Unearthed Arcana Why UA Psionics are never going to work in 5e.

[Hussar]

When? In the 50 years that I've been alive, I've heard the term used countless times and not once.......not one single time has it ever been used in a derogatory manner within my hearing.

Note, that within SF circles, Sci-Fi can be a derogatory term. He's not wrong.

Me, I blame Harlan Elison.

 

[Fenris-77]

Note, that within SF circles, Sci-Fi can be a derogatory term. He's not wrong.

Me, I blame Harlan Elison.

So strange, I've never heard of such a thing. You learn something new every day I guess. Genre fiction does get some unwarranted poo-pooing by a lot of serious literary types of course, that's been true for ages.

 

[Maxperson]

So strange, I've never heard of such a thing. You learn something new every day I guess. Genre fiction does get some unwarranted poo-pooing by a lot of serious literary types of course, that's been true for ages.

It can't be that widespread or the scifi channel, which used that name for many years, would not have used it. It's still syfy, which is the same thing with a different spelling.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

It can't be that widespread or the scifi channel, which used that name for many years, would not have used it. It's still syfy, which is the same thing with a different spelling.

It literally changed it's name partially to avoid the stigma of sci-fi.

 

[Fenris-77]

It can't be that widespread or the scifi channel, which used that name for many years, would not have used it. It's still syfy, which is the same thing with a different spelling.

I suspect this is something held dear by sci-fi authors rather than something would effect the naming of a channel. I can sympathize with authors who think they are unfairly labelled as 'genre writers' by an establishment that uses labels like that as pejoratives. There's a group for whom popularity and genre are automatic disqualifications from the 'serious' fiction club. Those people suck.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

on topic of the thread, here's another reason why a Psion might not show up.

Meh. We need to ditch spells entirely and have a skill-based psionics system like in the 2E Complete Psionics Handbook. If the psionicist is just another spellcaster, it is not really psionics, is it? It is just magic with crystals and tattoos. No thank you. We need tangents and harbingers, not psionic sorcery.

 

[Maxperson]

on topic of the thread, here's another reason why a Psion might not show up.

Not really. You're going to have a small minority who want that, but the vast majority of people who I've seen in these threads and others want some sort of spell system. 3e had more influence on psionics than 2e did.

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

Not really. You're going to have a small minority who want that, but the vast majority of people who I've seen in these threads and others want some sort of spell system. 3e had more influence on psionics than 2e did.

Can that minority hit 30% though?

 

[Maxperson]

Can that minority hit 30% though?

I seriously doubt it. You don't have to, though. Because even if 30% do want 2e style psionics, that doesn't mean that all or even most of those wouldn't also be happy with something similar to 3e style. I prefer to be given a million dollars. I'd be very happy to be given $100000 euros. People can be okay with more than one style, so simply going by what they ask for as their first choice doesn't tell you the complete story.

 

[Aldarc]

It literally changed it's name partially to avoid the stigma of sci-fi.

Wasn't this around the time that they got onboard with a bunch of non sci-fi programming, such as reality tv?