D&D 5E Here's why we want a Psion class

[Mecheon]

There are tropes that make D&D what it is, and a psion/psionicist class is one of them. Not as crucial as fighters, rogues, clerics, and wizards . . . but still important to many long time fans.

Pretty much agreeing with this. Psionics is its whole field and, well, other classes can semi-get it

Mind I'm happy with third party offerings at present so I haven't been too fussed but, there is still a gap for a psionic class to fill

 

[Coroc]

well uamystic3 is the best approach so far. The new stuff is usable to depict Psion mc eventually.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

No offense, but that's a logic fallacy. Saying something should be a class simply "because that's the way it has been for the past 3 editions," doesn't actually say anything about whether that is good or bad.

I think the fact that Pathfinder copy-pasted almost everything from 3rd edition apart from the Psion is more significant.

Instead choosing to replace it with a psionic sorcerer and a refluffed warlock.

 

[Horwath]

I think the fact that Pathfinder copy-pasted almost everything from 3rd edition apart from the Psion is more significant.

Instead choosing to replace it with a psionic sorcerer and a refluffed warlock.

well, Dreamscarred press did make Ultimate Psionic for Pathfinder.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Personally, the thing I like about psionics is it provides a way to develop your character outside of the normal class structure. This is the key point that makes it different to what is already in the game. Thus, I am opposed to any dedicated psionic class (or sub class that emulates a full time psionicist). That would make it just like everything else. I would rather have a list of psionic talents that any character can pick up if they choose to develop in that direction. Note: they are not "Feats". They are Psionic Talents that you can choose to learn instead of an ASI.

Ideally, I would love some randomisation. You can choose to learn a psionic talent, but you don't choose which one - roll on the table and take pot lock.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

well, Dreamscarred press did make Ultimate Psionic for Pathfinder.

And there are several very good 3PP versions of psionics for 5e, including psions.

 

[Aldarc]

If Dark Sun did not exist, the need for psionics would be negligible. However, if anyone wants to run Dark Sun in 5E, they currently have to homebrew their own psionic rules to make it happen. Due to the integral part of psionics in Dark Sun, it really doesn't work to just have some sub-classes representing it, since they are primarily Class and secondly Sub-class (this is true with the Sorcerer too). Not that the sub-class concept is bad, but that they can't fully detail the nature of it.

Eberron says hello. They have an entire continent (Sarlona) and playable bioform (Kalashtar) that are psionic.

Also, keep in mind that personal tables in 3e or 4e that had psionics as part of their campaign settings have not been able to officially convert psionics to their 5e games.

I think the fact that Pathfinder copy-pasted almost everything from 3rd edition apart from the Psion is more significant.

Jein. Erik Mona made statements that Paizo chose no to do psionics because they did not want to invalidate the work converting psionics already done by Dreamscarred Press. Paizo published Pathfinder in August 2009. Dreamscarred Press published Psionics Unleashed in November 2010. They eventually added Occult classes, but Paizo wanted to create them in a way that (again) did not invalidate the work of Dreamscarred Press while also working with their Golarion setting.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Occult classes are far more interesting and appropriate for a fantasy setting than 3rd edition psibollocks.

It's notable that the vast majority of computer game adaptations also cut psionics (including the Eberron ones). The only ones I can think of that have it are the two Dark Sun games.

 

[Aldarc]

Occult classes are far more interesting and appropriate for a fantasy setting than 3rd edition psibollocks.

I think that you could have easily said this without the derogatory insults to a version of psionics that I happen to enjoy.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

@Aldarc I second that. Eberron is my primary campaign setting, and it would be great to have some official psionics to really differentiate Sarlona/Riedra from Khorvaire and Xen'drik. It's like fantasy psionic North Korea. And of course there is the Kalashtar. I have a few psionic flavored cantrips to support the concept, and I'm usually the first to talk about reskinning existing mechanics to better fit a concept. But in this case, it just doesn't feel sucficient. Just like attempts to reflavor a wizard or warlock as an artificer don't really work either. Ideally a Psion won't recreate what is already done by other classes, but will set itself apart.