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

[Guest 6801328]

Somehow missed that passage before, from MM page 10. Here it is again:

PSIONICS
A monster that casts spells using only the power of its mind has the psionics tag added to its Spellcasting or Innate Spellcasting special trait. This tag carries no special rules of its own, but other parts of the game might refer to it. A monster that has this tag typically doesn't require any components to cast its spells.

So two key takeaways:

• There is NO rule, as written or otherwise, attached to the tag.
• The absence of VSM is typical (as opposed to, say, universal), and it applies to monsters.

Hopefully that will settle the debate of how to interpret the examples in the MM.

 

[Guest 6801328]

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.

So let me get this straight...

You put the lime in the coconut and drank them both up?

Wait, no.

I was going to say, your position is that it seems so improbable that any new character options will not follow the same patterns as existing monsters, that it's ok to talk about it as if it's a rule?

If so, why not say that all this time? Why insist it's RAW?

 

[Maxperson]

I was going to say, your position is that it seems so improbable that any new character options will not follow the same patterns as existing monsters, that it's ok to talk about it as if it's a rule?

That isn't what I said, but okay.

 

[Guest 6801328]

That isn't what I said, but okay.

Then what did you mean?

Here, I'll re-quote what you wrote:

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.

If my paraphrasing is inaccurate, please help me understand what you are trying to say.

 

[Chaosmancer]

FYI - Sleet Storm does. Probably the thing you had in the back of your head when you started looking.

Until the spell ends, freezing rain and sleet fall in a 20-foot-tall cylinder with a 40-foot radius centered on a point you choose within range. The area is heavily obscured, and exposed flames in the area are doused.

The ground in the area is covered with slick ice, making it difficult terrain. When a creature enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, it falls prone.

If a creature is concentrating in the spell’s area, the creature must make a successful Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or lose concentration.

Which, is still pretty extreme, think about freezing rain cold enough to make an ice slick after 6-seconds with sleet and wind chill.

I mean, Max's solution was to bind them, and shove a board of nails in their back. Which, I think is a little more tortorous than most groups would be happy with.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I mean, Max's solution was to bind them, and shove a board of nails in their back. Which, I think is a little more tortorous than most groups would be happy with.

I think one of these...



... would suffice.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Okay, here's a rough, unfinished, 7 page draft for a minimal acceptable 5e psion for concept purposes. I have a lot of commentary I could include, but I think I'm just going to let it speak for itself before I start over-explaining and confuse the issues.

 

[Maxperson]

Okay, here's a rough, unfinished, 7 page draft for a minimal acceptable 5e psion for concept purposes. I have a lot of commentary I could include, but I think I'm just going to let it speak for itself before I start over-explaining and confuse the issues.

What about as an addition to the components section, you add in a way for the Psion to skip the required use of components of 100g or more? Even if it's something like for every 100gp value of the component, your constitution drops by 1 to a minimum of 3 for one week, sort of like wish does to strength. It would be a hard sacrifice, but one that could be done by the Psion under his own power if he chooses. The Psion could still opt to use the crystals or whatever if he chooses.

 

[Fenris-77]

In general, I really like the idea that the Psion can sacrifice his body, in whatever way, to power his abilities. Decisions with consequences are nifty.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Okay, here's a rough, unfinished, 7 page draft for a minimal acceptable 5e psion for concept purposes. I have a lot of commentary I could include, but I think I'm just going to let it speak for itself before I start over-explaining and confuse the issues.

This is a straight refluffed wizard with the exception of the psionic augments, which are just extra on top and individually stellar. Which makes it terribly broken, especially at 14th where I can always subtle a spell for no cost, unless I'd rather get free concentration. Something has to sub out for this ability. I see that it's a replacement for spell mastery, but you get it from the start (instead of at 18th), it's pretty much all around better, even with the limited options, and it drastically improves at 14th, which is four levels earlier than spell mastery even turns on!

And, looking at it versus, say, sorcery points, the replenish on short rest means that in a stock 2 short rest day you'll be using this 6 times a day through 10th, which is better than sorc points until 6th and then only slightly behind after. Plus, you don't have to burn spells to replenish them, and you have recovery to get slots back so you don't need to worry about spending them on more slots, like a sorcerer might. They're pretty much better than sorcery points for availability/cost of use AND they replicate some of the better metamagics!

So, at then end, this class has just about everything a wizard does PLUS a healthy (and arguably better) dose of easy to use metamagics on top. The spell list doesn't have quite as many attack spells, though, but it's not lacking in some nice ones.