Real world? Who knows? Maybe nothing? Perception, the difference between base physics and quantum?
DnD/RPG world? Easier to answer;
Science.*
*don't quote Clarke to me, I was there when it was written. /grin
D&D (2024) What Should a Psion Be Able To Do?
- Thread starter Flights of Fancy
- Start date
DnD/RPG world? Easier to answer;
Science.*
*don't quote Clarke to me, I was there when it was written. /grin
This implies that all talents are wild talents, and that all magic is studied. Those don't track in fiction or D&D.
So what does a world look like that includes both Magic and Psionics. And no Dark Sun -- making magic The Bad is cheating. I mean your typical D&D world that happens to also include psions alongside wizards, clerics and druids. How is that distinct? How does it MATTER?
I might not explained well while being tongue in check.
You asked the difference between science and magic. If there is a difference, in the real world we don't know it.
But in the game world/fiction, magic is magic (studied or not) and psionics is science, or perhaps more clearly...psionics is presumed to have an explanation based on science, i.e. it could be real.
Spock wasnt a wizard. Gandalf was.
(but this is an old debate,, I should not derail the thread)
Scribe
Legend
Science, or a kind of spiritual. There is a whole lot of eastern philosophy/thought in the Psion roots (or Appendix N).
jgsugden
Legend
In D&D, psionic characters should cover the following concepts if they want to fill all the voids in my game:
- Telepath (Professor X)
- Telekinetic (Jean Grey)
- Clairsentience (discovering information by reading auras, seeing through time, etc...)
- Metacreativity (Astral Constructs and other psionic creations - Think Green Lantern)
- Psychometabolism (change your body through mental power - think the movie Lucy)
- Psychportation (Bending time and space)
- Energy Manipulation (Not creating energy as a wizard does by casting a spell, but taking in energy and repurposing it)
- Psychic Illusions (similar to Phantasmal Force, these create an illusion that one targets sees and believes)
- Psionic Artillerists (someone of limited power that uses psionic infused items)
Well, since you asked. (I typed this up in another post a while ago, but i cant find it, so I shall attempt to repeat here)
My world has had psi and magic since 1986. And to be honest, perhaps in your view I cheated, cause I made psionics The Bad.
Basically established two standards for psionics in the world.
a. psionics is evil (its not). But people treat it as such cause they are familiar with spellcasters (to an extent) but being charmed by mental power without sight or sound means the villain could be anyone. Giving, among the basic populace of the world, psionics the "evil, witch, burn it vibe." Example of psionic creatures such as Mind flayers, aboleths, and githyanki didn't help.
b. psionics is enlightenment, the power of the mind and the path to the power of the gods. People believe/worship gods. Sounds like a mental flow of energy to me. And as reality altering beings of power, gods might not encourage mortals learning, or manifesting psionics.
There are places that know better (psionics is neutral like everything else) and a few temples that don't mind.
a.2 wizards don't trust it either. Seems suss to them.
Incenjucar
Legend
Pyrokinesis seems like it would be good for a new "wilder" class that's basically "cursed psionics" a bit like a psi version if Pathfinder's oracles. Also a good place for the abberation-touched flavor.
Flights of Fancy
Candy is King
Hoestly, I don't know. I would have to think a lot more about it, but I will.
CreamCloud0
Hero
typically, it's distinct due to the standard power organizations and techniques of dealing with magic users don't include or work on psionics, this makes it a bit of an X-factor in the world, yes it's just as powerful and does most of the same things as magic and that's part of the point, but it lacks several limitations and doesn't trigger any of the sensors or defences magic usually would, like being able to walk through security with a loaded bandolier of grenades and guns with nary a glance while everyone else gets their weapons taken.
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