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.

 

[Valetudo]

I like the wild talents.

 

[Maxperson]

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.

I'm with you on the bolded part. That's why I liked 3e's scent, sound and light thematics that happened when a psionic power was used.

In my experience, psions being able to manifest powers without any visible signs that they're the ones doing it tends to lead to things like a PC getting away with murder because no one can prove it was them or your fellow players making fun of your PC for just "standing there looking constipated" because their power failed and there's no visible sign that they even did anything.

Look at the 3e Psionic Book if you haven't already. They took care of that issue without psionic powers needing V, S, M.

 

[Maxperson]

Psionics?

That can mean only one thing.

GAMMA WORLD.

I would buy it if they didn't mangle it as badly as they did Spelljammer and Dragonlance. I've loved Gamma World since the 80's.

 

[Maxperson]

Nah. Dark Gamma World Sun!

I mean, that's how you get Dark Hulk.

 

[pukunui]

I'm with you on the bolded part. That's why I liked 3e's scent, sound and light thematics that happened when a psionic power was used.

Look at the 3e Psionic Book if you haven't already. They took care of that issue without psionic powers needing V, S, M.

I have the XPH. I've even played a psion from that book. It was fun. However, 5e doesn't have those thematics, and hand gestures are such a common visual cue (regardless of their necessity) that it seems fitting to me that psions in D&D should need to make some kind of noticeable gesture to use their powers.

I mean, let's face it, not every D&D spell has a somatic component anyway, so there will still be plenty of times where the psion just stands there looking innocent ... including when they are casting Suggestion on someone, since it has no S component and they can ignore the V and M components! I guess they just make the suggestion telepathically.

 

[Demetrios1453]

An interesting idea that I've just thought of would be to use both the regular spell progression here, and also use the 2014 spell point system. A Psion would choose one or the other at the start, and that method would be the only one they use from that point on. Those using spell points are those who are innately psionic and just start using mind powers one day, and thus are self-taught (and thus are a bit more chaotic); while those with spell slots are those with the ability to learn psionics (but don't do so spontaniously) and were taught by others (a mentor or some sort of school). While I doubt WotC will do this, it might be an idea I might adopt for games I run once this is official...

 

[Maxperson]

@Yaarel this is not the first time I've seen you do this, and for the life of me I can't understand how you can read threads from newest to oldest. All the conversations are going in the wrong direction!!!

 

[Maxperson]

I have the XPH. I've even played a psion from that book. It was fun. However, 5e doesn't have those thematics, and hand gestures are such a common visual cue (regardless of their necessity) that it seems fitting to me that psions in D&D should need to make some kind of noticeable gesture to use their powers.

I mean, let's face it, not every D&D spell has a somatic component anyway, so there will still be plenty of times where the psion just stands there looking innocent ... including when they are casting Suggestion on someone, since it has no S component and they can ignore the V and M components! I guess they just make the suggestion telepathically.

I mean, you aren't wrong for liking it that way. We're just discussing preferences here.

My feeling is that I want the somatic to be gone, but that there will be a feel of mental energy build-up coming from X, assuming X is in line of sight. Anything that would hide a wizard's casting would hide the psion.

 

[pukunui]

I mean, you aren't wrong for liking it that way. We're just discussing preferences here.

My feeling is that I want the somatic to be gone, but that there will be a feel of mental energy build-up coming from X, assuming X is in line of sight. Anything that would hide a wizard's casting would hide the psion.

That’s why I like the sorcerer’s approach with the Subtle Spell metamagic option. Manifesting magic without any visible means that you’re the one doing it should be a deliberate choice that requires resources. Not the default.

 

[Azzy]

I don't think I'll ever play 3.5e again, but I do think the psionic rules presented in the Expanded Psionics Handbook remain the best iteration of them in the game so far.

I'm inclined to agree.