D&D 4E 4e Psionics speculation

[drothgery]

That is a good point. There is no particular reason that all power soures should supply all roles. Source/Role symmetry is a false goal.

Exactly. It looks like we will have an arcane class for all roles eventually (with Bard as the Leader and Swordmage as the Defender), but WotC's said a Martial Controller is rather problematic, and I'm not exactly sure what a Divine Striker would be (a Divine Controller as some pure-caster priest variant might work). So I suspect at least initially, new power sources (at least from WotC) will get two or three classes that seem iconic, rather than a full slate of four (which nothing gets in PH1).

 

[Hella_Tellah]

My personal wish list for PHBII has two power sources revealed: Primal and Psionic.

Defender: Psychic Warrior
Striker: Barbarian
Controller: Psion
Leader: Druid

Apparently the Druid will be more focused on shapechanging, though, so we might see Druids move into Defender/Striker territory. Or heck, they might get a handle on hybridizing these roles, as they suggested they would in the Bard write-up, and the Druid will have more of a fifth-wheel role.

 

[Greenfaun]

My personal wish list for PHBII has two power sources revealed: Primal and Psionic.

I'm hoping for Primal, Psionic, and Shadow. The classes that have been mentioned, plus Necromancer and Assassin. Mm-mmm good.

As for psionics, I like the idea that each power source will be good at different things, while still filling multiple combat roles.

I also think it's extremely likely they'll bring back the soulknife. Soulknives look cool, there's already good art out there for them, and they're probably happy to commission even more, and everybody only hates them because the mechanics are so bad. New edition means new mechanics, and if they make the soulknife a competent, useful, unique Striker, then the only people who will hate them are the ones who hate psionics generally. So, only a few million people.

 

[Crashy75]

I wouldn't mind seeing the lurk.

 

[Kunimatyu]

I want to see a book with the samurai, ninja, monk, and shugenja or wu jen.

Power source: Asian

 

[The Sword 88]

I am hoping for psionics to be in in PH2. I really want the Psion, Psychic Warrior, and the Lurk back in the game.

Psions should be different from the arcane mages, not more powerful just different. I really enjoy playing as a psion, not just powerfulwise, the idea is cool to RP as well.

 

[DreamChaser]

I like the idea of the mindblade becoming a class feature of the psychic warrior as a defender class.

I like how the different power sources have distinguished themselves so far...

Arcane = ranged basic attacks from spells / features; other powers that draw upon that.
Divine = some class features / encounter powers that are based around channeling
Martial = weapon / skill based with increased reliability.

For Psionics, i think rather than a different system, this same sort of difference would make for good flavor. Increased effect while focused perhaps?

DC

 

[DreamChaser]

I'm hoping for Primal, Psionic, and Shadow. The classes that have been mentioned, plus Necromancer and Assassin. Mm-mmm good.

So if we had 8 classes again and 3 power sources:

Ardent (psychic leader (but more like the divine mind and less like the ardent)) aura "Gifts" that augment those around them

Barbarian - (primal defender (striker?)): Rites that inspire / inflict rage / terror and call upon the power of beastly totems

Druid (primal controller) "Rites" that manipulate the natural world and change the druid's shape

Illusionist (shadow controller) Shapes false and quasireal images (figments, shadows, and phantasms) trough dark "Manipulations."

Necromancer (shadow controller (leader?)) Twists the power of the anima through dark "Manipulations"

Psion (psychic controller) manifests "Gifts" related to mind control, prognostication, and telekinesis.

Psychic Warrior (psychic defender) uses "Gifts" of mind over body and biofeedback to enhance combat prowess.

Shadow Dancer ((rather than assassin) shadow striker) Manipulations related to stealth and attacking the life force of their foes.

those would be my picks.

DC

 

[kennew142]

That is a good point. There is no particular reason that all power soures should supply all roles. Source/Role symmetry is a false goal.

I agree that it's not necessary, and that symmetry for the sake of symmetry is a bad idea, but I think it's a good idea to fill as many roles as possible for each power source - so long as each class is well designed and doesn't exist solely to 'fill in the boxes'. I like the idea of different societies, each one concentrating on a different power source.

On the subject of psionic classes, I could see:

controller: psion kineticist
defender: psychic warrior (with or without soulknife powers)
leader: psion telepath or ardent (or possibly a telepath with some ardent stuff added)
striker: lurk/psionic fist

If the kineticist doesn't exist in 4e, I may just allow my psionic society to have wizards, but change their power source to mental/psionic.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

That's what I hope too. None of the other psionic classes ever felt neccessary to me.

Die in a pyrokinetic fire, wilders were awesome!

I'm thinking psion as controller, soulknife and wilder as (melee and ranged) strikers, and... I dunno, I guess there should be SOME Professor X class for psionic leaders. A psionic leader could do all sort of fun stuff... sending allies into rages, dulling their pain, sharpening their perception, linking them together telepathically for crazy teamwork.