Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana Revisits Psionics

The latest Unearthed Arcana from WotC revisits some psionic rules! “Shine with the power of the mind in this installment of Unearthed Arcana! Today we revisit several psi-themed options that we released in the past few months. Studying your feedback on those options, we’ve crafted this new collection of subclasses, spells, and feats, found in the PDF below.“

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[LuisCarlos17f]

After the psionic powers I would like the return of the (ki source) martial maneuvers from "Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords", (They would be perfect for the return of Kara-Tur and fans of Oriental fantasy MMOs) the vestige pact magic with its special game mechanic, and after... why not the chronomancers? I liked some ideas about the incarnum, but too complex to be used by DMs for no-bosses enemies.

The idea of psionic subclasses is right. I imagine the psionic fighter with the name "psiloi", (= "nude") a member of the ancient Greek light infantery, without armour. The psionic stealth class would be the "lurker".

I miss the psionic ardent (class), like a storyteling hook to create stories about conflicts and hate-love relations with the rest of divine spellcasters. And as a subclass for clerics?

The psionic sorcerer should be the wilder, but with the options for the pyschic enervation for the Pahtfinder version by Dreamscarred Press. I suggest WotC to hire there for the 5th Ed of psionic powers and others becuase they have some good ideas. Or should the wilder be the psionic version of the warlock?

* Should the xiákè ( = follower of xia) be the psionic monk for the fans of wuxia fiction?

* I don't imagine the wu jen as a psionic subclass, and the gameplay of those stupid taboos may be annoying.

* Paizo created its own version of the psionic powers, and I like its occultist class. I would like a psionic version of the summoner, creating astral constructs, and maybe mixing psionic and incarnum powers to summon your own monster pet.

* The fraals (little grey alien) and the blue (gobling subrace) should be psionic PC races.

* How to add the new psionic PCs from 3.5, or the sharminds, to Darksun?

* If you want a new class like the jedi knights I suggest the name "cofrater" ( = member of a brotherhood)

 

[Xeviat]

I like the fighter and rogue, but I still wants me a full psion class...

Admittedly, I do like the psionic die mechanic. Its interesting.

I'm liking the Sorcerer as the full Psion class.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I like the psionic die mechanic, but I find the subclasses a little bland.

 

[Weiley31]

Also, Wild Talent as a feat allows any character to use their Psionic in a basic form. The Subclasses represent more formalized training.

 

[Nine Hands]

The psionic die is an interesting feedback loop. I'm looking forward to seeing this in play.

 

[Nine Hands]

I suppose one of us is then. Nothing in the article seems to me that you are limited to your initial die size. As I see it, at 3rd level, your start d6, roll a 1 and now use d8. You continue to use d8 until you roll a 1 or an 8. Roll another 1 and now you use d10. It doesn't reset until you finish a long rest.

It also means that with two "unlucky" rolls, a 6 and a 4, at 3rd and 4th levels you are done with your psionic powers for the day.

An consequently, a infinite number of "unlucky" rolls will allow you to continue to use psionic powers. Yes its a little weird but I really need to see it in play to see how it works. Also the die can't become larger than its starting size.

 

[Weiley31]

An consequently, a infinite number of "unlucky" rolls will allow you to continue to use psionic powers. Yes its a little weird but I really need to see it in play to see how it works. Also the die can't become larger than its starting size.

Perhaps it's just better to house rule it as a normal roll like other dice? So rolling your highest Psi-Die allows you to "chain" into the next level of power as your mind opens up. Rolling a 1 represents your mind being mentally fatigued from overexherstion from using your mental powers?

 

[Kurotowa]

Perhaps it's just better to house rule it as a normal roll like other dice? So rolling your highest Psi-Die allows you to "chain" into the next level of power as your mind opens up. Rolling a 1 represents your mind being mentally fatigued from overexherstion from using your mental powers?

The max die size is a cap on power escalation at lower levels, which I entirely approve of. Better that than "oh I had a few lucky rolls and now I'm adding 1d12 to my damage every turn" at 2nd Level. It also means that at low level your psionic power is tenuous and in danger of flickering out from even moderate use, while at higher levels it's a steady flame that burns long and hard. Which I feel is entirely on-theme.

 

[bedir than]

I almost want Wild Talent to include Mind Sliver as part of it. I feel like having access to a single cantrip wouldn't increase the potency of the Feat, while it would help maintain the feel for PCs that take it.

If a non-psionic character has the feat they aren't going to use Mind Sliver over their normal class features, except in exceptional circumstances, which would be cool.

 

[Parmandur]

The Psionic Talent die is really elegant, actually, and adds quite a bit to those Subclasses.

I feel Dark Sun incoming...