D&D 5E In your Years of Gaming, How many Psionic Characters did you See played

[Aldarc]

I could get on board with that, (it also tracks nicely with the 4E idea of psionics as "nature's immune response to an unnatural presence") if psionic use wasn't so integrated into the populace as a whole and used so frequently in the city-states. Like if psionics was something of the "outside" (reinforcing the safer but subjugated aspect of the city-states versus the dangerous but free aspect of the wilds), and if you spent enough time out there, you might also develop those kinds of powers.

As it turns out, people are creatures who live on Athas too.

I'd also like psionics better if that was the power being nurtured by the Veiled Alliance in opposition to the arcane power of the sorcerer-kings. I guess I'd just like it to be integrated into the thematic conflicts of the setting, somehow. To me, it feels like a sort of background story in the setting, and it isn't really reinforcing anything.

Not sure if I would call it "backdrop" when it's as ubiquitous in use as it is on Athas, as you even suggest earlier. I think that it reinforces that Athas feels alien and other, that other powers developed as a response to the dangers of arcane magic.

 

[TwoSix]

As it turns out, people are creatures who live on Athas too.

Well, yes, that's true. But I was thinking more of it using to reinforce a "Civilization versus Nature" thematic. Like, say, elves and thri-kreen and other races more associated with the wilds than with the city-states are generally much more competent with psionics. Maybe the essence of plants that grow in the deep desert can grant psionic ability, which makes them valuable commodities in the city-states.

Hmm...maybe since arcane power damages nature, maybe it also suppresses psionics (which are a natural phenomenon). Psionic use in the city-states is much more erratic and rare to arise because the arcane aura of the sorcerer-kings keeps it from growing. And maybe the Veiled Alliance is about using careful arcane techniques to suppress that arcane aura (preserving as a sort of "counter-magic", focused on abjuration) that allow psionics to grow.

Not sure if I would call it "backdrop" when it's as ubiquitous in use as it is on Athas, as you even suggest earlier. I think that it reinforces that Athas feels alien and other, that other powers developed as a response to the dangers of arcane magic.

Sure. I just want to emphasize that I'm not trying to argue what I think Dark Sun was previously, or even what I think Dark Sun should be published as (any Dark Sun book should obviously use psionics); I'm just interested in some recontextualization that would make the setting emphasize what I view as its central conceits more strongly for my own head canon.

 

[Fenris-77]

head canon.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Helldritch]

Almost never had psionics in my games. I saw maybe 3 or 4 characters with them in 1ed. We did a one shot campaign in DS back in the days and it convinced me that psionics were not for me. We tried it again in 3.xed and it confirmed again that I hated psionics. Did not even bothered to buy the PHG with the psionics in it.

But I do get the feeling that they will try again to sell us a psionics themed book for 5ed. I'll have to check it if it is done to my taste but I seriously doubt this will be the case. If a player wants to play a psionic character I will certainly give it a shot but it will be a cautious move.

 

[Maxperson]

Not sure if I would call it "backdrop" when it's as ubiquitous in use as it is on Athas, as you even suggest earlier. I think that it reinforces that Athas feels alien and other, that other powers developed as a response to the dangers of arcane magic.

Athas is a scorched planet with a red sun. I always took the prevalence of psionics to be the result of increased solar radiation or something. Someone made the analogy of Dark Sun being the fantasy equivalent of Gamma World and I think that is accurate. Post apocalyptic, but an apocalypse of a different sort with different kinds of "mutations."

 

[TwoSix]

Athas is a scorched planet with a red sun. I always took the prevalence of psionics to be the result of increased solar radiation or something. Someone made the analogy of Dark Sun being the fantasy equivalent of Gamma World and I think that is accurate. Post apocalyptic, but an apocalypse of a different sort with different kinds of "mutations."

That does make sense, Dark Sun is almost certainly TSR's take on the planetary romance genre, and science-fantasy aspects like psychic powers and mutations are definitely apropos. It's just, personally, the aspect of Dark Sun I find the least interesting. I much prefer the idea of Dark Sun as "darkest timeline D&D" as 4e presented it as.

 

[Lanefan]

Hmm...maybe since arcane power damages nature, maybe it also suppresses psionics (which are a natural phenomenon).

This is a really cool idea in a bigger way than just Dark Sun.

Thanks!

 

[Hussar]

/snip
You will never get a reasonable conversation from a man who has already set their mind against being reasoned with.

LOL. Dude, that's pretty uncool.

Ok, let's slap things side by side. You've already just admitted that Dark Sun and psionics are pretty much Gnome Effect territory. Like gnomes, they aren't very popular, aren't actually used all that much, but, because there is a really vocal, albeit really small, number of fans, they should be catered to, just like gnome fans.

However, unlike gnome fans, who got, what, a couple of pages in the PHB, you want an entire setting, complete with a new ruleset, new classes, and new mechanics. And, you figure that this is a good idea because a small number of people actually will use any of it?

And the evidence for this is that Dark Sun, according to your own polls, is almost as popular as a couple of other settings, and a totally biased poll where the only question is, "Would you buy this if it was available"? Never minding that you could reword that poll to say ANYTHING and get the exact same results. It's not that 75% of En Worlders would buy Dark Sun, it's that you could get a poll on En World to say that 75% of En Worlders would buy just about anything.

But, I'm the one being totally unreasonable? Your strongest argument is that we should have psionics because... reasons? That has apparently morphed into we should have Dark Sun which needs psionics. Again, because... reasons?

Well, they're about to announce a new series of books in a couple of weeks. Anyone want to bet that it is Dark Sun and/or psionics rules? I mean, if Dark Sun and psionics are such a slam dunk, then you should be confident that we'll see the rules this year, right?

Oh, but, I'm the one being unreasonable.

 

[Maxperson]

LOL. Dude, that's pretty uncool.

Ok, let's slap things side by side. You've already just admitted that Dark Sun and psionics are pretty much Gnome Effect territory. Like gnomes, they aren't very popular, aren't actually used all that much, but, because there is a really vocal, albeit really small, number of fans, they should be catered to, just like gnome fans.

However, unlike gnome fans, who got, what, a couple of pages in the PHB, you want an entire setting, complete with a new ruleset, new classes, and new mechanics. And, you figure that this is a good idea because a small number of people actually will use any of it?

And the evidence for this is that Dark Sun, according to your own polls, is almost as popular as a couple of other settings, and a totally biased poll where the only question is, "Would you buy this if it was available"? Never minding that you could reword that poll to say ANYTHING and get the exact same results. It's not that 75% of En Worlders would buy Dark Sun, it's that you could get a poll on En World to say that 75% of En Worlders would buy just about anything.

But, I'm the one being totally unreasonable? Your strongest argument is that we should have psionics because... reasons? That has apparently morphed into we should have Dark Sun which needs psionics. Again, because... reasons?

Well, they're about to announce a new series of books in a couple of weeks. Anyone want to bet that it is Dark Sun and/or psionics rules? I mean, if Dark Sun and psionics are such a slam dunk, then you should be confident that we'll see the rules this year, right?

Oh, but, I'm the one being unreasonable.

I've seen several times more psionic characters than gnomes.

 

[Hussar]

I've seen several times more psionic characters than gnomes.

Sigh.

Dude, it's NOT ABOUT YOUR TABLE. It really, really isn't. Like I said, I would buy a Darksun adventure path style 5e book in a heartbeat. Would be so cool. Excellent setting, tons of flavor, cool monsters. What's not to like? I'm most certainly part of that 75% that would buy the book. Not a huge fan of psionics, but, it does fit nicely with the setting, so, groovy. Fantastic.

BUT, and here's the kicker, I don't pretend that my personal preferences matter one whit. What I want and what's going to come down the pipe are two totally different things. Because, frankly, what I like, and what sells are very much not the same thing. I don't pretend that my personal preferences are any sort of sign of quality or attractiveness to potential buyers.

Which is why I put up this poll. Half of the respondents have either never or almost never seen psionics used in the game and 75% would range from 0 to about 8%. Most definitely in gnome country. And, instead of saying that this proves anything, I pointed out that this information dovetails with the history of the game where there are exceptionally few psionic adventures (and, while, yes there are a few for Dark Sun, name 3 psionic adventures outside of that setting without going to Google ), none of the settings (again outside of Dark Sun) particularly lean on psionics and, frankly, psionics has been a very small niche at best in published material.

So, it's no surprise to me that very few people see psionics at their table. I'd be shocked if it were otherwise. And, because so few people actually see psionics at their tables, I'd be somewhat surprised if WotC decided to cater to those that did see psionics ahead of other potential options like planar travel.

But, again, time will tell. Maybe I'm totally wrong and WotC's priming the pump with the Unearthed Arcana articles. Could possibly be.