In your current D&D 3.5 game, do the players or DM use Psionics and the XPH (Expanded

[Henry]

1) Yes, we use them. To be specific, yes, I use them. I'm currently playing a Psion in a multiverse-spanning game (Faerun, Eberron, other planes) and having a blast. I do think that psions may be a bit powerful (about on the level of clerics, truthfully) but I'm trying in-game to be sure I keep my powers within reason and don't go all-out for power optimization - I don't walk around every chance I get buffed to the gills, and I've been knocked around as much as the rest of the party.

Our occurrance of using psionics or not varies with who's running the game, and what the world-setting is.

 

[WayneLigon]

1. Yes, we use them. Or, rather, they are in use. My first character in the campaign was a half-giant Psychic Warrior. He died when he was around 5th level, though, and no-one else has created a psionic character since then. It was fun. It was the first time I've ever played a psionic character, and the first time any of us looked at the new rules for it.

 

[Umbran]

Basically 3. I simply don't see the attraction to psionics - the system simply isn't that interesting or well-deisgned. And I feel that brining in a system that requires another whole book to govern it would be counter-productive.

 

[hexgrid]

I have one player who has always played a psionicist in every edition of the game we've played.

I rarely use them as the DM, though. From a preparation standpoint, one magic system to deal with is plenty.

 

[Dave Turner]

Basically 3. I simply don't see the attraction to psionics - the system simply isn't that interesting or well-deisgned. And I feel that brining in a system that requires another whole book to govern it would be counter-productive.

I'm surprised to read that you don't think the system is well-designed, since good system design is one of the things that even detractors seem to agree upon. Criticism is usually against the flavor of psionics, but rarely the system itself.

What is it about the system that seems poorly-designed?

 

[KB9JMQ]

Number 1 but barely.
I cannot stand them myself but I have one player using them and utilizing the XPH.
I have used the book to help me tweak encounters to let her use that part of her character.

I don't ban the use but I have never felt psionics was D&D and the people I game with are the same for the most part.

 

[Evilhalfling]

As a DM I use them, psionic NPCs, Aboleths and Blue goblins have been staples over the last few years. Psionics show up about once every 3-4 sessions.

They are not currently as integrated with the campagin as they were with the previous one (where halflings were a psi dominated society). I had one player with a 3.0 telepath, and a 3.0 psionic allay (hivemind wolf pack) but none of the players has bought the XPH so they dont use it much.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I'm currently in 4 different games, and in 3 of them we have psionic PC's, and the DM in the 4th would probably allow it.

 

[Mark Hope]

1) Yes, we use them. I am playing a Kalashtar psion/wizard in an Eberron game at the moment and run a Dark Sun game, so the XPH sees as much use as the core books (well, more, actually, as I prefer to use the Mongoose pocket books instead of the WotC core hardbacks because I rarely host and they're much less hassle to lug about the place).

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Having borrowed a copy of the Expanded Psionics Handbook from a friend over the weekend, and had a look at the rules, I'd have to say that i'm amazed there is so little mention of psionics in the D&D community generally.

That got me curious, so lets have a poll!

**

Ahem, poll options below. Yes, lets use the new fangled super advanced stylee:

1) Yes we use them.
2) No, haven't got round to reading the XPH book.
3) No, don't like the rules or psionics generally.
4) No, no-one in the group owns a copy of the XPH book.
5) No, doesn't fit in with the current campaign theme.
6) No, for another reason that i'll specify below.

1) Yes, in an Eberron campaign, we have a soulknife (why?) and a psychic warrior.

What is it about the system that seems poorly-designed?

Spend more time on psionics forums. This is overpowered, that is broken, this is weak, whatever happened to Heighten Power, etc. Oh yeah, don't forget novas and elans. The baseline is well-balanced, IMO, except for too many power points, but a lot of the details could have used some more work.