D&D (2024) Githzerai Psion? Thri-kreen Psion? Where's My Psion?

[Staffan]

I think the link between Intelligence and psionics is more related to science-fiction than comics (and, I guess, Pokémon), but I think it's more of a correlation than a causation. It's a reasonably common trope to have "hyper-evolved" humans that have developed their brains and are now both super-smart and have psychic abilities. These generally seem to be two branches coming from the same root though, rather than one being dependent on the other.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The debate about what ability score psions should use is an interesting aside, but it's actually a moot point. As the OP observed, psions already exist in the 2025 Monster Manual. Both examples are Int-based spellcasters who cast spells with no spell components. The question being raised in the OP is why monsters can be psions but not PCs. The basic framework of what a psion is in 5e (an Int-based, no-component spellcaster) has already been established in the latest version of core rules.

I think the reason is, gith and thr-kreen both have strong sci-fi aliens vibes.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Wait is there actually debate about whether psionics are Int or Chat in DnD? It's been long established that psionics is linked to Int, and not Cha.

Even in the current rules, creatures which use psionics have Int as their spellcasting modifier. Mind flayers, gem dragons, and the even the 'psion' NPCs from the new MM all cast through intelligence.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's been long established that psionics is linked to Int, and not Cha.

It's long been established that the Moon is made of green cheese.

Just because "we have always done it that way" doesn't mean we should never ask "why do we do it that way?" or "might their be a better way?".

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well, I certainly hope they don't make them "Just another spellcaster" because God in Heaven, I'm so bloody sick of every possible form of supernatural power being confined to the spellcasting box.

Which is why neither of my favorite psionic classes treat it as part of the spell system.

 

[Minigiant]

I am a fan of D&D having 3 psionic "caster" classes, one for each mental score.

An INTELLIGENCE based Psion
A WISDOM based Ardent
A CHARISMA based Wilder

One of the Psion or Wilder would cast spells and the other would mostly have in-depth 1E/2E/Pre-3e psionic powers/disciplines. My preference is Psion as the Psuedoscience spellcaster with exclusive spell (also being the Psuedo-Psionic list) and the Wilder being the FarRealm/XGene/Planar powers based class.

 

[Marandahir]

Many slot 9 spells belong to the Psion class:

Wish = mind over matter = the essence of the Psionic power source
Foresight
Heal Mass
Invulnerability
Polymorph Mass
Polymorph True
Psychic Scream
Shapechange
Ravenous Void
Resurrect True
Time Stop
Weird

Astral Projection is appropriate for certain Psionic concepts that emphasize the thoughtscape of the Astral Plane.


In my view, any spell that is Elemental (Air Fire, Earth Water) is nonpsionic. Any spell that is a fiddly complex apparatus is nonpsionic. The psionic flavor needs to visualize or similarly focusing to "manifest" a specific outcome.

I prefer the Fire flavor stay with the Druid and Sorcerer. But I can handle a Psion "Pyromancer" subclass.


I view the Primal power source that is especially Elemental as a kind of Psionic. Psionic and Primal are two sides of the same coin. But they are distinct. Both use "soul" magic.

What about Golden Sun's elemental psynergy? This gets into the important point on the TV tropes page under Anime & Manga – East Asian media often conflates spiritual power, wizardry, martial arts, and psionics into one thing because there wasn't as much of a push back against esotericism as Europeans had with the witch hunts.

But even in the West, there's tons of examples of Pyrokinesis etc as a discipline of psionics – the important point is that the elemental magic was formed by the mind and not ritual or MSV components.

This is why I think Psionics belongs as subclass archetypes across the gamut of core classes, though there should be a Psion/Mystic core class to represent Yodas & Xaviers since they're close to the Wizard concept but Wizards are crucially far too tied to their components and spellbooks and rituals to represent this power.

Monks are the easiest next step to graft psionics onto. And as we've seen with the Purple Dragon Knight playtest, there's multiple ways to make a Psionic Fighter in 5e lore, just as Eldritch Knight, Arcane Archer, Rune Knight, and Bladesinger can all coexist (as opposed to Valor Bard/Swords Bard and Pact of Blade Warlock Hexblade Patrion Warlock really being patches that are meant to supplant or enhance the other one). I could see Psion either appearing in a Rules Expansion book a la Artificer in Tasha's, or else in a book like Fizban's or Bigby's, with a few other character options that support Psionics and a bunch of Far Realm entities for your game.

Oh and unrelateded to Yarael's post, someone said Dark Sun has been 'cancelled' – as much as I think the setting is problematic in many ways, it's also a beloved setting and part of D&D Lore and appears by name in the 2024 DMG, so it's certainly a planned setting to explore at some point. The main D&D setting that was 'cancelled' is Nerath because there's just not a lot of reason to include it if you're putting Greyhawk in the DMG and besides, you've mined Nerath for its best original stuff already (Feywild & Shadowfell, Astral Sea, Raven Queen, core Dragonborn, Tiefling, & Goliaths). Nerath struggles to fit into modern D&D because it changed so much to support the sacred cow slaughters of 4e (their words, not mine) while also borrowing from Greyhawk and Mystara wholescale for iconic setting elements.

I swear, the principal reason we don't have Dark Sun yet is because they want to get Psionics right first.

 

[Maxperson]

I think the link between Intelligence and psionics is more related to science-fiction than comics (and, I guess, Pokémon), but I think it's more of a correlation than a causation. It's a reasonably common trope to have "hyper-evolved" humans that have developed their brains and are now both super-smart and have psychic abilities. These generally seem to be two branches coming from the same root though, rather than one being dependent on the other.

It's in comics as well.

Modok: Experiments enlarged his brain, giving him great intellect. Telepathy, Telekinesis, and technopathy came along as psychic powers.

"Thanks to the A.I.M. Alteration Chamber, the very average human known as George Tarleton became one of the most mentally powerful beings on the planet! They process granted him a computer-like brain that could process and store data at lightning speed. He was also granted psychic and psionic abilities that allow him to control individuals or use force blasts in both offensive and defensive applications."

The Leader: Exposed to gamma radiation he gained enhanced intelligence and brain power, along with came psychic abilities.

"The Leader uses his advanced brain to generate force fields, instill mental blocks in others' minds, erase others' memories, and brainwash others into a zombie-like state. Additionally, through his psychic link to Rick Jones, the Leader gains professional level guitar skills."

The Supreme Intelligence: Telekinesis, Cosmic Awareness, Precognition, Postcognition, Telepathy and more.

And that's just scratching the surface.

 

[Corinnguard]

Monks are the easiest next step to graft psionics onto.

Back in 4e, the Monk was reimagined as a psionic class. Back then they had the role of Psionic Striker. They probably could still be seen as something psionic in 5e and 5.5e given the nature of their class features. Ex. the new Warrior of the Elements subclass uses a subset of telekinesis to manipulate the elements. The Warrior of Mercy subclass uses redaction (psionic healing) to both heal and harm others.

 

[Marandahir]

Back in 4e, the Monk was reimagined as a psionic class. Back then they had the role of Psionic Striker. They probably could still be seen as something psionic in 5e and 5.5e given the nature of their class features. Ex. the new Warrior of the Elements subclass uses a subset of telekinesis to manipulate the elements. The Warrior of Mercy subclass uses redaction (psionic healing) to both heal and harm others.

Quite aware, loved that implementation. And I agree, though I'd argue that they intentionally obscure the Psionics of the Monk just as they moved away from outright magical Ki Power, because they want players to be empowered to flavour their Monk as Psionic or Divine or Primal or Martial or something else, without feeling tied to a specific power source,