Unearthed Arcana New Unearthed Arcana: Psionics!

There’s a new Unearthed Arcana article out, and it’s all about psionics! "Their minds bristling with power, three new subclasses arrive in today’s Unearthed Arcana: the Psychic Warrior for the fighter, the Soulknife for the rogue, and the tradition of Psionics for the wizard."

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In this 9-page PDF, there are also some new psionics-themed spells (including versions of classic psionic powers like id insinuation and ego whip) and two new feats.

 

[Salthorae]

Theme-wise, it should have been a sorcerer

They already have the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer two or three UA ago.

Jeremy Crawford called out in the recent youtube discussion of this Psionicist Wizard where he calls in this UA + Aberrant Mind + Great Old One Warlock as the psionic options that are available right now.

 

[Zaukrie]

I think it is the conservativism in design I don't like in 5e. And this discussion helped me realize that. So that's a plus, on this design.

 

[Connorsrpg]

As noted above, I think that a full psionic class is coming. Mearls was taking a two pronged approach to psioncis-- subclasses to cover concepts he thought fit well within the existing class system and a full class to capture the full fledged psion. I don't think it's an accident that the psionic subclass for wizard is called a psionicisit instead of a psion. Psion is coming.

<disclaimer: probably>

AD

Clear to anyone that actually watched his Happy Fun Hour vids where here creates these subclasses. You are right.

Not sure why something like a battlemind NEEDS to be its own class anyway, when there is not a 'gish' class. Eldritch knight or war wizard kind of bridge that gap. Very happy for there to be a subclass doing the same for psionics. And as you pointed out, Mike has made it clear this does not mean the end of the idea of a full psion/psychic/mystic/whatever.

All current classes have subclasses that borrow from other classes. This is just an extension of that. Man, people get paranoid and back themselves into a corner. Thanks for your post. I hope it clears it up for some people

 

[Connorsrpg]

A Templar Warlock, and Preserver/Defiler Wizards are something.earls talked about doing, as well.

Most of what has gone through UA recently doesn't feel like Dark Sun, so I'm really curious to see what they have for a final product...

Here's our quick take on Dark Sun House Rules to get Athas into your 5E

 

[Connorsrpg]

It sounds like I'm in the minority here, but I actually prefer having psionics as subclasses rather than a new class. I'll do a deeper dive into this UA over the weekend, but at first glance it looks really good.

I like the idea too. I am actually for both, and I still think they are working on a full psionics class (or classes) so I don't understand the rage.

We have wizards and eldritch knights and arcane tricksters etc. to bring a little of the arcane to other classes. These bring a bit of the psionic to other classes. People need not get riled about one or the other - we can (and I am sure we will) have both

 

[SkidAce]

Or just integrate Psionics into the ASI/feat system. Every time you are eligible for an ASI, you can take a regular feat or a Psionic feat instead. That way, you can be a telekinetic Paladin, or a mind-blasting Rogue, or an Astral-Projecting Wizard. By level 8, your Human Fighter could be a Clairvoyant, Levitating, Telepath.

To me, that's a lot more interesting than a Psionics class.

That is interesting. If I dont adopt an official version, this may have potential.

 

[gyor]

I like the idea too. I am actually for both, and I still think they are working on a full psionics class (or classes) so I don't understand the rage.

We have wizards and eldritch knights and arcane tricksters etc. to bring a little of the arcane to other classes. These bring a bit of the psionic to other classes. People need not get riled about one or the other - we can (and I am sure we will) have both

Some have inturrpted what Jeremy Crawford said in the video as basically saying a. Psion class or Mystic isn't coming.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I gotta admit, part of the comments before the interview was done made me chuckle.
“The fighter version is sooooo boring.”
Crawford: “we made the fighter so you can play Darth Vader”

I guess Vader is super boring

I mean, it doesn’t feel like playing Vader...so...

 

[Yaarel]

I prefer the UA approach, implementing psionics via subclasses. I agree with the 5e designers that psionics needs to be a normal part of D&D that players actually use.

Psionic feats are the best way to implement 1e style psionics.

(Additionally, a separate Psion class appeals to me, if it is clearly a full caster with high level abilities like Wish.)



PSIONIC SPELLS



CANTRIPS

Rather, update the cantrips themselves − rewriting them according to the new psionic versions − for anyone to use these cantrips these ways.

Friends: all characters who use the Friends cantrip should do so without incurring hostility.

Message: this should be telepathic for anyone, without pointing or whispering.

Mage Hand: the hand should be invisible for everyone, using a bonus action. However, the weight carried needs to increase while leveling.

TELEKINESIS

Telekinesis remains underdeveloped, and needs to improve incrementally while leveling. For gaming ease, telekinetic abilities should refer to size rather than weight (Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, Gargantuan). For example, Mage Hand should be able to move a Tiny object or a Tiny willing creature.

PSIONIC SPELLS

Psionic spells effectively gain the psionic tag.

All of the spells on the list are appropriate for psionics: Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Teleportation.

Missing from the list is Wish − which is the ultimate "mind over matter" spell.

Weirdly missing from the list are "psychic" spells, like Augury. At least there needs to be a psychic spell for DM hinting: good, bad, mix, no vibe.

For me, psychometabolism relating to shapeshifting and psychic healing, is an important psionic theme. But it is missing from the psionic spell list. I am unsure how best to handle this shapeshifting mind-over-body theme.



MATERIAL COMPONENTS

I love how 5e allows casters to use a spell focus (like a wand) instead of the material components.

However, for psionic spells, even the wand feels inappropriate. The point of psionics is that ones own mind is the power source. An external object distracts from the direct mind-over-matter flavor. I prefer all material components to be absent, either because of the spellcasting method or the psionic list spells remove it. Also, there needs to be a way to eschew a costly gp component.



PSYCHIC WARRIOR

I like the Psychic Warrior Fighter.

The name has too many syllables. Maybe officially rename the subclass the "Psy" (or Psi). Then we can call it the Psy or the Psy Fighter.

I am satisfied with the subclass.

It would be even better if the Psy can also Telekinese oneself, to levitate and fly.



SOUL KNIFE

I am neutral about the SOUL KNIFE




PSIONICS WIZARD

I like psionics as a Wizard arcane tradition. This is a reasonable way for 5e to represent the 3e Psion of the Expanded Psionic Handbook.

I will discuss this subclass separately.

 

[Hussar]

No, are you?

Do you seriously think this is worth 1d10 points of health per round? It's not even worth 1d10 points of temp HP a around.
/snip

I think that this is actually very, very powerful. It's reliable - it always works. It basically means that the group gets 5 bonus HP every single round and it's not like fighters have much of a use for reactions anyway. Sure, Battlemasters have a couple of powers that sort of work like this, but, unless you're going Sentinel Feat, fighters don't use reactions.

Add to that, the fact that you're eventually getting a free +2 AC for 2 encounters per short rest, and you've got a very serious tank. A +2 that applies to more than your character. Better than a shield spell by far.