Alexander123
First Post
I recently ordered the psionics handbook and as I am not familiar with it I wanted to know your opinion of psionics. How powerful is it? Do you use it in your campaign, if not why?
D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 Psionics.
- Thread starter Alexander123
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Corwin of Amber
First Post
I've recently started to use psionics as well, it differs from magic in a few ways. It is not as powerful as Wizards, Clerics, and Druids simply because there aren't as many splat book resources. That said, it only really matters if you play high-op games.
Psionic characters can, essentially, combine low level spell slots into higher level spells; this means that they do buff and blast efficiently.
The lower number of total powers vs spells isn't as crippling as you think, because some 1st level powers can be augmented to the point that they are close to higher level spells. For instance, Energy Arc is the psionic Burning Hands, but it can be augmented so that it takes up enough power to use the resources of a 5th level spell and has the power of Cone of Cold. You can also chose the energy type it uses on manifesting; each type has effects on the damage done or the DC/type of the save.
Psionic characters can, essentially, combine low level spell slots into higher level spells; this means that they do buff and blast efficiently.
The lower number of total powers vs spells isn't as crippling as you think, because some 1st level powers can be augmented to the point that they are close to higher level spells. For instance, Energy Arc is the psionic Burning Hands, but it can be augmented so that it takes up enough power to use the resources of a 5th level spell and has the power of Cone of Cold. You can also chose the energy type it uses on manifesting; each type has effects on the damage done or the DC/type of the save.
Wyvernhand
First Post
Psionics are great. As Corwin said, it doesn't have as many loopholes as magic does. Here's a list of most of the big ones. Other than that, its pretty great.
Its really flexible, such a great system.
Its really flexible, such a great system.
Nifft
Penguin Herder
The book entitled "Psionics Handbook" is 3.0 (not 3.5) and is terrible.
The book entitled "Expanded Psionics Handbook" is 3.5 and is excellent.
You can get most of the value of the latter from the online SRD.
Cheers, -- N
Alexander123
First Post
Can you tell me why the psionics handbook 3.0 is terrible?
Nifft
Penguin Herder
The few parts of it which aren't too weak to live are brokenly strong.
There are detailed reviews out there on the net. I suggest looking into some of them.
Cheers, -- N
Wyvernhand
First Post
Poor execution of mechanics. Also, wierd multiatribute wierdness...
Yea, 3.5 really streamlined the systems. Like, a ton.
Yea, 3.5 really streamlined the systems. Like, a ton.
Corwin of Amber
First Post
All that power... My psionic power will be a god, wearing punpun as a freaking hat. But seriously, nice link.
Tovec
Explorer
To above: Don't forget Complete Psionic, its 3.5 as well.
To OP: I don't allow Psionics in my games anymore after several bad experiences with it. While it doesn't allow the everything power of regular magic, it does allow Psionic classes to blow nearly all their power very quickly, which helps end combat quickly. Its not as effective when you have multiple combats a day, before they can rest, but it is generally much stronger than a regular wizard or sorcerer of the same level when not doing multi-combats a day.
What personally bugs me beyond the simple system of Psionics is that it is just another form of magic, its not power of the mind, not really. I have tried working on new Psionics rules and I will probably introduce them into my games when I get into the beta stage. Psionics should be more like the force and less like magic.
Oh, and IIRC RAW, it doesn't allow magic-psionics transparency, meaning detect magics does not detect psionics. But we always allowed that so you could figure out what was going on.
