TorilMUD Psionicist Guide

By: Xisiqomelir

Psionicist Guide


Contents

  1. Role of the Psionicist
  2. Starting Out
  3. Class Abilities
  4. Exping
  5. Controlling Followers
  6. Zoning
  7. Tips & Tricks

1 - Role of the Psionicist

There are three main purposes of the Psionicist in groups. These are transport, damage dealing and darkening of lit rooms. There are new spells possessed by other classes that have lessened the need for Psionicists as darkeners, but they remain the only evilrace class that has an instantaneous transport ability. Psionicists possess excellent damage-dealing ability, rivalling that of Invokers. Psionicists are very highly desired in groups, and almost always guaranteed a place.

2 - Starting Out

The Newbie Guide has a great deal of useful information for starting players.

Illithids are the only race that can be Psionicists. Psionicists are unique to the Evil racewar side. (See 'help racewar' for more information about how Good and Evil races interact on Toril).

Illithids have exceptional Intelligence, Power and Wisdom, but only average Dexterity and Agility. They have the lowest Strength and Constitution of any race on Toril, and do not have gender. The lllithid hometown is Ixarkon, and it is located in the Underdark to the northeast of the Duergar hometown, Gloomhaven.

When rolling, attempt to get the following attributes after bonuses; Perfect Power and Intelligence, Heroic Constitution. Decent (Average to Good) Strength and Agility can also be useful. The prime attribute of a Psionicist is Power.

Psionicists are unable to use the 'say', 'ask' and 'shout' commands. They use 'project', 'pask' and 'massproject' instead.

Psionicist abilites require the expenditure of Psionic Strength Points, more commonly called PSPs. To observe your current/maximum PSPs, type 'display all'. You may regain PSPs by sitting then resting then meditating, or by braindraining the proper type of incapacitated mobs (those with brains). No action may be taken while meditating. The syntax for braindraining is 'drain <mobname>'. PSPs may also be stored in reservoir items. These are to be kept in one's inventory unbagged. The command to recharge PSP reservoirs is 'chargepsp <reservoirname>'. One must possess the chargepsp skill to recharge reservoirs, it may be practiced once one attains level 9. PSP reservoirs may be charged at the same time as the restoration of one's own PSPs through sit->rest->meditate, in which case the full sequence for meditating and recharging the reservoir is sit->rest->chargepsp eservoirname->meditate. The Battlechanter and Bard classes possess a PSP regeneration song also.

3 - Class Abilities

All abilities are listed under 'help skill_psionicist'.

Level 1
Level 4
Level 9
Level 12
Level 14
Level 15
Level 17
Level 20
Level 23
Level 26
Level 30
Level 31
Level 35
Level 37
Level 40
Level 41
Level 42
Level 45
Level 46
Level 47
4 - Exping

At low levels, a Psionicist is likely to find itself alone, since the Underdark is not very populated. Ixarkon itself is a good spot to exp for the first few levels, so long as one kills only fodder races (the justice of Ixarkon frowns upon the killing of Illithids). Once one reaches level 15, the body control ability will enable passage to the Drow hometown of Dobluth Kyor, which is where the majority of the Evil races converge and reside. Once there it ought to be easy to join an exp group, since Illithids acquire their most useful single-damage abilities much earlier than other damage-dealing classes acquire theirs.

5 - Controlling Followers

To make a dominated mob perform a task, one uses the 'order' command. 'Order followers <command>' issues a command to all dominated mobs in the same room, 'order <followername> <command>' issues a command to a single mob.

In combat, all dominated mobs will assist the Psionicist. Should this be problematic (such as when weak mobs assist and are killed), have them sent out of the room before fighting.

To rid oneself of unwanted followers, order them to recline and sleep, then tog follow 2x or togpet. The toggling of follow causes one's previous minions to become aggresive to you. While asleep, they can be drained for PSPs without trouble.

6 - Zoning

In zones, Psionicists will most likely have the entire group following them. This is because the ultravision races must be following a Psionicist in order to see in daylight, and Warriors, Rogues and Dire Raiders need to be following if they are to profit from Battle Trance. It needn't be stressful leading the group around so long as one has a decent link. The actual zone leader will always give directions, simply follow them carefully and all will be well. One thing to take note of is when warriors are sent ahead of the group into a room with many mobs. In such cases keep looking into the room before moving, and only enter once every mob is engaged. Should it be impossible to farsee into the room, simply wait a short duration (2 seconds) before entering.

Another purpose is to deal damage. As a rule of thumb, I never use area damage abilities unless four or more mobs are in the room, because with 3 or fewer mobs it is more efficient to use single-target abilities. In rooms with 4 or more mobs, it is preferable to area. Before one uses the first deathfield or ultrablast, check to see that all mobs have engaged in combat already.

A final purpose is shifting members of the group about. Simply ask who is to go to where, collect the necessary consents, and shift accordingly.

7 - Tips & Tricks
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