Ki versus Psionic: Power Sources Do Battle (in a semantic sort of way)

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Some other term: Martial.

(I haven't seen the new monk, so I suspect they gave it non-martial powers from the get-go.)

 

[Nai_Calus]

Psionics, Mentalism, ESP, whatever, I don't care.

Anything but Ki.

I'm sick to death of asian everything, to the point where in my current 3.5 game I banned asian-themed classes, including the monk.

Also, as a fan of sci-fi who's been reading it since I was seven(I'm 25 now), mostly older stuff of my dad's, the term 'psionics' has absolutely no connection with sci-fi for me. Where are people getting that from, anyway?

 

[Nymrohd]

I prefer psionic from the options at hand, but I'd rather they found a better term for what is effectively mind magic.

 

[Lackhand]

Another vote for psionic out of the options available.
In the pulp consciousness, psionic has always (for me?) been associated with The East, making this not that much better than "ki", except for being a more socially acceptable solution with _way_ more actual sense behind it (c.f. arguments stating "ki" means "power"...).

Besides that, though, I've always thought the two could be closely related -- the focus that a monk must hold being one of concentration and breathing, with the religious overtones being layered on top of a disciplined mind driving their potent moves. In short, I've always seen the Psionic Warrior/Physical Adept as the Monk.

That said, I'd rather use a third option for both -- Discipline (BDSM jokes aside!), Will, Balance, or Focus, maybe. Those are a bit off the cuff, and I think I prefer Psionics to each of them, but you see what I'm going for.


This brings to mind that there's still a place for the pseudoscience angle of psionics, though... What would you call that powersource?
Phrenics ?
Science! ?

 

[Mallus]

I had a friend/DM back in college in the late 1980s who designated monks as psionics. Either way is fine to me.

Power sources only affect the way a power is narrated, right? 'Psionic' powers would be described as cheap scifi movie mentalism (lots of furrowed brows and squinting) and 'ki' powers would be described as cheap wuxia movie moves (katas and such).

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Psionics is a broad umbrella that can encompass the psychometabolism aspects that most think of when they imagine a ki based monk. Ki on the other hand, to me at least, doesnt encompass the mind control, psi blasts, pyrokinesis etc you want from some types of psionics. I'm for keeping the power sources as broad as possible. We didnt need a fey power source for fey warlocks, they just lumped them in arcane, along with magic derived from eldritch horrors, infernal powers, music of creation and generic beard, staff and pointy hat wizardry.

 

[Felon]

Also, as a fan of sci-fi who's been reading it since I was seven(I'm 25 now), mostly older stuff of my dad's, the term 'psionics' has absolutely no connection with sci-fi for me. Where are people getting that from, anyway?

It always puzzles me to see folks say this.

The term "psionic" was coined by science-fiction authors, largely because they specifically wanted a term to apply to abilities like ESP and psychoknesis that would remove all supernatural connotations.

It's used in RPG's and other games to give players abilities that work like magic in settings that are expressly unmagical.

In other words, in D&D, psionics is basically a square peg in a round hole. And that's a big part of the appeal for some folks. In all practical ways, it's redundant, because magic can do anything.

"Look, I can make this rock move around without touching it."
"So? A simple cantrip can do that".
"Aha! But this isn't a SPELL. I'm not using MAGIC. I'm using PSIONICS!"

It's like introducing power armor and laser rifles; in a fantastic setting where almost anything goes, this manages to add something that just feels alien.

 

[Felon]

You really need a don't care option, because I think a fair few of us are like that..we don't care 'cos it doesn't really effect the game or we can just change the fluff.
But I really don't care
Ki- some sorta internal magic, mind over matter
Psionics- some sorta internal magic, the power of the mind

I give it a big MEH.

Quick tip: if somebody runs into a room and asks if there's a doctor in the house, don't raise your hand to get the guy's attention just so you can say "Hey, over here...I'm not a doctor!" It's kind of a waste of folks' time. Just go about your business.

No poll should contain a "don't care" option. Submitting a null vote in a poll you're apathetic about is senseless. Posting to regsiter your apathy is just threadcrap.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

In other words, in D&D, psionics is basically a square peg in a round hole. And that's a big part of the appeal for some folks. It's like introducing power armor and laser rifles; in a fantastic setting where almost anything goes, this manages to add something that feels alien.

How do you feel about calling it "psychic" or "mentalism" then? It seems that things like aura reading, dream visions, object reading, spirit sense, danger rpremonitions etc are a recognized part of fantasy. I'd love some rules for the 4e equivalent of wild talents for these sorts of things, which I feel fit in well in traditional middle ages settings. The ritual system doesnt really cover this well, as characters typically only display one of those traits, and they are usually born with them.

 

[Felon]

How do you feel about calling it "psychic" or "mentalism" then?

That's a very good point that I forgot to include in the previous posts. "Psionic" was coined specifically to get away from the supernatural implications of the word "psychic". It would have been a good compromise, but "psychic" wound up being used to describe a damage type, making it inappropriate to use to also describe a power source.