Psionics Handbook 3.5 Confirmed!

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Rounser

I'm convinced that in AD&D, it's been historically used by powergamers as a sort of back door to break the game by.

It sounds like you are unfamiliar with 3e psionics. They specifically got rid of the broken stuff. Most of them, anyway, but it's pretty hard to call it broken when wizards still get Mord's Disjunction.

 

[rounser]

It sounds like you are unfamiliar with 3e psionics.

I know it's not a problem with 3E psionics. I'm just trying to point out where I think some of the groundswell of support for psionics comes from, and that I suspect that some people's positive associations with it are for reasons just as suss as it's game balance was.

Magic is everywhere in D&D, so it loses novelty for some D&Ders, and I think that psionics acts as a sort of out for some players and DMs so they can feel special by comparison. DMs reinvent psionic-heavy worlds whilst patting themselves on the back for being so original, where in truth the idea is about as groundbreaking and continually reinvented as Tucker's Kobolds.

That it was arguably messed up again for 3E, only somewhat underpowered this time and with dungeonpunk tatts and pet rocks and awkwardly pretending to be magic to boot for lazy game balance convenience purposes (if you're going to do psionics, make it psionics, not magic in bad makeup and wearing a wig), doesn't endear me to the material any further when the archetype is only marginally swords & sorcery material anyway (setting dependent, of course), and sort of redundant in a world of magic - and introducing of sci-fi-ish overtones - anyhow.

 

[Davelozzi]

I will definately purchase this book regardless of whether or not they tweak the current system of start from scratch.

Fixes to the current system would be easier for my campaign since one of my players has a psion. Regardless, I'd much prefer to see a skills & feats system similar to the one in Shadowforce Archer (Spycraft) or the Force rules in Star Wars. It's just much more interesting.

And while he's done some good stuff for psionics, I'd rather see Bruce Cordell off the job this time around. While Mindscapes is an improvement, it doesn't really wow me. Plus it took him three tries to get there. I think it's time to give the reins over to someone else.

 

[dravot]

(if you're going to do psionics, make it psionics, not magic in bad makeup and wearing a wig)

There's an image that'll be giving me nightmares tonight.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

In my opinion the best things that happened to Psionics in 3e was they were level based and that Psionics and Magic were transparent. This considerably reduced a lot of headaches trying to integrate psionics into most campaign worlds.

The worst thing about 3e psionics and psionics in just about all editions was Psionic Combat... It needs massive changes or else be completely forgotten (though that would be the loss of some flavour).

And one thing that should be added if they're still going to be keeping crystals around, is a "Why Crystals?" section explaining in short detail the theory behind crystals and psionics (it has to do with crystal vibrations, and attuned energies and stuff like that).

Also there's plenty of complaints of Illithids not being fully statted out using psionics, so it's probably a good idea to go there and include Yuan-Ti for a good measure.

 

[Nifft]

I like Psionics. It gives me a "strange & alien" kind of power to drop on my players when I want to confuse & befuddle them.

-- Nifft

 

[Spatula]

And while he's done some good stuff for psionics, I'd rather see Bruce Cordell off the job this time around. While Mindscapes is an improvement, it doesn't really wow me. Plus it took him three tries to get there. I think it's time to give the reins over to someone else.

Just as long as it isn't the designers behind the Mind's Eye on the WOTC webpage.

I'd like to see a system in the style of 2E psionics, without being horribly overpowered the way 2E psionics were. Something like a feat system, I suppose, although that might be tough to balance against the other classes. But I would like a system that's more interesting than being a sorcerer with spell points instead of spell slots.

 

[Alzrius]

Woot! Another copy sold here! My only real complaint is having to wait so long to pick it up!

I also hope Bruce Cordell is the one working on this. If it gets incorporated with some of the 3E psionics stuff that was released later (including some of the Mind's Eye stuff, which I liked) then this book could really be ten times better than its predecessor.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

I'll be buying it, even if it sucks again. 3e PsiHB was pretty good, just needed a little boost to get them up to the other primary-caster level. With arcaners getting the 3.5e kick-in-the-teeth and a few tweaks Psi could become a player again.*


*note this excludes cheesy broken tricks. And of course the Savant is hella-cool and a telepath can either suck outright or be broken, depending on the campaign.

 

[green slime]

I like it. I'll be buying the new book. I also feel that the only REAL problem with psionics in 3e was the psionic combat section. Most of the rest is readily tweekable.

From my personal experience, Psions and Psychic warriors make a great addition to most parties, when they are taken for what they are, and not for what some people seem to want them to be: blasters. They also require a bit more forethought to put together than your average character. The so called "stat dependancy" isn't too high either. No more than Paladins or Monks

2E psionics I never used, and 1e psionics... Well we were just kids back then...