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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Perun" data-source="post: 7863803" data-attributes="member: 6037">If the psion has to be fitted to one of the exiting classes, I think the sorcerer makes a much better fit than the wizard -- apart from one detail: psions have usually been depicted as Int-based casters. However, other 'mental' stats also played a role in determining their overall workings, namely Wisdom, as Charisma has been pretty much a generic dump-stat, pre-3e. To be clear -- I'm all against this idea. I'd vastly prefer a separate psionic mechanic, but if the only option to have psionics integrated into the game, I can see how it could work.Sorceres gain their subclass at level 1, meaning that all psionicky fiddly bits could be fitted right at the character creation. The psion sorcerer could use Int as a secondary stat, and it could be made fairly important for the subclass. This would make psion sorcerer (psioncerer?) vulnerable to MAD (since they'd probably want decent scores in Con and Dex as well), but then again, high ability scores are not as crucial in 5e as they were in past editions.Then there are the spells... that's the trickiest bit, IMO, because if you make the psion a subclass of an existing spellcasting class, the psion can use spells from the base class list, and the other subclasses will gain access to the special psionic spells (as evidenced in the latest UA). Some players will go for the flavour of the class, and will not take fireball or lightning bolt, but there are those who will go for what they perceive to be the best option available, however much it doesn't fit thematically.With direct damage spells, I can see two options: i) either you boost psi-themed spells (the psionic subclass rerolls all 1s on damage dice, or something similar), or ii) with sorcerer, you could apply a custom-made metamagic option that all psioncerers gain automatically, which can turn spell damage to psychic and/or force damage, but as those are rarely resisted damage types, reduce the overall damage. Something along the lines of:Psionic Damage (Metamagic Option): When using this metamagic option, you can change the damage type dealt by the spell to either psychic or force damage (your choice). The use of this option doesn't cost sorcery points, but it reduces the damage die used by the spell by one size (so, d12 becomes d10, d10 becomes d8, d8 becomes d6, d6 becomes d4). For example, a psionic fireball would deal 8d6 psychic or force damage. This metamagic option can be used in addition to any other metamagic option available.As for the spell components... the problem are the spells with costly material components. Verbal and somatic components could be replaced with effects like those used by psions in 3e (ringing noise, lights, metallic taste in mouth, etc.), and this would take care of subtle casting. The potential issue is casting/manifesting while gagged and bound, but this is not something that comes up often (IME, but it all depends on campaign and play style, I guess). If the spell requires a costly material component that is tied to the workings of the spell itself (i.e. you can't magic a weapon without the weapon) it's still required, but if it's just a balance factor (like in back-from-the-dead spells)possible solution would be working out a formula for max hp reduction and/or levels of exhaustion. That would limit the availability of such spells in campaign. Just off the top of my head. There are lots of other options that could turn sorcerer into something resembling the psion.</blockquote>

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