be infused only once per day. Characters with the soulknife prestige class may imbue their mindblade with this power.

Targeted Mind
Clairsentience (Wis) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Psion 2, Psychic Warrior 2
Display: Vi
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target: One living creature with an Intelligence score
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None (see text)
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 3

You can pinpoint the location of a creature by knowing the location of its mind. The creature loses any concealment bonus it might have had. You must be able to perceive the creature initially when manifesting this power. If the target moves out of your line of sight after being targeted, you still know where it is. If the creature has something to mask its mind, it is immune to this power. If the creature moves out of range, the power ends.

Crystalline Enhancements (Projectile and Thrown Weapons)

Psionic characters know their best weapons are their powers, but sometimes the fuel for those powers runs low or delivering a power just isn't feasible. To get around these limitations, some psionic characters take advantage of their ability to enhance weapons -- more specifically, ranged weapons.

The following is a list of crystalline weapon enhancements psionic characters can make for projectiles and thrown weapons. Each enhancement works when the projectile or thrown weapon strikes a target, and this destroys the projectile or thrown weapon. If the attack misses, there is a 50% chance the projectile or thrown weapon can be retrieved intact and reused.

Enhancement Descriptions

Amber: In addition to normal damage, this enhancement targets the creature struck with the brain lock power. The target becomes mentally paralyzed for 4 rounds unless a Will save (DC 13) is made.

Manifester Level: 4th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, brain lock; Market Price: +800 gp.

Bloodstone: On impact, a bloodstone weapon imparts the recall pain power on the creature. It takes 3d6 additional points of damage unless a Will save (DC 13) is made for half damage.

Manifester Level: 4th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, recall pain; Market Price: +600 gp.

Coral: When fired, this ammo increases one damage category due to an increase in size.

Manifester Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, expansion; Market Price +600 gp.

Diamond: On impact, in addition to normal damage, a diamond weapon strikes the target with the banishment power. This provides a +1 bonus to the power resistance roll and has a Will save (DC 21).

Manifester Level: 12th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, banishment; Market Price: +7,200 gp.

Emerald: An emerald weapon unleashes a mass concussion upon impact in a 20-foot area. All creatures and unattended objects within the area take 7d4 points of damage.

Manifester Level: 8th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, mass concussion; Market Price: +3,200 gp.

Granite: A granite weapon causes an additional 3d6 points of damage or half of that if a Fortitude save (DC 13) is made.

Manifester Level: 4th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, concussion; Market Price: +900 gp.

Jade: A jade weapon unleashes the sever the tie power on impact. An undead creature struck by this weapon suffers 3d8 points of damage (Will save DC 13 halves) as its connection to the Negative Energy Plane is disrupted.

Manifester Level: 4th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, sever the tie; Market Price: +600 gp.

Malachite: A malachite weapon unleashes a grease effect upon impact, coating everything in a 10-foot area for 1 round.

Manifester Level: 1st; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, grease; Market Price: +100 gp.

Onyx: An onyx weapon unleashes a negate psionics effect on impact. This is a targeted negation attempt.

Manifester Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, negate psionics; Market Price: +1,800 gp.

Opal: An opal weapon unleashes a dissipating touch effect upon impact and can target creatures or objects. This deals 1d8 additional points of damage to the target.

Manifester Level: 1st; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, dissipating touch; Market Price: +100 gp.

Quartz: A quartz weapon unleashes a whitefire effect on impact. Creatures within the 20-foot radius of impact take 5d4 points of fire damage (Reflex save DC 14 halves).

Manifester Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, whitefire; Market Price: +1,800 gp.

Red Garnet: On impact, a red garnet weapon imparts the recall agony power on the creature. It takes 9d6 additional points of damage unless a Will save (DC 17) is made for half damage.

Manifester Level: 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, recall agony; Market Price: +5,000 gp.

Ruby: On impact, a ruby weapon imparts the recall death power on the creature. If it makes a Will save (DC 22), the creature takes 3d6+15 points of additional damage. If it fails the save, the creature dies.

Manifester Level: 16th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, recall death; Market Price: +12,800 gp.

Sapphire: A sapphire weapon is imbued with a cone of sound. The point of origin is the creature struck, with the cone emanating out 60 feet from there. Any creatures caught within the cone, including the original, suffer 5d4 points of sonic damage. A Reflex save (DC 14) can be made for half damage.

Manifester Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, cone of sound; Market Price: +1,800 gp.

Talc: A talc weapon unleashes a dismiss ectoplasm effect on impact. Ectoplasmic targets make Fortitude saves (DC 16) to avoid being dispersed. Characters in ectoplasmic form struck by this weapon and who fail their saves are either displaced to the Astral Plane or destroyed outright (50% chance of either effect).

Manifester Level: 8th; Prerequisites: Craft Psionic Weapons and Arms, Dismiss Ectoplasm; Market Price: +3,200 gp.

About the Author

Mark A. Jindra has been a fan of Dungeons & Dragons for the past 25 years and has organized RPGA Network events for many conventions and game days, including Origins and Winter Fantasy. In 1998 he landed his dream job as a web developer for Wizards of the Coast and is currently the developer of the D&D website. Mark has authored or coauthored various tournaments for the RPGA Network, and he also coauthors the monthly Mind's Eye feature on the Wizards of the Coast website.

Scott Brocius has been "kicking around" with the D&D game since being introduced to it 1980. He's been an RPGA member for several years and has helped organize and run RPGA events for several conventions, including Origins. The new edition of D&D has renewed his love for and interest in the game. Scott also coauthors the monthly Mind's Eye feature on the Wizards of the Coast website.

*Special thanks to Terralor of the Wizards of the Coast online community for the power that he contributed that inspired the psionic weapon and psionic armor powers and Dark Psion of the Wizards of the Coast online community for suggestions that inspired the weapon enhancements.