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.

 

[vulcan_idic]

I read through it and have a mixed reaction. I really like the Rogue and Fighter subclasses - they're not perfect, but I like them better than the Immortal and Soulknife Mystic subclasses. I really can't wait to make a Changeling Bard(Lore) 3/Rogue(Soulknife) X character that is a mostly a infiltrator/spy, but can go a bit assassiny if necessary. The wizard subclass is OK, but in my opinion it should be a good addition to, not a replacement for, a version of the Mystic class with the Immortal and Soulknife stripped out (and perhaps other modifications as well).

 

[SkidAce]

Those spells don't have a tag that says psionic. I fully endorse adding one if a person wants to make them more significant and I suspect many people would do just that.

It's definitely an option to keep psionics separate but it looks to me like the other spells listed as appropriate to a psionic character would need to have some similar consideration. There are over a hundred spells and only ten new ones.

Are you thinking only the new spells would be true psionics? That limits psionic ability but it's a possibility. A person could simply call that the psionic power list and consider a power and a spell version. That seems a bit awkward to me if a person mix and matches but powers them with the same spell slots anyway.

My intent would be to keep traditional psionic powers such as Ego Whip specifically psionic in nature.

Vice versa, if the character was playing a "fully psionic" class on the wizard or sorcerer chassis, some standard spells would have a psionic tag or version. Such as invisibility.

I would likely tweak a few, Mage Hand for example might use the psion's Int as a Str score for purposes of what it could lift. (just spitballing here, not reviewed for balance, yet)

It would just be clear when using them, that you were using a psionic power. (for campaign purposes)

 

[Shardstone]

A lot of opinions here on how WotC should design the game from people who haven't designed or published anything themselves.

I may not agree with every approach Mearls and co have been doing, but you can't deny how incredibly successful it has been. So they deserve the benefit of the doubt that they know what they're doing, and they're doing it right.

You make so many bad faith arguments its crazy.

Like every argument you make is just another logical fallacy. Get a grip. Just because something is successful doesn't automatically mean it can't be better, or that another direction can't be better. It just means that this was the safest way to get to their level of success. Is it risky to do something else? Yes. Do businesses like to stay safe? Yes. But guess what? Not every business places safe, and many take risks, and you need to get the hell off your high horse and stop telling people that they have no right to disagree nor be disappointed in this direction. Because you don't. You have literally no right whatsoever to try and moderate people on this forum by telling them they have wrongthink.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Well, that was interesting. I'm sorry you interpreted it that way.

 

[Salthorae]

Seriously. You're disgusting.

That's a lot harsh.

 

[Eric V]

You make so many bad faith arguments its crazy.

Can't know what was said since this person has been on my ignore list for years, but you might want to try a similar approach, Points. Makes things easier overall.

 

[Aldarc]

It would be worth considering, at least for me, to give a Psion something similar to the Warlock's Pact Magic. So instead of typical spell slots or even power points, the Psion would cast auto-scaling powers that recharge on a short rest (mental fatigue or something). This also means that the Warlock is not alone with its main spellcasting mechanic. The Psion would be using Intelligence or Wisdom so it would probably not overlap too much with the Warlock or Sorcerer. Then you could also use invocations for Psionic Talents and the like.

 

[Shardstone]

That's a lot harsh.

I'll remove it.

 

[Sacrosanct]

You make so many bad faith arguments its crazy.

Like every argument you make is just another logical fallacy. Get a grip. Just because something is successful doesn't automatically mean it can't be better, or that another direction can't be better. It just means that this was the safest way to get to their level of success. Is it risky to do something else? Yes. Do businesses like to stay safe? Yes. But guess what? Not every business places safe, and many take risks, and you need to get the hell off your high horse and stop telling people that they have no right to disagree nor be disappointed in this direction. Because you don't. You have literally no right whatsoever to try and moderate people on this forum by telling them they have wrongthink.

Seriously. You're disgusting.

What a bad faith argument, and a logical fallacy, is what you just did to my posts. Not once did I say there is no room for improvement. I never said people weren't allowed to complain. I even clarified it later. What I said was that people who have no experience actually making a game themselves shouldn't be calling other game designers lazy or other personal attacks.

Maybe if you read what I said, and not make up arguments I didn't, you wouldn't feel the need to be so hostile.

 

[Shardstone]

What a bad faith argument, and a logical fallacy, is what you just did to my posts. Not once did I say there is no room for improvement. I never said people weren't allowed to complain. I even clarified it later. What I said was that people who have no experience actually making a game themselves shouldn't be calling other game designers lazy or other personal attacks.

Maybe if you read what I said, and not make up arguments I didn't, you wouldn't feel the need to be so hostile.

Bro you're too busy telling people that because they aren't game designers they shouldn't comment.

I quoted you word for word. I know what you said.

A lot of opinions here on how WotC should design the game from people who haven't designed or published anything themselves.

Show me where in this quote you mention calling people lazy and personal attacks.