Mostly Replacing Arcane Magic With Psionics

[Driddle]

I've been thinking of a similar setting. I'd decided that wizards and sorcerers simply never really came into existence -- no further questions asked -- and the psi-based classes filled that niche.

Arcane magic still exists, mind you, but only by way of bardic manipulations and performances. More of a lyrical, musical or poetic sort of interpretation of magic and less raw force ala the classic mage. A few monsters might have to be adapted (or simply ruled out entirely -- after all, there are plenty of threats to tackle anyway). But that would be on a case-by-case basis. Naturally, dragons would still have access to their very special dragon magic.

High-level magic items would be much rarer and artifact-like ("Who made this thing?"). I'm thinking that magical object crafting is something the very highest level or ancient bards could handle. ... I might even expand the bard's spell base a teensy bit, or allow for very expensive, time-consuming arcane research to discover other spells.

But, again, no classic mages. Let psions and their ilk take their place instead.

(shrug) It'll never happen. Just some random thoughts to post.

 

[Seule]

I've been running a similar campaign world for over a year now, and here's what I've done.

Back in the mists of time, the civilized races (PC available) decided that arcane magic was too inherently unstable and random for its own good. They discarded the trappings of arcane magic and turned to the gods and their own psyches for power. Arcane magic is the sole province of monsters and suchlike, while PCs and PC races use Psionics and Divine magic instead.
Unsurprisingly, I was thrilled to get my hands on the XPH this weekend, and conversion is already underway.

--Seule

 

[Driddle]

Hmm. There's an idea -- magic is a tool of Chaos; psi is a tool of Order (or vice versa, if you prefer). Even though each realm has spells/powers that address both concepts, the enaction of each is very much driven by just one force.

Mages and Psions hate each other? Instant conflict for campaign setting.

Would need to be hammered out further, of course...

 

[Greatwyrm]

Hmm. There's an idea -- magic is a tool of Chaos; psi is a tool of Order (or vice versa, if you prefer).

That would be a neat hook for an Order vs. Chaos kind of theme, like in Warhammer. Still has the problem of what to do with Lawful creatures with spell-like powers, but neat all the same.

 

[carpedavid]

I'm currently running an Oriental-flavored campaign, where the source of arcane magic is the Dark Realm/Shadowlands. Casting arcane magic results in the accumulation of taint, and, thus, there are very few wizards or sorcerers (and those that do exist are NPCs). Psions have developed quite naturally, what with the focus on harnessing one's chi that is prevalent in most oriental-flavored settings.

Since bards don't exist in OA, that doesn't present a problem to me, and I think that putting assassins in danger of accumlating taint actually works out quite well. So far, it's working out splendidly.

 

[hong]

I'd quite like to try a campaign where the only magic is the PsiHB (well, the new one). Of course, it would be called magic and not psionics. I don't really like psionics in fantasy. The only real difference is a few names anyway.

I've been thinking of doing something similar too. Some tweaking of spell/power lists may be required (eg healing), but nothing major, I should hope.

 

[Greatwyrm]

I've been thinking of doing something similar too. Some tweaking of spell/power lists may be required (eg healing), but nothing major, I should hope.

You might want to consider using the recovery points from Unearthed Arcana to ease the loss of easy healing magic. I'm not sure that's the right name. It's something like you get hp back right after a fight by spending your recovery points, which recover at one per hour or something like that.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Here's another questions I've been mulling over. Would you keep psionics as a third form of magic or use "psionics are different"? Would this be overpowering, or worse, stupid?

It seems like it would be neat to have the additional tension between psi and divine users. Each knowing they were limited in tripping up the other's powers. At the same time, I can't help but think about 2e psionics working that way and how much of a pain it was.