[Exp.Psionics] New issue of Dragon reveals info. (Now corrected by Bruce C.)

[reiella]

Unless, of course, these phenomena are subjective, in the literal sense of the word--if they are literally created by the observers, then the mere presence of a skeptic could prevent them from ever functioning, yet they would objectively function if all present were believers. And modern science would *never* confirm them, due to its basis in rigorous skepticism and objective verification. There have been some interesting hypotheses for quantum-based psychic abilities, and several of them would include strong observer dependence, thus making reproduction in controlled circumstances impossible, if those circumstances included skeptics.

And i'm not entirely certain this is off-topic. It would be a very interesting way to run powers (or magic) in some settings. It would be the logical extension of the imagination powers in Grimm, and goes right along with concepts like wild magic and the solipsistic spells (and some of the others from the Thought sphere) in 2nd ed. Not to mention, it's sort of a more extreme version of how illusions work in D&D, currently.

And it could be the basis for a far more interesting psionic combat system, one based on, basically, clash of willpower and belief between the various psychics--the defender attempting to convince herself that she really didn't believe in the attackers powers. Much like the way some people used to play illusions--if you gave any indication you weren't positive it was an illusion, you automatically failed your save (IOW, "no flinching").

Now I'm definantively going Off Topic here...

That's more or less how Mage works in fact.

I'd like to see some means to apply Subjective Reality Magic to d20 though, although I'm unsure if the Mage 'theme' would be appropiate or not.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I really don't like the INT-based psions...

I mean, I may be one of the only people in the world who grooved on physical spellcasters, but I *really* like the concept of a competent spellcaster who doesn't also have to be a frail little mentalist......

I also like how psionics was demonstrable in 'savage' creatures. Creatures without intelligence, table manners, or perception. I enjoyed the multiclassing possibilities it gave, with Barbarian/Con-psions, Fighter/Str-psions, Rogue/Dex-psions...it enabled me to have a brutish spellcaster who could augment his own powers naturally.

*shrug* Apparently, I'm in the minority, but I'm reasonable sure I'll be changing it, to the 'all from one ability score, chosen at first' idea, probably, or maybe to a system that doesn't depend on ability scores, but gives bonuses for them. Or maybe a 7th purely 'psychic' ability score.

The concept of psions studying dusty tomes in towers is just ick to me. Psions shouldn't have to be bright. They're psychic, not arcane. Wis or Cha you may be able to make a case for me, but Int is just silly....

It's a minor thing, though. All else is golden.

 

[Amrynn Moonshadow]

INT based is just wrong, IMO. seriously . . . INT is basically learning capacity, and memory. not some incorperal temporal energy which can be tapped and augmented with meditation . . .

if you're a physical character, your primary atribute would be your strength. you can focus your meditative abilities on strength. i just don't see the justification for this at all. Rule Zero here we come.

soothesayers were always highly charismatic people, making you believe them. not necessairly mensa people, but people who knew the right thing to say at the right time. egg head wouldn't be able to do that.

alot of the yogi's who impale themselves on hooks (google it) can't write their own names. but whatever, it's just a game mechanic . . . one which isn't set in stone in my world.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

if you're a physical character, your primary atribute would be your strength. you can focus your meditative abilities on strength. i just don't see the justification for this at all. Rule Zero here we come.

I once saw an interesting comment about STR based Psionics. One person said the the Psion, perhaps, considered even their brain a muscle.

 

[xenoflare]

amen to that

INT based is just wrong, IMO. seriously . . . INT is basically learning capacity, and memory. not some incorperal temporal energy which can be tapped and augmented with meditation . . .

if you're a physical character, your primary atribute would be your strength. you can focus your meditative abilities on strength. i just don't see the justification for this at all. Rule Zero here we come.

soothesayers were always highly charismatic people, making you believe them. not necessairly mensa people, but people who knew the right thing to say at the right time. egg head wouldn't be able to do that.

alot of the yogi's who impale themselves on hooks (google it) can't write their own names. but whatever, it's just a game mechanic . . . one which isn't set in stone in my world.

Amen to that, Amrynn. i want to play my non-too-bright half-orc idiot savant-type egoist labourer who's survived horrible accidents that would mangle lesser mortals and can simulate the floor plans of a castle at a glance (biofeedback and hypercognition, respectively). i want to play my athlete who runs and runs and runs like hell, until one day his feet leave the ground and he learn to bend the rules of time and space (it's a bir animatrix-ish, but oh well). most of all, i wonder whether i can still play my monk/savant, who's out in the frontline because of his high con score... and creating ki blasts with his psychokinesis

i fear that in the bid to make psions "legit", flavour may be the victim here, and we will all enter a dreary, singular view of what psionics is. i never thought i'll be defending MAD... but oh hell, here i am haha!

this is perhaps going off-topic, but i like the crystal aspect too. i like the whole Eastern mysticism thing, i like the dorjes and Hindu/ Buddhist cosmology references, and i like the time/space manipulation. i like the pseudoscience, and the biological terms (synapses, psychofeedback, etc) - it may not be everybody's cup of tea, but the earlier ones worked for me.

every time there's a winner, there's also a loser, i guess... i just hope that in the urge to become legit, psionics won't lose its soul, its culture that it's built on already.

yours sincerely,
shao

 

[Kae'Yoss]

The way I see it, Psions are now disciplined creatures who use this discipline to tap their inner power. If you want a psimanifester who uses something else, you have to be something else than psion: You want a passionate psimanifester? Take Wilder. You want someone who wants control over his body instead of his mind? Take psychic warrior. And there's still another psionic base class we don't know about. Maybe it's a psychic rogue, who uses psi to augment skills. Maybe it's a psychic monk, who taps psionics via his ki and is all about defense.

 

[Aaron L]

Psionics is ki.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Psionics is ki.

Not if it's based on Intelligence it isn't. Ki would be best modeled with MAD as all aspects of a person contribute to his his ability to tap into and manipulate his ki.

 

[Aaron L]

Not if it's based on Intelligence it isn't. Ki would be best modeled with MAD as all aspects of a person contribute to his his ability to tap into and manipulate his ki.

That's why I'm keeping the disciplines tied to the old abilities. I don't like the intelligence governs everything aspect so far.

(unless, say, the psychic warrior uses strength, the wilder uses charisma, the psion uses intelligence, and maybe another class uses wisdom or something. If that's the case I can live with it. Different roads to inner control and self mastery, and all)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

That's why I'm keeping the disciplines tied to the old abilities. I don't like the intelligence governs everything aspect so far.

(unless, say, the psychic warrior uses strength, the wilder uses charisma, the psion uses intelligence, and maybe another class uses wisdom or something. If that's the case I can live with it. Different roads to inner control and self mastery, and all)

Wilders do use charisma, see the Previews. I think PsiWars will use either Strength or Constitution, and the other class we haven't seen yet - well, depending on what it is, it could be Wis, Con or maybe Dex.