D&D 5E Attempt at a Kalashtar race

[Hawk Diesel]

Hi all. So since we aren't getting a mystic class for a while and there is little psionic support in 5e, it has been difficult to really create a Kalashtar worthy of the name. But I think with a unique cantrip, it could be possible. Here's what I got.

Kalashtar Traits

All kalashtar share the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Size. Kalashtar are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Silent Speech. You can speak telepathically to any creature within 30 feet of you. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time.

Psychic Warrior. You gain the Psychic Blade cantrip. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.

Dual Soul. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and frightened.

****

Psychic Blade
Evocation cantrip

Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: S
Duration: Instantaneous

You channel your will into a weapon that can attack a person’s mind. Make a melee spell attack against one creature within 5 feet of you. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 psychic damage. After you make the attack, the weapon fades from existence.

The spell’s damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).

 

[Gradine]

The free cantrip seems a little much, but it's a really nice flavor. I tried to stick closer to the original write-up when I made my own attempt. That had included the bonuses to social interaction (which I had actually written up as free proficiency in Insight), and the mention that the telepathy must be with a willing target. Otherwise, I think this looks really good.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

[MENTION=57112]Gradine[/MENTION] Good point with being a willing target for the telepathy. Because then you could just do what Patrick Swayze did to Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost.

But I'm curious why you think the cantrip might be too much. I based it on the new Primal Savagery cantrip in XGtE, but dropped the damage one die because of the relative rarity for psychic damage resistance. Also, when I think of Kalashtar, I can help but think Soulblade. Without a proper Mystic or Soulblade ready (not a fan of the most recent UA attempt), I figured this would be a way to simulate it.

As for the cantrip itself, I'd like to put it in the general pool (I don't think it should solely be a unique cantrip for Kalashtar), but not sure where to put it.

I figure Warlock works (GOO Warlock specifically), and maybe bard (College of Whispers would do nice with this). Not really sure where else it might go.

 

[Gradine]

I don't pretend to be an expert in game balance; I suppose all High Elves get a free cantrip as well as a bunch of other stuff. the cantrip itself I think it's fine in terms of balance; I'm just not entirely certain how I feel about every Kalasthar having an inherent Mind Thrust equivalent. But they should get something, and it'd be nice to have some kind of mental attack power to lean on (and not just for the Mystic but psionic-adjacent classes and builds).

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

A few Kalashtar are soulblades, but I don't see all Kalashtar being able to manifest psychic blades any more than all humans are able to cast Mending.
If you want to give all Kalashtar a cantrip, I'd suggest choosing from a list including Message, maybe Mage Hand etc.

A flat advantage on Wisdom Saving throws and resistance to psychic damage would probably be how I'd represent Dual Spirit.
I'd have also had the ability bonuses the other way around: +2 Charisma and +1 Wisdom personally.

The cantrip itself doesn't look too powerful. Psychic damage is a pretty good type, but some Undead and most constructs are resistant I think.

 

[jaelis]

I think the cantrip is fine. Picking from a list might be a bit nicer.

Dual Soul seems like the strongest feature to me.

 

[Gradine]

I actually think Dual Soul is fine and one of the strongest features that tie it to the race as it was originally presented. Resistance to Psychic damage also makes a fair amount of sense and certainly in keeping with what other races have access to.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

A few Kalashtar are soulblades, but I don't see all Kalashtar being able to manifest psychic blades any more than all humans are able to cast Mending.
If you want to give all Kalashtar a cantrip, I'd suggest choosing from a list including Message, maybe Mage Hand etc.

A flat advantage on Wisdom Saving throws and resistance to psychic damage would probably be how I'd represent Dual Spirit.
I'd have also had the ability bonuses the other way around: +2 Charisma and +1 Wisdom personally.

The cantrip itself doesn't look too powerful. Psychic damage is a pretty good type, but some Undead and most constructs are resistant I think.

I was wondering about Charisma vs Wisdom. Wisdom seems like the better stat to me, but I guess it makes more sense for Kalashtars to be warlocks, sorcerers, and bards rather than druids or clerics.

Also, what if I changed Psychic Warrior to this:

Psychic Talent. You have latent psychic talent. You can choose a cantrip from the following list: Friends, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Psychic Blade, or Vicious Mockery. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your chosen cantrip.

Those are the cantrips I feel best demonstrate psychic ability.

 

[cbwjm]

I'd honestly bump the damage of psychic blade back up to d10 as I don't believe damage type should (or even does) play a part in determining damage.

My general feeling about the race is that it might need a little something extra. Perhaps some kind of ribbon ability but I'm not too familiar with the race to say what that might be.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

My general feeling about the race is that it might need a little something extra. Perhaps some kind of ribbon ability but I'm not too familiar with the race to say what that might be.

Proficiency in Insight, Deception or Persuasion?