How do Psions compare to arcane casters?

[Thanee]

But Sorcerers and Wizards do use the same system. Psions do not.

They add a whole new system, that doesn't actually add much to the game (IMHO, of course).
For those who dislike the original magic system and like the point-based one better, it certainly might do so, or for the psionics flavor fans, of course.

Take Tome of Magic for comparison, now that adds something new, not just extremely similar things with different names (or even the same)... not the best-balanced book either, but here it's probably worth to spend the extra time to make it usable.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Psion]

But Sorcerers and Wizards do use the same system. Psions do not.

That merely supports his point. Psions are more different from wizards than sorcerers, so if you think psions are bland because they are too similar to wizards, then sorcerers are doubly so.

 

[Psion]

IMO psions should pick one type and be able to use other types as an augmentation.

For those whom the psion energy flexibility is a big issue, to minimize rule twinkery, I was thinking of:
1) Requiring psions to select a focus energy. To change focus energy requires expending their focus and possibly a concentration check.
2) Only allowing psions to take advantage of special effects for energy if they are currently focussed.

 

[Psion]

But apart from that... it just doesn't feel right for some reason. I just don't see psionics as the galactic force of blasting foes to bits. I have little problems with psionics being great at telepathy, domination and such, but Fireball!?

Watch Firestarter and Akira, and get back to me.

 

[Thanee]

That merely supports his point. Psions are more different from wizards than sorcerers, so if you think psions are bland because they are too similar to wizards, then sorcerers are doubly so.

That's true, of course. But Psions are supposed to be different. Sorcerers are not. Saying that two classes, who are just two slightly different variations of the same thing are similar, is kinda redundant. Of course they are, that's the whole point.

I've seen Akira (very much not my kind of movie, but that's beside the point)... not sure what Firestarter is (another Anime I suppose? Only seen a handful of those; doesn't really meet my taste ).

Pyrokinetics can fit psionics for sure (thinking about it... fire and psionics, in that regard my Fireball example probably wasn't the best ), moreso in science fiction (but that doesn't rule out fantasy).

It fits better in a world without arcane magic IMHO. Both doesn't really mix together well. It would have been better to have more clearly cut lines between the various types of magic, but that would require to design them all with each other in mind. It shows, that psionics were put on top of everything else, because there is such a huge overlap. Arcane and divine magic also have overlap, but not nearly as much, because they were designed together.

Bye
Thanee

 

[BryonD]

not sure what Firestarter is (another Anime I suppose? Only seen a handful of those; doesn't really meet my taste ).

http://www.amazon.com/Firestarter-S...=pd_bbs_3/102-3088056-4022523?ie=UTF8&s=books

Not remotely anime. (I'm not at all an anime fan either)

Movie version was OK (child star period Drew Barrymore), but the book is excellent.

 

[BryonD]

For those whom the psion energy flexibility is a big issue, to minimize rule twinkery, I was thinking of:
1) Requiring psions to select a focus energy. To change focus energy requires expending their focus and possibly a concentration check.
2) Only allowing psions to take advantage of special effects for energy if they are currently focussed.

That is a good idea.

 

[Thanee]

Movie version was OK (child star period Drew Barrymore), but the book is excellent.

Ah, that sounds remotely familiar.

Thanks for the explanation.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Psion]

It fits better in a world without arcane magic IMHO. Both doesn't really mix together well. It would have been better to have more clearly cut lines between the various types of magic, but that would require to design them all with each other in mind.

3e psionics was designed with the magic system in mind. That's why it manages to work, whereas it never quite seemed to in prior editions.

It wouldn't make too much sense to design magic with the psionics system in mind, unless you were going to make it core.

FWIW, I do think the 3.5 version loses some of its distinctive flavor dropping psionics combat, but the mindscapes system in Hyperconscious fills that need for me.

 

[Thanee]

3e psionics was designed with the magic system in mind.

It's based on it for sure, that's pretty obvious.

It wouldn't make too much sense to design magic with the psionics system in mind, unless you were going to make it core.

But that seems to be the problem, I think. The magic system is extremely widespanning and does not leave much room there for other systems of a similar kind. Hence the huge overlap.

FWIW, I do think the 3.5 version loses some of its distinctive flavor dropping psionics combat, but the mindscapes system in Hyperconscious fills that need for me.

I actually have Hyperconscious (bought it on the last big games fair here for like € 3,- ), but havn't really looked into it yet. I did like what Mindscapes did to 3E psionics (mostly, anyways), though; without that 3E psionics was a horrible system.

Bye
Thanee