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D&D 5E Psionicist Class Homebrew

Pling

First Post
Hi all,

Here is a psionicist class that I cooked up. It uses existing spells as "psionic talents." The basis for the class is a combination of sorcerer and warlock type features along with a spontaneous additional use ability that utilizes cannibalization of the hit point resource.

Hope you enjoy.

Matthew
 

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That's pretty elegant in your usage of existing spells - I was skeptical that just selecting from the existing spell lists would produce results that felt like psi to me, but I think you've proven me wrong to doubt. :)
 

I'm going to straight up say that the use of HP for powers is a bad call. Especially in this edition since it's so easy to keep yourself upright now. Unless you're making this as punishing as Life Drain, it's just too strong. Anybody with some healing friends becomes the primary damage dealer because everyone's keeping them upright to blast out magic in amounts that positively shames the wizard AND sorcerer in the party simultaneously.
 

Thanks for the feedback folks!

As for outshining other party members, probably not. Here is a quote directly from the document.

"Psi Surges result in a damage type called psi damage. Psi damage may only be healed after taking a long rest. No other means, magical or otherwise, will suffice."

This means that psionicists get a nifty risk/reward feature during play. They regenerate base "slots" very similar to a warlock (upon short rest) ; they can then choose to extend their casting capability by cannibalizing their HP resource! But if they do... they will have to rest their mind (with a long rest) to regain those cannibalized HP :)

So a cleric standing back and healing this damage to the psionicist doesn't work, nor does expenditure of HD on a short rest! Risky, yet fun and in keeping with psionicists getting "exhausted" as they push their limits (a common theme in the literature.)

I never was a fan of PSPs or Power Points, I never felt that this modeled psionics any better than say actual slots like spells. It seemed that a warlock style flexible slot cap coupled with a "pushing" mechanic was the way to go.

Also, I prefer using existing rules when possible. This is why I used existing spells and made a serious attempt to produce "lists" that made as much sense as possible.

Matthew
 


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