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.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I don't think you're crazy, I just think you're wrong. The psion is going to be a centerpiece of the book it's in (much like the artificer is with the Eberron book), and it makes more sense in a setting where psionics is strongly setting-thematic (like Dark Sun, or Eberron to a lesser extent). And that's assuming that it's going in a setting book rather than an "Everything" book like Xanathar's and Tasha's.

The FR players book that's coming has better and more setting-tied content to include.

Your probably right, I just think there are some arguments in favour of it being in FR, more then folks expect, and more then say DL or GH.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Your probably right, I just think there are some arguments in favour of it being in FR, more then folks expect, and more then say DL or GH.

I could see a "Species Paragon" background which carries an emphasis on characters who happen to be the fullest expression of both their physiology and the general expectations that most members of that species have for "their own", as it were.

Then you could have a list of all the "<Species> Paragon Benefits" for all the different options, with "guidance" for what to do for a species that isn't listed. (Quotes because I have zero confidence in WotC's ability to write actually good guidance of any kind, let alone for this, but still.)

 

[Henadic Theologian]

For FR feats I think they will centre on Factions/Circle Casting/The 5 Regions of the FRAG/Epic Boon Feats

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There are two FR books. The subclasses go in the players book, psionics goes in the DM's book. Just a suggestion. Psionics was on the DM's side of the screen in 1st edition.

 

[GarrettKP]

If anyone thinks I'm crazy for suggesting the Psion could be for the FR book, remember the Knowledge Domain is getting a Psionic Themed overhaul in the book, at least based on the UA.

Also FR is one of the few settings with a none monstrous God of Psionics.

We don’t think you’re crazy because Psionics don’t fit in FR. We think you’re crazy because there is simply no way for them to playtest a full class in time for a 2025 release.

This isn’t a subclass where you can make minor tweaks and throw it in, this is a full base class they have to get right before dedicating multiple pages to. This is for 2026 at the earliest.

 

[Steampunkette]

The closest thing to the Ghostwise Halflings in Level Up are Halflings with the Twilight-Touched heritage gift.

Twilight-Touched​

You are blanched of both emotion and color with wide, alarmingly pure white eyes, and skin that is either starkly pallid or disquietingly sallow. There’s no hair at all atop your head or you have only a few bedraggled locks of hair. You form stronger communal bonds than other halflings, and can speak without the need for words. You have the following traits:

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 30 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Telepathy. You can speak telepathically to any creature within 30 feet of you that you can see. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time.

Currently, sure. And you're not likely to ever see "Ghostwise Halfling" culture because the law suit would be immediate and overwhelming!

But if enough people want it you might see a "Serial Numbers Filed Off" version that fits better in a GPG article or something similar.

 

[Corinnguard]

Currently, sure. And you're not likely to ever see "Ghostwise Halfling" culture because the law suit would be immediate and overwhelming!

But if enough people want it you might see a "Serial Numbers Filed Off" version that fits better in a GPG article or something similar.

Okay. So, we need a shadowy-like culture that lurks in out-of-the-way places then. Everyone has heard rumors of such a culture, but no one is quite convinced that it is real.

Such a culture might be hidden thanks to psionics.

 

[Steampunkette]

Okay. So, we need a shadowy-like culture that lurks in out-of-the-way places then. Everyone has heard rumors of such a culture, but no one is quite convinced that it is real.

Something like...

Ghosts of the Wildlands Culture:
Your people hide in the old growth forests furthest from civilized lands. Discreet and careful, your people have long excised themselves from the cities and villages near to lakes and coastlines, and have learned to live in harmony with nature itself. Whether hidden in deciduous forests or tropical ones, your isolationist nature has earned your people a reputation for being ghosts between the trees. Many believe you do not exist at all.

Wild Ghost: Your people are very careful to keep hidden when other peoples are about. You gain proficiency in Stealth and expertise in Camouflage.

Telepathy: The silent closeness of your community results in a natural form of telepathy between you and your compatriots that you can briefly extend to others. You gain telepathy with a range of 30ft. You and your target do not need to share a language to communicate, but must possess at least one language to respond.

 

[Corinnguard]

Something like...

Ghosts of the Wildlands Culture:
Your people hide in the old growth forests furthest from civilized lands. Discreet and careful, your people have long excised themselves from the cities and villages near to lakes and coastlines, and have learned to live in harmony with nature itself. Whether hidden in deciduous forests or tropical ones, your isolationist nature has earned your people a reputation for being ghosts between the trees. Many believe you do not exist at all.

Wild Ghost: Your people are very careful to keep hidden when other peoples are about. You gain proficiency in Stealth and expertise in Camouflage.

Telepathy: The silent closeness of your community results in a natural form of telepathy between you and your compatriots that you can briefly extend to others. You gain telepathy with a range of 30ft. You and your target do not need to share a language to communicate, but must possess at least one language to respond.

Bullseye! You nailed it. This needs to be an official Level Up/3pp culture.

 

[Parmandur]

I think @Henadic Theologian may be right. Not that psionics is particularly associated with the FR, but because its not. WotC, based on past experience, have to take into account that the psion might not make it out the door. So they wouldn't want to base a whole book around it, that would then have to be cancelled. Slipping it as an aside into an unrelated book means it can be cut or replaced (e.g. with a warlord) without commercial consequences. It can always be reprinted elsewhere later. And they are not going to sink time and money into Dark Sun until they know the have an acceptable psion to work with.

I could be wrong, WotC don't exactly have a good track record of smart commercial decisions, but its an approach that makes sense to me.

They also have a track record of busting out UA for things that might fail earlier in a product's development...