D&D 5E Psionics in a sci-fi D&D

[CleverNickName]

I voted "reskin magic" because that's pretty much what the DMG's variant for Spell Points does, and that's what I would use.

 

[Tonguez]

Psion as Warlock with an Alien/Overmind Patron

(In one campaign set on the moons of Jupiter Psions were Official Recordkeepers (Clerks) all linked to the central AI of the Jovian Network.
There was also small elite fighting force of Centurions who were nanite infused and able to use the same network to download enhanced armour and weapons))

 

[Retreater]

Reskinning magic is just filing off the serial numbers. It should feel different, allowing the user more control. So something like augmentation, power points, meditation to regain focus, etc. If it's "just magic" why bother?

 

[overgeeked]

Assuming you accept the premise, would you prefer psionics to be magic reskinned or a totally new system?

Totally new system. Something that abandons the idea of discreet spells and Vancian casting altogether. Simple and flexible. More like a superpower than anything present in D&D. Like telepathy. Instead of an exhaustive list of cans, can'ts, modifiers, etc, it's a broadly defined thing you can do and it's up to the player to be creative with it and the DM to not let it get out of hand. It should be dead simple to use existing mechanics for this. Trying to do a simple surface scan is a save vs your telepathy DC, basically setup the same as a spellcaster's save DC. 8 + modifier + proficiency bonus. Modify from there.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Reskinning magic is just filing off the serial numbers. It should feel different, allowing the user more control. So something like augmentation, power points, meditation to regain focus, etc. If it's "just magic" why bother?

Why bother basing it on D&D if you just throw away significant chunk of the mechanics?

 

[jgsugden]

Psionics in my current campaign are a rough fit as I wait for an official psionics system to emerge.

I have two NPC classes: Psion and Psychic Warrior. Their powers base off of intelligence, but essentially thay are rangers and wizards with the following changes:

1.) Spellpoints from the DMG replace spell slots.
2.) Intelligence is the ability.
3.) Ignore Somatic and Verbal components.
4.) They have a "spell list" that is unique.

Every Psion or Psychic Warrior gets a special ability I rip off from some character in some piece of fiction.

That is a really basic build - but I'd be fine if they adopted something like it just to fill the gap. They've gone too long without a system.

 

[Hussar]

What is there to reskin if spells do everything already? There's no where to go.

If you are determined to have psionics, you have to build off boundaries and capabilities of spells. Unless the goal is to let spell get more versatile and power? Especially if you used 5e where spells can be obtained by characters in a very "liberal" fashion.

You're worried about "psionic" spells being mixed with "magic" spells and creating a more powerful caster? I suppose that's an issue.

I would assume though, that 99% of the psionic "spells" would simply be regular spells anyway. Most of the regular psionic effects already exist as spells in the game, so, it's not like it's a major problem. And, because we're just adding to the magic system, keeping it balanced shouldn't be too difficult. You already have a ready made system for judging the effectiveness of game effects.

If the magic system can cover everything from druids to warlocks - classes which share virtually nothing other than they both cast spells - then covering psionics is a piece of cake. Tailored spell lists, a system for modifying spells on the fly similar to a sorcerer and poof, instant psionicist. Heck, the sorcerer makes a pretty good chassis for doing it.

 

[Laurefindel]

I voted reskin, but I think it depends how much D&D-esque your sci fi D&D aims to be.

The closer the rules are to fantasy D&D, the more I’d lean toward a reskin. The further you go in new class and subclass design, (regular) magic rules or combat rules, the more you could justify a new psionics system IMO.

 

[CleverNickName]

I voted reskin, but I think it depends how much D&D-esque your sci fi D&D aims to be.

And it depends on how compatible you want it to be with 5E products and other 5E systems, like Esper Genesis.

I've run several games with Esper Genesis, and we love it. When I was trying to pitch the idea of a science-fiction RPG to my gaming group, the biggest selling point for Esper Genesis (over Starfinder, or Stars Without Number) was that it used the D&D 5E rules. It meant they didn't have to learn a whole new game system in order to play: they could jump right in with their hit points and armor class and spell slots and wands of magic mis--er, I mean their "powers" and their "laser pistols."

"Laser. Pistols."

 

[Cadence]

Totally new system. Something that abandons the idea of discreet spells and Vancian casting altogether. Simple and flexible. More like a superpower than anything present in D&D. Like telepathy. Instead of an exhaustive list of cans, can'ts, modifiers, etc, it's a broadly defined thing you can do and it's up to the player to be creative with it and the DM to not let it get out of hand. It should be dead simple to use existing mechanics for this. Trying to do a simple surface scan is a save vs your telepathy DC, basically setup the same as a spellcaster's save DC. 8 + modifier + proficiency bonus. Modify from there.

And then can we reskin that so there's a magic version of flexible casting?