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.

 

[Micah Sweet]

As I said, you can only do that because the different factions already exist and in the setting. If you want to come up with ten different backgrounds each of which is tied to a specific talent it’s going to take a huge amount of setting-specific world building.

It also contradicts the idea of the talent being wild, which in this context means random.

Rules are only true until they are not.

Who doesn't love setting-specific world building? I do it all the time!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Who doesn't love setting-specific world building? I do it all the time!

Sure, but psionics is a general system, it’s not setting-specific.

They can’t introduce it as “only works in this setting”. You can add setting specific stuff later.

 

[Corinnguard]

They're so easy to make, people should just -do it-!

Cultures are so incredibly easy to go bespoke on, too.

Any chance you could craft a Dragonborn culture based off of the Draconic Nations sidebar in the Adventurers' Guide? Inquiring Dragonborn fans want to know.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Sure, but psionics is a general system, it’s not setting-specific.

They can’t introduce it as “only works in this setting”. You can add setting specific stuff later.

Good point. I was moving on from WotC's plans, but I suppose that's what this is supposed to be about.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Any chance you could craft a Dragonborn culture based off of the Draconic Nations sidebar in the Adventurers' Guide? Inquiring Dragonborn fans want to know.

That would be a fun project. Maybe I'll do it after I finish my Voidrunner's starfighter design system.

 

[Corinnguard]

That would be a fun project. Maybe I'll do it after I finish my Voidrunner's starfighter design system.

Cool. I have been wondering about some of the Dragonborn cultures in D&D for a while now. You've got the Dragonborn from the continent of Argonessen who have something like the Dragonbound culture. Then there are the Dragonborn of Q'barra in the Eberron setting and from the Draconic nation of Tymanther on Toril in the FR setting. The latter could be a reskin of A5e's Imperial culture.

 

[Steampunkette]

Any chance you could craft a Dragonborn culture based off of the Draconic Nations sidebar in the Adventurers' Guide? Inquiring Dragonborn fans want to know.

Brundisi
An age and an age ago, the great bronze dragon Milgryandixac founded a nation known as Brundisium in the seaside cliffs of Ahwalo. Brundisium began as a city-state devoted to Milgryandixac, a place of great wealth and amassed fortunes, in truth what he sought to hoard was family, and friendship, as he learned in his many centuries of adventuring among the mortal peoples of Ahwalo. But the legacy he left behind continued. And the many Brundisi dragonborn welcomed friends of other nations and states into what became a great melting pot.

Increase Hoard: Choose a willing creature within 30ft. After performing a 10 minute ritual, you mark them as a true friend. While within 5ft of a true friend, you and your true friend can share saving throw results with one another as a reaction. You may only mark a true friend once per long rest, and you may only have a number of true friends equal to your proficiency modifier.

Wealth of Brundisium: When you and a true friend take the same, or complimentary, journey activities you may provide expertise to your true friend's roll. An example might be busking while your friend performs the rob action.

Something like that, or more of a "Generic Draconic Nation" culture?

 

[Corinnguard]

Brundisi
An age and an age ago, the great bronze dragon Milgryandixac founded a nation known as Brundisium in the seaside cliffs of Ahwalo. Brundisium began as a city-state devoted to Milgryandixac, a place of great wealth and amassed fortunes, in truth what he sought to hoard was family, and friendship, as he learned in his many centuries of adventuring among the mortal peoples of Ahwalo. But the legacy he left behind continued. And the many Brundisi dragonborn welcomed friends of other nations and states into what became a great melting pot.

Increase Hoard: Choose a willing creature within 30ft. After performing a 10 minute ritual, you mark them as a true friend. While within 5ft of a true friend, you and your true friend can share saving throw results with one another as a reaction. You may only mark a true friend once per long rest, and you may only have a number of true friends equal to your proficiency modifier.

Wealth of Brundisium: When you and a true friend take the same, or complimentary, journey activities you may provide expertise to your true friend's roll. An example might be busking while your friend performs the rob action.

Something like that, or more of a "Generic Draconic Nation" culture?

Generic Draconic Nation.

 

[Steampunkette]

Generic Draconic Nation.

So something like...

Dragonlands Dweller
The Dragonlands is a broad term to describe the desolation many dragons leave behind in their former hunting grounds before they move on. But these lands are often occupied by those the dragon leaves behind. Dragonborn, kobolds, and other dragon-blooded peoples are all too often abandoned by their progenitor and forced to pick up the pieces. In time the lands, and the people, heal from what was done. And the surviving culture tends to take up a more militant cast, ever ready to repel dragons that might seek what they see as an empty throne, or an already established lair.

Draconic Knowledge: Raised in dragonlands, you were educated early, and often, about the dangers of dragons. When you make any knowledge check related to dragons you gain expertise.

Dragonsbane Warder: Like most, you were prepared to deal with the dangers dragons pose. And while not flawless, the techniques you learned to protect yourself are broadly applicable. You gain expertise on saving throws against breath weapons.

Dragonlands Clan: Choose between the following options to represent your clan status.

• Dwellerclan: You were born to the primary clan, or one of the long-established clans, of the dragonlands. Your regal mien allows you expertise on checks to convince someone of your importance.
• Orphaned Clan: You were born to an outcast or orphaned clan of the dragonlands. Often underestimated, you gain expertise on checks to convince someone you are not a threat to them.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I'm aware of the scientific use, and you are right, it is more accurate to say "it is used in a racist and derogatory way", particularly when applied to people (all humans being the same species). In the correct usage "sub" does not mean "lesser than", but it is still often used in that way.

I agree, using species causes problems too. Particularly in that is invokes "science" that is poorly understood. All dogs belong to the same species (canis lupus familiaris) despite massive variation in characteristics.

Your position is rational and consistent then, and I don't entirely disagree - I was slightly surprised "species" became the popular term like "folk" or "ancestry" or similar, because it is one of the more potentially problematic terms (and is also used scientifically inaccurately!).