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

[FireLance]

IMO, ki : psionic :: katana : bastard sword

Ki is retarded, psionic is awesome.

Did you just insult my culture?

 

[Gargoyle]

At first I was annoyed that Ki wouldn't be a power source...for about 3 seconds. It is better that monks are psionic. Ki in D&D 3rd edition was defined as deriving power from within, and I like that definition. It is completely compatible with the notion of psionics, so much so that it is better to combine them into one power source.

I guess I feel the term "psionics" works better as a more general term that could include ki.

 

[mach1.9pants]

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.

 

[Gothmog]

Honestly, I'm glad ki has been abandoned. Its way too culture specific, and it already duplicates many of the themes found in psionics.

On the other hand, I wish they'd use some other term than psionic. The term psionic has too much baggage associated with it from previous editions. "Psychic" or "mentalism" power source would be better. And here is to hoping they get rid of a lot of the new-age crystal bunk that had permeated psionics for the last two editions. If WotC does that, I'd gladly accept psionics in my game (up until now I've been very "meh" on psionics).

 

[the Jester]

I fully support the Psionic power source, and I was wondering what the classes for the Ki power source would be, since wu jen and shugenja are obvious elemental candidates. So I think they made the right decision.

To me, the monk has had an "akin to psionic" flavor for me ever since the Best of Dragon volume 2 version of the monk. I can totally buy it.

 

[RefinedBean]

Psionic sounds cooler, and since I don't give two craps about power sources anyway, that's a good enough reason for me to vote for it.

 

[Jack99]

I voted psionic, but imo, they should have made it phrenic!

 

[RavenBlackthorne]

Originally Posted by ProfessorCirno
Ki is retarded, psionic is awesome.

Did you just insult my culture?

No, he just complimented mine.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I wanted multiple choice so that I could vote for Ki and Mystic! I wish there was an 'anything but psionic' option.

Even after 30 years, I can't help but see psionic as a sci-fi term which is shoe-horned into fantasy D&D and doesn't really fit.

Ki works for me, as does mystic. Heck, you could probably even make up a name and it would be better than psionic (...although maybe not, with the current kind of naming conventions in vogue at WotC )

I see from the poll I'm in a minority here, which is obviously personally disappointing

Cheers

 

[Atomo]

I do not like "ki"... Very Asian feeling for me. It will work very good in an Asian setting, but I think it is so specific to a generic "all in one" setting.

I do not like "psionic" either... It remembers me sci-fi. And, at least in my table, medieval fantastic and sci-fi do not blend very well.

Even so, I think "mystic" option is not the answer. So I voted to some other term. I just do not know what term would be good, but I am certain that a better word could be found if researched