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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[Parmandur]

Well, it's also because I make sure that juggling components isn't needed. I don't need that kind of complication at my table. If someone is running a character in which some kind of hand/weapon/component juggling would be necessary, I give them options to make that not happen.

Well, sure, OK. You do you. The restrictions are part of the game as assumed, though, and I enjoy them: helps immersion.

Dunno about anyone else, but, an axe wielding sorcerer is probably a fairly corner case example. Just putting that out there.

Corner case, sure, but one of my favorite characters: a Dwarves Wild Mage Sorcerer loose in Ravenloft, good times.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

So, WotC have done surveys on settings, but I can't find anything since mid 2015. Here's a quote:


It's interesting to note that of the top tier, only Dark Sun and Planescape have not had official releases now, and the last few UAs could easily be for either.

I've not seen any engagement from WotC about settings since then, though. Given we know they are not basing decisions on reading fora... have I missed anything, or is that still probably the data they are working on?

Not that I am desperate for a Planescape book at all.

Honestly, the past few UA could be for either Planescape or Dark Sun. Planescape is honestly the easier of the two to publish (in theory), as it doesn't have as much demands in new races, or defilers/preservers, or how to implement the "constraints" of no magic or gods.

Planescape would be pretty great. No idea what a setting book for it would look like (would it be a guide to all the planes? Just Sigil and the Outlands?) but it would likely be ambitious.

 

[ccooke]

Dunno about anyone else, but, an axe wielding sorcerer is probably a fairly corner case example. Just putting that out there.

The problem is, the d&d community is almost entirely made up of corner cases. Half the dimensional anomalies in our games are actually caused by trying to fit enough corners in.

(I have two entirely different parties with axe-wielding sorcerers. Anecdotal, of course, but they exist!)

 

[Maxperson]

This is were we slightly disagree.

I feel they should make bolt on talents for any class to use, and then one dedicated class.

I like the psionic classes like Psychic Warrion, Soulknife and such. It makes more sense to me to put this in with the other classes than under Psion. They aren't full "casters."

 

[Maxperson]

Hang on, weren't you one of the folks who took me to task for saying folks wanted an entire book of psionics? How is THIS not an entire book of psionics?

Because it's not. We got three of the subclasses in just a few pages. Doesn't require nearly a whole book.

 

[ccooke]

Honestly, the past few UA could be for either Planescape or Dark Sun. Planescape is honestly the easier of the two to publish (in theory), as it doesn't have as much demands in new races, or defilers/preservers, or how to implement the "constraints" of no magic or gods.

Planescape would be pretty great. No idea what a setting book for it would look like (would it be a guide to all the planes? Just Sigil and the Outlands?) but it would likely be ambitious.

I think the main problem with a Planescape book is that you have to do something about the Faction War mess. Probably the best thing would be to say time has passed and there are factions back (with some changes) - that was, according to the writers, what the Faction War arc was supposed to end with. But there are some thorny choices to make.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I think the main problem with a Planescape book is that you have to do something about the Faction War mess. Probably the best thing would be to say time has passed and there are factions back (with some changes) - that was, according to the writers, what the Faction War arc was supposed to end with. But there are some thorny choices to make.

I don't view fluff changes as too difficult to make compared to the rules ones, thankfully.

 

[Parmandur]

Hang on, weren't you one of the folks who took me to task for saying folks wanted an entire book of psionics? How is THIS not an entire book of psionics?

Yup, right here:



You cannot even keep track of the things you are personally asking for.

A Psionic Subclass for each existing Class is less than 10 pages. A whole Class would be less than ten pages. Easily doable as a portion of a broader book.

 

[TwoSix]

I think the main problem with a Planescape book is that you have to do something about the Faction War mess. Probably the best thing would be to say time has passed and there are factions back (with some changes) - that was, according to the writers, what the Faction War arc was supposed to end with. But there are some thorny choices to make.

I'm sure people can manage to absorb new canon correcting a 22 year old module published during the dead years of late 2e, that only the diehards of Planescape even read.

 

[Parmandur]

Honestly, the past few UA could be for either Planescape or Dark Sun. Planescape is honestly the easier of the two to publish (in theory), as it doesn't have as much demands in new races, or defilers/preservers, or how to implement the "constraints" of no magic or gods.

Planescape would be pretty great. No idea what a setting book for it would look like (would it be a guide to all the planes? Just Sigil and the Outlands?) but it would likely be ambitious.

Following the Ravnica/Eberron model:

Chapter 1: Player options (three reprinted Races: Genasi, Aasamir and Gith; three new Races: Bauriar, Rogue Modrona dn 2E Tiefling style "Planetouched"; whatever Subclasses would fit)
Chapter 2: Big picture Planar Gazeeter
Chapter 3: Zoomed-in Sigil Gazetter
Chapter 4: Adventure generation material
Chapter 5: Items
Chapter 6: Monsters