Pathfinder 1E What kind of Pathfinder Psionics would you like to see from Paizo?

[Ghostwind]

I liked Mike Mearl's "Hyperconcious" book. Maybe they could get him to rework that. Or just endorse it and let Malhavoc print a Pathfinder updated edition.

Actually, it was Bruce Cordell, not Mearls that wrote Hyperconscious. I do agree with an update of that book to Pathfinder however.

 

[Qwillion]

What i would want is for them to use Dream Scarred press as a design studio to create the product. I really don't know any company that has more experience but that's just me.

Since Bruce is in an exclusive contract with WotC

 

[Psion]

Power points, a la 3.5. I found most prior systems that used power points alongside the magic system but that didn't use the magic system structure to be problematic. 2e psionics, I'm looking at you.

3.5 was pretty good, the main sore spot being some powers (much the same as magic, really). The idea of augmenting with points gave it a nice flexibility.

I could totally live without soulknives, however.

To go parallel the options pathfinder added for low level powers, perhaps some of the "talent" stuff could be unearthed from the 3.0 psionics stuff.

I, too, could also see grabbing some stuff from Hyperconscious, particularly the flavorful Mindscapes psionics combat system and some of the more interesting and useful psionic powers and classes. They would also do well to tap Untapped Potential, particularlly for the Formbond stuff. After all, they've been tapping Tome of Horrors and Advanced Bestiary for creatures, no reason they couldn't tap into good OGL stuff here.

 

[Alzrius]

What i would want is for them to use Dream Scarred press as a design studio to create the product. I really don't know any company that has more experience but that's just me.

Since Bruce is in an exclusive contract with WotC

This.

Paizo would be wise to leave the psionics material to Dreamscarred Press; I think they're the best company for it, particularly since Paizo doesn't seem to care to develop psionics in-house anyay.

 

[Sigurd]

See, and for me a setting that does not include all three 'classic' power sources (arcane, divine, and psionic) is incomplete.

Note that the power sources don't have to go by those names, which is imho, often the 'real' reason why people feel, psionics have no place in a fantasy setting.

My personal understanding about these sources actually comes from the Rolemaster rpg:
- arcane == essence: drawing power from the environment, tapping residual magical energy
- psionic == mentalism: drawing power from within yourself
- divine == channeling: drawing power from magical beings (deities, fiends, spirits, etc.)

I have no problem with that. Rolemaster is about the best setting I can think of for having all the magic types and 'getting it right'.


I guess my point is that psionics would have to be part of a dedicated setting. They are too far reaching to be bolted on to an existing setting.

I also think Dreamscarred would be the ones to do it.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

This.

Paizo would be wise to leave the psionics material to Dreamscarred Press; I think they're the best company for it, particularly since Paizo doesn't seem to care to develop psionics in-house anyay.

They never said they didn't want to do it in house. What they said is 3.5 psionics did not play well with the rest of the system and 2 it can not be used or supported they way they wish to,in it's current format

And that was said unofficial like. I think they will do it. I do not think they will use the 3.5 psionic system as a starting point

As many have pointed out however dreamscarred is doing that. So if you like that system they are the ones you should look into to support that system.

 

[Jhaelen]

I guess my point is that psionics would have to be part of a dedicated setting. They are too far reaching to be bolted on to an existing setting.

Agreed. It's mostly up to a setting to explain if/how/why magic works.

What does the Golarion setting say on this matter?

 

[Psion]

I don't mind the idea of a dedicated Psionics setting (and Dreamscarred put out a nice one), but AFAIAC, put Psionics in a regular D&D game seemed to add a sense of wonder and mystery for my less familiar players, so I wouldn't dismiss it.

 

[Alzrius]

They never said they didn't want to do it in house. What they said is ...

I never said what they said. What I said is Paizo doesn't seem to care about developing psionics in-house.

As many have pointed out however dreamscarred is doing that. So if you like that system they are the ones you should look into to support that system.

No kidding; that's why I was pulling for them in my previous post.

 

[Glade Riven]

I like the concept of psionics as a different flavor, but the execution of them in 3.0/3.5 was weird. Just about everything was parallel of something already done by magic, so it simply added a new mechanic with power points (*cough*magic points*cough*). I was on the fence of the current magic mechanic vs. feat mechanic, but voted magic mechanic. Here's why:

To me, the concept of psionics already is invariably tied to magic & mysticicm, largly in how it is used in pulp fantasy. Tacking on another mechanic for it seems to be silly, especially for Pathfinder, as it starts making things messy.

Now, how I would do it would be to flavor psionics much as the Pathfinder Monk, having the abilities used by psionic classes more akin to spell-like abilities. Typically, psionics seem to often appear linked to pseudo-asian-esq cultures in campaign settings (such as Eberron). Might as well look to kung-fu movies, asian mythology, and asian fantasy and use that as a source for psionic flavoring, although much of traditional (as opposed to modernised) european folkore may work as well.

Okay, now I hear people groaning about "anime" or "final fantasy" being plugged into "my D&D" - never mind that D&D is a major inspiration for a number of anime series (Record of the Lodoss War is definatly AD&D). I am talking about drawing on the cultural source material, not ripping off some anime or video game.