D&D 5E Here's why we want a Psion class

[Maxperson]

To is your invention not supported by the text. In fact..

...you have clearly pointed out that no where in the text does it say "psionic" or "psionic power." In fact, the very next sentence still calls it a spell, twice!

From page one of the new UA.

"In 2019 and now in 2020, we’re enjoying that exploration, looking into providing options (subclasses, spells, and feats) that allow different types of characters to manifest psionic power."

All of these feats and abilities allow them to manifest psionic power. Not spell power. Psionic power. The Psychic Sorcery is a manifestation of psionic power, which is why it can remove components.

 

[Chaosmancer]

There have already been multiple suggestions on how to fix here in this thread. It's not really an issue since it's so easily fixed.

Except, it isn't so easily fixed.

I went ahead and double checked the concentration mechanics: "The DM might also decide that certain environmental phenomena, such as a wave crashing over you while you're on a storm-tossed ship, require you to succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell. " is the only version that doesn't require an attack roll first. Even something like Stinking Cloud which can cause you to spend an entire round retching do not trigger concentration checks.

So binding someone in such a way that they always need a concentration check would be incredibly difficult. And I am not sure how one would go about it per RAW, without creating a damage over time effect.

And the exhaustion sounds good, except to prevent someone from sleeping, you'd have to be awake yourself, and a single level of exhaustion goes away with a single nights sleep, so you'd need to have two nights without sleep, then get a night of sleep, then they have to go everyother day without sleep.

That is a highly complicated system, and it only gives you a chance to stop them from using their psionic powers.

Meanwhile, tie a wizard up and gag them, and they absolutely cannot use their powers. Heck, use a ball gag with a lock and you don't even need to tie them up.

That is a major difference in power.

 

[Maxperson]

I didn't see them, can you point me to a post or just throw one out. I am still going through the most recent pages after finishing up my work day.

Post #464 has my basic suggestion. It's rough, so there's that. Then someone else suggested a helmet on the head stop psionics, since that worked in 2e.

 

[Guest 6801328]

From page one of the new UA.

"In 2019 and now in 2020, we’re enjoying that exploration, looking into providing options (subclasses, spells, and feats) that allow different types of characters to manifest psionic power."

All of these feats and abilities allow them to manifest psionic power. Not spell power. Psionic power. The Psychic Sorcery is a manifestation of psionic power, which is why it can remove components.

You did it again.

You took a statement that they plan to provide options for manifesting psionic power, and concluded (or, at least, used that as a point of argument) that everything new is an example of a psionic power.

Sure, those powers COULD be psionic. But you've made it an absolute. Insisting this proves they are psionic.

Why?

 

[Maxperson]

Except, it isn't so easily fixed.

I went ahead and double checked the concentration mechanics: "The DM might also decide that certain environmental phenomena, such as a wave crashing over you while you're on a storm-tossed ship, require you to succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell. " is the only version that doesn't require an attack roll first. Even something like Stinking Cloud which can cause you to spend an entire round retching do not trigger concentration checks.

So binding someone in such a way that they always need a concentration check would be incredibly difficult. And I am not sure how one would go about it per RAW, without creating a damage over time effect.

I don't think so. Bind them and then get a board with short nails and shove it into their back and tie that down. They'll be in constant pain until such time as someone comes by and relieves them. There are other ways, too.

And the exhaustion sounds good, except to prevent someone from sleeping, you'd have to be awake yourself, and a single level of exhaustion goes away with a single nights sleep, so you'd need to have two nights without sleep, then get a night of sleep, then they have to go everyother day without sleep.

This primarily came about with the jail scenario. It wouldn't be hard to have a guard keep them from getting a long rest for ever. Just disrupt them every 4 hours.

 

[dave2008]

From page one of the new UA.

"In 2019 and now in 2020, we’re enjoying that exploration, looking into providing options (subclasses, spells, and feats) that allow different types of characters to manifest psionic power."

All of these feats and abilities allow them to manifest psionic power. Not spell power. Psionic power. The Psychic Sorcery is a manifestation of psionic power, which is why it can remove components.

But that psionic power only removes the M & S when you have enough of it by RAW. They are still spells manifest with psionic power.

 

[Maxperson]

But that psionic power only removes the M & S when you have enough of it by RAW. The are still spells manifest with psionic power.

The flavor of the ability is that it converts all the way to mental if you roll high enough, which would very strongly imply that it's now a psionic ability. It starts out purely spell. Then you try to change it to mental. If you succeed partially, only one component is removed. If you succeed all the way, all of them go away.

 

[Maxperson]

You did it again.

You took a statement that they plan to provide options for manifesting psionic power, and concluded (or, at least, used that as a point of argument) that everything new is an example of a psionic power.

Sure, those powers COULD be psionic. But you've made it an absolute. Insisting this proves they are psionic.

Why?

Because I don't see a point to saying maybe and possibly when the odds are that long. The odds that WotC's thinking with the way they have described psionics in this UA, prior UAs and the MM has changed from, "Psionics doesn't require VSM" to "It does or might use VSM." are so long that they worth considering.

 

[Ovinomancer]

From page one of the new UA.

"In 2019 and now in 2020, we’re enjoying that exploration, looking into providing options (subclasses, spells, and feats) that allow different types of characters to manifest psionic power."

All of these feats and abilities allow them to manifest psionic power. Not spell power. Psionic power. The Psychic Sorcery is a manifestation of psionic power, which is why it can remove components.

So, then, your argument is that psionic powers can have somatic and material components. This is an interesting change.

 

[Maxperson]

So, then, your argument is that psionic powers can have somatic and material components. This is an interesting change.

It's not fully psionic with a partial success, so no. My position has not changed.