D&D 5E State of the mystic

the Jester · May 20, 2019

Aldarc said:
Having a Psion class is a good call.

I agree with [MENTION=12731]CapnZapp[/MENTION] that a lot of past psionic archetypes could easily be ported to subclasses of preexisting classes:
* Psychic Warrior: Fighter Subclass
* Soul Knife: Monk or Rogue Subclass
* Wilder: Sorcerer Subclass
* Ardent: Bard or Cleric Subclass

Agreed- in fact, I have long since homebrewed three out of four of those.

Cyan Wisp · May 20, 2019

Azzy said:
Personally, I would make the lion's share of psychic abilities be simlar to a warlock's invocations (just a lot more of them) while having cantrip-esque at-will abilities that can be scaled as desired with a point-based mechanic.

This really appeals. Just thinking of literary psionic characters, they have a talent or two, not a vast range of powers. Why not hyper-specialised always available powers? As they level, their specialty improves manyfold. Azzy's idea about invocations makes more sense than spell/power points for me. Even more so if implemented kind of like the 3.5e warlock with psychic attacks instead of blasts. No slots. At-will thematic powers and augmentations.

I've never quite liked the implementation of psions as "just another wizard" with all of the versatility that entails. "I'm a telekineticist! But I also can do all the stuff that every other psion can do."

tglassy · May 20, 2019

I think that's what they're trying to do with the cantrip thing. Your cantrips are your skills and abilities, and you only have a couple. "Spells" are ways to reshape the cantrip. Also, it looks like they're concentration will be used for it, so like my earlier example with the teleportation cantrip, you actually keep concentration on the cantrip, and as long as you have concentration on it, you can cast it at will. Supposedly, they'll also be able to concentrate on two things at once, which no one else can do.

Giltonio_Santos · May 20, 2019

An "everything uses a spell slot model" does not differ that much from the "everything is a power" model from 4e. I don't like it. I believe the system is solid enough to sustain different approaches to resource management, the evolution of power and how to access it. One of the great things about 3.X D&D is that they were willing to try different things within that framework. If WotC's choice is to leave that potential at the table for someone else to use, fine. Maybe we'll get 5e psionics from Kobold, Dreamscarred, or even MCG.

Aldarc · May 21, 2019

the Jester said:
Agreed- in fact, I have long since homebrewed three out of four of those.

Curiosity peaked. Which three?

Yaarel · May 21, 2019

Giltonio_Santos said:
An "everything uses a spell slot model" does not differ that much from the "everything is a power" model from 4e. I don't like it. I believe the system is solid enough to sustain different approaches to resource management, the evolution of power and how to access it. One of the great things about 3.X D&D is that they were willing to try different things within that framework. If WotC's choice is to leave that potential at the table for someone else to use, fine. Maybe we'll get 5e psionics from Kobold, Dreamscarred, or even MCG.

My problem with the Mystic is, it is a halfcaster who fails to access high level spells. Actually, slightly worse than a halfcaster, since its highest level spells are roughly slot level 4.

I need options for full-psionics. For example, the Wish spell can exemplify the power of mind over matter − the psychic wills desire into reality − suitable for any high level full-psionic.

Yaarel · May 21, 2019

Aldarc said:
Having a Psion class is a good call.

I agree with [MENTION=12731]CapnZapp[/MENTION] that a lot of past psionic archetypes could easily be ported to subclasses of preexisting classes:
* Psychic Warrior: Fighter Subclass
* Soul Knife: Monk or Rogue Subclass
* Wilder: Sorcerer Subclass
* Ardent: Bard or Cleric Subclass

In my case, a Wizard psionic subclass as long as it is competitively potent, can probably fulfill my need for a 3e Psion.

Immoralkickass · May 21, 2019

I strongly disagree with porting the Psionic Subclasses into the preexisting classes, for the same reason a Paladin is not a Fighter subclass, and Sorcerer is not a Wizard Subclass. Psionics is different from Wizard, like way different from Sorc v Wiz, so it should be its own class.

I'd like to see some unique design in the Mystic class, like maybe the Awakened subclass gets up to 9th level powers, while the base class is still a half caster. Soulknife needs multi-attack too, and their own Disciplines.

Aldarc · May 21, 2019

Yaarel said:
In my case, a Wizard psionic subclass as long as it is competitively potent, can probably fulfill my need for a 3e Psion.

I would not prefer using the spellbook wizard for the 3e Psion. It seems like the Sorcerer would be a more appropriate fit. :erm:

CapnZapp · May 21, 2019

Immoralkickass said:
I strongly disagree with porting the Psionic Subclasses into the preexisting classes, for the same reason a Paladin is not a Fighter subclass, and Sorcerer is not a Wizard Subclass. Psionics is different from Wizard, like way different from Sorc v Wiz, so it should be its own class.

Assuming you mean its own classes in plural, I absolutely agree with you.

But I made my suggestion under the assumption we aren't getting a Psionic Warrior base class, a Soul Knife base class, an Ardent base class....

Trying to cram all those character concepts into the same class would be just as unworkable as just having the Wizard class, with Fighter, Rogue and Bard merely subclasses.

I'd much rather build the Psionic Warrior as a Fighter subclass than a Mystic or Psion subclass.

But you're entirely right. Assuming you mean classes in plural I absolutely prefer your idea!