D&D Debuts Playtest for Psion Class

Wizards of the Coast is playtesting the Psion class for Dungeons & Dragons. Today, Wizards of the Coast provided a new Unearthed Arcana for the Psion, a new class for the current revised 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The playtest includes base class rules plus four subclasses - the body-shifting Metamorph, the reality warping Psi Warper, the offensive-minded Psykinetic, and the Telepath.

The core mechanic of the Psion involves use of Psion Energy die. Players have a pool of energy dice that replenishes after a Long Rest, with the number and size of the dice determined by the Psion's level. These psion energy dice can either be rolled to increase results of various checks/saving throws or spent to fuel various Psion abilities.

While the Psion and psionics have a long tradition in D&D, they've only received a handful of subclasses in 5th Edition. If the Psion survives playtesting, it would mark the first time that Wizards of the Coast has added a new character class to D&D since the Artificer. Notably, the Psion and psionics are also heavily associated with Dark Sun, a post-apocalyptic campaign setting that many considered to be off the table for Fifth Edition due to the need to update parts of the setting to bring it current with modern sensibilities. However, the introduction of Wild talent feats (which replaces some Origin feats tied to backgrounds with psion-themed Feats) in the UA seems to suggest that Dark Sun is back on the table.

 

[R_J_K75]

The narrative and story of the class.

But up until 3E Psions weren't spellcasters. Making them spellcasters where everyone gets a saving throw vs their manifestations neuters them. It takes away everything that made the class different, powerful and made them feared. Remember running into a psionic class or creature in 1E or 2E and having no defenses against their powers unless you had a spell or magical item that gave you defense? It was scary. That's exactly what I dont like about later editions, especially 5E, they may have slightly different mechanics, but all spell casting classes feel the same regardless of narrative.

 

[DEFCON 1]

But up until 3E Psions weren't spellcasters. Making them spellcasters where everyone gets a saving throw vs their manifestations neuters them. It takes away everything that made the class different, powerful and made them feared. Remember running into a psionic class or creature in 1E or 2E and having no defenses against their powers unless you had a spell or magical item that gave you defense? It was scary. That's exactly what I dont like about later editions, especially 5E, they may have slightly different mechanics, but all spell casting classes feel the same regardless of narrative.

Don't play 5E then. If you want scary 1E psionics, play 1E. But if you ARE going to play 5E... then you gotta dance with the date that brought you.

 

[R_J_K75]

Don't play 5E then.

I recently stopped, and I don't see myself ever playing 5E again. Does that mean I can't have an opinion, comment on 5E threads or follow what's happening with the edition?

 

[DEFCON 1]

I recently stopped, and I don't see myself ever playing 5E again. Does that mean I can't have an opinion, comment on 5E threads or follow what's happening with the edition?

Of course you can have an opinion. But you asked a question and I answered it. If you didn't want the conversation to continue past that you shouldn't have bothered to respond back.

If a person lays out what they want to be a rhetorical question but people keep responding to it... then that person should actually treat it as a rhetorical question themselves and let it go.

 

[FoolishFrost]

I feel this increases the chances of Dark Sun rather significantly?

Not even a little bit. While I love dark Sun as a setting and flavor of D&D, it's pure poison in the current social climate. Even if they reuse the name, it will not be the dark Sun that was originally created.

Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but it's one that has been touched on several times in the past.

 

[Maxperson]

Also, another thing that came up; the "crystalline entity" being summoned by the summon astral entity spell makes me think we may see Shardminds as a race/species in whatever splatbook the psion also appears in.

It made me think of this.

 

[humble minion]

I’m not going to be able to look at this for a day or so, but I’m honestly surprised and very happy that they’re trying.

 

[Minigiant]

Like I said, some people just really want WotC to do these things for them.

I think many people wonder rather trust something as big as a class is heavily playtested or come from a decently trusted source before they inject it into their games.

And with psionics' history, I don't blame weariness on that side.

 

[R_J_K75]

Of course you can have an opinion. But you asked a question and I answered it. If you didn't want the conversation to continue past that you shouldn't have bothered to respond back.

If a person lays out what they want to be a rhetorical question but people keep responding to it... then that person should actually treat it as a rhetorical question themselves and let it go.

Fair enough, you're right I did ask the question, so let's leave it at that.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Yeah, very interested to see what 10 Backgrounds they have in mind for these...

If not full 10, I could see maybe just 3. Energy manipulation background (pick from the 3), body manipulation background (pick from the 3), thought manipulation background (pick from the 4). Flavor each background thoroughly better than the plain grouping.