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.

 

[SkidAce]

Question: what can stop a psion from using their powers while nude, bound and gagged? At least an S component allows you to bind their hands to stop use of their magic.

and blindfolded.

 

[Yaarel]

You got a laugh out of me for the Counterspell sign

I think it would be just as easy saying Somatic components for a Psion can manifest as a hand to your temple, reaching out towards an object, or a glowing halo appearing around your head. A sidebar like this, similar to the explainer for the Artificer casting with tools, would be the best way to go about it.

They are still somatic components, they just look different for Psions than they do for Wizards or Warlocks.

I dont mind Verbal and Somatic per se, as these are ones own personal body and speech. It is the external impersonal Material objects that kill the personal flavor. The Costly Material components are Material components, and are problematic.

In many ways, the Costly components are far worse than the silly components. At least with ordinary objects that are little or no cost, one could interpret them as impromptu or sentimental. Cost interferes with personal flavor in a number of ways.


With regard to the Somatic component, it is the dumb stuff, like needing to have an empty hand in order to think.


There has got to be a better way.

 

[Corinnguard]

To quote a certain Mentat: It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Sapho that thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

And whose mind is in motion? The Psion's.

Edit: Sapho Juice ought to be a psionic item in 5e.

 

[Maxperson]

So your position is a broad agreement with the design issues with the addition of a lack of time to focus on Dark Sun and a retreat into the issue of slavery being a thing in the setting.

'Kay.

This is a position that I can understand and engage with. And I don't think any of it is specifically wrong. I just think there's more to it than you have here, as outlined in my previous post, and significantly more to it than the standard "They don't want to make a setting that has slavery in it"

Because while they were focused on 5.5e for the past two years, that still leaves the previous eight years, the Mystic, and their earlier attempts at including Psionic Content into the game.

Up to and including making a Psionic Sorcerer subclass as a "Here. Is this good enough?" option, indicating a willingness to just use the extant classes as a "Stand In" for a full psionic class or classes.

I don't think you can point to the prior 8 years as indicative of the issues you laid out being the reason why we didn't see Dark Sun during that period, or as indicative of why we won't see it down the road.

As was pointed out by someone, maybe @Ruin Explorer, earlier in the thread, they've created and put out a lot of the standard stuff already. They're running out of standard stuff to do and this is the time that the oddball things start being produced, which historically for D&D has indicated that the edition's lifespan is winding down.

Being busy with the standard stuff like the monster books, Xanathar's, Tasha's, the settings already created, etc. during those first 8 years, would also keep WotC busy, and standard products would all have a higher priority than a niche setting like Dark Sun or psions.

The oddball phase, which if it isn't coming right this minute, is likely coming relatively soon, is when you see things like Dark Sun, Birthright, and the Magic of Incarnum(please God no).

 

[Weiley31]

Am I crazy enough that I would INCLUDE this Psion, the MCDM Talent, the Mearls Way of The Soul Knife, AND the Mystic UA as Psionics stuff for my 5E games along with the current available options such as the Psi-Knight?

YES!

 

[Corinnguard]

Magic of Incarnum(please God no).

This book makes psionics look more appealing.

 

[dave2008]

It is alien to what personal magic is doing.

It is alien in your mind, that doesn't mean it is alien to others or inherently alien at all.

 

[Yaarel]

It is alien in your mind, that doesn't mean it is alien to others or inherently alien at all.

There are many fans who care about psionic flavor, and needing it to not be 'magic'.

To me, psionics obviously is magic. At the same time, I sympathize with the need to keep it meaningfully distinct from the magic that the arcane Wizard and the divine Cleric are doing.

 

[Maxperson]

Question: what can stop a psion from using their powers while nude, bound and gagged?

Why do you need to?

At least an S component allows you to bind their hands to stop use of their magic.

Or you just knock them out. Keep them drugged. Or some other method. Binding doesn't have to work on every spellcaster.

 

[Maxperson]

and blindfolded.

Blindfolded might work. Most spells require you to see the target. So there you go!