Help me accept psionics

[Sejs]

I gotta admit, that's the best image of turn undead I've ever seen.

Man, if that's a cleric I gotta start going to church more often.

 

[Malhost Zormaeril]

I have always pictured Psionicists as being more-or-less Indian in flavour (Hindu ascetics are all about "mind over body" and Concentration, and I have felt some of those powers have distinctly Hindu flavour). Unfortunately, I know very little about Sanskrit, but throwing terms like "Chakra" and "Prana" around are cool.

There's also the issue of Dark Sun, of course (full disclosure: I'm a DS fanboy). In DS there is a lot of psionic jargon (starting with the term "mindbender" for psionicists) which you may feel is more distinct, "better", or both. "The Will and the Way" was the Dark Sun supplement in 2e that described psionicist culture more thoroughly; you may want to look at that. It's certainly integral to the feel of the setting and, believe me, you may accuse Dark Sun of anything except being Sci-Fi'ish.

 

[RFisher]

I've never understood the psionics is sci-fi argument. There is nothing particularly scientific about people that can throw items across a room just by thinking about it. That is clearly some kind of magic, at least in the universe as we undestand it.

Much of what was science fiction 40, 60, or 80 year ago is now either fantasy or fact. When I think of science fiction, I still think of many of those those older stories despite the fact that, today, they may no longer fit my personal definition of science fiction.

 

[Bacris]

People put off by the names: Truenaming Psionics

A thread specifically devoted to renaming psionics into a more "fantasy" name convention.

 

[ephemeron]

I've never understood the psionics is sci-fi argument. There is nothing particularly scientific about people that can throw items across a room just by thinking about it. That is clearly some kind of magic, at least in the universe as we undestand it.

I'd say that "psionics" is a euphemism for "magic", used in SF settings. "Doc" Smith's Lensmen have amazing powers because of their mastery of their own minds, D&D paladins can cast spells because of their dedication to Lawful Good; the basic idea is pretty much the same.

 

[Nightfall]

I look to the Scarred Lands for inspiration on using Psionics. In their minds, much like technology isn't magic, psionics isn't magical. It's more of an "evolutionary" state of being. Thus magic doesn't affect it and vice versa. At least mostly, as mental attacks are indeed blocked by magical mind effects.

Other than that, psionics is like fish and magic is like polar bear.

 

[Hussar]

Actually, I do like the whole "mental disease" thing of SL psionics. A left over from an earlier race. Pretty cool really.

 

[Presto2112]

I'm very comfortable in my predjudice against psionics, and therefore have no intention of helping you.

So nyah.

 

[Particle_Man]

I'm thinking of replacing magic with psionics and calling psionics magic.

I think I can do it if I can get around the healing issues. But if I give every PC Reserve Points, and allow the empathic transfer power some extra abilities (similar to the Dragaon Shaman's lay on hands getting to remove other conditions than hit point loss) then I think I can get away with it.

Because, if you are a pseudo-medieval peasant and you see some dude causing balls of fire to appear, wouldn't you call it magic?

 

[kigmatzomat]

There is a 1st level power in Complete Psionic, touch of Healing, I think, that heals 2 hp/pp spent. Add that to all the psionic classes list and you've got basic healing covered.