Originally posted by kalthandrix:
Well - here is the PrC I have mentioned - one designed for the Order members.
I know that some of the material in the example NPC is not done - like the DC for the powers and some other things, but this is just an example.
As always - comments and such are welcome.
[quote]Member of the Order
“Your childish antics are making me angry. Submit or face the full fury of a true master of the Unseen Way!”
Baranus, entrant of the Order, renegade hunter
Latent, raw potential for the Unseen Way, resides in most any creature that calls Athas its home, and throughout most of the turbulent history of since the coming of the Green Age, those who have wielded these forces have done so with the sophistication of a mekillot trampling through a tent city. But there are those who walk the world - pure students of the body and mind - who carry within themselves the true gift of psionics. These few are able to rise above the mindless masses of the untrained and undisciplined minds to gain a glimmer of understanding of the potential they carry within themselves. These pure students of the Unseen Way are sometimes sought out to become a member of the Order.
The Order is the self-appointed guardian of the Unseen Way and dedicates themselves to two core precepts; that psionics should be studied for its own sake, and that psionic talents should only be used to preserve the natural order and balance of the world. Members of the Order are culled from only the most powerful practitioners of psionics who are free from the polarization of morality that has corrupted the harmony of the world. Upon admittance to the Order, these few are given the task of watching for and stamping out psionic heresy where they find it with ruthless and deadly efficiency. While the lower echelons of the Order carry out this one going battle, the higher ranking members focus upon expanding their knowledge of the Way and strengthening their font of Will.
Due to the rigorous requirements, psions most easily qualify to become a member of the Order. A shift has occurred within the ranks of the organization recently, and some psychic warriors and even wilders have been allowed membership, with each of these two classes being likened to the noble psionic beasts that dwell upon Athas, though they must still meet the requirements like every other member of the Order.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements
To qualify to become a member of the Order, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 24 ranks, Psicraft 24 ranks
Feats: Skill Focus (either knowledge [psionics] or psicraft), any three metapsionic feats
Epic Feat: Improved Manifestation
Powers: Ability to manifest 9th level psionic powers, four of which must be of 7th level
Alignment: Must be either Lawful-, True, or Chaotic-Neutral
Special: Cannot have any levels the grants him access to arcane or divine magic, nor can they have spell-like abilities.
Special: Must be invited to join by a current member of the Order.
Table: Member of the Order<br />Class<br />Level Special Powers<br />1st Entrant +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />2nd Teachings of the Nexus +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />3rd Mind pool 1/day +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />4th Mediator, teachings of the Nexux +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />5th Mind pool 2/day +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />6th Teachings of the Nexus +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />7th Mind pool 3/day, Psiologist +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />8th Teachings of the Nexus +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />9th Mind pool 4/day +1 level of existing manifesting class<br />10th Teachings of the Nexus +1 level of existing manifesting class
Class Skills
The member of the Order’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Autohypnosis (Wis), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Literacy (none), Profession (Wis), Psicraft (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).
Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the member of the Order prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Members of the Order gain no additional proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Powers: A member of the Order adds +1 to his manifester level at each class level gained, though no additional power points are gained. Each time a member of the Order attains a new level, he learns two new powers of any level or levels that he can manifest.
Entrant (Ex): As an entrant, a member of the Order may stay and live within the Order’s secret stronghold known as the Nexus. They receive quarters and food free of charge and can also attend meeting as classes held by other members on the nature of the Will and the Way. They also have limited access to item creation workshops and libraries, though all costs for item creation must be supplied by the member of the Order.
When using the libraries of the Nexus, the member of the Order gains a +4 to any Knowledge-based skill check he makes. In addition, they can make a Lore check, just as a bard can with bardic knowledge. The member of the Order uses adds his class level and Intelligence modifier to the lore check result. See pg 28 of the Player’s Handbook for more information on bardic knowledge.
A entrant member of the Order is expected to aid in the common defense of the Nexus or its members when called upon to do so or if within the Nexus. They are also expected to follow the orders of higher ranking members of the Order, unless such a command violates the precepts of the Order. Many entrant are assigned to wander the face of Athas in search of psionic heresy and provide regular reports of any such findings to their mediator contact.
Teachings of the Nexes (Ex): As a member of the Order progresses through the ranks of the organization, they are taught how to use their minds and the Unseen Way in different and more potent ways. Starting at 2nd level, and every even level afterwards, they learn a new teaching of the Nexus.
• Epic Augmentation: When this ability is selected, a member of the Order chooses one power they he knows from each level 1st thru 9th that can be augmented. Whenever that member of the Order augments one of these powers, his manifester level is considered to be +1 for determining the number of power points that he can expend in one round. This ability can be selected more than once and the same power can also be selected more than once. The member of the Order’s manifester level for augmentation a specific power cannot exceed +2.
• Focused Resilience: A member of the Order can choose to expend their psionic focus as an immediate action in order to reroll a Will save. The result of the second roll must be taken, even if it is worse than the original roll.
• Psionic Reach: A member of the Order can use touch powers on targets up to 30 feet away. If the power requires a touch attack (melee or ranged), the he must make a ranged touch attack. If selected a second time as a special ability, the range increases to 60 feet.
• Sculpt Power: The member of the Order can modify an area power by changing the area’s shape. The new area must be chosen from the following list: cylinder (10-foot radius, 30 feet high), 40-foot cone, four 10-foot cubes, or a ball (20-foot radius spread). The sculpted power works normally in all respects except for its shape. The member of the Order can further alter the shape to create spaces within the power’s area of effect that are not subject to the power. The minimum dimension for these spaces is a 5-foot cube. For example, the member of the Order could manifest a energy burst power whose area is changed to a cone that deals the same amount of damage, but affects a 40-foot cone burst. The member of the Order could also leave a hole in the area of the energy burst where her ally stands, preventing any damage.
• Bonus Feat: The member of the Order may select a bonus feat from the following list: any metapsionic feat, any psionic item creation feat, any Epic item creation feat, Epic Expanded Knowledge, Epic Psionic Endowment, Epic Psionic Focus, Epic Skill Focus (any knowledge or Psicraft), Improved Manifestation, Improved Metapsionics, Power Knowledge. The member of the Order must still meet the requirements for a feat in order to select it.
Mind Pool (Ps): Using a special crystal focus, a member of the Order is able to tap into a collective pool of knowledge and power that is maintained by other members of the Order at the Nexus. At 3rd level and once per day, as a move action the member of the Order expends then psionic focus and sends a fragment of their consciousness into the mind pool. Once there, they have four options that they can choose from.
• Draw upon the Collective: The member of the Order gains a +20 the skill check that they make. He is able to maintain the captured knowledge for up to 1 round per class level, or until the skill check is made. If they do not make the skill check within this allotted time, the knowledge is lost.
• Font of Will: The member of the Order is able to draw upon the psion reserve of power points that those who maintain the mind pool have. The member of the Order gains twice his class level plus his Intelligence modifier in temporary power points. These temporary power points only last for up to 1 round per class level, or until the power is used. Unused power points dissipate after this duration expires. Temport power points are used before the member of the Order’s own reserve of power points.
• Mimic the Way: The member of the Order can select any one power, even if it does not appear on his class list of powers that he has access to. He is able to retain the knowledge of how to manifest the power for up to 1 round per class level, or until the power is used.
• Knowledge of Power: The member of the Order can select any psionic or metapsionic. The selected feat must be one that he meets the prerequisites for. The member of the Order is able to retain the knowledge of how to use the feat for up to 1 round per class level, or until the power is used.
Upon gaining 5th level and every odd class level afterwards, a member of the Order gains one additional use of this ability per day.
Access to the mind pool is a privilege that the member of the Order must repay. Each time that the member used this ability, he accumulates a debt of one day serving as one of those who maintain the mind pool, during which time he must be in the Nexus and in the Pool Chamber. This debt must be paid off within one month or the member of the Order loses access to the pool until the debt is paid, unless he as permission due to extenuating circumstances that prevents him from arriving at the Nexus for his time at the pool. The member of the Order can pay another member to fulfill his obligation, but such arrangements are subject to DM approval. The member also has the option of accumulating a kind of positive credit for access to the mind pool by volunteering for the duty while at the Nexus, but this too is subject to DM approval.
Mediator (Ex): Upon gaining 4th level within this class, the member of the Order promoted to the rank of mediator within the Order and is granted additional access to sections of the Nexus as well as being given more responsibilities within the Order.
When crafting a psionic item, the mediator may use some of the materials gathered within the Nexus to reduce the normal cost of crafting a non- epic psionic item by 10%.
In addition, areas of the vast libraries within the Nexus are opened to you, granting you a total of +8 to all Knowledge-based checks and a +5 to all Lore checks made when using the libraries.
Finally, a mediator can call upon lower-level entrants of the Order (up to 3 at any given time), as long as in doing so he is actively advancing the agenda of the Order.
The added duties of a mediator are to oversee the hunt of renegades and suppressing psionic heresy. Note – use of entrants and fulfilling the duties as a mediator of the Order is subject to DM approval.
Psiologist (Ex): When a member of the Order reaches 7th level within this class, he is promoted to the rank of psiologist. These members oversee many of the day to day operations of the Nexus and repost directly to the Cerebral Masters. In addition to keeping the rights of their previous ranks within the Order, a psiologist is given given access to some of the secret catches of lore stored within the Nexus, as well as being able to call upon the Cerebral Masters for guidance – though this is done infrequently and only in the gravest of circumstances.
A psiologist as access to better and more exotic raw materials for crafting psionic items, but they can also call upon the aid of lower ranking members to aid them in their crafting efforts. The time it takes a psiologist to craft a non-epic psionic item is reduced by 10% now, and they can also reduce the normal cost of crafting epic psionic items by 5%.
The secret stores of books and scrolls a psiologist is given access to grants the member of the Order a total of a +16 to all Knowledge-based checks and a +10 to all Lore checks made when using the libraries.
Finally, a psiologist can call upon entrants and mediators of the Order (up to 5 entrants and 2 mediators at any given time), as long as in doing so he is actively advancing the agenda of the Order.
On top of maintaining the operations of the Nexus, a psiologist is required to focus their studies upon their specialized discipline as well as studying psionic creatures, the use of the Unseen way by intelligent creatures, and finding or exploring old lore and ruins lost to the shifting sand and silt of Athas. They report their findings to the other psiologists of their discipline as well as to the Cerebral Masters.
Pharistes, Cerebral Master of Telepathy
Before you is a small, wiry elderly man that looks to be about 50, and he is in remarkable physical condition. He has a dark complexion like many from Balic and possesses a silent, dignified reserve and noble bearing. His eyes though, are dark and piercing, and gaze at you like a hawk.
Phasistes, Cerebral Master of Telepathy CR 30
Male human psion (telepath) 21/member of the Order 9
True Neutral Medium humanoid
Init +7; Senses Listen +8, Spot +28
Languages Balikite, Common, Elven, Giant, Halfling, Raamin, Rhul-Thuan, Thri-kreen
AC 30, touch 18, flat-footed 27
(+3 Dex, +12 armor, +5 deflection)
hp 196 (30 HD)
Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +19
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee psychic defending militant steel longsword +21 (1d8+6/19-20 x2)
Ranged
+2 seeking sling +20 (1d4+3/x3)
Base Atk +15/+10; Grp +16
Atk Options Burrowing Power, Extend Power, Quicken Power
Special Actions mind pool 4/day, reach power 30 ft., sculpt power, epic augmentation
Combat Gear
psychic defending militant steel longsword, +2 seeking sling, bracers of armor +12
Epic Powers/Day 3; Epic Powers Known (ML 30th):
XXX (DC XX)
Power Points/Day 512; Psion Powers Known (ML 30th):
9th—greater metamorphosis, psychic chirurgery, reality revision, true mind switch (DC XX)
8th—greater psionic teleport, mind seed, psionic mind blank, true metabolism (DC XX)
7th—crisis of life, decerebrate, energy conversion, mindflame (ds), psionic moment of prescience (DC XX)
6th—aura alteration, dimensional screen (ds), mind switch, psionic contingency, psionic disintergrate (DC XX)
5th—metaconcert, mind probe, power resistance, psionic true seeing, psychic crush, shatter mind blank (DC XX)
4th—correspond, hallucination (ds), intellect fortress, psionic dominate, psionic modify memory, psychic reformation, schism, thieving mindlink (DC XX)
3rd—body adjustment, body purification, crisis of breath, dispel psionics, false sensory input, hostile empathic transfer, mind trap, psionic sight (ds), telekinetic force (DC XX)*
2nd—aversion, biofeedback, brain lock, ego whip, id insinuation, psionic suggestion psionic tongues (DC XX)
1st—decelerate, deflect strike (ds), detect psionics, empty mind, energy ray, force screen, mind link, mind thrust, psionic charm (DC XX)*
*The save DCs for these powers might increase with the use of augments
Abilities Str 13, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 30, Wis 26, Cha 18
SQ XXX
Epic Feats Craft Epic Universal Item, Epic Psionic Focus, Epic Expanded Knowledge (greater metamorphosis), Improved Manifestation, Improved Metapsionics
Feats Burrowing Power, Craft Cognizance Crystal, Craft Universal Item, Extend Power, Great Fortitude, Greater Psionic Endowment, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Leadership, Psionic Endowment, Psionic Meditation, Skill Focus (psicraft), Quicken Power,
Skills Bluff +24, Concentration +36, Diplomacy +28, Gather Information +28, Knowledge (ancient history) +37, Knowledge (local) +25, Knowledge (nature) +25, Knowledge (psionics) +45, Literacy (all languages he can speak), Psicraft +48, Sense Motive +32
Possessions combat gear plus headband of the awakened mind (Intellect & Wisdom +6), ring of protection +5, amulet of health +4
XXX
Hook “XXX.”[/quote]
Originally posted by Sysane:
Nexus is a psionic school run by Guleum (sp?) the Gray. If I’m not mistaken, he broke off his affiliation to the Order (I’m not positive on that last point though). I’m also under the impression that it wasn’t just for epic level students.
More to come later… 
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
[quote]Nexus is a psionic school run by Guleum (sp?) the Gray. If I’m not mistaken, he broke off his affiliation to the Order (I’m not positive on that last point though). I’m also under the impression that it wasn’t just for epic level students.
More to come later… ;)[/quote]
Darn you Sysane…but for some reason I have a sinking feeling that you are correct.
If you are, then it will be a huge set back in this PrC and I will have to take it back to the drawing board to re-examine this PrC.
Of course - maybe some things in the Order has changes since the Dragon’s Crown and the Order is now reformatted itself a bit…
It is a stretch for sure, one of desperation and sorrow.
Originally posted by Sysane:
Nothing that some reflavoring of the fluff couldn’t fix.
Don’t go solely on my word about this either. I’m just going off the top my head. You may want to double check Will & The Way and the Wanderer’s Journal to verify this.
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
[quote]Nothing that some reflavoring of the fluff couldn’t fix.
Don’t go solely on my word about this either. I’m just going off the top my head. You may want to double check Will & The Way and the Wanderer’s Journal to verify this.[/quote]
Oh - don’t worry Sysane - the only persons word I trust 100% is my own …well even then maybe only 99%.
But you are right - it may not be as big of a fix as I initially thought…if you are right 
Originally posted by Pennarin:
This is your best class yet, man
At 1st, 4th, and 7th, you give a rank to the character…but not at 10th, but you do go on about cerebral masters…shouldn’t that be a 10th level rank, just like psiologist is for the 7th level?
As for the Nexus being a place with a purpose different from what you setup…well, like Sysane mentionned, keep it as “Nexus” for now but later on change it to something else. As simple. Everything else is still valid.
You could mention that if the feat is a psionic item creation feat, then the member of the Order retain the knowledge of how to use the feat for up to 1 week per class level.
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
[quote]This is your best class yet, man
At 1st, 4th, and 7th, you give a rank to the character…but not at 10th, but you do go on about cerebral masters…shouldn’t that be a 10th level rank, just like psiologist is for the 7th level?
As for the Nexus being a place with a purpose different from what you setup…well, like Sysane mentionned, keep it as “Nexus” for now but later on change it to something else. As simple. Everything else is still valid.
You could mention that if the feat is a psionic item creation feat, then the member of the Order retain the knowledge of how to use the feat for up to 1 week per class level.[/quote]
The reason for not rank at 10th level is becuase there are only 6 CMs - whereas there are 36 psiologists. And - it also states in the Dragon Kings that:
It was because if the underlined part that I did not include an advancement to become a CM. Maybe I sould state something like the above materail from the DK…
As for the language of the abilities and the Nexus thing - I found that that Sysane was right and wrong
[quote]Nexus is an academy of the Way located high within a small range of mountains northeast of Kurn. The hidden site is hard to reach and well protected by a group of powerful psionicists and their students. Gulem the Gray (male dwarf/22nd-level psionicist/LN) runs the academy…
There are rumors that Nexus has binding ties to the mysterious Order. In fact, Gulem is an entrant of the Order, but his agenda is his own. He had no part in therecent plot involving the psionatrix, and he has cautioned his colleagues to keep a low profile in the wake of those events. It appears that Gulem remains an influential member of the Order despite his low status thanks to his words of wisdom and his prudent actions.[/quote]
I will keep it as is and then change it later if the need arises.
Finally - for the item creation feats - I was actually going to put in there that item creation feats are not accessible for this ability - because I wanted to keep all the limits to the duration of access limited to the same time.
Thanks for the praise on the class, Penn - it means a lot because I know you do not just go around saying that stuff is good if it isn’t
Oh - and thanks also to my man Sysane - I was getting worried that no one was reading this class before you posted - so thinks man!
. I just like the connection of flavor and mechanics.