Yuda Of Thought

“How can you not lose yourself in the rhythm of combat; the beauty of conflict; the perfection of a battle won?”

For the followers of Aur’eskin or Javan, battle and warfare are facts of life. Learning the most elite tactics and how to defeat opponents are tenets and creeds that some of these individuals prize highly, devoting their life to becoming the best in battle. These individuals are known as yudas of thought for their strive to exemplify perfection in combat.

BECOMING A YUDA OF THOUGHT

Most yudas of thought begin to walk down the path that will lead them to become a yuda of thought before they may even realize such is their destiny. These individuals have a natural affinity to a particular aspect of psionics and embrace that facet of psionics wholly. It is a natural, almost subconscious calling to become a yuda of thought, taking up arms in defense of the sect that follows the paragon’s particular godmind.

Entry Requirements

To qualify to become a yuda of thought, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Base Attack: +5
Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks
Special: Must have access to the battle node.

GAME RULE INFORMATION

Hit Die: d10

Class Skils

The yuda of thought’s class skills are Autohypnosis, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Jump, Knowledge (psionics), Profession, Ride, Search, and Swim. Skill Points per level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

It is the way of the yuda of thought to act in the manner that his or her godmind would act. The yuda of thought is the embodiment of that godmind. All of the following are class features of the yuda of thought.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Yudas of thought gain no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.

Power Points/Day: A yuda of thought can manifest powers. His ability to manifest powers is limited by the power points he has available. His base daily allotment of power points is given on Table 4-9: The yuda of thought. In addition, he receives bonus power points per day if he has a high Wisdom score. His race may also provide bonus power points per day, as may certain feats and items. If a yuda of thought has power points from a different class, those points are pooled together and usable to manifest powers from either class. Bonus power points from having a high ability score can be gained only for the character’s highest psionic class.

Powers Known: A yuda of thought chooses his powers from the psychic warrior power list or his psionic nodes. At 1st level, a yuda of thought knows one power from his available list of your choice. At every even-numbered level higher than 1st, he learns one new power. A yuda of thought can manifest any power that has a power point cost equal to or lower than his manifester level. The total number of powers a yuda of thought can manifest per day is limited only by his daily power points. A yuda of thought 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 yuda of thought powers is 10 + the power’s level + the yuda of thought’s Wisdom modifier.

Maximum Power Level Known: A yuda of thought gains the ability to learn one 1st-level power when he takes his first level in the prestige class. As he attains each even-numbered level beyond 2nd, a yuda of thought gains the ability to master more complex powers. To learn or manifest a power, a yuda of thought must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the power’s level.

Mind Blade Progression: At each level indicated, a yuda of thought is treated as if he had gained a level of soulknife for the purposes of the Mind Blade and Mind Blade Enhancement class features. If the character did not have any levels of soulknife prior to taking this class, he gains no benefit.

Doctrine (Ex): As a mortal seeking to exemplify the tenets of psionics that a godmind represents, a yuda of thought must follow that godmind’s doctrine. Failure to comply with the doctrine results in losing access to all class features.

Power of Thought (Su): The devotion of the yuda of thought grants him access to the power of his godmind. At 1st level, a yuda of thought gains access to one of the psionic nodes granted by his godmind. He gains access to a second psionic node at 5th level. If the yuda of thought already has access to all of his godmind’s psionic nodes, he gains the Psionic Talent feat as a bonus feat instead.

Severing Touch (Su): A yuda of thought is able to forcibly sever the bonds of energy that animate undead with but the touch of a hand. Upon reaching 3rd level, as a standard action, a yuda of thought may make a touch attack against an undead creature of Hit Dice up to twice his class level. The touched undead must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + Class level + Charisma modifier) or be destroyed. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to once per day per two class levels (round up) plus the yuda of thought’s Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).

Greater Weapon Focus (Ex): At 4th level, a yuda of thought becomes well-disciplined in the use of his godmind’s favored weapon. She gains the Greater Weapon Focus feat as a bonus feat for his godmind’s favored weapon, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Exemplary Discipline (Ex): A yuda of thought embodies his godmind in every way he can, understanding the tenets of psionics that his godmind represents. Upon achieving 5th level, a yuda of thought gains a +2 bonus to saving throws against powers or psi-like abilities from his godmind’s nodes. This bonus improves to +4 at 8th level.

Dwarfing Perspective (Su): Once a yuda of thought reaches 6th level, he is able to display to others just how insignificant they are compared to the scope of a psionic godmind. As a standard action, the yuda of thought may make a melee touch attack against any non-mindless creature. Using this ability requires expending psionic focus. The touched creature’s psyche is virtually shattered by discovering just how awesome in scope a godmind is and just how insignificant they are as a mortal. The affected creature is treated as stunned for one minute. This is a mind-affecting effect. This ability can be used once per day plus the yuda of thought’s Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).

Dwarfing Perspective, True (Su): At 10th level, a yuda of thought has learned to truly impart the insignificance of a mortal compared to the power of his godmind. When he uses his dwarfing perspective class ability, he is able to affect creatures normally immune to mind-affecting effects or stunning effects, so long as they have an intelligence of 1 or higher.

PLAYING A YUDA OF THOUGHT

You are the true embodiment of battle and physical combat, seeking to exemplify your godmind’s ideology in everything you do. If you belong to a militant organization, you often follow orders instead of lead armies, as you relish taking part in combat, as opposed to standing back and directing troops.

Combat

Militant followers of a particular godmind, the variety found among the yudas of thought allows their combat tactics to vary sect to sect. As a yuda of thought, you would typically focus more on more martial combat, relying on your higher hit points and combat prowess to overcome your foes. However, your manifesting ability grants you the power to augment your physical form with psionic powers, making you a formidable foe.

Advancement

As you progress in your abilities as a yuda of thought, you should take into account the doctrine of your godmind and what choices best suit that principle. Those trying to exemplify Javan should choose abilities that further increase their ability to wield a mind blade, while those following the doctrine of Aur’eskin would choose options that advance their
physical form.

Resources

Many yudas of thought can rely upon the organizations devoted to their godmind for assistance, although as some sects can have differing views of how to adhere to the doctrines of a godmind, it is possible that a yuda of thought be ostracized from a group that follows the same godmind. Likewise, it is often expected that yudas of thought will aid those organizations that follow the doctrines of their godminds, helping fund the organizations that may later help them.

YUDAS OF THOUGHT IN THE WORLD

A yuda of thought is not necessarily an instigator of combat or conflict. Many are simply the best members of a military organization, such as a city guard or army. They are not blinded by battle frenzy, instead seeking perfect combat situations, using the awe they often inspire to further the teachings of their godmind. The Kreh’len’shin organization could be used as an organization that supplies trained individuals who have studied as yudas of thought.

Organization

By and large, a yuda of thought can rely upon groups or sects that follow the teachings of the same godmind. As more militant adherents of these godminds, it is not unusual for yudas of thought to act as guardians of the more scholarly or meeker members of the godmind’s exemplars. However, as there are varied ways to follow the ideals of any particular godmind, it is not only possible, sometimes normal, for two sects of the same godmind to have opposing views of how to exemplify that entity.

NPC Reactions

Yudas of thought tend to illicit strong reactions, both positive and negative, as they are often frequent to causing or engaging in conflict. More peaceful societies tend to disdain these individuals, while the more warlike embrace them wholeheartedly.

YUDA OF THOUGHT LORE

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (psionics) or Knowledge (religion) can attempt to research yudas of thought to find out more about them. When a character makes an appropriate Knowledge check, use the phrases or variations of them from below, including any information from lower DC checks, should there be any.

  • DC 10: A yuda of thought tries to act as the embodiment of his deity
  • DC 15: Unlike a paladin, the yuda of thought taps into the immense power of a godmind and the psionic power they control.
  • DC 20: The physical arm of their psionic godmind, the yuda of thought seeks to exemplify the teachings of their patron godmind in every way.

YUDAS OF THOUGHT IN THE GAME

Since yudas of thought are very combat-oriented, it should not be very difficult to introduce them into your game. The tie to godminds might require the introduction of Javan or Aur’eskin to explain their powers.

Adaptation

The yuda of thought is closely tied to those godminds who exemplify physical combat or battle. In campaigns where godminds do not exist, it would not be unusual to have such individuals without a connection to godminds, simply seeking to be perfection in battle. The class abilities instead of tying to a godmind could be tied to the ideal of perfection in physical combat.

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