The role of a devoted psion in a party varies greatly depending on which devotion he follows. A devoted nomad might be the party’s travel expert, while a devoted kineticist will be the party’s most offensive participant. Because a devoted psion has access to powers of other disciplines, he can often fill in other roles as needed, although not necessarily as well as one who has chosen to become devoted to another discipline (or even as well as a normal psion). A devoted kineticist, for example, would likely not be a great choice for an information gather.
Abilities:
Intelligence determines what level of psionic power a devoted psion can manifest, how hard his powers are to resist, and his bonus power points. A high Constitution is also important for the devoted psion, who otherwise has a small amount of hit points.
Races:
Because devoted psions come from all races, each individual tends to have a different view of the other races. Due to their inherent magical nature, elves can tend to view devoted psions with distrust; although elven devoted psions do exist. Elans tend to be found most commonly among the ranks of devoted psions, as do humans.
Alignment:
Because of the varied nature of devoted psions, all alignments are found among their numbers. The introspection required to understand their own abilities can sometimes stymie their view of the outside world, causing them to tend toward neutrality as opposed to other alignments, but not overwhelmingly so.
GAME RULE INFORMATION:
Hit Die: d4
Class Skills:
The devoted psion’s class skills are Concentration, Craft, Knowledge (all skills, taken individually), Profession, and Psicraft. In addition, a devoted psion gains access to additional class skills based on his devotion as illustrated in the following table. Skill Points at 1st level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4. Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier
Class Features:
All the following are class features of the devoted psion.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: As the psion class.
Power Points/Day: As the psion class. This is also given on Table 2-1: The Devoted Psion.
Devotion: Every devoted psion must decide at 1st level which psionic discipline he will specialize in. Specializing in a discipline provides a psion with access to the class skills associated with that discipline’s devotion (see above), as well as the powers restricted to the appropriate devotion. However, specializing in a discipline also means that the psion cannot learn powers that are restricted to other devotions. He can not manifest such powers even through the use of psionic items.
Discipline Expertise (Ex): The devoted psion’s choice of discipline determines his devotion, as described above. The effects of this choice directly impact the devoted psion’s manifestations. Any power of the devoted psion’s chosen discipline is manifested as if his manifester level was one higher, including range, duration, and power penetration. This includes the ability to add another power point into augmentation if the power is capable of being augmented. The devoted psion must still pay the extra point cost.
Powers of disciplines other than the devoted psion’s chosen discipline are treated as if his manifester level was one lower than it is, to a minimum of 0. A devoted psion cannot manifest such powers until his manifester level increases.
Discipline expertise applies to powers the devoted psion manifests from his own mind or from psionic items, but only if he is manifesting as a devoted psion. A multiclass devoted psion with levels in another manifesting class, such as psychic warrior, manifests powers from his other
class or classes normally. For example, Hrolgar, a 3rd-level devoted kineticist, manifests psychokinesis powers as if he had a manifester level of 4 in all regards. However, his dedication to psychokinesis means that he manifests powers of other disciplines as if his manifester level were only 2.
At 10th level, a devoted psion manifests powers of his discipline with a +1 bonus to their save DC (if applicable), and for one power point less than they normally cost, to a minimum of 1. This ability does not stack with other such effects, such as a torc of power preservation. At 20th level, the save DC bonus on applicable powers increases to +2, and he manifests powers of his chosen discipline for 2 fewer points than normal (minimum 1). For example, Hrolgar, now a 20th level devoted kineticist, manifests any power of the psychokinesis discipline at a manifester level of 21, and such powers cost him 2 power points fewer to manifest. He may spend up to 21 power points on any single psychokinesis power, and any psychokinesis power he uses costs him 2 fewer power points than usual – a psychokinesis power he ‘spends’ 21
power points on would deduct only 19 power points from his daily reserve. If this power had a saving throw, it would gain a +2 bonus to its save DC beyond any augmentation or other effects.
Powers Known: A devoted psion begins play knowing three psion powers of his choice that he could manifest (he can choose powers for which his manifester level is 0, although he cannot use them until his manifester level increases to at least 1, such as through Overchannel). Each time he achieves a new level, he unlocks the knowledge of new powers. Choose the powers known from the psion power list, or from the list of powers of his devotion. He cannot know more powers of any other discipline than his chosen discipline, and he cannot choose powers from devotion lists other than his chosen devotion, even through means such as Expanded Knowledge or psychic chirurgery, although such means may grant him access to powers on the lists of other classes as normal.
For example, Hrolgar, a 3rd-level devoted kineticist, chooses to spend his 3rd level feat on Expanded Knowledge. He could choose attraction for the power learned, even though it is a telepathy discipline power, since it is on the psion/wilder list, but could not choose mindlink, as it is on the telepath devotion list. He must know more psychokinesis powers than powers of any other discipline, including powers learned through means such as Expanded Knowledge.
A devoted psion can manifest any power that has a power point cost equal to or lower than his manifester level. The number of times a devoted psion can manifest powers in a day is limited only by his daily power points. A devoted psion simply knows his powers; they are ingrained in his mind. He does not need to prepare them (in the way that some spellcasters prepare their spells), though he must get a good night’s sleep each day to regain all his spent power points. The Difficulty Class for saving throws against devoted psion powers is 10 + the power’s level + the devoted psion’s Intelligence modifier.
Maximum Power Level Known: A devoted psion begins play with the ability to learn 1st-level powers. As he attains higher levels, a devoted psion may gain the ability to master more complex powers. To learn or manifest a power, a devoted psion must have an Intelligence score of at least 10 + the power’s level.
Bonus Feat: At 1st, 5th and 15th level, a devoted psion gains a bonus feat. This feat must be either a psionic, metapsionic or item creation feat. The devoted psion must meet all prerequisites for the feat.
Discipline Apotheosis (Ex): By 20th level, a devoted psion has learned to completely understand his selected discipline. His devotion and sacrifice to bending his efforts toward this facet of psionics grants him a unique ability depending on his devotion. Discipline apotheosis only applies to powers the devoted psion manifests from his own mind (it does not apply to those from a psionic item or to psi-like abilities). A multiclass devoted psion with levels in another manifesting class, such as wilder, may apply the benefits of his discipline apotheosis to powers he manifests from any of his classes. The following table gives the unique abilities for each discipline.