Erudite - Revision history

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2023-06-21T04:07:32Z

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1d4chan>Slipmcripfist: /* Cerebremancer (aka How To Actually Break Your Game) */ link

2023-05-31T16:54:14Z

Cerebremancer (aka How To Actually Break Your Game): link

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 31 May 2023
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	For the most part, any decent optimizer in the 3.5 community will tell you that theurgy (the merging of two spellcasting progressions) is usually shit. Like, a fresh pile of steaming feces. You end up sacrificing spellcasting progression on both sides for the dubious benefit of more spells, and then most people don't even really optimize themselves for that.		For the most part, any decent optimizer in the 3.5 community will tell you that theurgy (the merging of two spellcasting progressions) is usually shit. Like, a fresh pile of steaming feces. You end up sacrificing spellcasting progression on both sides for the dubious benefit of more spells, and then most people don't even really optimize themselves for that.

	Which doesn't mean you can't win. Eldritch ~~theurge~~ (cleric/warlock) is well-known for breaking much of that idea apart, and ultimate magus has a whole Goddamn church of heresy built around the action economy it creates with a sorcerer/wizard combo (made worse with certain Dragon Magazine feats that double-dip CL increases).		Which doesn't mean you can't win. [[Eldritch Theurge]] ([[cleric]]/[[warlock]]) is well-known for breaking much of that idea apart, and ultimate magus has a whole Goddamn church of heresy built around the action economy it creates with a sorcerer/wizard combo (made worse with certain Dragon Magazine feats that double-dip CL increases).

	Likewise, the cerebremancer using erudite as a chassis can potentially break action economy. See, with stuff like ''arcane spellsurge'' and ''celerity'', as well as a few ACFs and feats cherry-picked here and there to help it along, you too can become the Spellcasting Speed Demon. Mix in some powers that can be used to stack on effects to the spells you used, and it gets pretty silly. Your DM may get dicey about you getting a quickened power and a quickened spell per turn, but even if you don't, you're still getting faster spells than normal spontaneous metamagic normally allows. One quick example would be to use ''quickened arcane spellsurge'' as a power, then you can fire off a ''summon monster'' and a standard-action buff spell (''mage armor'', ''bear's endurance'', ''haste'', etc.) as a swift action, plus you still have a move action you haven't taken yet.		Likewise, the cerebremancer using erudite as a chassis can potentially break action economy. See, with stuff like ''arcane spellsurge'' and ''celerity'', as well as a few ACFs and feats cherry-picked here and there to help it along, you too can become the Spellcasting Speed Demon. Mix in some powers that can be used to stack on effects to the spells you used, and it gets pretty silly. Your DM may get dicey about you getting a quickened power and a quickened spell per turn, but even if you don't, you're still getting faster spells than normal spontaneous metamagic normally allows. One quick example would be to use ''quickened arcane spellsurge'' as a power, then you can fire off a ''summon monster'' and a standard-action buff spell (''mage armor'', ''bear's endurance'', ''haste'', etc.) as a swift action, plus you still have a move action you haven't taken yet.

1d4chan>Slipmcripfist: /* Links and Sources */ added another source

2023-01-23T04:21:58Z

Links and Sources: added another source

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:21, 23 January 2023
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	* [[Dragon Magazine]] #319 (pgs. 46-49)		* [[Dragon Magazine]] #319 (pgs. 46-49)
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200830220102/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 Complete Psionics Preview Erudite]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200830220102/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 Complete Psionics Preview Erudite]
			* [[Complete Book Series#Complete Psionics\|Complete Psionics]] pgs. 153-156
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151102164617/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151102164617/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power]

	{{D&D3-Classes}}		{{D&D3-Classes}}

1d4chan>Slipmcripfist: collected links and info

2023-01-18T21:23:30Z

collected links and info

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:23, 18 January 2023
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	[[File:Erudite.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|One of the most powerful classes in the game for a good reason.]]		[[File:Erudite.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|One of the most powerful classes in the game for a good reason.]]
	The '''Erudite''' (knowing a lot) is a [[psion]]ic [[class]] in [[3.5e]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. It is also [[Tier System\|one of six most powerful classes in all of 3.5e]], but not as it appears in the main book. In practice it is the [[Wizard]] to the <s>Psion's [[Sorcerer]]</s> actually the Psion was already the Wizard to the [[Wilder]]'s Sorcerer; the Erudite just makes the Psion even more Wizardy. The Erudite is something of an unknown class, being muffled away all the way in the back of ''Complete Psionics'', a book Psionics fans hate, alongside the Epic rules for psionic characters. Luckily you can [~~https://web.archive.org/web/20200830220102/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1~~ find it for free in the book's preview excerpts] and spare yourself the hassle of actually remembering ''Complete Psionics'' exists.		The '''Erudite''' (knowing a lot) is a [[psion]]ic [[class]] in [[3.5e]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. It is also [[Tier System\|one of six most powerful classes in all of 3.5e]], but not as it appears in the main book. In practice it is the [[Wizard]] to the <s>Psion's [[Sorcerer]]</s> actually the Psion was already the Wizard to the [[Wilder]]'s Sorcerer; the Erudite just makes the Psion even more Wizardy. The Erudite is something of an unknown class, being muffled away all the way in the back of ''Complete Psionics'', a book Psionics fans hate, alongside the Epic rules for psionic characters. Luckily you can [[#Links and Sources\|find it for free in the book's preview excerpts]] and spare yourself the hassle of actually remembering ''Complete Psionics'' exists.

	==How to use it==		==How to use it==
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	==Cerebremancer (aka How To Actually Break Your Game)==		==Cerebremancer (aka How To Actually Break Your Game)==

	For the most part, any decent optimizer in the 3.5 community will tell you that theurgy (the merging of two spellcasting progressions) is usually shit. Like, a fresh pile of steaming feces. You end up sacrificing spellcasting progression on both sides for the dubious benefit of more spells, and then most people don't even really optimize themselves for that.		For the most part, any decent optimizer in the 3.5 community will tell you that theurgy (the merging of two spellcasting progressions) is usually shit. Like, a fresh pile of steaming feces. You end up sacrificing spellcasting progression on both sides for the dubious benefit of more spells, and then most people don't even really optimize themselves for that.

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	==Pathfinder==		==Pathfinder==
	The third party Psionics port would get a bunch of unique additions through the followup ''Psionics Expanded'', which introduced “Advanced Disciplines” for psions. Advanced Disciplines are variant disciplines with different powers but still user of the same discipline with all that entails that isn't explicitly swapped out, more or less like Focused Arcane Schools option [[Wizard]]s got in ''Advanced Player’s Guide''. The generalist discipline got an “Erudite” option that works just close enough to Complete Psionics Erudite to tell its inspiration. In exchange for two of their powers known and the discipline’s bonus feat at levels 2, 7, 12 and 17, they can prepare any spell from the general psion list they have previously used via a power stone (psionic scroll), and swap that prepared power to another such one each day. This is just sorta OK. While inability to change powers to meet the situation is one of a psion’s weaknesses, the low rate of getting floating powers, cost of powers known, and being restricted to non-discipline powers mean it’s just an ''OK'' option. How difficult it is to obtain a Power Stone is also a serious concern, as even GMs that run psioncs and like that will keep them less common than magic.		The third party Psionics port would get a bunch of unique additions through the followup ''Psionics Expanded'', which introduced “Advanced Disciplines” for psions. Advanced Disciplines are variant disciplines with different powers but still user of the same discipline with all that entails that isn't explicitly swapped out, more or less like Focused Arcane Schools option [[Wizard]]s got in ''Advanced Player’s Guide''. The generalist discipline got an “Erudite” option that works just close enough to Complete Psionics Erudite to tell its inspiration. In exchange for two of their powers known and the discipline’s bonus feat at levels 2, 7, 12 and 17, they can prepare any spell from the general psion list they have previously used via a power stone (psionic scroll), and swap that prepared power to another such one each day. This is just sorta OK. While inability to change powers to meet the situation is one of a psion’s weaknesses, the low rate of getting floating powers, cost of powers known, and being restricted to non-discipline powers mean it’s just an ''OK'' option. How difficult it is to obtain a Power Stone is also a serious concern, as even GMs that run psioncs and like that will keep them less common than magic.

			==Links and Sources==
			* [[Dragon Magazine]] #319 (pgs. 46-49)
			* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200830220102/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 Complete Psionics Preview Erudite]
			* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151102164617/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power]

	{{D&D3-Classes}}		{{D&D3-Classes}}

1d4chan>Slipmcripfist: added archived link

2023-01-18T02:57:17Z

added archived link

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:57, 18 January 2023
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	==How to break it==		==How to break it==
	Now, while this would be pretty useful on its own, in 2007 a web expansion was released regarding the Erudite. This gave birth to the [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power] variant of the Erudite, which sacrifices its first-level bonus feat for the ability to <i>[[wat\|convert arcane spells into powers]]</i> (hence the name "spell to power") for the purpose of learning and manifesting them. This means that an Erudite can not only learn psionic powers, but also ALL [[Wizard]], [[Bard]], [[Assassin]] and [[Wu jen]] spells and use them as power. [[Dragon Magazine\|Dragon #349]]'s feat Chameleon Crafting also lets the Spell to Power Erudite <i>[[Powergamer\|get all divine spells too]], like an [[Archivist\|archivist]].</i> The sheer diversity that comes with such a repertoire makes the Erudite a unique power on the battlefield and outside it.		Now, while this would be pretty useful on its own, in 2007 a web expansion was released regarding the Erudite. This gave birth to the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151102164617/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power] variant of the Erudite, which sacrifices its first-level bonus feat for the ability to <i>[[wat\|convert arcane spells into powers]]</i> (hence the name "spell to power") for the purpose of learning and manifesting them. This means that an Erudite can not only learn psionic powers, but also ALL [[Wizard]], [[Bard]], [[Assassin]] and [[Wu jen]] spells and use them as power. [[Dragon Magazine\|Dragon #349]]'s feat Chameleon Crafting also lets the Spell to Power Erudite <i>[[Powergamer\|get all divine spells too]], like an [[Archivist\|archivist]].</i> The sheer diversity that comes with such a repertoire makes the Erudite a unique power on the battlefield and outside it.

	Now, when manifesting one of these arcane powers, if damage would be based on a character's caster level, it is instead based on the minimum level that a wizard would need to be in order to have access to that spell. Am StP Erudite can increase this damage at a rate of 1 caster level per psionic power point, up to the limit of their manifester level. This can be costly if you try to go for max damage spells, so keep this in mind. You can also choose to pay 2 points extra to pay for ANY material costs that come with the spell, so if you want to [[15,000,000 Gold a Day\|have some fun with Fabricate, knock yourself out]].		Now, when manifesting one of these arcane powers, if damage would be based on a character's caster level, it is instead based on the minimum level that a wizard would need to be in order to have access to that spell. Am StP Erudite can increase this damage at a rate of 1 caster level per psionic power point, up to the limit of their manifester level. This can be costly if you try to go for max damage spells, so keep this in mind. You can also choose to pay 2 points extra to pay for ANY material costs that come with the spell, so if you want to [[15,000,000 Gold a Day\|have some fun with Fabricate, knock yourself out]].

	==The Drawbacks==		==The Drawbacks==

	Some of you may be saying to yourself, "Holy swizzle-dick, Batman! What in the world would NOT be to love about this class, especially with spell-to-power meaning I can learn literally every power and arcane spell in the game?!"		Some of you may be saying to yourself, "Holy swizzle-dick, Batman! What in the world would NOT be to love about this class, especially with spell-to-power meaning I can learn literally every power and arcane spell in the game?!"

1d4chan>Slipmcripfist: added archived link

2022-11-15T03:29:06Z

added archived link

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:29, 15 November 2022
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	[[File:Erudite.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|One of the most powerful classes in the game for a good reason.]]		[[File:Erudite.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|One of the most powerful classes in the game for a good reason.]]
	The '''Erudite''' (knowing a lot) is a [[psion]]ic [[class]] in [[3.5e]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. It is also [[Tier System\|one of six most powerful classes in all of 3.5e]], but not as it appears in the main book. In practice it is the [[Wizard]] to the <s>Psion's [[Sorcerer]]</s> actually the Psion was already the Wizard to the [[Wilder]]'s Sorcerer; the Erudite just makes the Psion even more Wizardy. The Erudite is something of an unknown class, being muffled away all the way in the back of ''Complete Psionics'', a book Psionics fans hate, alongside the Epic rules for psionic characters. Luckily you can [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 find it for free in the book's preview excerpts] and spare yourself the hassle of actually remembering ''Complete Psionics'' exists.		The '''Erudite''' (knowing a lot) is a [[psion]]ic [[class]] in [[3.5e]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. It is also [[Tier System\|one of six most powerful classes in all of 3.5e]], but not as it appears in the main book. In practice it is the [[Wizard]] to the <s>Psion's [[Sorcerer]]</s> actually the Psion was already the Wizard to the [[Wilder]]'s Sorcerer; the Erudite just makes the Psion even more Wizardy. The Erudite is something of an unknown class, being muffled away all the way in the back of ''Complete Psionics'', a book Psionics fans hate, alongside the Epic rules for psionic characters. Luckily you can [https://web.archive.org/web/20200830220102/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 find it for free in the book's preview excerpts] and spare yourself the hassle of actually remembering ''Complete Psionics'' exists.

	==How to use it==		==How to use it==
Line 57:		Line 57:
	The third party Psionics port would get a bunch of unique additions through the followup ''Psionics Expanded'', which introduced “Advanced Disciplines” for psions. Advanced Disciplines are variant disciplines with different powers but still user of the same discipline with all that entails that isn't explicitly swapped out, more or less like Focused Arcane Schools option [[Wizard]]s got in ''Advanced Player’s Guide''. The generalist discipline got an “Erudite” option that works just close enough to Complete Psionics Erudite to tell its inspiration. In exchange for two of their powers known and the discipline’s bonus feat at levels 2, 7, 12 and 17, they can prepare any spell from the general psion list they have previously used via a power stone (psionic scroll), and swap that prepared power to another such one each day. This is just sorta OK. While inability to change powers to meet the situation is one of a psion’s weaknesses, the low rate of getting floating powers, cost of powers known, and being restricted to non-discipline powers mean it’s just an ''OK'' option. How difficult it is to obtain a Power Stone is also a serious concern, as even GMs that run psioncs and like that will keep them less common than magic.		The third party Psionics port would get a bunch of unique additions through the followup ''Psionics Expanded'', which introduced “Advanced Disciplines” for psions. Advanced Disciplines are variant disciplines with different powers but still user of the same discipline with all that entails that isn't explicitly swapped out, more or less like Focused Arcane Schools option [[Wizard]]s got in ''Advanced Player’s Guide''. The generalist discipline got an “Erudite” option that works just close enough to Complete Psionics Erudite to tell its inspiration. In exchange for two of their powers known and the discipline’s bonus feat at levels 2, 7, 12 and 17, they can prepare any spell from the general psion list they have previously used via a power stone (psionic scroll), and swap that prepared power to another such one each day. This is just sorta OK. While inability to change powers to meet the situation is one of a psion’s weaknesses, the low rate of getting floating powers, cost of powers known, and being restricted to non-discipline powers mean it’s just an ''OK'' option. How difficult it is to obtain a Power Stone is also a serious concern, as even GMs that run psioncs and like that will keep them less common than magic.

	{{~~Template:~~D&D3-Classes}}		{{D&D3-Classes}}

2600:100D:B108:9B82:9C08:5B9D:B5CA:6BEA: Cleaned up a spassive-aggressive edits over terminology

2022-09-29T21:49:36Z

Cleaned up a spassive-aggressive edits over terminology

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:49, 29 September 2022
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	==How to break it==		==How to break it==
	Now, while this would be pretty useful on its own, in 2007 a web expansion was released regarding the Erudite. This gave birth to the [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power] variant of the Erudite, which sacrifices its first-level bonus feat for the ability to <i>[[wat\|convert arcane spells into powers]]</i> (hence the name "spell to power") for the purpose of learning and ~~<s>casting</s>~~ manifesting them. This means that an Erudite can not only learn psionic powers, but also ALL [[Wizard]], [[Bard]], [[Assassin]] and [[Wu jen]] spells and use them as power. [[Dragon Magazine\|Dragon #349]]'s feat Chameleon Crafting also lets the Spell to Power Erudite <i>[[Powergamer\|get all divine spells too]], like an [[Archivist\|archivist]].</i> The sheer diversity that comes with such a repertoire makes the Erudite a unique power on the battlefield and outside it.		Now, while this would be pretty useful on its own, in 2007 a web expansion was released regarding the Erudite. This gave birth to the [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power] variant of the Erudite, which sacrifices its first-level bonus feat for the ability to <i>[[wat\|convert arcane spells into powers]]</i> (hence the name "spell to power") for the purpose of learning and manifesting them. This means that an Erudite can not only learn psionic powers, but also ALL [[Wizard]], [[Bard]], [[Assassin]] and [[Wu jen]] spells and use them as power. [[Dragon Magazine\|Dragon #349]]'s feat Chameleon Crafting also lets the Spell to Power Erudite <i>[[Powergamer\|get all divine spells too]], like an [[Archivist\|archivist]].</i> The sheer diversity that comes with such a repertoire makes the Erudite a unique power on the battlefield and outside it.

	Now, when ~~<s>casting</s>~~ manifesting one of these arcane powers, if damage would be based on a character's caster level, it is instead based on the minimum level that a wizard would need to be in order to have access to that spell. Am StP Erudite can increase this damage at a rate of 1 caster level per psionic power point, up to the limit of their manifester level. This can be costly if you try to go for max damage spells, so keep this in mind. You can also choose to pay 2 points extra to pay for ANY material costs that come with the spell, so if you want to [[15,000,000 Gold a Day\|have some fun with Fabricate, knock yourself out]].		Now, when manifesting one of these arcane powers, if damage would be based on a character's caster level, it is instead based on the minimum level that a wizard would need to be in order to have access to that spell. Am StP Erudite can increase this damage at a rate of 1 caster level per psionic power point, up to the limit of their manifester level. This can be costly if you try to go for max damage spells, so keep this in mind. You can also choose to pay 2 points extra to pay for ANY material costs that come with the spell, so if you want to [[15,000,000 Gold a Day\|have some fun with Fabricate, knock yourself out]].

	==The Drawbacks==		==The Drawbacks==
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	Second disadvantage here is XP. Oh, I know some asshats will chant "XP is a river", like the properly brainwashed fuckwits they are. Yeah, tell you what, chief, you find a DM who allows you to totally break the fucking game by earning 1,000 XP more than the rest of the players do, and I'll one-up you with an artificer with that same amount of XP to build things (since only the really smart powergamers know that XP isn't the river, '''money''' is in an infinite multiverse with interplanar markets to tap into). Hell, forget that for a moment and realize that buying all the powers in the game still means you'll never get to the 9th-level badassery of stuff like ''gate'' (which gives you access to ''wish'' and ''miracle'' cheaper, usually also with something that can hurl so many SLAs and actual spellcasting that the DM is now having to fight back against his own Monster Manual), ''shapechange'' (all the brokenness of ''polymorph'', plus all the special abilities that made not having them marginally less-broken for ''polymorph''), or even ''wish'' (which is the least effective spell at that level for what it costs you, but hey it's still a possible IWIN button in a pinch, plus you need several of them to boost your inherent bonuses to +5, something a single efreeti can't really accomplish on their own).		Second disadvantage here is XP. Oh, I know some asshats will chant "XP is a river", like the properly brainwashed fuckwits they are. Yeah, tell you what, chief, you find a DM who allows you to totally break the fucking game by earning 1,000 XP more than the rest of the players do, and I'll one-up you with an artificer with that same amount of XP to build things (since only the really smart powergamers know that XP isn't the river, '''money''' is in an infinite multiverse with interplanar markets to tap into). Hell, forget that for a moment and realize that buying all the powers in the game still means you'll never get to the 9th-level badassery of stuff like ''gate'' (which gives you access to ''wish'' and ''miracle'' cheaper, usually also with something that can hurl so many SLAs and actual spellcasting that the DM is now having to fight back against his own Monster Manual), ''shapechange'' (all the brokenness of ''polymorph'', plus all the special abilities that made not having them marginally less-broken for ''polymorph''), or even ''wish'' (which is the least effective spell at that level for what it costs you, but hey it's still a possible IWIN button in a pinch, plus you need several of them to boost your inherent bonuses to +5, something a single efreeti can't really accomplish on their own).

	The point here is that XP isn't a river, it's a fucking faucet and everyone gets to drink from it, not just your erudite. That does '''not''' mean you shouldn't learn more stuff; it means you actually need to think a moment before picking up some new power. Do you really need it? Can it do all the things? If not, what is so ~~<s>clutch</s> (stop trying to make clutch happen, it's never going to happen)~~ about that power/spell?		The point here is that XP isn't a river, it's a fucking faucet and everyone gets to drink from it, not just your erudite. That does '''not''' mean you shouldn't learn more stuff; it means you actually need to think a moment before picking up some new power. Do you really need it? Can it do all the things? If not, what is so useful about that power/spell?

	Which brings us to the third disadvantage that nobody thinks is a real thing until the DM says so: you can't actually take every spell as a power. You learn spells as if they were powers not on the main psion/wilder list, meaning you can only ever learn something one level lower than your top power level available (thus, no 9th-level spells as powers without epic manifesting).		Which brings us to the third disadvantage that nobody thinks is a real thing until the DM says so: you can't actually take every spell as a power. You learn spells as if they were powers not on the main psion/wilder list, meaning you can only ever learn something one level lower than your top power level available (thus, no 9th-level spells as powers without epic manifesting).

73.70.13.107: /* How to break it */

2021-10-24T18:09:10Z

How to break it

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:09, 24 October 2021
Line 8:		Line 8:

	==How to break it==		==How to break it==
	Now, while this would be pretty useful on its own, in 2007 a web expansion was released regarding the Erudite. This gave birth to the [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power] variant of the Erudite, which ~~allows them~~ to ~~do the power learning thing~~ <i>[[wat\|~~with~~ arcane spells]]</i>. This means that an Erudite can not only learn psionic powers, but also ALL [[Wizard]], [[Bard]], [[Assassin]] and [[Wu jen]] spells and use them as power. [[Dragon Magazine\|Dragon #349]]'s feat Chameleon Crafting also lets the Spell to Power Erudite <i>[[Powergamer\|get all divine spells too]], like an [[Archivist\|archivist]].</i> The sheer diversity that comes with such a repertoire makes the Erudite a unique power on the battlefield and outside it.		Now, while this would be pretty useful on its own, in 2007 a web expansion was released regarding the Erudite. This gave birth to the [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a Spell to Power] variant of the Erudite, which sacrifices its first-level bonus feat for the ability to <i>[[wat\|convert arcane spells into powers]]</i> (hence the name "spell to power") for the purpose of learning and <s>casting</s> manifesting them. This means that an Erudite can not only learn psionic powers, but also ALL [[Wizard]], [[Bard]], [[Assassin]] and [[Wu jen]] spells and use them as power. [[Dragon Magazine\|Dragon #349]]'s feat Chameleon Crafting also lets the Spell to Power Erudite <i>[[Powergamer\|get all divine spells too]], like an [[Archivist\|archivist]].</i> The sheer diversity that comes with such a repertoire makes the Erudite a unique power on the battlefield and outside it.

	Now, casting ~~your spells~~ is ~~always done at~~ the ~~minimal~~ level ~~when dealing with "X~~ damage ~~per~~ caster level", ~~but for every point you spend this goes~~ up ~~by 1~~. This can be costly if you try to go for max damage spells, so keep this in mind. You can also choose to pay 2 points extra to pay for ANY material costs that come with the spell, so if you want to [[15,000,000 Gold a Day\|have some fun with Fabricate, knock yourself out]].		Now, when <s>casting</s> manifesting one of these arcane powers, if damage would be based on a character's caster level, it is instead based on the minimum level that a wizard would need to be in order to have access to that spell. Am StP Erudite can increase this damage at a rate of 1 caster level per psionic power point, up to the limit of their manifester level. This can be costly if you try to go for max damage spells, so keep this in mind. You can also choose to pay 2 points extra to pay for ANY material costs that come with the spell, so if you want to [[15,000,000 Gold a Day\|have some fun with Fabricate, knock yourself out]].

	==The Drawbacks==		==The Drawbacks==

73.70.13.107 at 11:47, 24 October 2021

2021-10-24T11:47:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:47, 24 October 2021
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	[[File:Erudite.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|One of the most powerful classes in the game for a good reason.]]		[[File:Erudite.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|right\|One of the most powerful classes in the game for a good reason.]]
	The '''Erudite''' (knowing a lot) is a [[psion]]ic [[class]] in [[3.5e]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. It is also [[Tier System\|one of six most powerful classes in all of 3.5e]], but not as it appears in the main book. In practice it is the [[Wizard]] to the Psion's [[Sorcerer]]~~, with a bit of~~ [[~~Archivist~~]] ~~thrown in~~. The Erudite is something of an unknown class, being muffled away all the way in the back of ''Complete Psionics'', a book Psionics fans hate, alongside the Epic rules for psionic characters. Luckily you can [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 find it for free in the book's preview excerpts] and spare yourself the hassle of actually remembering ''Complete Psionics'' exists.		The '''Erudite''' (knowing a lot) is a [[psion]]ic [[class]] in [[3.5e]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. It is also [[Tier System\|one of six most powerful classes in all of 3.5e]], but not as it appears in the main book. In practice it is the [[Wizard]] to the <s>Psion's [[Sorcerer]]</s> actually the Psion was already the Wizard to the [[Wilder]]'s Sorcerer; the Erudite just makes the Psion even more Wizardy. The Erudite is something of an unknown class, being muffled away all the way in the back of ''Complete Psionics'', a book Psionics fans hate, alongside the Epic rules for psionic characters. Luckily you can [http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 find it for free in the book's preview excerpts] and spare yourself the hassle of actually remembering ''Complete Psionics'' exists.

	==How to use it==		==How to use it==
	The Erudite works very much like a regular Psion: it has power points, uses them to cast its psionic powers, can interact with psicrystals and the fun stuff that entails. ~~Its~~ BAB ~~is only so-so~~ (10/5), ~~has 6/6/12 at saves at level 20~~ and only d4 hit die. It has only limited skills and gains bonus psionic feats at levels 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20. The Erudite can also use only a limited amount of unique powers per day. This means that while at first it can only cast a single level 1 power twice a day, later it can use up to 11 different powers per day. The main difference between it and the Psion is that the Psion learns powers on its own accord, while the Erudite has to learn them from somewhere: either from an item containing this power or from someone who knows such a power. The target has to be willing to do so: meaning that if you want to learn from someone you must either talk them into it, use some kind of spell to make them do it or knock them out ([[/d/\|because unconscious psions can't say no]]).		The Erudite works very much like a regular Psion: it has power points, uses them to cast its psionic powers, can interact with psicrystals and the fun stuff that entails. It has poor BAB (10/5), poor Fortitude and reflex saving throws, and only a d4 hit die. It has only limited skills and gains bonus psionic feats at levels 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20. The Erudite can also use only a limited amount of unique powers per day. This means that while at first it can only cast a single level 1 power twice a day, later it can use up to 11 different powers per day. The main difference between it and the Psion is that the Psion learns powers on its own accord, while the Erudite has to learn them from somewhere: either from an item containing this power or from someone who knows such a power. The target has to be willing to do so: meaning that if you want to learn from someone you must either talk them into it, use some kind of spell to make them do it or knock them out ([[/d/\|because unconscious psions can't say no]]).

	When the Erudite pulls such a power from a source (which requires two Psicraft checks on DC 15 + power level if the source of the powers fails a Will save DC 13 + Erudite Int bonus) he can either use it immediately but only once, OR he can meditate on the power for 8 hours and add it permanently to its repertoire. Such power comes at a price however... at 20xp per power learned per Erudite level. While this is something of a notable commitment for a lower level character, at higher levels this becomes almost free. This means that learning single powers will work, but you can't pilfer an enemy's mind completely empty if you don't stick around their unconscious body for a few days. And while this does not damage the minds of anyone you take the power from, items containing the spell will lose it.		When the Erudite pulls such a power from a source (which requires two Psicraft checks on DC 15 + power level if the source of the powers fails a Will save DC 13 + Erudite Int bonus) he can either use it immediately but only once, OR he can meditate on the power for 8 hours and add it permanently to its repertoire. Such power comes at a price however... at 20xp per power learned per Erudite level. While this is something of a notable commitment for a lower level character, at higher levels this becomes almost free. This means that learning single powers will work, but you can't pilfer an enemy's mind completely empty if you don't stick around their unconscious body for a few days. And while this does not damage the minds of anyone you take the power from, items containing the spell will lose it.
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	Second disadvantage here is XP. Oh, I know some asshats will chant "XP is a river", like the properly brainwashed fuckwits they are. Yeah, tell you what, chief, you find a DM who allows you to totally break the fucking game by earning 1,000 XP more than the rest of the players do, and I'll one-up you with an artificer with that same amount of XP to build things (since only the really smart powergamers know that XP isn't the river, '''money''' is in an infinite multiverse with interplanar markets to tap into). Hell, forget that for a moment and realize that buying all the powers in the game still means you'll never get to the 9th-level badassery of stuff like ''gate'' (which gives you access to ''wish'' and ''miracle'' cheaper, usually also with something that can hurl so many SLAs and actual spellcasting that the DM is now having to fight back against his own Monster Manual), ''shapechange'' (all the brokenness of ''polymorph'', plus all the special abilities that made not having them marginally less-broken for ''polymorph''), or even ''wish'' (which is the least effective spell at that level for what it costs you, but hey it's still a possible IWIN button in a pinch, plus you need several of them to boost your inherent bonuses to +5, something a single efreeti can't really accomplish on their own).		Second disadvantage here is XP. Oh, I know some asshats will chant "XP is a river", like the properly brainwashed fuckwits they are. Yeah, tell you what, chief, you find a DM who allows you to totally break the fucking game by earning 1,000 XP more than the rest of the players do, and I'll one-up you with an artificer with that same amount of XP to build things (since only the really smart powergamers know that XP isn't the river, '''money''' is in an infinite multiverse with interplanar markets to tap into). Hell, forget that for a moment and realize that buying all the powers in the game still means you'll never get to the 9th-level badassery of stuff like ''gate'' (which gives you access to ''wish'' and ''miracle'' cheaper, usually also with something that can hurl so many SLAs and actual spellcasting that the DM is now having to fight back against his own Monster Manual), ''shapechange'' (all the brokenness of ''polymorph'', plus all the special abilities that made not having them marginally less-broken for ''polymorph''), or even ''wish'' (which is the least effective spell at that level for what it costs you, but hey it's still a possible IWIN button in a pinch, plus you need several of them to boost your inherent bonuses to +5, something a single efreeti can't really accomplish on their own).

	The point here is that XP isn't a river, it's a fucking faucet and everyone gets to drink from it, not just your erudite. That does '''not''' mean you shouldn't learn more stuff; it means you actually need to think a moment before picking up some new power. Do you really need it? Can it do all the things? If not, what is so clutch about that power/spell?		The point here is that XP isn't a river, it's a fucking faucet and everyone gets to drink from it, not just your erudite. That does '''not''' mean you shouldn't learn more stuff; it means you actually need to think a moment before picking up some new power. Do you really need it? Can it do all the things? If not, what is so <s>clutch</s> (stop trying to make clutch happen, it's never going to happen) about that power/spell?

	Which brings us to the third disadvantage that nobody thinks is a real thing until the DM says so: you can't actually take every spell as a power. You learn spells as if they were powers not on the main psion/wilder list, meaning you can only ever learn something one level lower than your top power level available (thus, no 9th-level spells as powers without epic manifesting).		Which brings us to the third disadvantage that nobody thinks is a real thing until the DM says so: you can't actually take every spell as a power. You learn spells as if they were powers not on the main psion/wilder list, meaning you can only ever learn something one level lower than your top power level available (thus, no 9th-level spells as powers without epic manifesting).