D&D 5E State of the mystic

Samloyal23 · May 23, 2019

CapnZapp said:
Don't hold back, tell me what you really think!

If that is all psionics is going to be, if they are not going to apply any more creativity than that, there is no point in doing it. What we need is a skill and feat based system like 2E had, so that it will simple and easy to use but distinguish itself from magic as a separate way to manipulate supernatural powers.

CapnZapp · May 23, 2019

Samloyal23 said:
If that is all psionics is going to be, if they are not going to apply any more creativity than that, there is no point in doing it. What we need is a skill and feat based system like 2E had, so that it will simple and easy to use but distinguish itself from magic as a separate way to manipulate supernatural powers.

You are correct - I don't think we will get more than "psionic spells". I do hope we get power points instead of slots though.

But the opportunity I see Psionics doing is adding a bunch of new archetypes. Yes it's a far cry from a completely new mechanism, but still something.

A warrior who uses claws and regenerates as he inflicts damage on his foes is just one example of a Fighter subclass we haven't gotten.

The main difference from the Eldritch Knight: a brand new spell list.

As another example: I'm hoping against hope we'll finally see a melee-centric class with no reliance on Concentration spells.

The big one, of course, is how the Psion nearly doubles the list of "wizard-like" spells!

So even though I see where you're coming from, I still see value even with only a moderate amount of creativeness

Of course they can still flub it. Cramming every psionic archetype into a single jack of all trades master of none is the big thing. Keeping the exact same mechanism for psionic powers as spells is another.

Yaarel · May 23, 2019

I want psionics to be normal. I dislike weird mechanics. I fear that the designers will worry about difficult-to-predict wonky mechanics and over-nerf it, thus make psionics suck. I oppositely fear that designers will fail to anticipate broken combos, thus make psionics ruin the game.

In previous editions of D&D, psionics has either sucked or been broken − because of stupid weird mechanics.

The only time psionics has ever been balanced is because it used normal mechanics. The powers were transparent with the spells that other classes used. The 3e Psion of the Expanded Psionic Handbook used a spell point system. The 4e Psion used the same at-will, per-encounter, and per-day powers that other classes used.

I want psionics that I can use as a normal part of the game.

The powers of the mind are an important theme in many fantasy settings.

I want psionics to be normal.

Aldarc · May 23, 2019

Kobold Avenger said:
I think there can be a psionic subclass for just about every class, though Ranger and Druid are perhaps the hardest to think of ones conceptually.

A druid that taps into the world spirit/mind or psychic energies that connects every living creature.

A ranger who adapts psionic attacks and defenses so they can better stalk the abberations that threaten the natural order of the world.

Yaarel · May 23, 2019

The spellcasting mechanics of the Warlock are pretty good for psionics. But not the flavor.

The always-on Invocations, the simple spell slots that refresh after each rest, and the Incarnum access to high tier spells.

Likewise, the selection of spells, encourages thematic actions for the psionic manifestor.

Retreater · May 23, 2019

Psionics have been able to address many roles in the party since at least 2nd edition AD&D. It was overpowered then, overpowered in 3.x, but pretty balanced in 4e (like all the other classes). I don't mind an overpowered (OPTIONAL) psionic system.

Azzy · May 23, 2019

Retreater said:
Psionics have been able to address many roles in the party since at least 2nd edition AD&D. It was overpowered then, overpowered in 3.x, but pretty balanced in 4e (like all the other classes). I don't mind an overpowered (OPTIONAL) psionic system.

I really wouldn't say that the 3.5 version was comparatively overpowered—CODzilla and Wizards ran rings around it (like everything else). Sure, if you're comparing it to Fighters and Rogues...

Retreater · May 23, 2019

Azzy said:
I really wouldn't say that the 3.5 version was comparatively overpowered—CODzilla and Wizards ran rings around it (like everything else). Sure, if you're comparing it to Fighters and Rogues...

The ability to overcharge and go completely nova in a handful of encounters allowed my psion to really dominate. Of course that may have been the DM's fault for not having a standard number of encounters per day.

Parmandur · May 23, 2019

CapnZapp said:
Thank the gods for that. Trying to cram every psionic trope into one and the same class is stupid and clumsy design.

It would be so much cooler if they designed psionics to be an bolt-on mechanic to replace spellcasting for selected characters, laying a foundation to allow Psion to be a Wizard subclass, Psionic Warrior to be a Fighter subclass and so on.

That is: create a rule for power points (or manifestations, or whatever) but don't base it in one single class. Then have the subclass dole out the PP.

In fact, just say "psionic characters use the spell point variant of the DMG, only we're calling them power points" and let the existing spell slots be as-is. That's the direct and simple answer to the question "so I'm a psionic wizard, what am I gonna do with my spell slots?" That is, the answer is: "you only think you get spell slots, but in reality you get spell points that we call power points."

Boom, done, no rambling rules explanations necessary.

In cases where a character gets spell slots from the subclass and not the class psionic subclasses of that class can get PPs directly.

Then we can finally stop worrying MMearls will muck up this core design too, and start worrying about the details. I'm convinced they plan to give the Psionic Warrior lots of cool powers, only to ruin them right away with Concentration, for instance.

The Mystic was already using the spell points system from the DMG. That's what people didn't like. And the Psion tests so far were using spell slots as power points, essentially. Because in 5E, the only difference is surface math.

The core shtick for the Psion moving forwards seems to be playing with the standard Concentration rules, actually. More than one Concentration effect.

Kobold Avenger · May 23, 2019

I think on a conceptual level the Psion and it's subclasses are meant to be more of a specialist, while a Wizard is more like someone with a toolbox and a general discipline.

One strange thing that occurred to me while watching the She-Ra Netflix remake (because I can't remember original I watched from more than 30 years ago) is how Glimmer would be an example of a Nomad Psion in that proposed system. She can teleport at-will, and occasionally can push herself to do more with her teleportation ability.