D&D 5E (2024) Psion Class: Green/Yellow/Red?

[TiQuinn]

It's not my ideal Psion, but I think given the ecosystem of 5e, it fits within that space and is a good option. Like, it's not a bad class, just not how I'd particularly like to see it implemented. It does fall into the samey sameiness of other class powers. If you're using magic to teleport, for instance, of course you're going to have Misty Step. Everyone who uses magic to teleport is going to have that spell then. So it becomes an issue of whether you're a Wizard or a Sorcerer or a Psion, Misty Step is an option for you and the differences between the characters become just flavor. But, I also don't know how to solve that without rebuilding spell lists that already exist. Ultimately, I don't mind that then give this paradigm. There are examples that just don't work for me. Why a Metamorph would have external facing healing spells (i.e. I use my psionic powers of manipulating my anatomy to heal another person) makes me go "huh?" Also, the material component thing - they made a point of Psions not needing Material or Verbal components but to be honest, I think they already made that a token issue for any class. The lack of a spellcasting focus is not really a compelling rule to hang one's hat on, IMO.

But philisophical differences around how wizard or clerical magic vs psionics should work, these are strong options. I would definitely play this class in a game.

 

[Yaarel]

Why a Metamorph would have external facing healing spells (i.e. I use my psionic powers of manipulating my anatomy to heal another person) makes me go "huh?"

A 'psychic healer' is an important concept, both in modern popculture and in premodern cultures.

Like a Telepath can interact with any mind, a Psykinetic can interact with any mass, a Metamorph can interact with any body.

 

[WanderingMystic]

If you wanted a points system I would just go with 1 point per level refreshes with a short rest. Then have the cost be 1 per spell level. You may only cast one spell of 6,7,8,9 per day.

This gives them a great amount of versitility but makes them a little weaker than other spell casters, it gives them a mechanical uniqueness compared to other spell casters while allowing you to use spells that already exist instead of creating new powers completely.

 

[TiQuinn]

A 'psychic healer' is a thing, both in modern popculture and in premodern cultures.

Like a Telepath can interact with any mind, a Psykinetic can interact with any mass, a Metamorph can interact with any body.

Sure, a psychic healer is a concept, but when reading the metamorph description, it doesn't fit thematically, IMO. It feels more like a need to check certain boxes for a class type in 5e.

 

[Horwath]

It's not my ideal Psion, but I think given the ecosystem of 5e, it fits within that space and is a good option. Like, it's not a bad class, just not how I'd particularly like to see it implemented. It does fall into the samey sameiness of other class powers. If you're using magic to teleport, for instance, of course you're going to have Misty Step. Everyone who uses magic to teleport is going to have that spell then. So it becomes an issue of whether you're a Wizard or a Sorcerer or a Psion, Misty Step is an option for you and the differences between the characters become just flavor. But, I also don't know how to solve that without rebuilding spell lists that already exist. Ultimately, I don't mind that then give this paradigm. There are examples that just don't work for me. Why a Metamorph would have external facing healing spells (i.e. I use my psionic powers of manipulating my anatomy to heal another person) makes me go "huh?" Also, the material component thing - they made a point of Psions not needing Material or Verbal components but to be honest, I think they already made that a token issue for any class. The lack of a spellcasting focus is not really a compelling rule to hang one's hat on, IMO.

But philisophical differences around how wizard or clerical magic vs psionics should work, these are strong options. I would definitely play this class in a game.

it's not a bad class, in fact, mechanically, I thing it's a good class, but it is just "Nothing new" class. just another full caster.
we have 5 of them already.

 

[WanderingMystic]

A 'psychic healer' is an important concept, both in modern popculture and in premodern cultures.

Like a Telepath can interact with any mind, a Psykinetic can interact with any mass, a Metamorph can interact with any body.

Usually you see the psychic healer and the metamorph as two different specialties, just like most pyrotechnics don't use telekinesis even though they are both under the same umbrella.

 

[Yaarel]

Sure, a psychic healer is a concept, but when reading the metamorph description, it doesn't fit thematically, IMO. It feels more like a need to check certain boxes for a class type in 5e.

On a reread, I think you are right the Metamorph subclass description sounds slightly too 'selfish'.

"
Your own flesh becomes like clay to you, and you mold it to turn it into the perfect vessel of your psionic powers. Experience in manipulating your life energy also enables you to adjust the life force of friends and foes alike.

"


Maybe even a minor edit resolves it? Something like.

"
Flesh becomes clay to you. You mold your own flesh into a perfect vessel of your psionic powers. Experience in manipulating your life energy also enables you o adjust the life force of friends and foes.

"


In any case, 'psychometabolism' is the go-to for healing, even for a dedicated healer. It also relates to reshaping others.

 

[TiQuinn]

it's not a bad class, in fact, mechanically, I thing it's a good class, but it is just "Nothing new" class. just another full caster.
we have 5 of them already.

And that's what I see overall. They're kind of running out of space to really do anything new.

 

[Yaarel]

Usually you see the psychic healer and the metamorph as two different specialties, just like most pyrotechnics don't use telekinesis even though they are both under the same umbrella.

There is no reason to separate these, they are the same concept. Especially when, there is little more to being a 'healer' than preparing two spells, Cure Wounds and Mass Cure Wounds. I would also add Revivify as a third spell, but not Raise Dead. At higher level, I also want to see a way to get Heal and especially Regeneration, perhaps even Shapechange at slot 9, but am ok with spending resources to specialize to do this.

A mind that shapeshifts into a wolf, and others into a wolf, can also knit a wound together, block and expel poison, and so on.

 

[mellored]

hehe.

but seriously, they should have defaulted psion ot points system with few different augmentation options for every "spell" err, power.

The issue a point system is that you just pick the best power (+ augment + feat + subclass), spam it, then take a rest.
I.e. cast Heightened Synaptics Static repeatedly.

I don't mind if Psions have less versatility, but I don't want to be (indirectly or directly) limited to 1 spell. (I don't like martials who only attack either).

So there should be something that forces you to cast a different spell. Which is why I vote for half caster + half points.

But I could also see something like "you can't use the same augment until the end of your next turn." Or something.