Expanded Psionics Handbook

Ashrem Bayle

Explorer
Well... well... well...

The latest article on Wizards gives us a little more info. Here is what I've gathered so far about the new book:

1. Psions use Intelligence as thier primary ability score no matter what their primary discipline is. Wilders use Charisma. MAD is history. There is a large general power list that all psions can draw from and a smaller power list for each discipline. It requires a feat to get a power out of another discipline's list.

2. Psionics combat appears to be gone completely. No mention of it at all in the Wilder's writup and no mention of it at all in any of the preview material. At least some former psionic combat powers (Mindthrust) are now regular Telepathic powers?

3. Powers can be augmented for greater effect in a way similar to a built in Metapsionic mechanism in each power.

4. We know what the new base class is. The Wilder.

5. It looks like psionic characters will have a great deal more power points to work with. See the Wilder writup where it mentions a 10th level Wilder with 70 PPs. In 3.0, a 10th level psion has 43 (not counting bonuses). I think it is safe to assume the Psion will have more PPs that the Wilder.

6. Powers known appears to have changed, at least for the Wilder. Instead of knowing a certain number of powers of a given level, the Wilder appears to be able to select a number of Powers of any levels he can manifest whenever he gains levels.

7. New Racees: Half-Giant, Maenads, Dromites and Xephs

8. Power Point expenditure to use psionic feats have been replaced with the Focus mechanic.

9. Power saving throws now default to 10 + power level + ability score instead of the older system where you rolled a d20.


Am I forgeting anything?
 
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An implied or express psionic campaign setting. Check out the half-giants, where they say that they live in the mountains to the south or something along those lines...implies that there is a map, which means that it could come with a pre-packaged campaign setting a la Oriental Adventures, or just be a strongly implied one a la Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed.

I'm not sure I like the Int-based for psionics mechanic....though MAD sucked, it could have been solved without making psions have to be great geniuses as well (I mean, how many 'savage beasts'in Dark Sun were psychic wonder-workers?). Something like, once you choose a Primary Discipline, all of your powers except those from a seperate discipline's list use the ability of your Primary Discipline.

But, overall, looking VERY VERY good....I'm groovin' on it.
 


Yea, there are a LOT of Darksun names being thrown around. Also, notice that both Dragon and Dungeon are going to have Dark Sun info in them next month.
 

Ashrem Bayle said:
1. Psions use Intelligence as thier primary ability score no matter what their primary discipline is. Wilders use Charisma. MAD is history. There is a large general power list that all psions can draw from and a smaller power list for each discipline. It requires a feat to get a power out of another discipline's list.

Yaaaaaay!

2. Psionics combat appears to be gone completely. No mention of it at all in the Wilder's writup and no mention of it at all in any of the preview material. Perhaps the psionic combat powers are now regular Telepathic powers?

Oh please oh please ph please!

Both of these would fix what was wrong with psionics. Also, it will make it easier to canibalise the system for those of us that just make with psionic powers another breed of sorcerer...

Aaron.
 

Is it just me, or...

From reading the link to the Wilder class, IIRC, there wasa mention that a Wilder didn't need to prepare psychic powers ahead of time, unlike the psion.

:confused:

So, in essence, the psychic core classes will essentially model the existing spellcaster classes?

Wilders = Sorcerers

Psions = Wizards (rather, sort of like Domain Wizards from UA)

Psychic Warrior (ala 3.0 psi; if still present in 3.5 psi) = Bards/Paladins/Rangers/Hexblades (i.e., has 0-6 level abilities, & not just 1-4; however, is a more combat-oriented class like a paladin/ranger/hexblade than a skill-oriented class like the bard)

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a psychic class that had access to a 0-9 power list that prepared powers, but if so desired, could sacrifice a prepared power in other to spontaneously use a particular psychic ability (ala the druid/cleric).
 

A wilder simply knows her powers; they are part of her repertoire. She does not need to prepare them, though she must get a good night's sleep each day to regain all spent power points.

It does not say "unlike a psion". The text doesn't assume you are comparing Psions and Wilders.

Nothing to worry about here.
 
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Well since Echoes of the Past will be coming out in a few short weeks, I am curious what you Psionic peoples think of say SL psionics? I mean if I were to run say a complete 3.0 Psionic based SL campaign with the variant SL rules, would you all cheer, jeer or just say "Switch to 3.5!!"
 


Ashrem Bayle said:
I don't remember the details of SL psionics.

I sold my Scarred Lands books to buy Midnight. ;)
Basics:

SL psionics aren't magic. They are mental powers. Thus SR and PR are two different things. Only Slacerian creatures that have SR have equal PR.

The rest I'll upload here as an attachment.
 

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