Remathilis
Legend
Considering Moorcock himself wrote lyrics for BöC, it seems fitting.
Psion class (Mearls, Happy Fun Hour)
Remathilis
Legend
If it were me, I'd switch telepath and constructor. Telepathy is a core element of psionics, like clairsentience, telekinesis, and body manipulation. Forming constructs out of astral goo feels more wizardy.
Actually, I don't treat psionics as if it was magic. More like Babylon 5.
I do see your point however. Its a debate that invariably boils down to preference and viewpoint.
I understand.
Still I've had both in my campaign with discernable differences since the latter half of the 80s so....I'm good.
Loved your post, good insights.
My thoughts on the above though?
Same reason puncing a hole in someone works differently with a bow or a rifle. Similar, not the same.
But I'm in the minority when it comes to psionics, so as long as I keep my groups and players happy, its all good.
Gradine
The Elephant in the Room (she/her)
I think for me the differences go back to 4e's power sources. I don't particularly need Psionics to be more different from Arcane magic than Arcane magic is from Divine or Primal magic. The typical mechanical differences help it stand out more, which, depending on where you're standing, is either a great thing or a terrible thing. But the main difference is the source of the power:
Arcane: Spellweave/Leylines/Siberys/Life Esscence/etc.
Divine: Gods/Faith
Primal: Nature itself
Psionics: Mental Energy
The other thing that helps is a coherent theme: Primal & Divine spell lists are fairly self-evident; I would argue that Psionics, at least in D&D, have also developed its own standard set of thematic powers. The problem is actually Arcane Magic, which is exceptionally broad and has always stepped on the toes of other thematic niches. Not that there's much to be done about that now, as D&D's Schools of Arcane Magic are fairly well ingrained sacred cows so Diviners get telepathy and extra-sensory perception and Conjurors and Transmuters get some form of telekinesis or another because reasons.
That said, there's still enough separating each niche that I definitely could see a place for Psionics, whether it has its own unique mechanics or not. And I say that having successfully run Eberron for years without so much of a hint of psionics.
Arcane: Spellweave/Leylines/Siberys/Life Esscence/etc.
Divine: Gods/Faith
Primal: Nature itself
Psionics: Mental Energy
The other thing that helps is a coherent theme: Primal & Divine spell lists are fairly self-evident; I would argue that Psionics, at least in D&D, have also developed its own standard set of thematic powers. The problem is actually Arcane Magic, which is exceptionally broad and has always stepped on the toes of other thematic niches. Not that there's much to be done about that now, as D&D's Schools of Arcane Magic are fairly well ingrained sacred cows so Diviners get telepathy and extra-sensory perception and Conjurors and Transmuters get some form of telekinesis or another because reasons.
That said, there's still enough separating each niche that I definitely could see a place for Psionics, whether it has its own unique mechanics or not. And I say that having successfully run Eberron for years without so much of a hint of psionics.
G
Guest 6801328
Guest
I like the idea of the subclasses, but I'm kinda bummed there's also a Psion base class. I hate/d the Mystic, and when I heard that a bunch of classes might each be given a psionics subclass I thought that was a MUCH better solution (and kind of reflects the original psionics, in that any class could have it.)
When psionics was going to be its own completely unique mechanical thing, I can understand why they thought putting all the various ways to express that in one package was a good idea. It meant they could really go hog wild on this new mechanical framework to make it fun and different to play, and they wouldn't have to figure out how to make it interface or merge with the other frameworks in the game... only that they needed to be relatively balanced against each other. And the whole point it seemed to me was to give enough various options within the Mystic itself that they also wouldn't need to figure out how to get multiclassing to work. Multiclassing wouldn't be needed in the original system because all the types of psion/X multiclass flavors had a subclass already built into the Mystic class itself.
But once they switched over to this new idea of making psionics nothing more than spellcasting with a flavored spell list, it meant that they could put psionic subclasses within the existing PHB classes, and that multiclassing between those and the Psion itself were already established. The only downside is that the mechanics are now no different than any other casting class, making "psionics" as a thing not really feel any different than the "necromancer" as a thing-- someone who just focuses on a particular type of magic. And truth be told... I wonder at the end of the day if psionics is going to end up feeling pretty much like the Enchanter, and that it was never really necessary to be its own "thing" for 5E after all?
But once they switched over to this new idea of making psionics nothing more than spellcasting with a flavored spell list, it meant that they could put psionic subclasses within the existing PHB classes, and that multiclassing between those and the Psion itself were already established. The only downside is that the mechanics are now no different than any other casting class, making "psionics" as a thing not really feel any different than the "necromancer" as a thing-- someone who just focuses on a particular type of magic. And truth be told... I wonder at the end of the day if psionics is going to end up feeling pretty much like the Enchanter, and that it was never really necessary to be its own "thing" for 5E after all?
Tony Vargas
Legend
I suppose that, arguably, the Enchanter never really needed to be it's own thing in 5e, sure.
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