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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