D&D Debuts Playtest for Psion Class

Wizards of the Coast is playtesting the Psion class for Dungeons & Dragons. Today, Wizards of the Coast provided a new Unearthed Arcana for the Psion, a new class for the current revised 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The playtest includes base class rules plus four subclasses - the body-shifting Metamorph, the reality warping Psi Warper, the offensive-minded Psykinetic, and the Telepath.

The core mechanic of the Psion involves use of Psion Energy die. Players have a pool of energy dice that replenishes after a Long Rest, with the number and size of the dice determined by the Psion's level. These psion energy dice can either be rolled to increase results of various checks/saving throws or spent to fuel various Psion abilities.

While the Psion and psionics have a long tradition in D&D, they've only received a handful of subclasses in 5th Edition. If the Psion survives playtesting, it would mark the first time that Wizards of the Coast has added a new character class to D&D since the Artificer. Notably, the Psion and psionics are also heavily associated with Dark Sun, a post-apocalyptic campaign setting that many considered to be off the table for Fifth Edition due to the need to update parts of the setting to bring it current with modern sensibilities. However, the introduction of Wild talent feats (which replaces some Origin feats tied to backgrounds with psion-themed Feats) in the UA seems to suggest that Dark Sun is back on the table.

 

[Horwath]

if we got this, as phychic characters and spell, I would like to see form level 1, all spellcasting granted by this class to remove all Verbal, Somatic and Material components(except costly ones).

 

[Yaarel]

For the UA survey, I hope the standard responses are something like:

4) Love it.
3) Its OK but.
2) Dont care.
1) Hate it.

There needs to be a way to distinguish the 'fixers' (3) from the 'neutrals' (2).

 

[Yaarel]

More examples of people using somatic components while casting their psionic spells:

I'm sure you can find even more examples (including non-Star Wars ones) here: Pstandard Psychic Pstance - TV Tropes

However. A Somatic component requires a hand to be empty (or the same hand using a spellcasting focus). Such a requirement makes zero sense for psionics.

A person could have shield or sword in hands or whatever. It wouldnt interfere with their ability to think.

The psion crowd should be happy they actually got a psionic system this go 'round that actually removed Verbal and Material components, as that had NEVER been offered as an option previously I do not believe.

Unfortunately, the Material component does crap up the Psion class, via the cursed 'gp cost' components. These 'cost' components are incredibly disruptive and frustrating for the psionic concept.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's a balance issue - if the psionics has no components then using it cannot be detected, making it much more powerful. I would suggest replacing v/s/m components with a "psychic component" that the player can fluff any way they like, so long as it is a visible effect. e.g. your eyes turn black.

 

[pukunui]

However. A Somatic component requires a hand to be empty (or the same hand using a spellcasting focus). Such a requirement makes zero sense for psionics.

A person could have shield or sword in hands or whatever. It wouldnt interfere with their ability to think.

Psions aren’t proficient with shields and swords anyway, so … plus spellcasters can’t cast spells if they’re wearing armor they’re not proficient in, so that seems fair.

 

[Yaarel]

Psions aren’t proficient with shields and swords anyway, so … plus spellcasters can’t cast spells if they’re wearing armor they’re not proficient in, so that seems fair.

It isnt about easy to do, it is about concept, flavor. For psionics this is extremely important.

Being unable to use ones mind, because the character doesnt have a cp copper piece money (M component) on hand? This is extremely offensive to the flavor of psionics.

Likewise, needing to drop weapons or whatever to the ground, in order to think about something? No, just no.

Writing any spells with a Component entry, needs to die in fire.

 

[Corinnguard]

The camera conveniently crops his hands out of the picture so we don't know if he's wiggling his fingers or not. He does, however, close his eyes in order to concentrate. That could still be counted as a somatic component.

A better example would be Rey when she's mind tricking the stormtrooper to remove her restraints. She doesn't even close her eyes then. (And mere moments before, Kylo Ren was holding his hand out while trying to get inside Rey's head.)

So I guess Jedi can get away with not using hand gestures if they're full restrained. Maybe there's a special talent that lets them sometimes ignore somatic components.

I like the idea that a psion has to use somatic components so they can't just stand there innocently like they're not doing anything when actually they're invading someone's mind or causing something to explode. It lets the game world know that this person is doing something even if it isn't strictly "necessary" from your point of view.

Back in 3.0/3.5 when all spellcasters had access to the Metamagic feats (rolling for a History check! ), they could fool someone into thinking that they were psionicists by using Silent Spell, Still Spell and Eschew Materials with just the right spell. I don't think there were any spells that didn't lack one or more spell components back then or even now. And not all spellcasters back then had access to all three of these feats. But if they did have all three and were able to use all three at once, they still were using two spell components that were later revealed in PF1's Occult Adventures- Thought and Emotion. A spellcaster can't stop thinking and emoting.

Nowadays, only 5e sorcerers get to use metamagic as a class feature. For everyone else, they would need to pick up the Metamagic Adept feat in order to use them. And thanks to 5e's action economy, you can only use them one at a time. So, even psychic spellcasters like the Psion can't free themselves completely from a spell that requires them to make a somatic gesture or mumble under their breath.

A Jedi can use the Sleight of Hand skill to cast a spell that uses the somatic component if their hands are restrained.

 

[pukunui]

It isnt about easy to do, it is about concept, flavor. For psionics this is extremely important.

Being unable to use ones mind, because the character doesnt have a cp copper piece money (M component) on hand? This is extremely offensive to the flavor of psionics.

Likewise, needing to drop weapons or whatever to the ground, in order to think about something? No, just no.

LOL. There's obviously more to it than merely thinking about it. This version presents psionics as another kind of magic. It works differently from the psionics of old. This version occasionally requires an external focus (material component).

The only one I agree with you on is the cantrip. I don't like that a cantrip (regardless of whether it's meant to be a psionic one or not) requires a cost to use.

Writing any spells with a Component entry, needs to die in fire.

Nah. It’s fine. Hardly any spells have a costly material component anyway.

I mean, seriously ... "extremely offensive"? "Needs to die in a fire"? Hyperbole much? I've been a fan of psionics since the day I got the Complete Book of Psionics for 2e, but I'm happy enough with this version that I can live with it not being perfect.

 

[Yaarel]

Counterspell is my guess. I'm going to be removing somatic from psionic spells, but I'll be putting in something to indicate a psionic spell is being used.

I liked your thoughts on the rest of your post. Good job.

I think a Passive Insight check can detect if someone is casting a psionic spell. It relates to the feeling of being watched.

 

[aiouh]

I love how Psion's class feature is that they can bypass Verbal and Material requirements for a spell, as if any DM actually accounts for that in a meaningful way. Kinda bummed that Somatic is still a requirement.