Kalashtar Fireknife (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
Overall this is focused on being a flavorful optimization to show what the soulknife can do. It focuses on Two Weapon fighting and unique weapon options.
References
3.5 Players HandBook (PHB), Dungeon Masters Guide (DMG), Monster Manual (MM)
Expanded Psionics Handbook (EPH), Complete Psionics Handbook (CPH), Unearthed Arcana (UA), Dragon Mag 341
Game Rule Components
Items
<- items used in this build ->
Progression
Kalashtar Race, Good (sub level), chaotic (pyro)
(put racial traits, skill points, initial ability and purchases, final wpn damages and example character)
Practiced Mindblade and Soulblade Warrior are required to continue blade progression.
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): <- starting ability scores before racial adjustments ->
Race (Templates):
Starting Racial Traits:
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Feats | Class Features |
Special | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | ||||||
| 1st | Soulknife 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Combat Reflexes (Flaw), Psionic Weapon (Flaw), Soulblade Warrior | Mindblade, Weapon Focus (Mindblade), Align Mindblade (Kalashtar) | Flaw - Shaky, Flaw - Murky Eyed, Kalashtar Racial Substitution level |
| 2nd | Soulknife 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | Throw Mindblade | <- other stuff -> | |
| 3rd | Soulknife 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Weapon Finesse | Psychic Strike +1d8 | <- other stuff -> |
| 4th | Soulknife 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +1 Mindblade | <- other stuff -> | |
| 5th | Soulknife 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | free draw, shape mindblade | <- other stuff -> | |
| 6th | Soulknife 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Two Weapon Fighting | Mindblade Enhancement +1, speed of thought | Dex must be 15+ |
| 7th | Soulknife 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Psychic Strike +2d8 | <- other stuff -> | |
| 8th | Soulknife 8 | 6/1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | +2 Mindblade, Mindblade Enhancement +2 | add Holy to enhancements (racial, DR/good +2d6) | |
| 9th | Soulknife 9 | 6/1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | Practiced Mindblade | +3 Mindblade, Bladewind, Greater Weapon Focus (mindblade), Mindblade Enhancement +3 | <- other stuff -> |
| 10th | Illumine Soul 1 | 6/1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Positive Energy Conduit, Improved mindblade, Psychic strike +3d8 | Psychic Strike affects undead, add Ghost Touch to enhancements (prestige) | |
| 11th | Illumine Soul 2 | 7/2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | Positive Energy Ray, Death Ward | <- other stuff -> | |
| 12th | Illumine Soul 3 | 8/3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Mind Cleave | +4 Mindblade, Mindblade Enhancement +4, undead mind bane | recharge psychic strike on kill of creature |
| 13th | Illumine Soul 4 | 9/4 | 7 | 7 | 9 | positive energy healing, psychic strike +4d8 | <- other stuff -> | |
| 14th | Illumine Soul 5 | 9/4 | 7 | 7 | 9 | positive energy flare | <- other stuff -> | |
| 15th | Pyrokineticist 1 | 9/4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Mind Empowerment | fire lash | +1d8 Psychic strike for 3rds on mind cleave |
| 16th | Pyrokineticist 2 | 10/5 | 10 | 10 | 9 | +5 Mindblade, fire adaptation, hand afire | <- other stuff -> | |
| 17th | Pyrokineticist 3 | 11/6/1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | bolt of fire | <- other stuff -> | |
| 18th | Pyrokineticist 4 | 12/7/2 | 11 | 11 | 10 | Strategic Reassignment | weapon afire | <- other stuff -> |
| 19th | Fighter 1 | 13/8/3 | 13 | 11 | 10 | Improved TWF (fighter) | <- class features gained -> | Dex must be 17+ |
| 20th | Fighter 2 | 14/9/4 | 14 | 11 | 10 | Two Weapon Defense (fighter) | <- class features gained -> | <- other stuff -> |
Other Components
Level 20 is the only level with an experience penalty (20%).
Final Single Weapon Alpha strike (all possible bonuses) recommended mindblade layout would be:
+21 atk (focus/gtr/BAB) (+23 undead) +dex (3 minimum)/ + 1d6 (crit 19-20/x2) short sword mindblade good (alignment/overcome DR - costs 1 PP) +2d6 (bane (undead)) +2d6 (holy/good - +2 bonus) +2d6 (fire-weapon afire) +2d6 (psionic weapon, expend focus) +4d8 psychic strike +1d8 mind empowerment +1d4 +1d6 (psychokinetic burst/crit - +2 bonus) +str
(+23 (undead) +dex/ +1d6 +2d6 +2d6 +2d6 +2d6 +4d8 +1d8 +1d4 +1d6 +str
(+23 (undead) +dex/ 60 (avg) +str)
Collision (+5 dam) is a good replacement for holy against neutral enemies.
This damage is not average over time, its single attack average. will require cleave/mindcleave/recharging psychic strike and psionic focus, and 1 PP for good alignment.
<- anything not covered by the previous sections ->
Highlights
Primarily a Dex build, although strength helps for damage.
This build provides several sources of extra damage. In addition, it provides a lot of flexibility for weapons and attacks. There's a single weapon mindblade option, thrown weapons, twin mindblades, a single fire lash (15' reach whip) and a two weapon option with the mindblade primary and the fire lash as a secondary/trip attack option. There is also positive energy ray (10d6 to any undead w/in 60 ft, 5/day), 5d8+5 positive energy healing the first time the soulknife goes negative HP/day, positive energy flare (10d6 to all undead w/in 30ft, expend focus).
<- How and why this build works ->
Munchkin-Size Me
Trade a level of Fighter and Strategic Assignment for a level of Warblade.
To take this out to level 30 I recommend a mix of Warblade, Fighter, and Soulknife to continue blade progression for at least a +6/x weapon.
A flexible DM might also allow you to extend your mindblade capabilities in accordance with the level 21-30 (epic) soulknife progression. If so, ECL 16 provides mindblade enhancement +5, ECL 20 is +5 to atk/dam, and +6 total enhancement powers.
ECL 21 provides a +6 to atk/dam. (see epic soulknife for enhancement and powers progression).
Side Notes
<- overview of additional info about this build ->
Limitations
This build works best against undead and fire vulnerable entities. Thrown weapon capability will be relatively low. TWF tree limits your ability to do damage with a single blade.
The steep skill requirements also prevent a lot of good out of combat abilities. Even spot, search, etc. will suffer.
<- conditions of when this build works ->
DM Counters
Standard melee - distance (in particular flying), resistances to extra damage (fire).
Mindless entities (but not undead).
<- If needed, tricks for the DM (provided they allow this build) to keep the abuse to a minimum. ->
Miscellaneous
<- Any other side notes that don't fit in the above sections. ->
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