D&D (2024) Githzerai Psion? Thri-kreen Psion? Where's My Psion?

[SkidAce]

That was the one I was thinking of, actually. The one that was back in time, with the Tanu and the Firvulag.

Are y'all talking about Julian May's books?

 

[Corinnguard]

That was the one I was thinking of, actually. The one that was back in time, with the Tanu and the Firvulag.

The Saga of the Pliocene Exile could have been made into a D&D setting. You've got the Tanu, who are psionic elves that need a psionic amplifier in order to use their psionic abilities. And then you got the Firvulag who are composed of psionic dwarves, ogres, goblins and giants. Human/Tanu hybrids are the Half-Elves.

 

[Corinnguard]

Are y'all talking about Julian May's books?

Yes.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There was no sorcerer until 3e. Why should they exist? I mean, they practically use all the same spells!

I like sorcerers, but I hope you see my point.

The answer is simple. They shouldn't. And I'm of the opinion that Barbarian should be a fighter subclass.

 

[SkidAce]

Yes.

I really use some of that flavor in my DnD campaign. Remember that ruby colored lance that blew apart the Straits of Gilbralter?

My "Ancient Ones/Elder Race" has psi tech like that.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I have never suggested it has no reason to exist. I have suggested it needs to be given one, because as it stands it's just magic with the numbers filed off, and the age of 60s pop culture pseudoscience has long passed. Pathfinder recognised this a decade or so ago.

You cannot use a circular "its psionics" explanation, relying on something that was part of D&D over a decade ago, and expect current players to know WTF you are talking about. You might as well say "well it's Boobtwizzles, obviously, everyone knows what that is!"

You don't think current D&D players understand the concept of psychics and mental powers?

 

[TwoSix]

The Saga of the Pliocene Exile could have been made into a D&D setting. You've got the Tanu, who are psionic elves that need a psionic amplifier in order to use their psionic abilities. And then you got the Firvulag who are composed of psionic dwarves, ogres, goblins and giants. Human/Tanu hybrids are the Half-Elves.

Exactly right. To this day, I run goblinoids in my settings as pseudo-Firvulags, with a strong focus on illusions and trickery. And I generally display elves as not very common due to not having their own children, but half-elves are much more common, just like the human-Tanu hybrids.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Are y'all talking about Julian May's books?

I mean, this just emphasises how badly dated the whole psionics concept is. I read those books when I was at school, and haven't heard them mentioned since.

A place could be made for it, but a proper, solid answer to "what is psionics?" is needed.

 

[Corinnguard]

The answer is simple. They shouldn't. And I'm of the opinion that Barbarian should be a fighter subclass.

But they did. 3e originally had them being the poor man's wizard because the class didn't have much going towards it compared to the 3e wizard. It wasn't until Pathfinder 1st edition introduced sorcerer bloodlines that the class began to shine a bit. Pathfinder 2nd edition took the bloodlines and began to give them each kind of magic in that RPG. So, now PF2 has arcane sorcerers, divine sorcerers, primal sorcerers and occult sorcerers.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

You don't think current D&D players understand the concept of psychics and mental powers?

No. Not part of current pop culture. Magic is, but not magic that can be explained by pseudoscience. Magic is just magic.