D&D 5E Psionics in a sci-fi D&D

[Cadence]

Looks like we might have a bit more idea of genre:

Level Up in 2022: Dungeons, Sci-fi, and Adventure! — Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)

We have three hardcover books planned over the coming year.

www.levelup5e.com

 

[Yaarel]

Looks like we might have a bit more idea of genre:

Level Up in 2022: Dungeons, Sci-fi, and Adventure! — Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)

We have three hardcover books planned over the coming year.

www.levelup5e.com

The blurb for the Level Up Voidrunner setting has a "space opera", whence Star Wars vibe, whence psionics=magic.

 

[Yaarel]

Judging by the poll, at least the ENWorld community leans toward new mechanics. I consider 63% or more to be a decisive majority, albeit not a defining majority. So there would still be alot of customers who are less thrilled with new mechanics.

Personally, I would design the psi class with new mechanics, but still make sure that these new mechanics can be used to cast the spells of other classes, like Wizard and Bard, to ensure multiclassability, as well as 5e game-engine compatibility generally.

I hope, the psi can function as a full caster with powerful capabilities comparable to high level spells.

 

[Scars Unseen]

The blurb for the Level Up Voidrunner setting has a "space opera", whence Star Wars vibe, whence psionics=magic.

Star Wars is on the far soft sci-fi end of space opera. It doesn't define the genre, so no, saying that it's space opera doesn't settle the question. I'd say that the fact that OP asked the question already knowing what genre they were going with proves that it isn't a settled matter. All that's really needed for space opera is for it to be large in scale, conflict-driven, and dramatic.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I hope, the psi can function as a full caster with powerful capabilities comparable to high level spells.

I'm hoping mostly for the opposite. I don't need another full caster class, especially not one that already has functional overlap with the wizard's spell list as is.

 

[Yaarel]

I'm hoping mostly for the opposite. I don't need another full caster class, especially not one that already has functional overlap with the wizard's spell list as is.

There can be more than one psi class: one like a wizard and one like a monk.

5e officially supports both class concepts. Psionics is officially magic in 5e, but appears variously as "Innate Spellcasting" that casts spells without components, as well as nonspell class features, like for the Psi Knight.

Personally, I am unlikely to buy a product that lacks a powerful Psion caster.

 

[tetrasodium]

Star Wars is on the far soft sci-fi end of space opera. It doesn't define the genre, so no, saying that it's space opera doesn't settle the question. I'd say that the fact that OP asked the question already knowing what genre they were going with proves that it isn't a settled matter. All that's really needed for space opera is for it to be large in scale, conflict-driven, and dramatic.

Agree pretty strongly about star wars almost being so soft it falls off towards fantasy or something. From the placeholder cover it looks somewhere between shadow run Babylon 5 & maybe a few other things too early to give much weight to

 

[Yaarel]

Agree pretty strongly about star wars almost being so soft it falls off towards fantasy or something. From the placeholder cover it looks somewhere between shadow run Babylon 5 & maybe a few other things too early to give much weight to

Babylon 5 has full-on magic, even a techno-mancer mage. The psionic powers of vorlons produce magical effects that resemble the Star Wars Force.

Also, Shadowrun is overtly magic.

 

[tetrasodium]

Babylon 5 has full-on magic, even a techno-mancer mage. The psionic powers of vorlons produce magical effects that resemble the Star Wars Force.

Also, Shadowrun is overtly magic.

Yea shadow run has magic, but it's separate from tech and the don't mix well so the tech stands on its own. Texhnomancers in b5 have like one episode where they avoid the plot and maybe a walk on part elsewhere. The first ones aren't so much magic as so far advancement beyond everyone else that their biological tech can look that way.. Over the series you see things like the very much tech based vokn mimbari whitestars and sjsdow! Human whatevers

 

[Mind of tempest]

I do not think anyone has mentioned xcom as a psionic source for ideas so here we go:

Psi Operative (XCOM 2)

The Psi Operative is a soldier class in XCOM 2; once a Psi Lab has been built, any Rookie soldier can undergo training to become a Psi Operative. The primary role of the Psi Operative class is specializing in the use of Psionic powers to buff allies and damage or debuff enemies. Their strengths...

xcom.fandom.com

Templars

The Templars are a Resistance faction introduced in the XCOM 2 expansion, War of the Chosen. The Templars are a resistance faction, cultists who worship psionic energy. Founded by Geist, a former XCOM Psi Operative from the initial invasion who escaped the alien assault on XCOM base, the...

xcom.fandom.com