D&D 4E 4e Psionics speculation

[Soel]

Psychic warrior with mindblade FTW! Been wanting an official version since 2e.

 

[Wepwawet]

Die in a pyrokinetic fire, wilders were awesome!

Yeah they are!

I believe the 4E sorcerer will be similar to the Wilder, producing side effects when casting spells (as was already said), and maybe heightening their power in wild surges.

If sorcerers behave like this I'll be thrilled But then there will be no need for a similar psionic class (unless they focus on telepathy, charm, illusion and stuff)

 

[Evilhalfling]

There should not be a psionic Leader.

Psionics has never been about helping others, No transferable buff spells, no ability to heal others. Internal changes make a lot of sense for a psion, changing others - not so much.
The Ardent for all its wonderful fluff was a dismal failure. The Bard is a much better idea for a mind effecting, enchantment focused Leader.

I think psion = controller, psiwarror = defender, then save the soulknife for a prestige path.
The 1st level soulknife always seemed like a terrible idea to me. And we have plenty of strikers already.
your 1st level nobody has a Blade of Force at will? I HR it back to a prestige class in 3.5 and changed it to a "+1 manifester level" class in 3.0

I guess Soulknife might fit better into 4e, where a 1st level character is already a hero, and I can see mindblades and strikes fitting easily into the at-will/encounter/daily power structure.

 

[Bacris]

The Ardent for all its wonderful fluff was a dismal failure.

A dismal failure?

I'll disagree with that.

The Divine Mind was a dismal failure.

The ardent I really liked - and have played with success.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The Ardent for all its wonderful fluff was a dismal failure.

The Ardent was deemed too powerful that they split it into 2 classes, the Ardent and Divine Mind. Know they have the opportunity to combine those two halves again.

 

[Harshax]

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.

I hope they get hybridization right, I'd hate to finally get my hands on the druid and bard and find that they are hopeless tweeners like they've they been on and off in different edition.

I hope Druids have two builds: Primal Controllers (Nature Mastery) or Primal Defenders (Shapechanger).
I hope Bards are Arcane Leaders
The soul-knife is one of the most tantalizing classes and hope they return as Strikers.
I never really cared for Psychic Warriors, mostly because I hated their silly power list - if they had been true warrior/psion types with the same list as Psion they would have been more interesting. With that in mind, I hope it is possible to create some sort of multiclass that does exactly that.

I think making representation of all roles for each Power source is key to ensuring that the power source in question is well realized. While it's possible that there may be a power source where, for example, Controllers can't be represented, my gut tells me it is unlikely.

I think we will see all roles for all power sources, and the possibility of differently themed games by removing a power source from play. Want Conan - players can only choose Martial Characters. Want High Sorcery - players are steered toward Arcane backgrounds only. Playing future uber spy settings? Stick with Psionic and Martial. etc.

 

[Harshax]

There should not be a psionic Leader.

Psionics has never been about helping others, No transferable buff spells, no ability to heal others. Internal changes make a lot of sense for a psion, changing others - not so much.
The Ardent for all its wonderful fluff was a dismal failure. The Bard is a much better idea for a mind effecting, enchantment focused Leader.

I could see a Psionic Leader being able to perform a gestalt with his allies, allowing everyone to act in synchronicity, link senses, etc. The could use telepathy to install calm, and focus attention, or increase resolve by bolstering the ego (healing surge)

I think a Leader role is totally appropriate, and possible.

 

[Bayonet_Chris]

Unecessary

With any luck, there won't be any psionic classes at all. Lacking that, do note that several powers with a "psychic" descriptor already exist for the warlock class - Eyebite and Curse of the Dark Dream. I'm hoping that psychic powers stay in the Arcane grouping and there is no split into a different grouping.

In 3e, there was a major mechanical difference between spellcasters and psionics. In 4th edition they have streamlined the mechanics to be the same for everyone, so at that point I have to ask - why? Is "one group manifests powers with their mind" as opposed to "one group manifesting powers via magic" enough of a difference to justify having them at all? They'd be better served adding a psionic path to warlock (like fey and infernal) than coming up with a new class altogether.

 

[Dragonblade]

I would like to see:

Psion - psionic leader
Psychic Warrior - psionic defender, basically a psi version of the swordmage
Soulknife - psionic striker
Wilder - psionic controller
Shaman - primal leader
Totem Warrior (aka shapeshifter druid) - primal striker
Barbarian - primal defender
Druid - primal controller

 

[DreamChaser]

With any luck, there won't be any psionic classes at all. Lacking that, do note that several powers with a "psychic" descriptor already exist for the warlock class - Eyebite and Curse of the Dark Dream. I'm hoping that psychic powers stay in the Arcane grouping and there is no split into a different grouping.

In 3e, there was a major mechanical difference between spellcasters and psionics. In 4th edition they have streamlined the mechanics to be the same for everyone, so at that point I have to ask - why? Is "one group manifests powers with their mind" as opposed to "one group manifesting powers via magic" enough of a difference to justify having them at all? They'd be better served adding a psionic path to warlock (like fey and infernal) than coming up with a new class altogether.

We know there will be. They've actually indicated the psionics rules were being created along with the arcane, etal rules. They need them for Eberron if nothing else.

With the second point, the same could be said about arcane and divine. I think the ways that they are defining the three power sources can easily be applied to other power sources as well.

So, the upshot is I completely disagree with you.

YMMV

DC