D&D 5E 5e has everything it needs for Dark Sun

[Yaarel]

You don't spend points on spells, only on your invocation-like abilities.

You still have spell slots ala Pact Castings mechanics. You should really check the class because I'm shorthanding it right now, so I know I'm not being as clear as I should be

But why, when one can have invocations for free without messing around with points? It seems so much easier to do it whenever you want.

 

[Shardstone]

But why, when one can have invocations for free without messing around with points? It seems so much easier to do it whenever you want.

You can use the invocations for free, or upgrade their powers with points. You're really just asking me to breakdown my homebrew at this point and I feel weird talking about it like this feels like I'm being self-indulgent or something

 

[Maxperson]

Why spend points and run out, when the Warlock spellcasting mechanics is balanced to have powerful at-wills as many times as one wants?

Because a Warlock completely fails to be a Psion, which is a pure caster class. Warlocks simply don't gain enough in the way of abilities to be a Psion. Warlocks also get their powers from pacts with other beings, which Psions don't.

 

[TwoSix]

Because a Warlock completely fails to be a Psion, which is a pure caster class. Warlocks simply don't gain enough in the way of abilities to be a Psion. Warlocks also get their powers from pacts with other beings, which Psions don't.

I think the point was to use the Warlock chassis (short-rest recharge and Invocations) to make a new class, not just reskin a Warlock.

I know that's what Kibblestasty's Psion does, although it uses a small pool of SR recharge spell points instead of spell slots. It's certainly my favorite homebrew take on a 5e psion.

 

[Yaarel]

Because a Warlock completely fails to be a Psion, which is a pure caster class. Warlocks simply don't gain enough in the way of abilities to be a Psion. Warlocks also get their powers from pacts with other beings, which Psions don't.

I consider the Warlock to be a fullcaster, because it indeed gets access to spell level slots 7, 8, and 9.

Meanwhile, refreshing the mid-slot spells during a short rest, feels like straining oneself and then recharging. Appropriate flavor.

And the low-level spells can become at-wills.

For me, it is a must that the Psion is a fullcaster, but I am reasonably ok with Warlock spellcasting mechanics.

My impression is, the Warlock class is slightly underpowered at the higher tiers, but creating the Psion class can tweak the spellcasting mechanic to correct this.

Bard, Cleric, and Druid are all fullcasters and have tougher hit points and do better in melee than the Wizard does. It is ok if the Psion is a bit tougher too because of ambient psychometabolism and other kinds of psionic influences.

All in all, the Warlock is a good chassis, for the Psion class to borrow from.

 

[see]

Hey, thanks for pointing me to the page needed to show you the relevant part of the Githyanki description:

Githyanki had a reputation as poweful psionicists because they all were powerful psionicists. See the "Psionic Ability" entry over on the main stat block, where every githyanki has 150-250 psionic strength points and all the psionic attack/defense modes except J. One of those attack modes being the psionic blast, which was a more dangerous area attack than any 1st- or 2nd-level magic-user spell in the 1st edition PHB could manage.

This does not remotely change the fact that 'gish' specifically "came from" a term for githyanki who were specifically fighter-wizards.

But, you know, as long as you're advancing the position that psionic ability is more properly represented by wizard class levels than by explicit psionic powers fueled by psionic strength points . . .

 

[Maxperson]

I consider the Warlock to be a fullcaster, because it indeed gets access to spell level slots 7, 8, and 9.

They get 8 total spells per day, 4 of which cover the entirety of 1st to 5th level. Compare that to a Wizard's 22 and the Wizard can refresh 10 spell levels on a short rest, so that number goes up.

Meanwhile, refreshing the mid-slot spells during a short rest, feels like straining oneself and then recharging.

Nobody in my group has played a Warlock yet. Where is that refresh ability? Can it be used more than once? And how much does it give back?

 

[TwoSix]

Nobody in my group has played a Warlock yet. Where is that refresh ability? Can it be used more than once? And how much does it give back?

Warlocks refresh all of their spell slots on a short rest (except for their level 6-9 slots, which are a separate ability). It's their central mechanic.

 

[Yaarel]

You can use the invocations for free, or upgrade their powers with points. You're really just asking me to breakdown my homebrew at this point and I feel weird talking about it like this feels like I'm being self-indulgent or something

I would rather "spend" spell slots to "augment" any at-will powers.

Such a design is really a cantrip that additionally allows spell slots to boost it.

Consider a "Psychokinesis" cantrip. Something like the following.

PSYCHOKINESIS
Telekinesis cantrip
Casting time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: none (psionic spell-like ability)
Duration: 1 round, allowing other actions the following rounds to continue the effect.

You can make fly a Tiny willing creature or an amount of mass within a Tiny space to anywhere within 30 feet of you. You can also manipulate the target, such as rotating the target, moving limbs in various directions, or causing a malleable substance, particles, or a fluid to form complex still or moving shapes within the Tiny space.

Augmentation:
You can use a spell slot to increase the size of the psychokinesis effect. The slot level augments as follows:

S0 (cantrip) Tiny
→ S1 Small
→ S3 Medium
→ S5 Large
→ S7 Huge
→ S9 Gargantuan

If augmenting with a spell slot, you can target an unwilling creature that gains a Charisma save against the effect.




(Notice, that Wizard might be able to choose this psionic cantrip too.)

 

[TwoSix]

I would rather "spend" spell slots to "augment" any at-will powers.

For example, say Telekinetic deals 1d8 force damage at will, spending a slot-4 might boost it to 5d8, maybe with additional range and area as well.

Such a design is really a cantrip that additionally allows spell slots to boost it.

Consider a "Psychokinesis" cantrip. Something like the following.

PSYCHOKINESIS
Telekinesis cantrip
Casting time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: none
Duration: 1 round, allowing other actions the following rounds to continue the effect.

You can make fly a Tiny willing creature or an amount of mass within a Tiny space to anywhere within 30 feet of you. You can also manipulate the target, such as moving limbs in various directions, or causing a malleable substance, particles, or a fluid to form complex still or moving shapes within the Tiny space.

Augmentation:
You can use a spell slot to increase the size of the psychokinesis effect. The slot level augments as follows:

S0 (cantrip) Tiny
→ S1 Small
→ S3 Medium
→ S5 Large
→ S7 Huge
→ S9 Gargantuan



Notice, that Wizard might be able to choose this psionic cantrip too.

Or like this:

Telekinetic Force
Psionic Power

Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: 60 feet
Components: S
Duration: Instantaneous
You smash a target creature you can see or object with your mental power. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw, or take 1d10 bludgeoning damage and be shoved 5 feet in a direction of your choosing or be knocked prone.

You can spend Psi Points up to your per use limit to add the following modifiers to Telekinetic Force (you can add multiple modifiers). The points must be spent when choosing the target of the power.

Hammering (1+ psi points): The target takes +1d10 bludgeoning damage for each point spent.

Hurling (1-3 psi points): The target is shoved +10 feet in a direction of your choosing for each point spent.

Crushing (2 psi points): The target is restrained until the end of its next turn if it fails its saving throw.

From here: 5e - Psion (KibblesTasty) by KibblesTasty