3PP Release (3rd Party Book Release) Paranormal Power: A Psionics Option for 5e and A5e, written by Steampunkette!

[WanderingMystic]

@zen_cat since mind strike is a bonus action I don't think the ability like a bladesinger is nessisary

 

[WanderingMystic]

Do the the basic powers of body manipulation have any duration or have concentration because as written I don't see the benefit of getting +15ft reach by spending your action, or not having to squeeze when you could just double move.

 

[zen_cat]

@zen_cat since mind strike is a bonus action I don't think the ability like a bladesinger is nessisary

I totally missed Mind Strike being a bonus action. That's... pretty effective at level 1.

 

[WanderingMystic]

It makes for a nice 1 level dip but it doesn't do much damage especially at first level.

 

[Steampunkette]

Hi! I have some questions and feedback

Questions:
p.13 - Psychic Focus - This power refers to a 'chosen discipline'. Does this mean the discipline associated with the power chosen at 1st level (I'd actually prefer to see the player just choose one rather than linking them)? Also, when you expend your psychic focus with a power, do you loose the specific benefit like 120ft Telepathy until it's regained?

You pick one to use when you activate your Psychic Focus by picking a discipline. And yes, you lose that benefit when you expend your psionic focus, too. Makes it a cost-benefit analysis situation!

p.14 - Boggle Mind - When you use this on a creature for a second time, do they become Rattled instead of Frightened, or Rattled as well as Frightened?

Rattled instead of Frightened. Basically it loses some of it's power.

p.14 - Fling Foe - Am I correct in thinking that you can move the first creature without them getting a save? For example, can I toss a Lich into a sphere of annihilation or off a cliff without it being able to resist?

I should add a save...

p.14 - Psychic Scream - If I'm reading this correctly, I can use it on my allies to cancel the 'Frightened' or 'Rattled' conditions at the cost of them taking a small amount of damage? Or is it that you can cancel the condition on yourself and potentially inflict it on your foes? If so, does it only apply those conditions if you have one yourself that gets cancelled?

It wouldn't be a small amount of damage, but yes. It only applies those status effects to your foes if you currently have them.

Feedback:
Please accept the below in the constructive spirit in which they are intended. Firstly let me complement you on the psi-dice that don't automatically get spent when you use powers. It's much more interesting to me than a resource pool that you expend in a linear fashion. I also like that you recover them by spending Hit Dice on a short rest, and entirely on a long rest - it strikes the right balance between the rapid recovery of a warlock and the full recovery of other spellcasters. I also like the structure of the psychic powers, providing different uses with different expenditures. It seems thematic to me.

p.7 - Mind of Mayhem - In my experience the word 'Impossible' leads to nerds arguing. I'd update the Nedraz ability to use the same language as Intellect Fortress.

Definitely a consideration!

p.13 - Psychometry - Love this power, and I can see the benefit in the 'Places' and 'Things' options. The 'People' option seems less useful than the other two though. Casting Speak with Dead as a ritual takes 10 minutes, and most people aren't going to want you to be in physical contact with them for that long unless they are a friend. I'd love to see this power changed similar to the other two where there is a list of information you can get by touching them (eg a handshake) - would be great for roleplay.

I suppose I should/could shorten it to "As if you had cast Speak with Dead" or something similar.

p.14 - Choking Grasp - The Restrained condition seems very powerful; all my allies get advantage for the rest of the round, friendly rogues can sneak attack, and the target can't move and makes attacks and reflex saves at disadvantage. I'd recommend the 'Grappled' condition instead, since it doesn't hamstring the bad guys quite so badly.

Worth considering!

p.14 - Id Insinuation - I love the reference to the old school psionic power, but I feel this needs some tweaking. The first line of the description makes it seem more about insight than influencing others. As written, as long as I relate my lies, coercions, or persuasions to a base desire (which I think I could do most of the time), I always get to re-roll these three skills. The power isn't bad or unbalance, but I feel something simpler like gaining expertise on these three skills, unless the target is immune to psychic damage, might be less open to interpretation. Appealing to base desires could still go in the descriptive text for it.

I'll look at it!

p.15 - Mind Over Matter - I appreciate the aesthetic but I think this might be too strong. As a reaction being able to immediately spend Hit Dice to gain back Hit Points and Psychic Dice would seem more reasonable to me.

Maybe. It is supposed to be a capstone, though.

p.15 - Clairvoyance - I think that anything which blocks Scrying should also block this too. I know the GM can just make that ruling, but I always prefer it when sensible limitations are in the base text.

Definitely a consideration.

p.20 - Psychic Warrior - This is the main reason I bought the book. I'd really like to see access to at least one other combat tradition other than awakened mind. As it currently stands, I'd only ever build a psychic warrior by first taking a level in fighter so that I got all armour and martial proficiencies, two extra traditions, etc, which I'd then be able to use with the Psychic Warrior levels. I think if the Psychic Warrior had +1 other Combat Tradition, and either heavy armour or a mage armour equivalent (like Bladesinger), it would make more sense to have a pure Esper build. I'd also like to see the requirement to have a zero pool in Mind and Body go, since I can't guarantee emptying a psi dice pool on any given round, and the ability is already protected from abuse by it's limit of once per long rest. Lastly, if you look at the extra attack feature that Bladesingers get, it allows them to cast a cantrip instead of one of the attacks - I'd love a similar mechanic for psychic warriors, perhaps with a limitation on attack modes.

Since Mind Strike is a bonus action, you can Extra Attack and Mind Strike in the same turn, already. The others I'll look at. Thank you for your feedback! It's all useful.

Do the the basic powers of body manipulation have any duration or have concentration because as written I don't see the benefit of getting +15ft reach by spending your action, or not having to squeeze when you could just double move.

Will make sure it's clearly added!

 

[zen_cat]

Since Mind Strike is a bonus action, you can Extra Attack and Mind Strike in the same turn, already. The others I'll look at. Thank you for your feedback! It's all useful.

Thanks for being so open to feedback. I'm a hardcover backer, and I certainly don't mind waiting to get the print copy right.

 

[Steampunkette]

How's this, @zen_cat ?

It still doesn't give you heavy armor, but it does give you some MAD consolidation for Finesse Weapons, Ranged Weapons, and Light/Medium armor.

Also yanked out the "Empty Pool" requisite.

 

[WanderingMystic]

How's this, @zen_cat ?

View attachment 274536
It still doesn't give you heavy armor, but it does give you some MAD consolidation for Finesse Weapons, Ranged Weapons, and Light/Medium armor.

Also yanked out the "Empty Pool" requisite.

That is a great ability and helps to fit anyone who wants a Jedi type character

 

[zen_cat]

How's this, @zen_cat ?

View attachment 274536
It still doesn't give you heavy armor, but it does give you some MAD consolidation for Finesse Weapons, Ranged Weapons, and Light/Medium armor.

Also yanked out the "Empty Pool" requisite.

That was quick! I think INT to Hit and AC might be sending the class off in a different direction. My comments about Heavy Armour or a Mage armour equivalent are to enable a psychic warrior with Strength or Dex. If INT does everything, I'm going to focus on that exclusively. I'd still prefer an option that gives you a base AC of 13 (such as whilst you retain psychic focus, or an ability like the Barbarian's Unarmoured defence), which would enable a DEX fighter, or a Heavy Armour option for STR fighters.

Two tangential thoughts also occurred to me whilst writing this. How is Barbarian rage going to affect ongoing Psychic powers if you are multiclassed? Secondly, if Choking Grasp stays as putting the 'Restrained' condition an enemy, it would make sense to use it as a bonus action each round so that you got advantage on your successive attacks... yeah, I think grappled would definitely be better.

 

[zen_cat]

That was quick! I think INT to Hit and AC might be sending the class off in a different direction. My comments about Heavy Armour or a Mage armour equivalent are to enable a psychic warrior with Strength or Dex. If INT does everything, I'm going to focus on that exclusively. I'd still prefer an option that gives you a base AC of 13 (such as whilst you retain psychic focus, or an ability like the Barbarian's Unarmoured defence), which would enable a DEX fighter, or a Heavy Armour option for STR fighters.

Two tangential thoughts also occurred to me whilst writing this. How is Barbarian rage going to affect ongoing Psychic powers if you are multiclassed? Secondly, if Choking Grasp stays as putting the 'Restrained' condition an enemy, it would make sense to use it as a bonus action each round so that you got advantage on your successive attacks... yeah, I think grappled would definitely be better.

Actually, on consideration, +INT to AC does cover it. I'd just give them heavy armour proficiency and say that they don't get the INT bonus whilst wearing it.