Psionics Survey on WotC Site

[eris404]

Anyone else think it's interesting that Wizards put a survey about psionics (with a question about campaign settings no less) the same time they announced the setting contest winner?

Granted, they're probably unrelated, but some of the questions on the survey were very interesting nonetheless. One question asked about changing how psionics work. One of the options was making psionic powers skill-based, the way force powers work in Star Wars d20. I like how the Force works in that game, so I don't think it's that bad of an idea, although I don't mind how psionics work now either.

Just some stuff to think about.

 

[EricNoah]

Yep, pretty suspicious!

 

[francisca]

Here is the link:

Wizard's Psionic Survey

 

[Apok]

I'd really like to see them post the results of that survey when it's finished.

 

[eris404]

Me, too. I'm too curious for my own good when it comes to things like this (surveys, that is, especially marketing ones). I doubt they would reveal the results, unfortunately. I guess I'm most curious to see if psionics are as unpopular as I suspect they are.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Me, too. I'm too curious for my own good when it comes to things like this (surveys, that is, especially marketing ones). I doubt they would reveal the results, unfortunately. I guess I'm most curious to see if psionics are as unpopular as I suspect they are.

Unpopular? Did you see the survey here where more than 50% of ENWorlders surveyed like Psionics so much they would like to see them included in the CORE rules?

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38387&highlight=psionics

 

[Voneth]

Yep, pretty suspicious!

Considering that WotC seems to walk on eggshells when every psionics is mentioned. Not that I blame them, it seems that there is little middle ground for such a DnD concept.

Tell me if I forget some of the issues:

"Does it belong in the genre"
"Does it belong in DnD's subgenre of fantasy"
"Should it use a simliar rule mechanics to DnD magic?"
"Would it be better to bill it as an alternate magic rules system that can be used for things like psionics or ki?"
"Feelings flavored by experince with the past incarantions of the rules"

It seems that most of these issues have few people sitting on the fence, so you have your market spit up about 8 or 10 different ways and everyone is screaming instead of using a quiet voice.

I'm most curious to see if psionics are as unpopular as I suspect they are.

My guess is the system concept overall (baring issues of relative power level and aspects like psi combat) is unpopular among GMs who like the predicatable limits of Spell Slot magic-- which happens to be a bear's share of the market. Among other types GMs and a lot more players, there is more acceptance, but first type of GM sort of bottlenecks the channel of getting psi rules out.

 

[Hardhead]

More than a little suspicious! Also note that they ask questions about major revisions to the psionic system!

Anyway, I think it depends on setting. Psionics aren't appropriate for all settings, but if you biuld a setting with the intention of including them, then hell yeah!

 

[eris404]

Unpopular? Did you see the survey here where more than 50% of ENWorlders surveyed like Psionics so much they would like to see them included in the CORE rules?

Hmmm...that's interesting. As much as I hear (errrr...read) people complaining on messageboards about how unplayable, unbalanced, unnecessary, etc. psionics are, I am surprised to see that. I guess the people who hate psionics are simply very vocal about it.

 

[GuardianLurker]

The link has been taken off the front page, and I never did get it displayed (blank page).

I think someone may have jumped a gun on this one.