D&D 5E Psionics in Tasha

[Mistwell]

Nonsense. Many systems could support both interpretations. In fact, all psionics systems used in the past could.

Not really, no. The Deryni system was not well supported after 1e.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Not really, no. The Deryni system was not well supported after 1e.

One could use those systems and see psionics as scientific or mystical in nature, in my opinion, it’s hard to deny. That being said, if you expect D&D to be the Katherine Kurtz game, you’re bond to be disappointed.

 

[Mistwell]

One could use those systems and see psionics as scientific or mystical in nature, in my opinion, it’s hard to deny. That being said, if you expect D&D to be the Katherine Kurtz game, you’re bond to be disappointed.

I am denying it. I don't think it did both well enough. You do, but we now have something objective from WOTC saying there just wasn't that consensus that it was satisfying enough for enough people.

Psionics wasn't popular in most editions, and I think we now know why. Whichever path it took, it was dissatisfying to those who liked another path.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I am denying it. I don't think it did both well enough. You do, but we now have something objective from WOTC saying there just wasn't that consensus that it was satisfying enough for enough people.

No, WOTC only told us that people did not like any of the playtest systems. They didn’t say anything about the nature of psionics.

 

[Retreater]

Well, this is just looking more uninspired with each preview they're releasing.
If this is their answer to psionics, I shudder to see what a 5e Dark Sun would look like.
I would wager several folks on these boards could homebrew something more evocative and creative in a weekend.

 

[Mistwell]

No, WOTC only told us that people did not like any of the playtest systems. They didn’t say anything about the nature of psionics.

Yeah OK. We view that differently too. I think this is their admission that it cannot do both, but at least the spell system was good enough for a good enough share of people playing right now.

 

[Maxperson]

I mean, I’m with y’all in thinking a unique psionics subsystem would be preferable to psionic spells. But that ship sailed when we couldn’t settle on a psionic class we liked in the playtest. Nobody could agree what we wanted out of psionics then, so we got psionic spells in the monster manual and a vague promise that they would come up with proper psionics “eventually.” If it wasn’t obvious then that such a system would never materialize, I don’t know what to tell you.

WotC blew it with how they polled people. If they went with a rankings poll for the various systems, I think they would have found that a lot of people had a favorite, then one that they liked, but less, and probably one they still liked, but even less. If you add together all the like sort ofs, likes, and like a lots for each psionic attempt, you probably could have gotten to 70% for at least one of the systems. Instead they just polled them all independently and threw their arms up in the air.

 

[Todd Roybark]

Psionics always seemed grafted onto Dark Sun. If you weren't playing a Psioncist, you basically just got extra powers.

To me the Defiler/Preserver divide was the interesting facet of the setting.

The Dragonmarked races of Eberron show a possible route that can be taken, to make setting specific options.

 

[cbwjm]

I do drink, but I think tequila tastes like alcohol that was distilled from dirty socks.

This is an apt description for cheap tequila (though I just drink the shot and don't worry about salt and lemon) and I probably would have thought the same of tequila in general but there is some really nice tequila out there that tastes incredible. 1800 tequila is one I'd rate highly.

 

[cbwjm]

Honestly, considering all of the attempts that WotC has done to create a psionics system and each of them being shot down, I think that if this is what they are going with then good. Psionics fans around the world couldn't agree with a system so now they have to take what they can get. Part of the feedback I recall was that players didn't want to learn a new system (mystic, the die rolling mechanic) so spell slots it is!