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

[dave2008]

Musing on psionics in various books, movies, and TV shows ...

I'm on the fence in regards to Carrie's abilities ("Carrie"). They seem psionic, but seem better framed as supernatural.

I am confused by this. Psions are supernatural, so what is the issue?

 

[Cadence]

I am confused by this. Psions are supernatural, so what is the issue?

If you knew the scientific underpinnings, you wouldn't say that.

 

[dave2008]

If you knew the scientific underpinnings, you wouldn't say that.

There are no scientific underpinnings. Psionics is fantasy pure and simple.

However, if you want to pretend it isn't: doesn't it fit the definition of supernatural. I.e. augmented nature, something beyond standard nature. In a comic book a psion has "super" powers. So are they not "supernatural?"

 

[Crimson Longinus]

If you knew the scientific underpinnings, you wouldn't say that.

Same with the magic. In a world where wizards study magic, it is really science.

 

[Cadence]

There are no scientific underpinnings. Psionics is fantasy pure and simple.

However, if you want to pretend it isn't: doesn't it fit the definition of supernatural. I.e. augmented nature, something beyond standard nature. In a comic book a psion has "super" powers. So are they not "supernatural?"

If it's sci-fi, why does it need to be supernatural, instead of just existing in a world of expanded natural capability?

The irl folks studying esp starting in the 30s certainly could have come up with hypothesized mental energy fields or whatnot if they'd found anything.

Can Stark or Richards or Pym make machines that have psionic like effects?

 

[dave2008]

If it's sci-fi, why does it need to be supernatural, instead of just existing in a world of expanded natural capability?

Isn't that a definition of supernatural (in comparison to reality)

The irl folks studying esp starting in the 30s certainly could have come up with hypothesized mental energy fields or whatnot if they'd found anything.

I'm not understanding your point here.

Can Stark or Richards or Pym make machines that have psionic like effects?

Again, I am not understanding your point here. Whether or not Stark, Richards, or Pym can make machines that have psionic like effects doesn't make those machines or psionics any more or less supernatural.

 

[Cadence]

Isn't that a definition of supernatural (in comparison to reality)

I'm not understanding your point here.

Again, I am not understanding your point here. Whether or not Stark, Richards, or Pym can make machines that have psionic like effects doesn't make those machines or psionics any more or less supernatural.

Are warp drives, jump gates, transporters, replicators, and the holo-deck all super-natural too? (They would be compared to our world, right?)

 

[Mordhau]

Are warp drives, jump gates, transporters, replicators, and the holo-deck all super-natural too? (They would be compared to our world, right?)

Also FTL travel and planets with aliens that can eat you, and which you can eat, probably fall under the category of not science as well.

 

[Cadence]

Also FTL travel and planets with aliens that can eat you, and which you can eat, probably fall under the category of not science as well.

In which case I'm not sure what the science in science fiction refers to or how the world is supposed to be viewed.

I mean, in Marvel comics, isn't Tony and Reed's superscience and the Hulk's strength and the X-men's powers all science, but Dr. Strange, Mephisto, and Thor (at least classically) "magical"?

 

[Crimson Longinus]

If it's sci-fi, why does it need to be supernatural, instead of just existing in a world of expanded natural capability?

Like magic in a world where magic actually works?

The irl folks studying esp starting in the 30s certainly could have come up with hypothesized mental energy fields or whatnot if they'd found anything.

They could have called it 'the Weave...'

There was discussion about the word 'supernatural' in some recent thread. It is kind of confused word, really. Especially when talking about worlds where things we consider to be myths actually exist. If magic is part of the reality of the world and can be studied, utilised and understood, how it is really 'supernatural?' So to me the distinction that psionics is not supernatural but magic is really doesn't make any sense.