D&D 5E (2024) Githzerai Psion? Thri-kreen Psion? Where's My Psion?

[CleverNickName]

I never could figure out what crystals had to do with psionics. My train of thought stops at a completely different station.
Crystals --> Rocks --> Earth magic --> Dwarven Druids.

I'm more likely to use crystals as spell foci for druids than for mentalists and psions.

 

[Staffan]

I never could figure out what crystals had to do with psionics. My train of thought stops at a completely different station.
Crystals --> Rocks --> Earth magic --> Dwarven Druids.

I'm more likely to use crystals as spell foci for druids than for mentalists and psions.

Psionics = New Age = Crystals. That's basically it.

 

[Scribe]

I never could figure out what crystals had to do with psionics. My train of thought stops at a completely different station.
Crystals --> Rocks --> Earth magic --> Dwarven Druids.

I'm more likely to use crystals as spell foci for druids than for mentalists and psions.

"Unlock the power of your mind." Just walk into a new age shop for a reading, and you'll see a lot of crystals.

 

[CleverNickName]

Psionics = New Age = Crystals. That's basically it.

"Unlock the power of your mind." Just walk into a new age shop for a reading, and you'll see a lot of crystals.

Oh I get where other people make that connection. I'm saying that my imagination doesn't get there on its own, and I have to force the fiction. It could just as easily be kittens or coconuts and I'd have the same struggle to link it to psionics.

Now mushrooms, on the other hand...

 

[Yaarel]

The "crystal" trope along with the various magical properties for each of the different kinds of gemstones, is Hellenistic protoscience (which of course is where New Age comes from too).

It is excellent Artificer flavor.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I actually liked the concepts that Bruce Cordell came up with for Psionics back in 3.5e, it actually did give Psionics a bunch of it's unique flavour.

And yes it was a mixture of New Age concepts with crystals, Victorian Pseudoscience with ectoplasm, Asian Mysticism such as Yoga (Siddhis, where some of the ideas of psionic disciplines and powers come from) and Tulpas (Astral Constructs), as well as the Far Realm (which Cordell introduced to D&D).

 

[Yaarel]

And yes it was a mixture of New Age concepts with crystals, Victorian Pseudoscience with ectoplasm, Asian Mysticism such as Yoga (Siddhis, where some of the ideas of psionic disciplines and powers come from) and Tulpas (Astral Constructs), as well as the Far Realm (which Cordell introduced to D&D).

For me the animistic Nordic (Sámi, Finnish, Norse) is important psionic flavor. Generally, the soul includes a body-soul and a mind-soul. The mind-soul is the aspect that manifests the magic, via intention, visualization, and influence over reality, including telepathic seiðr mind-magic.

In this context, psychometabolism shapeshifting and healing are common, as are divination, outofbody projection, teleportation, and enchantment.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

The "crystal" trope along with the various magical properties for each of the different kinds of gemstones, is Hellenistic protoscience (which of course is where New Age comes from too).

It is excellent Artificer flavor.

Yeah, a Psi flavored Artificer should definitely have jeweler's kit as their free tool proficiency.

Now mushrooms, on the other hand...

Psionic Druid subclass

 

[Yaarel]

Also the animistic Aborigine of Australia is important psionic flavor.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Psi artificers appeared in 3.5 Eberron.

Magic is like using a mobile to ask a pizza and psionic is like you cooking the pizza.