D&D 5E What do you think a psychic class should look like in 5e?

[Curmudjinn]

As the title suggests, this is for gathering ideas and opinions on the topic of psychic classes. Should it be just a feat? Should there be a class and a feat that allows minimal psionics, like Magic Initiate?

How would you like a psychic class to function? I saw some complaints that psychic casters were simply rehashed wizards in the last few editions, and didn't feel very new or unique. The uniqueness came from splatbook class variants.

If that is the consensus, I could see a Wilder-type caster being the prime class. The raw power of the mind being the foremost option. Under that, you could have your psychic warrior-type subclass, which could lean towards physical psychic boosts and a mindblade option. Also would be a subclass more like a psion. Someone learned and trained in a specific avenue of mind powers, but different enough to not just be a repainted specialist wizard.

How do you think a psychic class should look in 5e?

 

[Paraxis]

With what we have currently I would base a psionic class off the Warlock.

Replace eldritch blast with mind blast, no to hit roll but a wisdom save, add different psionic invocations.

As a whole new system, I would go with something that uses psionic strength points and a roll to make the effect go off like a focus roll.

 

[RangerWickett]

I'd not go for that many specific 'spells,' but have a few at-will abilities that you can power up with power points.

Yes, have six types of psionic talents (clairsentience, metacreation, psychokinesis, psychoportation, psychometabolism, telepathy), each with two or three different devotions.

Telepath
I'd go for something sorta like grappling in 3rd edition. You start off with contact, and then can combo into different powers. If you want to get into someone's head, you first try to make contact, which forces them to make a Wis save to notice your presence.

Then, depending on which psionic devotions you have, you can proceed to then force an Int save to create illusions in their mind, Wis save to read their thoughts, or Cha save to compel actions or elicit emotions.

Psychokinesis
The two devotions would be energy (fire or electricity) and movement (shoving people around). You level determines how big an area of fire/etc you can create and how much damage it deals, or what your equivalent strength is.

I don't want a "once per day" psychic power called Crush that does Xd6 damage. I want a psion to pick up a giant club with her mind and bash you with it, with an equivalent Strength of 26.

Metacreation
Let's go full Green Lantern here and let you create whatever you want, but be limited in how much at a time based on level. Give some examples, but leave it mostly open to player creativity. Devotions would be animation (ectoplasmic critters) and manifestation (ectoplasmic objects).

Clairsentience
This one's kinda the weak one. Maybe bundle psychoportation into it, and call it Clairpresence to represent either seeing from afar or actually traveling afar.

Psychometabolism
Devotions would be metastasis (transforming flesh into new shapes) and mediation (controlling natural processes and healing).


I'd actually want to set up psionics as something that you'd mostly multiclass with. Most people would have a level or two, get one type of psychic power with limited uses, and then focus on a different class. A devoted psion would get access to a big variety of powers, and honestly would start to look a bit like a wizard.

 

[Mistwell]

With what we have currently I would base a psionic class off the Warlock.

Replace eldritch blast with mind blast, no to hit roll but a wisdom save, add different psionic invocations.

As a whole new system, I would go with something that uses psionic strength points and a roll to make the effect go off like a focus roll.

I agree with Paraxis on this. Warlock is the natural match for this concept. And the Warlock class in general seems to be meeting with a lot of praise from people for elegant structure, so it's probably a good foundation to build from.

 

[bogmad]

I agree with Paraxis on this. Warlock is the natural match for this concept. And the Warlock class in general seems to be meeting with a lot of praise from people for elegant structure, so it's probably a good foundation to build from.

After hearing Mearls talk about their worry with psionics being on how to decide on the right story for the class and then having mechanics to match, I'd personally be a little disappointed if they ended up just bolting psionics into the Warlock class.

Maybe a place to build from, sure, but I wouldn't want to just see a find and replace job done with disciplines replacing pacts and powers replacing invocations.

 

[Wrathamon]

I always felt Feats would work the best to imagine a 1st edition feel, but some people want a more modern take.

I think Warlock is a great class to use as inspiration for it.

In stead of pack of blades or tomb, that could be where the player picks the warrior, rogue or mage variations and the pack is the discipline choice.

If you wanted something completely unique, Monk is another good choice to look at. Mixing of the two might result in something unique and special.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I'd not go for that many specific 'spells,' but have a few at-will abilities that you can power up with power points.

Yes, have six types of psionic talents (clairsentience, metacreation, psychokinesis, psychoportation, psychometabolism, telepathy), each with two or three different devotions.

Telepath
I'd go for something sorta like grappling in 3rd edition. You start off with contact, and then can combo into different powers. If you want to get into someone's head, you first try to make contact, which forces them to make a Wis save to notice your presence.

Then, depending on which psionic devotions you have, you can proceed to then force an Int save to create illusions in their mind, Wis save to read their thoughts, or Cha save to compel actions or elicit emotions.

Psychokinesis
The two devotions would be energy (fire or electricity) and movement (shoving people around). You level determines how big an area of fire/etc you can create and how much damage it deals, or what your equivalent strength is.

I don't want a "once per day" psychic power called Crush that does Xd6 damage. I want a psion to pick up a giant club with her mind and bash you with it, with an equivalent Strength of 26.

Metacreation
Let's go full Green Lantern here and let you create whatever you want, but be limited in how much at a time based on level. Give some examples, but leave it mostly open to player creativity. Devotions would be animation (ectoplasmic critters) and manifestation (ectoplasmic objects).

Clairsentience
This one's kinda the weak one. Maybe bundle psychoportation into it, and call it Clairpresence to represent either seeing from afar or actually traveling afar.

Psychometabolism
Devotions would be metastasis (transforming flesh into new shapes) and mediation (controlling natural processes and healing).


I'd actually want to set up psionics as something that you'd mostly multiclass with. Most people would have a level or two, get one type of psychic power with limited uses, and then focus on a different class. A devoted psion would get access to a big variety of powers, and honestly would start to look a bit like a wizard.

This is the rough direction I've long thought was good as well. The big questions, in my mind, involve how you gain and store power points. Back when the Fighter's superiority dice were a round by round resource, I thought Power Points could work like that. Still could, I suppose. They could be daily, with a short rest partial recharge as well. Psi-crystals could still store extra points.

One piece that I think important for psionics is the ability to over-extend yourself. Telepaths bleeding from the eyes and ears is a common trope. Perhaps it's as simple as "spend one of your hit dice. Roll the die, you take that much damage and add the same number of power points to your at will ability."

 

[Jester David]

Spellpoints as the deciding mechanical factor is likely not going to happen as this will likely be an option for all spellcasters. So the psion or psionic classes can have pseudo-Vancian spellcasting.

If you had asked me six months ago I'd know. I'd say a Vancian class with Psionic points that can be used to modify their spells to augment the effects. So you have the PSP feel but a class in-line with the other classes.
But that's the sorcerer now, so that design won't work.

Give me a few minutes to think and I'll have some more ideas...

 

[Jester David]

The catch with psionics is that the existing system has fans. It'd be very possible to remake and reimagine the psionic rules (like Pathfinder is doing with its psychic magic rules next year), but that would push away favs of the old options and classes.
If you're not going to make options that appeal to fans of the concept then why bother? This us like making a class designed to make it appealing to people who didn't like the class earlier.

Let's start with the book. A big all-in-one tome is the best. A Psionic Handbook. The books should include psionic subclasses for existing classes, like the psychic warrior for the fighter. Plus monsters and feats.

The psion has always been a psionic wizard, so changing that should be avoided. The psion should be fairly wizardly.
Since psions will likely be Vancian casters, they can have spells from levels 1-9 and use existing spells from the PHB. There's less need for all new spells. A pyrokinetic should be able to cast burning hands.

Since spell points won't work and the psion shouldn't share mechanics with the sorcerer, the psion needs a new signature mechanic. The psionic focus mechanic from 3e might work, where you spend a minute meditating and gain your focus. While focused you have certain effects and powers but you can spend your focus to empower your spells.
Subclasses could provide cantrips and powers usable by expending your focus.

 

[Giltonio_Santos]

Two words: power points. If 5E keeps its design philosophy of developing the game to the sensibilities created by the previous 40 years of D&D, psychic characters should use a point-based mechanic to manifest their powers.

For myself, I'd like psychic powers to find a stronger niche and remain there. The "psionics are different wizards" style of 3.X stopped working for me some time ago, and I hope their next incarnation focuses on all things related to the mind, instead of powers that emulate spells.