Essentials and Darksun. Psionics?

[BobTheNob]

Ok, our group delayed its change to Darksun, they wanted to finish the campaign they were on.

When we go to darksun, there is alot of interest in "essentials only" (everyone sees it as just...well...cleaner) and presumably by the time we switch, alot more products have come out to flesh it up a bit.

The thing Im wondering is. Psionic classes : essential (no pun intended) to Darksun. Does anyone know whether they are on the rollout for essentials and when?

 

[GreyLord]

As far as I know, Psionics won't be coming out in the essentials line. You can either use them as they are in Dark Sun for the traits and class options, or you can omit them...OR you can buy the PHB3 and use them from there. Personally I think if you want to stick to an essentials only, that you can just use Dark Sun as is with the powers that you do use integrated as appropriate (instead of some of the choices at certain levels...take the psionic power option instead if you have it...etc.).

 

[Mentat55]

If you don't want to play psionic characters, you can still take some powers through multi-classing, or just use wild talents. I really like those powers from just a flavor and creative power use standpoint.

 

[Jhaelen]

If you don't want to play psionic characters, you can still take some powers through multi-classing, or just use wild talents. I really like those powers from just a flavor and creative power use standpoint.

This. In addition there's the psionic themes that you can apply to any character. Particularly the Wilder theme is interesting because it doesn't rely on power points (i.e. in that regard it is similar to the monk class).

 

[DracoSuave]

You can. Psionic themes can still work for non-psionic characters (altho the power-swapping of themes is something essentials characters don't allow as much access to) but you do run into a problem where you don't have as many options.

Due to a complete lack of divine classes, you're pretty much stuck without a leader until the druid comes out. As well, without psionic classes, you're really cheating yourself out of a large amount of the tone of Dark Sun.

 

[Saeviomagy]

The difference between a psionic class, a divine class, an arcane class and a primal class is almost entirely skinning.

 

[Ahrimon]

You'll be limited to the druid as a leader if you go essentials since DS doesn't have divine characters by default. And you'll have to wait until HotFK comes out (Nov 16th). Of course you'll be limited to knight as a defender as well. Not that these are really issues. More of a heads up. =)

 

[DracoSuave]

The difference between a psionic class, a divine class, an arcane class and a primal class is almost entirely skinning.

Well... yes. I mean nothing's stopping you from reskinning an invoker as a sun priest, but that's beside the point.

I would not suggest restricting the game to Essentials... however if your players all decided to play essentials classes on their own, there's nothing wrong with that either.

 

[davethegame]

I'm strongly considering making my game Essentials + Psionic classes. They all pretty much work on their own class subsystems anyway.

(I'm also considering doing some kind of "char gen points" system that strongly encourage Essentials characters but don't outright ban it if someone wants to play a Barbarian or a Tempest Fighter)

 

[ArcaneSpringboard]

I have to wonder if the supposed replacement for the PHB1 in Essentials format will have more changes than we expect.